Strategy & Sim Video Games

Ubisoft's expansive simulation series aimed at young female gamers returns to the world of boutiques, makeovers, and haute couture in Imagine: Fashion Stylist. Players take control of a fledgling fashion mall, opening new clothing, cosmetics, and accessory stores, and then catering to a wide range of potential customers. Gamers can create unique storefront displays, change their store's style, and customize their shops based on the season, all the while stocking store shelves with the hottest products, choosing which items to advertise, and keeping up on trends by reading magazines. Aspiring designers can also put on extravagant fashion shows to entertain their customers, and as players progress through Fashion Stylist they can unlock new items and outfits for use on the "ImagineTown" virtual world website. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Ubisoft's animal development series continues to grow with a second title designed to let gamers interact and care for small and vulnerable baby animals in Petz Nursery 2. Players can nurture up to 22 different baby animals, from standard puppies and kittens to more exotic creatures such as pandas, tigers, polar bears, piglets, and penguins. All of the newborn Petz need to be kept clean, warm, and fed, and it is also important for gamers to play with their animals, teach them to crawl, and rock them to sleep every night. Singing songs, letting the different animals frolic together, and playing games of peek-a-boo will help each pet grow up happy and strong, and Petz Nursery 2 also lets players send their creatures to Petz World, where the little creatures can go on exciting adventures. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

The popular and cuddly stuffed toys return for their second video game adventure in ZhuZhu Pets: Featuring the Wild Bunch. Gamers can join the fluffy hamsters as they run, dash, skate, ski, drive, and surf through the vast "Zhuniverse" playing an elaborate game of tag. There are more than 20 ZhuZhu pets available, including original favorites like Chunk and Mr. Scoodles, and players can choose to avoid the 35 levels of action in favor of nurturing their pets by feeding them, brushing them, and taking them to the movies, among many other activities. DSi owners can access special bonus levels that make use of the system's camera function. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

The best-selling Petz franchise is unleashed into the fantasy realm with Moonlight Magic. You'll be able to collect 20 distinctive creatures in this version, each customizable with accessories and various costumes, from a chef and princess to a pirate and rock star. As with previous titles in the series, the emphasis in on nurturing your pet by feeding it, cleaning it, and playing games with it to improve its happiness. The critters can also perform magic from one of four disciplines: flight, ice, fire, and speed. These powers are highlighted in special mini-games that will have your creature flying through the sky, shooting fireballs, and more. Each pet can also morph into an everyday household object so that curious onlookers won't be able to spy on your cherished companion. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Grease is the word, is the time, is the place, and is now in your DS, courtesy of 505 Games. The hit Paramount Pictures film serves as the inspiration for this collection of mini-games, which will have you singing and dancing along with characters Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. Ten songs are included, with rhythm-based mini-games that have you performing the hand jive hop and other choreographed dance steps from the film. DSi owners will also be able to put themselves in the game by using the handheld's camera. Unlock an assortment of locales, songs, and costumes while playing through the story mode. In addition, the game supports DSi download play and multi-cart functionality. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Designed exclusively for play on Nintendo DS, Beat City is a collection of rhythm-based mini-games with touch-screen controls. In 20 different activities, players tap and swipe the stylus on the screen to the beat of the background music. The more accurate and enduring their beat-keeping efforts, the greater the star rating they earn. The game's backstory explains that the villainous Dame Isolde Minor has used the resources of her Cacophony Corporation to steal the joy of music from Beat City. Players must search through the neighborhoods of this once-happy metropolis, overcoming beat-based challenges and collecting the lost rhythms required to restore the city to its cheerful, musical state. Beat City is the first original game from developer Universomo, whose previous work includes successful mobile phone conversions of popular console games such as Destroy All Humans! and LEGO Star Wars II. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Based on the popular public TV show, America's Test Kitchen: Let's Get Cooking offers 300 recipes to gamers who are curious about cuisine. Step-by-step instructions are designed to get the entire family involved, and adjustable settings offer age-appropriate kitchen tasks for each participant. All 300 recipes were created by experts from America's Test Kitchen, and the game lets each member of the cooking team rate each meal. A search function allows users to sort recipes by rating, ingredients, difficulty, prep time, and calorie count, while prompts, how-to videos, and audible instructions are available for players who aren't experienced chefs. Gamers can use their stylus and touch screen to add handwritten notes to any recipe, and single-cart wireless recipe-sharing is available if multiple cooks happen to have a DS. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Stitch Jam lets gamers join Disney's blue alien experiment as he travels from the tropical beaches of Hawaii to the outer reaches of space on a quest to save his girlfriend Angel from the clutches the evil Dr. Hamsterviel. Players can use the stylus or buttons to guide Stitch through ten traditional side-scrolling levels, catching and collecting musical notes in order to release pleasant melodies. There are a number of unlockable costumes and accessories to obtain, and multiplayer fans can join a friend for single-cart co-op action. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Enterprising young gamers can enter the exciting world of journalism to uncover scoops and keep the populous informed in Imagine: Reporter. Players begin as a columnist for a small local newspaper and eventually work their way up to hosting a nationally syndicated television news program. Along the way, they will use cars, bicycles, and helicopters to find and report about breaking news, and earn a press pass to get all the behind-the-scenes information from movie stars, politicians, and athletes. Creative gamers can take also take photos and video to supplement their stories and design magazine covers to help highlight the most important news events. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Gamers take on the role of a young party planner named Ashley as she meets with clients, organizes events, and joins in on the fun in Imagine: Party Planner. Players must interview clients to learn their specific requests, and then either head out to Love City's various boutiques to purchase unique items, or take on mini-games to win important party pieces. Once the setup is complete, gamers can watch the party to see if all their planning was successful. If it was, players are rewarded with new stores, custom items, and glowing articles in local magazines. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide