From start to finish, the single player campaign of Bound in Blood definitely provides one of the most memorable FPS gaming experiences of the year.

The time you spend earning it is well worth it, not just because it makes your hero stronger but also because of the additive fun you have along the way. Despite the torturous AI, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is easily one of the most original games to hit the PlayStation Portable.

Heck, it's one of the strongest games of the season, period.

At its heart, this is a rock-solid, gorgeously drawn platformer with enough new tricks up its sleeve to recommend to anyone needing an excuse to play their Wii.

Picross 3D is that kind of game, the kind that burrows itself into your mind, puts down hooks and never, ever leaves.

A truly satisfying adult game on the Wii—which is a true rarity. This game may not be everyone’s cup of tea with the violence, language and mature subject matter that hits you from everywhere, but despite the rated R subject matter, there is no denying that this is one of the best games available on the system.

Trauma Center was one of the original sleeper hits for the DS and this is just another step ahead of the pack. Under the Knife 2 is more of the same, but it feels so good to get the scalpel back in hand.

It’s this blend of casual pick up and play feel, deep, challenging gameplay and copious amounts of activities that makes this a very hard game to put down.

What really makes it different is the level of immersion that is offered. It was so easy to start playing and only come up out of the game when the body’s demand to expel waste and take on more fluids became an urgent scream.

The pacing is accelerated in comparison to the original game.

It’s hard to find a game out there for the Wii that provides more value for the money, or has more to see and do. The huge roster of well done, interesting characters combined with the wackiness of the in game items and the interactivity and challenges of the various stages packs the game full of memorable moments regardless of which portion of the game you decide to spend time with.

Come for the old-school charm, stay for the multiplayer mayhem.

One of the biggest, and most appreciated, changes is the toning down of the training mini-games. In story mode, you hit the bag every great once in a while but you aren't required to lift weights and run laps in twitch-reaction style as you might expect.

With everything there is to do in this game, I don't know why you'd need another golf game next year, or hell, ever.

NASCAR 2009 is a no-brainer purchase for fans of the sport, but also offers a high quality experience that any racing fan can enjoy.

One of the biggest, and most appreciated, changes is the toning down of the training mini-games. In story mode, you hit the bag every great once in a while but you aren't required to lift weights and run laps in twitch-reaction style as you might expect.

Split Second's longevity isn't in its innumerable tracks. It's in finding new ways to better yourself in its smaller set of them.

The biggest problem with Modern Warfare 3 is that it doesn't surprise, aside from the fact that there's more for the solo player to do than you might expect. It feels very safe, which is understandable given the budget and its sales expectations-as well as the rabid fan base that doesn't necessarily want innovation.

It's a fast and fun racing game that is easy enough for beginners to pick up and enjoy while still a challenge for veteran players to master. The addition of online play (other than it's not so friendly friends system) and the introduction of the Wii’s motion technology add even more oil to what is already a pretty slick offering.

Dissidia 2 is the marriage of a fighting game with a ridiculously detailed RPG. So unless you're looking for a shooter or a racing game, this may very well be the last PSP game you ever need.

Capsized recalls memories of Turrican, Commander Keen, and Cybernator, but this is not a nostalgic retro-rehash. You won't find chunky pixels, chiptune soundtracks, or tongue-in-cheek nods to the past. Capsized is a modern original; a nearly pitch-perfect blend of combat and exploration that manages to be as beautiful as it is exhilarating.

A sleeper hit.

This blend of familiar gameplay and contemporary aesthetic lends incredibly well to the game, giving you the sense that it’s something wholly new, with plenty of nods to a bygone era.

It's easy to sit back and view the game through the lens of what hasn't changed, but to do so would cause you to miss out on all of the wonderful tweaks and additions to a series built on an already strong foundation.

The game is a lot of fun, even if the challenge level is out of this world. If you’ve been around for all 20 years of Contra, this is a must purchase.

