The Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) service is integrated in the dashboard user- interface of all Xbox 360 consoles. Consumers are given an option to download trial versions of Xbox Live Arcade titles for free. While these demos are playable, most offer only a fraction of the levels, modes, and content of the full game.

The full version of a game can be unlocked by using Microsoft Points. Microsoft Points are purchased either online via credit card or in the form of Microsoft Points Cards (also known as “tokens”) from retail locations. Points can be bought in a number of different allotments ranging from 400 up to 5000 points. In the United States, 80 Microsoft Points is equal to $1. For example, an 800-point arcade game would retail for $10 USD in real-world currency.

Personally, we found that the free trial versions, available for most games are often big enough to entertain kids for several hours.

1) UNO
KidConfidence age recommendation: 6 years and up.
Fun for all ages and our family favorite. The title is essentially a computerized version of the classic 4-player UNO card game. The game offers three different game modes including Standard UNO, Partner UNO, and House Rules UNO. In Partner UNO, players sitting across from each other join forces to form a team, so that a win by either player is a win for the team. In House Rules UNO, the rules can be tweaked and customized to the player’s preference. While only a single player can play at any point in time on a given console, UNO offers multiplayer for up to four players through Xbox Live. Players can join or drop-out of in-progress games at any time, with computer players automatically taking over for any missing humans. Lastly, the title supports the Xbox Live Vision camera, allowing opponents to view an image of the player (or whatever the camera is pointed at) while playing the game. On March 27, 2007 Microsoft declared UNO to be the first Xbox Live Arcade game to exceed one million downloads.

2) Catan
KidConfidence age recommendation 10 and up.
Settlers of Catan, the legendary board game has come to Xbox Live Arcade. Catan places the player in the role of colonists on the newly discovered imaginary island of the same name. Through strategy and trading, 3-4 players vie for control over the valuable territory and resources of this uncharted wilderness.

3) Wik and the Fable of Souls
KidConfidence age recommendation: 8 years and up.
Wik and the Fable of Souls is a game developed by Reflexive Entertainment. The main character, Wik, who is a frog-man like character, uses a combination of jumping and his long, grapple-like tongue to navigate the world. Accompanying Wik on his journey is a mule-like creature named Slotham. On each level the player must capture a set number of grubs and deliver them to Slotham. Opposing the player are various bugs that try to steal the grubs or directly harm Wik. Wik and the Fable of Souls won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize in the downloadable games section at the 2005 Independent Games Festival.

4) Zuma
KidConfidence age recommendation: 7 years and up.
The objective is to eliminate all the balls rolling round the screen, before they reach the Sun God, or Skull. As soon as one ball reaches the Sun God, the rest follow and the player loses a life. To prevent the balls reaching the Skull, the player can eliminate the balls by firing a colored ball from the stone frog idol’s mouth towards a group of two or more of the same colored balls. When three or more of the same color come in contact, they explode, possibly triggering other explosions as part of a chain reaction.

5) 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
KidConfidence age recommendation: 8 years and up.
Ready to tee off? Player can dress up and play four animated characters as they putt their way through 36 holes of manic over-the-top minigolf. The game features three-dimensional courses in different environments—Classic Carnival, The Old West, and Outer Space.

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