The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim might not be perfect, but it is by far the best RPG experience of the year. The huge and wonderful province of Skyrim serves as a great setting for an even greater story evolving around a mystical hero.

Interesting idea, this mix of space shooter, RPG and a hint of trade, which promises over 40 hours of gameplay. Some weak points though, with lacking explanations for controls and too small screen fonts being the most annoying. To wit, the story isn't that original and illogical at times. Can't compare to the Summer of Arcade's top titles, but at this price, if the genre mix appeals to you, it's still a good buy.

Play this game and you will experience Sam like 2D-Duke Nukem on LSD.

GoldenEye 007 has finally arrived on HD consoles. The story is not really new and the graphics aren't state of the art, but the multiplayer mode with all the local and online possibilities is really cool.

ClaDun x2 offers no improvements over to its predecessor. Though some of the graphics will probably remind you of real classics like Secret Of Mana or Zelda, the game isn't in their league. The story is the most boring since Pacman and sound track is nothing special. The gameplay though is well done and very extensive, but you will miss a good turtorial explaining it all. The freedom of the game in character design is great, too, as are the controls. Who likes monotone dungeon-crawling will like this game, but real RPG fans won't.

A worthy successor, spectacular, yet slightly problematic when it comes down to its AI. As MW3 offers a great experience and a strong multiplayer mode, it can be recommended.

An arcade retro basketball game with dynamic AI, an intense 2 on 2 gameplay and players from the past. I love it.

Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 is a pretty cool game for all the collecting and training game fans out there. It combines fascinating gameplay with the style and monsters of the Dragon Quest series.

The graphical effects, the sounds, the atmosphere and the gameplay are boring and from yesteryear. It is one of those crappy license games everybody is afraid of.

Sideway: New York could have been something really cool, with some fresh ideas and a cool setting. But the developers didn't tap the potential of the game. The controls are tricky to handle, the co-op mode is a no-go and the story is pretty weird. On the other hand, there are some pretty cool things like the bossfights, the different points of view and the cool spray and grafitti setting.

Would have had everything necessary to become a great game, but it seems there was to little time for production. The game got some serious graphical and synchronization issues and lacks any passion in storytelling. It is just boring. There are only two good things about his game: the fighting system is really great with a lot of weapons and combos and the coop-mode is really fun to play. But that's it. Really poor what the studio has made out of so much potential.

The easily accessible gameplay as well as the strong focus on fights will keep fans of Spidey and Co. captured in it's web for a long time.

If you can't get enough of Tintin and his friends and if you don't really have much experience with video games, it's worth considering. Keep the short play time in mind.

Start the Party: Save the World! is fun when you try it for the first time, but that's about it: if your party is to last, you'd better have another title on hand.

Don't let yourself be distracted by the looks of Medieval Moves: Despite its cute and simple charm, the game is a worthy successor and progress from Sports Champions' gladiator and archery mode.

A Kinect party game with good motion sensing as its strength – hard to believe, but Rabbids Alive & Kicking feels that way. The graphic are a mixed bag, the sound feels a bit weak, but you'll generally understand why you didn't manage to really whack that Rabbid. If dancing isn't your thing and Dance Central 2 is out, likely the best party game for Kinect – if you can find the right minigames for your crowd.

The figures are an innovative concept and allow expanding the experience to taste. Budget permitting, you can add as any characters and treasures to the game as you like.

Though the campaign is short and not too demanding, Battlefield 3 is without a doubt the best shooter of the year 2011. The multiplayer mode with its huge maps, brilliant 64 player battles, and the return of the jets is the best thing going.

Bejeweled 3 doesn't bother with pretense of a story, but keeps it simple: entertaining match 3 without unnecessary fluff. Merely solid graphics and sounds, but entertaining game modes for every taste that achieve the "one more round" effect. If you're looking for depth, look elsewhere; if you want good casual fun, it's a gem.

The game stands for lots of action, a story besides the One Ring and cooperative gameplay at its best. With two friends by your side, this game shows what it's really worth.

It's the same recipe as in its predecessors: speed, Sonic and style. Although the handling is not exactly great, there's lot to find in Sonic Generations. Variety, challenges and a nice skill system do Sonic justice.