The game may not come with a red hat, but it makes me feel like a DJ nonetheless.

An old-school, level-oriented presentation with unrelenting difficulty, making it one of the most refreshing experiences to be had on the DS this holiday season.

All in all, don’t let the rather generic and short single player campaign deter you from picking up Bad Company 2. The multiplayer is a fantastic gaming experience and without a doubt it gives Modern Warfare 2 a run for its money.

I'm a history nerd splitting hairs about a game featuring toys blowing each other up at this point. Regardless, the two games together represent the best that the tower defense genre has to offer. I'm very interested to see where Signal takes this franchise next…as long as it's not World War II.

Dead Space 2 is without question a better game than the original despite the fact that the gameplay remains nearly unchanged.

In all seriousness, this game is exactly what Wii owners need. It’s fun, funny, violent and tuned right in to the sensibilities of the hardcore. If you love bad B-movies, and you like shooting things, this is a total no-brainer – no pun intended.

Dead Space 2 is without question a better game than the original despite the fact that the gameplay remains nearly unchanged.

Mass Effect is a gorgeous, thought-provoking adventure that is as captivating as action-packed. While it hasn't undergone the polish it deserves, that doesn't prevent it from emerging as one of the best examples of the artistry to be achieved in the development of a game.

A must-buy expansion. While I badly want to see larger-scale enhancements to the gameplay for future expansions, the amount of content in this release still balances very well against its cost, and those 'turtle'-styled RTS gamers (guilty here) hesitant to get onboard Sins of a Solar Empire due to the lack of any real defensive options will now have a great reason to pick it up.

I love the music, the graphics, and the gameplay. If you did not have enough reasons to buy a Nintendo DS, this would be it.

Free to play and addictive as hell, League of Legends delivers a really entertaining, competitive environment for RTS twitch players.

There are other modes like the new My Player which allows you to live the life of an NBA player, giving press conferences and rising thorough the ranks from D-League to NBA Superstar and the aforementioned Jordan Moments but really it's the gameplay that sells NBA 2K11. It's a huge step for basketball fans and every other game that comes out is going to be inevitably compared to it.

Beyond Good & Evil was ahead of its time in 2003, and it fits 2011 like a glove. This is still a great game that's unquestionably deserving of your $10 – especially if you missed it the first time. Admittedly, it's showing its age, but it's less like a disgusting chunk of old cheese and more like a glass of fine wine.

In the end, that’s all this game is about: experience. The time you spend earning it is well worth it, not just because it makes your hero stronger but also because of the additive fun you have along the way.

Providing your system is capable, you'll be treated to a gorgeous experience absolutely unattainable on console platforms which will make the game all the more immersive and fun to play.

Blending deep, intricate 4X design into the world of real-time gaming was a daunting task to say the least, but Ironclad and Stardock have pulled it off and in the end have created one of the best strategy games of the past few years.

The combat engine has been dramatically improved, making every fight a unique experience.

Tactics Ogre will rekindle the love of long-time Ogre Battle fans, just as it will draw in new gamers now discovering this classic. It's a perfect balance of faithful nostalgia and evolved gaming.

Avalanche knocked this out of the park. Renegade Ops is a brilliant game and easily one of the best of 2011, downloadable or otherwise, and it's not to be missed.

It's funny, addicting, and well designed and is a real bargain for PSP owners looking for something off the beaten path.

If you are looking for a strong single player puzzler or a multiplayer party game—this should definitely be on your short list.

Even though Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is a short ride, it's a fun one.

Disgaea 2 is ultimately about the characters you create, the battles you fight, the equipment you improve, and the party you level up and kit out. Like many of the best games -- Civilization, X-Com, Diablo, Pirates -- Disgaea 2 is about the story you create in the playing.

Here is a drama with characters we care about, built by us, and written in the verse of that now-familiar Sims vocabulary, finally harnessed to tell great stories that are too big for any sandbox about day-to-day life.

The complete package for the PSP. It is easily one of the best fighting games I’ve played all year.

It's excruciating, mostly because Skyward Sword is such a rare, utterly wonderful game. It fully deserves to be thought of as a modern classic and a masterpiece, and it's so good that even controller frustrations couldn't keep me from sinking a completely crazy amount of time into it.

Realistically, mistakes will be made, some boss battles will be more challenging than others, and a secret treasure or two will be missed that will add more time to your adventure. But whether you play for 10 or 40 hours, Chantelise is a delightful, whimsical action role-playing game.

War Plan Pacific is simply the latest wargame to demonstrate that the genre has moved well beyond the grognard mainstays of hexes and combat resolution tables. It is a quick playing and transparent game with an elegance that puts a lot of larger budget games to shame.

What's most amazing about the game though is how well Ubisoft Paris was able to take the system it given and play to its strengths.

Ultimately, what makes Robocalypse such a remarkable game is that no one expected it to be this good.

Disney’s Sing It knocks it out of the park.

Army of Two: The 40th Day is dumb, goofy fun, but sometimes that’s just what the doctor ordered.

Just because Shank 2 isn't terribly innovative doesn't mean it's a bad game. In fact, it's a total blast. It's ridiculous and goofy and completely over-the-top. If you want something that delivers a totally original gameplay experience, don't bother. But, if you want something that's just a lot of fun, look no further: This little gem will keep you grinning like a maniac. Just like Shank does when he revs up his chainsaw.

Batman: Arkham City is the best superhero game ever produced and it's a title well earned. It manages to capture the very essence of The Dark Knight and transform not just him, but his entire world into a playable experience.

F1 2001 has superb graphics, great sound and unbeatable realism. There's not much more you can ask for in a racing game period.

So, no, OOTP 11 isn’t perfect but to complain too much about its deficiencies is missing the larger point – which is that no hardnosed baseball fan should be without a copy of this game. It remains one of the best laptop travel games in existence, plays great with a full league of human players and allows you to recreate the entire history of baseball or start over with a totally custom and fictional league allowing you to create your own sense of baseball history.

A sure bet for old school gamers and for the youngsters who never had a chance to experience these game in the arcades - and the price is unbeatable. Highly recommended.

Games that are this good out of the box are relatively rare. Add in the fact that the game can be found for $20 and it's a absolute steal. Race '07 is a exemplary game that will provide many hours of racing bliss at a superb price.

Even if you played the original version on the DS, it's well worth it to jump back into the game via the HD version. Every unit and background is now hand drawn and units have excellent attack animations, complete with some fantastic audio.

At its core, this puppy has taken its serious sim roots, mixed in a few casual-friendly options and thrown in a plethora of content (both online and offline) to keep finicky gamers interested.

Beautiful, action-packed, and fully featured, Crysis is a shining example of how a first-person shooters ought to play.

It’s like playing air guitar, rocking out to your favorite music, but actually having a guitar.

Fact is, I haven't had as much fun with a racing game in a long time, and this is one even non-racing fans can look to for a good time. With any luck this won't be the end of the renovated Driver and we get to see the mechanic return in a sequel.

Disney’s Sing It knocks it out of the park.

The game's engaging story line, great voice acting and mix of humor and mayhem kept me coming back whether it was to spend some more time stealing ho's, or participating in Fight Club or simply chipping away at the gangs that took over my fair city while I was away. Add on an engaging multiplayer mode and seamless co-op and you have sandbox game that can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the GTA's of the world.

A sleeper hit.

The only real problem with this in depth beginning is that it sets the expectation that the choices you make here are going to have some affect on the game’s story.

Is the experience worth the purchase price of the game for average console gamers? If you've played Ace Combat and the like and want to try something a bit more involved, that would be a definite yes - even without the flight stick.

There are a larger variety of vehicles this time around, with additions such as the ATV and monster truck almost bookending the assortment of bikes, buggies, and trucks that you can select.

