The Kinect is less than a month away and some of you are probably counting down the days and clutching your pre-order slips with an anxious grasp. If you are among this crowd or you're just looking forward to Kinect's release, then you've probably wondered what games you'll be able to pick up when Microsoft's latest gadget hits retailers. Luckily, Microsoft has released a list of launch window games for the Kinect and let me be the first to tell you that it certainly outnumbers PlayStation Move's launch games.
A grand total of 17 games will hit store shelves within the same month as Kinect's launch, which almost beats the 360's original launch line-up of 18 games. Not too bad for a new piece of hardware, but of course they all won't be launching the same day as Kinect, which is a little bit of a low blow to early adopters of the motion camera. There are some games that will be day-one purchases for sure, but there is also a lot of games that you should probably avoid. You can check out the good, the bad, and the ugly games below.
November 4th (Kinect Launch)
- Info: Comes packed in with the Kinect sensor and features a cornucopia of games for you and a friend to enjoy.
- Price: Buy the Kinect sensor for $150 and score this bad boy with it.
- Info: If you liked Nintendogs, then you're going to love Kinectimals! This game will probably be best suited for children, but deep down inside, I bet you always wanted a pet that couldn't run away from you.
- Price: $49.99 ($59.99 for the Limited Edition)
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved
- Info: Are you unhappy with your current body mass? Well, Ubisoft may have a solution for you. Perform all kinds of intense body gestures that will help you shed those pounds.
- Price: $49.99
- Info: From the developers of Rockband comes their first ever dance game. I got to dance along to the game's funky music at Comic-Con with little overall success. Still an awesome game though!
- Price: $49.99
The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout
- Info: If you are anything like our editor Ben Kendrick, then this is your most anticipated game of the year. I guess if you want to lose some weight and you don't really want to spend money on a gym membership then you'll be content with this.
- Price: $49.99
Dance Masters
- Info: It seems that everyone is trying out their dance prowess on the Kinect. More of a pose-off than an actual dancing game, but if you're looking to bust a move or a hip, I guess you could always try this game.
- Price: $49.99
Kinect Sports
- Info: Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, it's all in Kinect Sports. You and a friend can tear through many different sports with no controller at all.
- Price: $49.99
MotionSports
- Info: MotionSports is similar to Kinect Sports, but has some other sports. Football, Boxing, and Skiing are just some of the games that come with this title.
- Price: $49.99
- Info: This is the only driving game for the Kinect that we know of so far. You and another friend can play at the same time. All you have to do is simply pretend you are steering a car and you are in business.
- Price: $49.99
Adrenalin Misfits
- Info: In this game you are thrown into the shoes (or should I say snowboard) of a "Misfit." There are a few different modes that you can play through, so if you are looking for a snowboard Kinect game then this is one of two possible options.
- Price: $49.99
- Info: Sonic Free Riders is of course the other snowboard-esque game that I was referring to. Utilize Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, or many other well-known characters from the Sonic universe as they race through several different areas.
- Price: $49.95
Fighters Uncaged
- Info: The Kinect's first real fist-fighting game. If you want to experience what it's like to be an underground fighter, then you can go through the motions with this brawler.
- Price: $49.99
November 16th, 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Pt. 1 The Videogame
- Info: You literally act out the moves of Harry and his friends while they combat the evil Lord Voldemort. I'm sure kids and Harry Potter geeks everywhere will love this game.
- Price: $49.99
EA Sports Active 2
- Info: Kinect never saw the original EA Sports Active, but damn if EA will miss out on the sequel. Similar to the other fitness games, you just insert the game and let the exercises begin.
- Price: $99.95 (Comes with a heart rate monitor)
November 18th
Game Party: In Motion
- Info: Another compilation of sport-related games will also be hitting Kinect in mid-November. Baseball, Basketball, and more await you in this game.
- Price: $39.99
Zumba Fitness
- Info: I'm not sure what a Zumba is, nor am I particularly keen on finding out, but what I do know is that it's another exercise game. I guess if you want to get as jacked as the girl on the cover then you'll want to pick this up.
- Price: $49.99
TBD
DECA Sports Freedom
- Info: This game's release date is set for this "Holiday" season, so we'll likely hear more about it soon. DECA is already a fairly successful brand on the Nintendo Wii, so I'm sure it will do well on the Kinect too.
- Price: TBD
That's all the launch window games for the Kinect, and for the most part, it's very similar concepts over and over again. There are a few standout titles that should be day one purchases for sure, but the others are best left for an eventual bargain bin pickup.
Kinect launches on November 4th for the Xbox 360, along with some nice Xbox 360/Kinect bundles.
What do you guys think of the Kinect launch lineup? What games (if any) will you be picking up?