It's the same recipe as in its predecessors: speed, Sonic and style. Although the handling is not exactly great, there's lot to find in Sonic Generations. Variety, challenges and a nice skill system do Sonic justice.

Demolition Inc. is an entertaining game for your lunch break, but once played through, there is no inducement to go through it again.

Despite the good story, the well done graphics and the entertaining sounds, Spider-Man: Edge of Time lacks in gripping gameplay and action. Once more boredom prevails.

Stronghold 3 is a successor that takes up the story of the original and continues it. Wit a back to the roots approach, the game tries to avoid disgrace a la Stronghold 2. The new day and night cycles, plus the physics of collapsing buildings, are a stark contrast to largely drab graphics and some clipping problems. The missing skirmish mode is also a problem. Still, all in all, Stronghold 3 delivers a solid military and economic gameplay.

Let's hope the real NBA season will star with as much enthusiasm as 2K Games had for creating this game. Legends, great graphics, swell sound, astounding atmosphere – it has everything a basketball fan could want.

Dungeon Defenders merges RPG elements with tower defense and action aspects, and that's a good recipe. You'll rarely get so many hours of gaming fun fur such a low price.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is the best part of the Ace Combat series yet, particularly thanks to the Dogfights.

The Mystery Case Files series on PC is pretty cool and a really good choice for hidden object fans, but the genre's debut on home consoles somewhat disappoints: not enough mini games, a lacking atmosphere and the Wii's control possibilities largely untapped. Casual fans will want more hidden object games on the Nitendo Wii, but they must be better and cheaper.

It's not the first game that claims to be ultimate, but Ultimate Tenkaichi actually turns out to be a near-perfect Dragon Ball gaming experience. Lots of content, a great Be a Hero mode and destructible environments await.

The graphics are beautiful, the 3D effect is very well implemented and the Arcade Mode is a good addition. Good, albeit a bit short, space action for your spare time.

Just because it says Burnout in the title you won't find Burnout inside – Burnout Crash will have to live with that criticism. Criterion took the popular Crash mode and turned it into a complete game, but leaving quality so much roadkill in some places. It's not really a bad game, though, just miles behind the original.

All in all, I'm quite impressed. The good old Battlefield multi-player experience was supplemented with a pretty good single player campaign. The graphics and sound effects are truly stunning, as is the deep atmosphere. This is what players want from a shooter.

Technically unparalleled. The single player campaign isn't quite as great as Black Ops's story, but the multiplayer mode is outright stunning. That said, Battlefield 3 is the cosole shooter to get this year.

Kinect Sports: Season Two scores with mostly well-conceived adaptions of the sports, fun mini games and a good atmosphere. Biggest problem: the developers did not learn from the original's mistakes, the game requires tons of space even by Kinect standards. It's a little different from the predecessor, but of similar quality – spot on as a fun sports game.

Just because House of the Dead: Overkill is brutal, that doesn't necessarily mean it's not funny. For those who want challenge, not just flair, there's the crazy Director's Cut mode. Recommended for every B-movie fan, provided they don't have the Wii version.

My expectations simply were too high. Disney Universe is a solid platformer but has nothing to justify the Disney in its name. For kids it's good fun, but gamers will find it lacking in variety, flair and themes.

The phrase "more of the same" strikes one more time. Gamers who liked the main game will find this addon entertaining as well. For RPG enthusiasts, ArcaniA: Fall of Setarrif falls a little short on complexity.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the best PS3 games around, no action-adventure could stand up to it by comparison – until now! Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception combines the good elements of its predecessor with some new, fresh features like the enhanced multiplayer in a stunning setting. The atmosphere and the story really capture the player's interest and will have them lost track of time. A great game – thanks, Naughty Dog.

Real Steel does not look good, has no story, is extremely difficult, but for a quick fight between friends, it's quite okay.

Same menu structure, the same game modes, animations unchanged - an update most attractive for absolute beginners or fans who have only just gotten a PSP. Still a great game despite not being that different from FIFA 11.

I have no idea why such crimes against gamedom even get published. Simple advice: hands off! Well, at least the sound is good.

