Super Mario 3D Land

$40, Nintendo 3DS

Teaches: spatial relations, problem solving

CTR Rating: 92.5%

CTR Review

Along with Mario Kart 7, this title marks Mario's debut on the Nintendo 3DS, and the results are top notch. By combining the motion sensing abilities of the Nintendo 3DS with a 3D screen, you can use depths and distances to get from one platform to the next. You can also share the game with another player using the Street Pass feature. There's a lot of innovation: Mario can perform a rolling somersault attack or run fast with a dash move. Or he can use his tail to hover and perform floating jumps or attacks as Tanooki Mario. The Circle Pad let you control Mario through each environment. New enemies include Goombas with tails, tall stacks of Goombas, and a Piranha Plant that spits ink to obscure your view. If you have a 3DS, this is a no-fail title.