Game Plan

Games are one of the few gifts that are sure to please the entire family.

Games bring out a whole sea of emotions, said Phil Orbanes, president of Winning Moves Games. Its not just the game, its the interaction, the spontaneity that takes place between the players.

Whether stocking up for family game night or just looking to put some fun back in Saturday afternoon, choosing the right game is essential to a good time.

The selection of the game is first and foremost, Orbanes said. Make sure the game holds an interest for all involved.

Orbanes suggests choosing a game that is elegantly simple. The rules should be succinct and clear, yet offer infinite possibilities in the way they are applied so as to provide a fresh form of entertainment each time its played.

This season, a new crop of challenging games promises unlimited entertainment.

Enter the great battle of deduction with Coda. With a little luck and strategy, players must crack their opponents codes while protecting their own secret numbers. It sounds simple, but players must work fast because each turn the codes grow more complex. (Ages 8 and up, Winning Moves, $9.95.)

Ready, set, sail. Take an adventure on the high seas with Dread Pirate. Set in the Galapagos Archipelago, this game of strategy and defense pits captain against captain to see who can raid, trade and capture the most gold and jewels. But beware of the perils at sea get attacked by a giant squid and lose a turn. The game comes impressively packaged in a wooden treasure chest and includes a richly details map. (Ages 8 and up, Front Porch Classics, $99.95.)

The Game of Life: The Simpsons Edition combines Americas favorite nuclear family with all the elements of the original Life. Go to college and go in debt to Fat Tony. Get married and buy a house but be careful. Players may wind up living in the Yokel Shack or Patty and Selmas Crone Condo. Players who save their money retire at Mr. Burns Manor. Those who spend away end up in the Retirement Castle. (Ages 9 and up, Hasbro, $19.99.)

Yahtzee fans will love Kit &Caboodle, a dice game that all depends on how players classify various images from science and nature. Players roll six dice attempting to earn the highest score, but the images on the dice leave the score open to different possibilities. Roll a turtle and one must decide whether to score it as a reptile or include it in the things with shells category. Is the bat a mammal or thing with wings? Families flex their creative muscles while honing up on math skills. (Ages 8 and up, Gamewright, $11.99.)

Using familiar characters, Shrek 2 Top Trumps puts a new spin on the classic card game of War. Whether comparing odor levels or the amount of courage, players use statistics on each card to trump opponents and steal their cards. The player with all the cards at the end wins the game. (Ages 6 and up, Hasbro, $6.99.)

Players get to show their artistic side with Clay Mania, a sculpting game reminiscent of Pictionary. With 45 seconds to mold a mound of clay into the object listed on a card, teammates must guess what other players are making to earn a token. The first team to seize five tokens wins. With creativity on the line, Clay Mania will turn family game night into an entertaining exercise in ingenuity. (Ages 10 and up, Gamewright, $17.99.)

Maya Madness sounds simple: Keeping a running total for all players, use the cards to reach the number on a secret token. Be the first to collect five mystery tokens and win. But with other players attempting to reach the same goal, its more challenging than it sounds. One part luck, one part strategy, Maya Madness sharpens math skills, memory and tactical reasoning ability. (Ages 10 and up, Gamewright, $12.99.)

Forget renting the latest blockbuster. With the Disney Scene It? DVD Game, players test their knowledge of all things Disney. Featuring actual clips from classics like Snow White and The Little Mermaid, players race toward the winners circle by answering trivia questions and identifying actors, scenes and songs from Disney flicks. Dont worry about growing tired of Scene It? The DVD technology randomizes clips for a unique game each time. (Ages 8 and up, Mattel, $39.99.)

Hot on the heels of Yu-Gi-Oh, Duel Masters promises to be the next big thing. Unlike traditional card games, this new trading card game lets players swap creatures and spells to create their own unique decks. A hit in Japan, Duel Masters challenges players to knock down their opponents shields while protecting their own. Get in on the action with the Duel Masters Shadowclash Collectors Set. Packaged in a reusable storage tin, the set includes everything needed to start playing two decks of cards, a strategy guide, a deck guide and collectible foil cards. (Ages 8 and up, Vintage Sports Cards Inc., $19.99.)

Fancy a day at the track? Stretch Run puts lady luck to the test. Players must race their horses for the finish line by rolling the die or playing a card. With a muddy track, this wont be easy. For advanced play, use the track sheets and clubhouse cash for handicapping and wagering. Housed in a rustic wood and leather case, Stretch Run wont end up in the storage closet anytime soon. (Ages 8 and up, Front Porch Classics, $59.95.)