Platform: Wii U

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Publisher: Nintendo

If the minigame-heavy Nintendo Land is akin to throwing new Wii U owners straight in at the deep end, New Super Mario Bros. U is designed to gently ease players into their new console. It's a 2D Mario game. We know how they work. You (and potentially three friends) will caper through some colourful environments, stomp some Goombas, find some secrets and generally frolic in the cheerful timeless fun of it all.

However, Mario's latest outing has drawn a fair amount of pre-launch criticism for a perceived lack of innovation. Or to put it bluntly: it's another "New Super Mario Bros" game that plays out much the same as the Wii, DS and 3DS versions. Instead of a Galaxy, Sunshine or 64, it's an oddly conservative affair that plays to the strengths of the franchise - not the platform.

These criticisms may be valid, but New Super Mario Bros. U has a trick up its sleeve. Rather than being a Wii U tech demo or Gamepad proof of concept, it's just an exceptionally enjoyable and well-crafted game. With inflatable singing Yoshi babies.

Platform: 3DS eShop

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Publisher: Nintendo

First-party 3DS titles are still in short supply, so imagine our surprise when a brand new Nintendo IP rolled onto the eShop a day before it was supposed to. Dillon's Rolling Western may have only been announced a few months ago, but it's clear that a huge amount of effort, love and imagination have gone into this innovative package - which delivers a spectacular hybrid gameplay experience.

Dillon is a wannabe Armadillo ranger with the mindset of Clint Eastwood, a fistful of sharp claws, a back studded with wicked armour plates and an adorable chipmunk pal. He's sauntered into town in the wake of Grock attacks: enormous subterranean rock monsters who raid the villages for their Scrog livestock, leaving the townsfolk starving. Seeing the opportunity to make some money and gain a reputation, the ornery armadilla' decides to defend the villages using fast-paced action gameplay, exploration, traditional tower defence elements and a whole lot of rolling... all rolled combined into one.

Forget The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Dillon's Rolling Western is all good.

• What: The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Where: The Game Collection
• Current Price: £29.95
• The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Wii Price Comparison
• The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Preview

There's no way that Skyward Sword can possibly cause you any disappointment whatsoever, because it's phenomenally good fun and if you want to see how it'll make you feel then I suggest you check out Matt's preview! The game supports full motion controls, so you might want to think about picking up the Wii Motion Plus peripheral too. The Game Collection are parting with copies of the game for £29.95, which should save you about £2 on the next best offer coming in from Simply Games.

• What: The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Where: The Game Collection
• Current Price: £29.95
• The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Wii Price Comparison
• The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Preview

If you want to pick up a game that definitely won't disappointment this Christmas, then you should grab a copy of Skyward Sword before this deal expires. This one supports full motion controls, so if you don't have a Motion Plus peripheral then now's the time to get one. The price cut over at The Game Collections means that you'll be able to save about £2 on the next best offer coming in from Simply Games.

• What: Wii Sports Resort With Motion Plus
• Where: M & S
• Current Price: £24.75
• Wii Sports Resort With Motion Plus Price Comparison

Wii Sports Resort lets you wakeboard across the waves, chuck a frisbee amongst your friends, and you can throw in a bit of canoeing down a quiet stream too. In addition to the game, you'll get hold of the Motion Plus peripheral, which gives you much better control over your characters movements. M & S are parting with copies of the game for £24.75, which'll make you a saving of around £13 on the next best offer out there. Thanks to gari189 @ HUKD.

Platform: 3DS

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Publisher: Nintendo

We've all been there - safely out at the front of the pack, pootling away in first place. You can see the finish line, it's so very close; so close that the exultation begins to boil up unconsciously. You've executed every corner perfectly, sweeping round bends in glorious arcs, the sparks licking at your tyres heralding helpful boosts. The sweet scent of victory fills your nostrils, you allow yourself a swift gasp of anticipa...

...and then everything is ruined in the space of two seconds. A blue shell arrives out of nowhere and, as you roll uncontrollably off course, your pace halted by its arrival, three karts accompanied by the mocking noises of a plumber and his pet dinosaur scream past you. Cushions are thrown, windows smashed, vile epithets are hurled at little old ladies out in the street who've done nothing wrong.

Mario Kart  - Nintendo's flagship casual racing series - has always been a game of frenzied fun and fantastic frustration. The AI has forever trodden a fine line between challenging and flagrant cheating, and that's absolutely no different here. 50cc and 100cc have been made somewhat easier, the computer controlled characters are far less likely to usurp your position of power with cheap shots. To be honest it's a little easy, but will provide a great entry point for younger players.

• What: Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City And Wii Speak
• Where: The Hut
• Current Price: £7.95
• Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City And Wii Speak Price Comparison

Once you venture out of your home in Animal Crossing you'll come across a variety of tools, like axes, slingshots, and shovels, which you can use to have a bit of fun with as you watch the seasons change. You can run off to the city as well if you want to grab some new clothes, or head to the theatre. Wii Speak's also included if you want to chat with other players online. The Hut are parting with copies of the game for £7.95, which'll save you almost £20 on the next best offer out there. Thanks to missgem @ HUKD.

• What: Super Mario 64 DS
• Where: DVD.co.uk | 101cd | Blah DVD
• Current Price: £17.99
• Super Mario 64 DS Price Comparison

The DS version of Super Mario 64 has one or two little differences, but it's the same game deep down and it's great fun, so you can expect to jump into painting to gain access to other worlds, where you can pick up a power star or two. You'll get to take control of Yoshi, Wario, Mario, and Luigi during the course of the game, before you finally defeat Bowser and free Princess Peach. The merchants listed above are parting with copies of the game for £17.99, which'll save you almost £2 on the next best offer coming in from Sendit.

• What: Mario Kart DS
• Where: Sendit
• Current Price: £19.88
• Mario Kart DS Price Comparison

Mario Kart's fun no matter what you're playing it on and taking it on the move by grabbing a DS copy's a great way to keep yourself entertained on a long journey, or an otherwise boring commute to work. The gameplay's pretty much the same as any of the other games in the series; pick your character, take them on the track, then smash your opponents out of the way using ridiculous weapons whilst you try to screech into first place. You can grab the game over at Sendit for £19.88, which'll save you just over £1.50 on the next best offer coming in from Play.