With the holiday break coming up, I thought ya'll might appreciate some tips on some fun, non-violent adventure games to wile away those lonely wintry hours.

If you like humor and puzzle solving, you should check out Sam & Max: Season One, which is actually several games compiled into one. It's a great deal and also available for Wii. These games are like cartoons you can play, with lots of snarky humor and wit. I really enjoyed them. Season Two recently came out as well, but you might as well play from the beginning. These are very popular games that are well worth checking out, even if you're not much of a gamer.

If you want an adventure in the style of the old LucasArts or Sierra games--but updated for modern times--check out Simon 4: Chaos Happens. I had a great time with this game, which is also quite witty and sarcastic. English majors in particular might like this one, since it's loaded with references and allusions to classic mythology. It's very Monty Python-esque.

I am currently playing The Hardy Bros: The Hidden Theft, which seems to be an effort to do for Hardy Boys what Her Interactive has done for the Nancy Drew franchise. I must admit, I haven't had much fun with this title yet, though granted I've only just begin to delve into it. I'm actually looking forward more to the new Nancy Drew game, The Haunting of Castle Malloy. I've played all the Nancy Drew games and enjoyed pretty much all of them. They're perfect "casual" games with fun puzzles and educational value. This latest offering is set in Ireland, so I'm hoping to hear some great Irish music (one of my favorite genres).

I've also heard good things about Murder in the Abbey and Dracula 3: Path of the Dragon, though I haven't had the chance to play them yet. Of course, if you somehow missed Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express, I'd probably opt for that instead. It's a terrific game, all round, and the winter setting would be perfect for the holidays. It even comes with the novel, which is of course a classic.