Revealed: The 10 most dangerous games of the year

If you’re a concerned but caring parent eager to appease the seasonal gaming needs of your cherubic children, but not exactly well-informed when it comes to the related reach and effect of the videogame industry, then the U.S. National Institute on Media and the Family might have just what you’re looking for.

National Institute on Media and the Family delivers its verdict on the 'most dangerous' games of the year. Credit: Rockstar Games.Conversely, if you’re one of those kids hoping to nab some of the year’s biggest titles this coming Christmas, you may want to keep you mom and dad’s curiosity firmly focused on something other than the information that follows.Specifically, the Media and the Family institute has taken it upon itself to draw up a list of what it believes to be the 10 most dangerous games presently prowling retail shelves looking for impressionable young children to influence.So, all those U.S. parents unable to understand and appreciate the usual ‘E for Everyone’ and ‘T for Teen’ and ‘M for Mature’ guidelines slapped onto all videogame packaging (which are provided for parents by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board) should probably think twice before purchasing the following for pesky ankle biters below the age of 17 or 18:* Assassin’s Creed (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* Conan (PS3, Xbox 360)* The Darkness (PS3, Xbox 360)* Clive Barker’s Jericho (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii, PSP)* Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)* John Woo Presents Stranglehold (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)* TimeShift (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)And, yes, unsurprisingly, all of the above come resplendent with an ‘M for Mature’ ESRB rating.While some may see the institute’s cautionary list as a helpful barometer for better assessing the suitability of specific software, the ESRB is far from impressed by the lack of faith being shown in its long-serving ratings system. "At a time of year when parents are looking for helpful guidance about video games, this year's report card does little more than sow unwarranted doubt about effective tools like ESRB ratings," commented Patricia Vance, President of the ESRB.