This is a heavy metal fairy tale, spun with love and copious amounts of good humor from Shafer and crew – and it’s every ounce the game fans hoped it would be.

If you were thinking about getting into playing a guitar, this would be an awesome game to start off with. Kids and adults will enjoy this game together, so it is extremely family orientated.

Panzer Corps has brought back a flood of wonderful memories for me and while I fully realize that I'm a certified Panzer General fan boy and that could possibly cloud my judgment of the merits of Panzer Corps, all I know is that my campaign ended in a German defeat.

It is unyielding and relentlessly unmerciful. A single stage will take hours of repetitious practice and cautious progression to complete. The reward is pride.

There is a truly massive amount of game here for the $5 asking price, and Gaslamp Games has clearly set Dredmor apart from the crowd. If you've ever felt the need to crawl a dungeon, this one is most definitely for you, as it serves as both an excellent "my first roguelike" and a challenging quest for the experienced spelunker.

R.U.S.E. might be the best RTS released this year, and it is certainly the most original.

An addictive, beautiful, well-designed game that is easily at the top of its genre.

It is fun while you are playing the game, even though the game can be extremely unforgiving with your moves, as it should be if you were actually operating on someone.

In the end the company has created an excellent game with good graphics, great controls that you can change, and one that runs smoothly even with 32 people playing at once. Warhawk is truly a benchmark for the PS3 and easily one of the best games in its lineup.

If you have never played the game, then absolutely, Pirates is a must have for your PSP.

Regardless of your level of familiarity with the nuts and bolts of real world racing, this is a game that not only captures the competitive spirit of wheel to wheel racing but does so in a way that is genuinely fun and somehow skirts the mundane feeling that plagues other games in the genre. Forza Motorsport 2 has officially set the bar.

Sega succeeds in revving up its old arcade rally series with this phenomenal racer that infuses off-road with a dash of drift.

Unfortunate camera and combat issues aside, Silent Hill Origins is a worthy addition to the series and should scare the socks off even the most jaded survival horror devotee.

Single player gameplay is excellent. The missions are fun and the difficulty level ramps up over time so you’re usually given a pretty good challenge without being frustrated.

The Orange Box may not restore the reputation of the bargain box, but it is a bargain, and it is worth your time. The three titles may vary in quality, but a fan of the franchise can probably overlook the flaws in Episode 2, and everyone, without exception, needs to experience Portal.

The perfect game to port to the DS. Its addictive qualities will keep you staring at the small screen during your lunch break or while waiting for your flight.

Snoopy Flying Ace may not do anything that arcade dogfight games of past console generations didn't already cover but it remains a unique title in the XBLA catalog and I'm glad that I gave it a chance despite its questionable provenance.

With an amazing single-player campaign and superior control system over its counterparts Call of Duty 2 Big Red One for the PS2 is an all around great game.

The game is a lot of fun because it's not as tedious as games like Zoo Tycoon or as inane as raising a puppy on your Nintendo DS. The game strikes a good balance between managing your pets and making a buck and offers lots of fun activities along the way.

Day of Defeat is not only a great looking game, but an enjoyable WWII multiplayer experience that gives you more than your money’s worth.

This blend of familiar gameplay and contemporary aesthetic lends incredibly well to the game, giving you the sense that it’s something wholly new, with plenty of nods to a bygone era.

The difficulty level is there providing a challenge, the game is fun, however as with all sport games such as this, it can be difficult to control unless you’re sitting down at a table. Don’t let that stop you from trying it out though – New International Track & Field is the next best thing to being at the Beijing games.

GripShift is one of the best XBLA racing games available. The game is just too damn varied, wacky, and all around fun to summarize it any other way, and the feature-packed content makes it well worth the 800 point price tag.

It is unfortunate that the movie performed as poorly as it did, as the game is one of the better arcade-style racing games that have come out in a long time.