Graphical improvements as well as small game play changes make for another great game in the Heroes of Might & Magic series.

Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge is a solid sports game, albeit lacking a little in commentary and official licenses. It shines through a well done presentation and a good introduction to the sport for rugby newbies.

Tropico 4 has a little more depth than the predecessor in just the right places. If you own a PC, you should consider getting that version instead – mouse beats controller, simple as that. Otherwise: Yes, El Presidente, You should make a bid for power.

Technically solid, the game suffers from a lack of character customization, lack of suspense and overly long cutscenes. The combat system and multiplayer mode are reasonably good, so there's visible potential. Maybe we'll a second Cursed Crusade in the not too far future that learns from this game's mistakes – I'd be pleased.

Same story, same weaknesses, same strengths, just a different hero than Dead Rising 2. Only recommended for hardcore fans.

Dance Central did many things right, Harmonix really just had to improve details. They did: add good coop, dance battle, a kind of campagin mode, you get Dance Central 2. A game that takes the good predecessor to the next level. Okay, the song selection will be too modern for some tastes – but once that becomes the biggest criticism, that's a damn good sign.

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken is a pretty cool PSN game. After Rochard, this is the next PlayStation exclusive game that offers satisfying and cool arcade action. It's damn fun and cheap so if you like action-arcade, you schould try Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken.

Fans will definitely love Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, as it features everything they valued about it's predecessors: humor, characters and quirky ideas. Lots of variety, replay value and cool dialogues definitely make this a fun game.

One can finally lead a dog's life. Featuring all the strengths and weaknesses of its predecessors, this addon lives up to its promise you can now complete your Sims family.

The third hit in a row, Mediatonic! A great masterpiece of ironic-cool game play fun: kick the monsters off the islands.

On the 3DS, The Sims 3: Pets has some improvements over the original. The biggest one: the 2D-map was replaced by a wish and craving list – a pretty cool improvment. An of course, you can now play cats and dogs and customize them in many ways. There are still some weak points like the controls or the three Sims cap, but all in all, it's a nice game on the 3DS.

The innovations, the realistic depiction of animals and the cuteness make this addon an absolute must-buy for The Sims 3 fans.

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a game that perfectly combines real toy and virtual toy. The possibility of cross-platform play is quite fascinating, particularly in combination with the coop mode.

The song selection and look make Just Dance 3 a nice enough feel-good game. However, in terms of using Kinect's motion tracking capabilitites to actually track leg movement, it can't hold a candle to Dance Central. As a party game, it does have a four player mode going for it, though.

Clear, calm, yet demanding: Eufloria's gameplay is simply convincing. A lot of love went into this game, whose only shortcoming is the lack of a multiplayer option.

Don't be thrown off by the unattractive title! You will get an innovative, challenging puzzler with nice music and decent graphics for hours of gameplay fun.

Success in Michael Phelps – Push the Limit really depends on proper pacing like it would in real sports – brilliant! Unfortunately, nothing else in the game is anywhere near as brilliant. Various shortcomings really hamper the overall impression, but for swimming fans, it's worth a look thanks to the well-done pacing feature alone.

Aliens: Infestation is a pretty cool 2D open world action game. The graphics and sound effects are up-to-date and the atmosphere is absolutly Aliens-like. There are some issues with the controls and combat system, but all in all, it's one of the best action games on the Nintendo DS this year.

There's a fine line between genius and madness, and Ace Cobat Assault Horizon swings both ways. The action-oriented dogfight mode in jets is brilliant jet simple. Unfortunately, the developers included helicopters as well, and piloting them is tedious. Ace pilots will surely grit their teeth and sit through those mission, though, just to get more of the dogfighting action.

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure uses a new peripheral, which looks and works fine, but you have to buy all the other characters, there are no in game unlocks. Still, it's fun to summon new characters by using a peripheral or play local (coop or versus) with friends. Unfortunately, the game offers little freedom, doesn't really make use of the PS3's graphics capabilities and is rather on the easy side (though that may be age-appropriate). All these quibbles aside, the game is simply fun. The story and storytelling are nice and thus you'll keep on playing, forgetting time.

