Many of this holiday season's new video games are great for younger players, but some aren't – and not all youngsters put only age-appropriate fare on their holiday wish lists.

If you're not familiar with video games yourself, how can you be confident you'll pick a game that's appropriate? It helps to pay close attention to a game's age rating.

"Choosing video games can seem daunting with the huge selection of options, but picking an age-appropriate game is simple," says Patricia Vance, president of the Electronic Software Rating Board, which assigns games to age categories. "The ESRB ratings give guidance about a game's age and content and are an excellent guide when choosing games for younger players."

The ratings are certainly useful in that regard. But it's one thing to use the rating system as a guide for age suitability and another to select a title your game-savvy giftee will enjoy.

That's where this guide comes in, with a healthy cross-section of this season's notable releases grouped into the most common rating categories (full information is at ESRB.org or on the back of each game's box). All the games listed here are available now unless otherwise noted.

E FOR EVERYONE

These games are appropriate for all ages, and they allow parents or other relatives to play along with the kids. In fact, it's never a bad idea for parents to spend a little of that holiday together time playing all video games with their children. It's a shared experience and a chance to keep tabs on what they're viewing.

"FORZA MOTORSPORT 4"

Microsoft, $59.99, Xbox 360

The latest in the realistic "Forza" racing series adds support for the Kinect motion sensor, allowing players to drive without the use of a controller, and offers online play for up to 16 racers, up from the usual eight.

"KIRBY MASS ATTACK"

Nintendo, $29.99, DS

Ten Kirbys are better than one! The little pink puffball is split into numerous copies of himself that have to work together in this touch-screen-driven game.

"MARIO KART 7"

Nintendo, $39.99, 3DS, Dec. 4

Nintendo's mascot racing series takes a turn on the 3DS, featuring new weapons for tripping up rivals, and gadgets such as a hang glider for catching extra air off ramps.

"NICKTOONS MLB"

2K Play, $29.99-$39.99; Xbox 360, Wii, DS

How many other sports games let you field hundreds of Major League Baseball players alongside more than 20 popular Nickelodeon characters, from SpongeBob to Invader ZIM? The Kinect peripheral can be used with the Xbox 360 version for hands-free play, while the Wii edition uses the system's motion controls.

"SUPER MARIO 3D LAND"

Nintendo, $39.99, 3DS

Mario's newest adventure is a mixture of classic 2-D game play and more modern styles. New and returning power-ups are on hand, and the 3-D effects are sure to make the visuals pop.

E-10+ for Everyone 10+

These titles skew a little older.

"Disney Universe"

Disney Interactive Studios, $29.99-$49.99; Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC

Up to four players can dress up in dozens of Disney-themed costumes to explore virtual worlds based on "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Lion King," "Monsters Inc." and others – but a nasty computer virus has invaded the simulation and turned its robot cast members to evil.

"The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword"

Nintendo, $49.99, Wii

The latest "Zelda" games tweaks the series' usual formula – combat has been reworked to take better advantage of the Wii Motion Plus controller, and hero Link alternates between ground and sky worlds.

"Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One"

Sony Computer Entertainment, $59.99, PS3

The first cooperative outing for Ratchet and his robot buddy teams the duo with dimwitted Capt. (and now Galactic President) Qwark and arch-villain Dr. Nefarious when the four of them are kidnapped and taken to a strange planet. With the new four-player focus, levels are more straightforward and puzzles are overcome using teamwork.

"Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure"

Activision, $69.99 for starter set; Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS

"Skylanders," a spin-off of the "Spyro" series, is a combination of action game and figurine line with more than 30 characters. Which characters you can control depends on which figurines you own. The starter set includes the game and three figurines, with additional figures sold in packs.

T for Teen

These games are likely to include realistic violence, mature themes, even some blood.

"Batman: Arkham City"

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, $49.99-$59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC

This sequel to the excellent "Batman: Arkham Asylum" expands the Caped Crusader's operations to a large, walled-in section of Gotham and gives him plenty of enemies to face and new toys. The game really pushes the edges of its Teen rating.

"Everybody Dance"

Sony Computer Entertainment, $39.99, PS3

This rhythm-based dancing game uses the PlayStation Move peripheral to track dancers' movements as they get down to more than 40 songs, with more available by download. Important: It can't be played without the Move, sold separately for $49.99.

"The 'Ico' and 'Shadow of the Colossus' Collection"

Sony Computer Entertainment, $39.99, PS3

Two of the PS2's best games are given a high-definition upgrade and combined in one package. In "Ico," lead a strange girl through a dangerous castle. In "Shadow of the Colossus," scale and defeat 16 massive creatures.

"Rocksmith"

Ubisoft, $79.99-$199.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC (Dec. 13)

For the first time since 2005, there's no new "Guitar Hero" or "Rock Band" game to be seen. In their place is "Rocksmith," which features a similar rock song play-along concept but is compatible with real guitars instead of specialized controllers. Available on its own or packaged with an Epiphone Les Paul Jr. guitar.

"Star Wars: The Old Republic" Electronic Arts, $59.99, PC, Dec. 20

Developed by BioWare – the company behind the "Mass Effect" games and the RPG "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" – "Star Wars: The Old Republic" will allow players to join the Galactic Republic or the Sith Empire as one of several races and character classes.

M for Mature

Watch out! Blood, gore, cursing and other mature content ahead. Although 'tweens and teens may put these on their wish lists, these games have content that fits the adult age group.

"Assassin's Creed: Revelations"

Ubisoft, $49.99-$59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC

All three "Assassin's Creed" protagonists – the Third Crusade's Altair, the Renaissance's Ezio and the present day's Desmond – are in the latest installment of this stealth-based series.

"Deus Ex: Human Revolution"

Ubisoft, $49.99-$59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Explore a near-future world as a mechanically enhanced corporate agent in this prequel to the first two "Deus Ex" games, which offers a lot of freedom in how the main character is developed through upgrades and how he approaches his tasks – lethal or nonlethal, sneaky or straightforward?

"The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim"

Bethesda Softworks, $59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Set 200 years after and far north of "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," "Skyrim" offers the series' familiar brand of open-world exploration and freedom. But there's a plot afoot as well, with the prophesied return of a god of destruction seemingly close at hand.

"Rage"

Bethesda Softworks, $59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC

A century after an asteroid impact, Earth is a pretty unwelcoming place, full of bandit tribes, mutants and agents of an oppressive wanna-be government – and loads of guns and gadgets to do the fighting.

A whole bunch of "threequels"

There are too many third installments of popular Mature-rated series to cover them all, but we can run through them by name and essential info:

• "Battlefield 3" (Electronic Arts, $59.99, Xbox 360; PS3, PC)

• "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" (Activision, $59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

• "Gears of War 3" (Microsoft, $59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

• "Resistance 3" (Sony Computer Entertainment, $59.99, PS3)

• "Saints Row: The Third" (THQ, $49.99-$59.99; Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

• "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception" (Sony Computer Entertainment, $59.99, PS3).

DONT FORGET!

Be sure to include a gift receipt to make the exchange easy – just in case the recipient gets the same game from someone else.

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