Soon, you won't have to leave your house to buy more Wii games.

Nintendo launched WiiWare, its games-on-demand service for Wii, Tuesday in Japan. With a few clicks, owners of the console can log in to the Wii Shopping Channel and download new games that range in price from $5 to $15. Titles include new entries in the popular Dr. Mario and Final Fantasy series.

Nintendo says it sees this type of digital delivery as a way to let new game ideas blossom without the financial risks of producing retail inventory. The low-risk environment gives developers a chance to flex their creative muscles.

"A big idea can succeed without a big budget," says Tom Prata, director of project development at Nintendo.

WiiWare is Nintendo's answer to rival gamemakers Sony and Microsoft, who offer similar services for their PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. Nintendo has offered downloadable retro games, like the classic Super Mario Bros., since Wii's launch, but this is its first step into original digitally delivered software. Nintendo will launch WiiWare in the United States on May 12.

While the company has not announced which WiiWare games will launch in the U.S. version of the service, here's a roundup of some of the higher-profile games that debuted Tuesday on Japanese Wiis:

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King ($15)

Based on the popular role-playing game series, this Sims-like title challenges you, as the child-king of a small town, to build your town up from scratch and make it livable for its inhabitants. (Read our full impressions of My Life as a King.)

Lonpos ($10)

Remember those fit-the-plastic-pieces-into-a-rectangle puzzles? Here's the digital version. The puzzles start off easy, but get challenging quickly. By paying more money, you can download more plastic aggravations. (Read our full impressions of Lonpos.)

Dr. Mario and Virus Extermination ($10)

The well-known puzzle game returns on WiiWare. Match the falling pills to the colored viruses to kill them. The Virus Extermination mode is a remixed version that lets you move the pills by clicking on them with the Wiimote's pointer. (Read our full impressions of Dr. Mario and Virus Extermination.)

Star Soldier R ($8)

The successor to the outer-space shooting games that once clogged arcades, Star Soldier R has a unique twist. You can only play it for two or five minutes at a time, and you've got to rack up as big a score as possible in that brief period. You can then upload your scores to the worldwide leader boards and see how you shape up. (Read our full impressions of Star Soldier R.)

Angel's Solitaire ($5)

Every downloadable games service needs a Solitaire game, right? But because this is Japan, it is dressed up with adorable, underage anime girls who flit about on screen as you move piles of cards. Don't expect to see this one in the States. (Read our full impressions of Angel's Solitaire.)

Saku Saku Animal Panic ($10)

The one WiiWare launch game by an American game developer, Animal Panic is a puzzle game that challenges you to fence in a farm full of animals. Getting them all to stay in their individual pens is quite a challenge. (Read our full impressions of Saku Saku Animal Panic.)

Okiraku Ping-Pong ($5)

Easily the best bargain of the bunch, this low-priced pingpong game sports a full 3-D, cel-shaded look and a two-player mode. The timing of your Wiimote swing affects where the ball goes on the table. Three mini-games help you practice your aim and reflexes. (Read our full impressions of Okiraku Ping-Pong.)