Xbox 360 Games to play together
Just Dance 2014
Another multiplayer favourite, Just Dance 2014 lets you and up to three friends take to the dancefloor and jig about to a mix of chart-topping tunes, cheesy pop and old favourites, with the YMCA, Gaga's Just Dance and ABBA all making appearances. With its funny, over-the-top routines and simple 'Simon Says' style copy-the-moves-on-screen mechanics, all you have to do is stand in front of the Kinect camera, and do as the people on screen do to earn points. Easy to pick up and play, Just Dance 2014 is a game pretty much anyone can join in with, from little ones to grandma and everyone in between - making this a great game to have around on Christmas day. With a wide variety of routines on offer, whether your group have to do the same moves as each other, or something a little bit more complimentary, like the slow, romantic twirls of George Michael's Careless Whisper, there's plenty of scope for giggles. With support for up to four players, it's a solid competition to see who can score the most points by being as in time, and as accurate as possible - although when contending with grandpa's hip thrusts to Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky', that may be easier said than done...
Buy this if they like: Dancing, Lady Gaga/Nicki Minaj, making a fool of themselves
For more, read our full review (of the Wii version), or for more on the game's suitability, check out our Parent's Guide.
Buy Just Dance 2014 from Amazon
Diablo III
A simple hack-and-slash role-playing game with a focus on multiplayer fun, Diablo III is good for groups that want a more 'traditional' game to play together. Being rather light on the story front, it's Diablo's addictive mix of beating up monsters, exploring dungeons and accumulating more and more powerful, rare and valuable items that keeps you coming back for more. With several different classes to chose from, from the battle-hardened Barbarian who dives in, axes swinging, to the magic-wielding Wizard that can freeze her enemies, or even the roundhouse-kicking speedy Monk, everyone should be able to find a character to suit their tastes. While the level of gore in this one (some larger enemies explode when you've beaten them, showering guts everywhere) makes this unsuitable for younger children, if your group's the right age, this could be a great, button mashing fit - so make sure you gather your party before venturing forth this Christmas!
Buy this if they like: Mashing buttons, levelling, teamwork
For more, read our full review, or for more on the game's suitability, check out our Parent's Guide
Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed
Get a load of this! Imagine your average Mario Kart race, but with vehicles that automatically transform mid lap into a boat or a plane, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what's in store in Sonic and SEGA All Stars Racing Transformed. With courses themed around a variety of classic SEGA games from years gone by, all you have to do is pick your favourite character from a list that ranges from the popular (Sonic, Tails and Dr. Robotnik), to the more obscure (Ulala, Beat and Vyse), and jump in to your car to get ready to race. With collectible power-ups you can pelt your opponents with, and support for four player split-screen, this is as close as you'll come to Mario Kart on the Xbox 360 - and is every bit as much fun when playing in a group. Better yet, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed also comes complete with a pretty substantial story/challenge mode, which can be played through either on your own, or with up to four players in co-op! With a variety of challenges to complete, whether you're weaving in and out of traffic as fast as you can, or drifting through a series of checkpoints to rack up a high score, there's plenty to keep you busy here before you even start to factor in the multiplayer - but be wary. The challenges get more than challenging towards the end, to say the least...
Buy this if they like: Mario Kart, SEGA, Sonic
For more, read our full review, or for more on the game's suitability, check out our Parent's Guide
Buy Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed from Amazon
Rabbids: Alive and Kicking
Making good use of Microsoft's Kinect sensor, Rabbids: Alive and Kicking is jam-packed with minigames designed to put a giant, goofy grin on your face from start to finish. Whether it's trying to stop a dim-witted Rabbid from invading your living room by swinging your limbs around to send him flying; matching a number of body-builder-esque poses; or simply trying to trace a wiggly line on the screen with your backside, there's plenty of fun to be had for players and spectators alike. With some 40 mini-games on offer, most of which are designed for at least two players - including a game that can handle a whopping 16 people at once, as they try to smush themselves into a shape that resembles the silhouettes shown on-screen - Rabbids: Alive and Kicking is sure to raise a smile. Just make sure you have a large open space to play it in, with no breakable objects within reach - with all that ducking, dodging and stepping from side to side, you'll need a good clear spot to fool around in.
Buy this if they like: Mini-games, hilarious antics, wiggling bums
For more, read our full review, or for more on the game's suitability, check out our Parent's Guide
