Do some game titles, such as Anarchy Online and Commandos 2, give you the shudders? Are you looking for engaging, family oriented games that test your reflexes, wits, or knowledge, rather than your tolerance for bloodshed? Look no further than our collection of hot new family and puzzle games.

Some of these are adaptations of favorite amusements from an earlier era, such as video games and puzzle cubes. Some are game versions of vacation attractions or television shows. Others are hot-off-the-presses diversions that don’t resemble anything you have seen previouly.

We tried to make this assortment as diverse as possible, but with a common thread: Each of these games is fun, safe for the under-12 set, and reasonably priced. Any destruction is non-gory and nonthreatening (such as the blowing up of an asteroid), and many offer an opportunity for learning through entertainment.

21st Century Jigsaw Puzzles

ETA: Now
Developer: 21st Century Games
Publisher: 21st Software
http://21stsoftware.com/Jigsaw_Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzle fans will love these products, which feature images of natural scenery, cartoons, and animals broken into virtual jigsaw puzzles. The images can be broken into thousands of puzzle pieces, and may be reconfigured differently for repeat play.

The latest release, Loveable Cats, offers 50 different kitties in a variety of whimsical poses. And the clincher with these puzzles is that you’ll never loose another piece again.


3D Soma Puzzle
ETA: Now
Developer: YAV Games
Publisher: YAV Games
http://yavsoft.com/soma

3D Soma Puzzle is a three-dimensional logic game that challenges you to assemble various figures with the colored irregular blocks. The puzzle seems to be simple but great variety of solutions for each shape (the simplest figure - cube can be solved by 240 essentially different methods) makes it really challenging. This game will keep any family member entranced and busy for hours (or even days). It can provide you lots of fun and exploration as well as help develop the ability to visualize spatial relationships.

3D Soma Puzzle features fully rotatable three-dimensional blocks, ability to create your own figures that can be shared with other players, two preview modes (wireframe and solid) and flexible controls system (you can assemble figures using mouse and/or keyboard).

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