Great sequel to a already great game. Lots of variety, all of the tools Batman has to offer, great graphics, and a stunning atmosphere transform this into a must-have title for Batman fans.

A worthy successor.

Despite some technical issues, Disciple III: Resurrection is somewhat better than the immediate predecessor and a solid successor for the Russian TBS series.

Despite some shortcomings in the humor department and somewhat dated graphics, Airline Tycoon 2 is a worthy successor to the original classic. It's strengths are convincing characters and well-chosen voice-over artists.

If you are a fan of the old Street Fighter games which wrote history, you will love Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike Online. It's a solid remake with renewed HD character graphics, but stayed true to it's roots. The level of difficulty is as tough as ever, so if you have a bad timing, you're simply going down. The one bad thing is a stupid Hip-Hop Soundtrack in the menu, though the in-game sounds are great. All in all, the game sends you back into a typical amusement hall of the 90s.

Not just cats, but Kinectimals: Now with Bears – the game now truly has a touch of Teddy bear 2.0. Sure there's still room for improvement with the Kinect sensing. More perceived freedom in how you play is the right way to make the most of good graphics and extreme cute factor. Offers an exotic virtual pet and loads of fun with it.

Phineas and Ferb Ride Again was pretty entertaining, but the sequel is better. There are some new gameplay elements like the character customization, new mini games, a nice overview level map and the option to change your active character at any time. There could have been more variety on the mini games and better sound effects, but all in all, it's a pretty cool game.

The big draw of Worms used to be that loads of mad destruction were simply fun. Emphasis on simply. In the 3D environment of Worms Ultimate Mayhem, it's too tricky to use basic weapons effectively, which ruins that simple fun. Also, the graphics update in this content compilation didn't go far enough. Mediocre sequel to a once great series.

Despite some shortcomings in story, camera work and AI Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension is a well done movie adaption for the Wii. The game provides great fun for the whole family, especially the little ones.

An old-school jump'n'run with visuals like PIX'N LOVE RUSH. Great indie game for everyone.

If you like side-scrolling platformers, you should get Rochard. Immediately.

A fancy retro package, offered at an awesome price – a must-have for retro fans. Better than the first part of the series.

Bad Wii version of a basically good concept.

Even if you´ve played the game in the Amiga days, the new edition is worth another trip to melee and Monkey Island.

WRC 2 can't hold a candle to Codemasters' DiRT games, but Milestone did a good job in creating an enjoyable game nonetheless. WRC 2 grants rally atmosphere with howling engines and challenging tracks.

Solid entertainment for little money. Various settings, a loyal comrade in arms and stunning action make for a great mix and a great game.

Forza Motorsport 4 offers great racing action for controller users, in addition to a weak, thus pointless, Kinect racing mode. Autovista on the other hand is a brilliant Kinect bonus feature highlighting the sensor's potential. Brilliant physics engine, great looks and an incredible selection of cars make Forza Motorsport 4 a must-buy for Xbox 360 racing fans.

One of those timeless classics that just can't go wrong. The new offensive and defensive features are a great addition to a gameplay already close to perfection.

Sesame Street: Once upon a Monster offer young players a game that pulls them into a world of cuddly monters well enough. Biggest drawbacks: it's rather short and stupidly inflexible in places. Still worth looking at for parents as Kinect-active entertainment for their kids.

50 hours of fighting plus 30 hours of dialog equals Agarest: Generations of War Zero. If you are a fan of JRPGs and round-based strategy-RPGs, you will surely enjoy this game, otherwise, the gameplay feels too repetitive and monotonous. The character designs are amazing, the remaining graphics are reminiscent of old SNES RPGs but look too dated. Just a solid strategy-RPG with a lot of Anime influence.

Full game with all the fun for half the money. Not the thing for speed freaks, but a great experience for real men who want to fight the forces of nature in a nice SUV.

A stunning reworked presentation, be it in NBA's Greatest mode, Association mode or a career with your own player, meets great gameplay with a lot of depth. To me, this is definitely the sports game of the year 2011.

Orcs Must Die! is a wonderful addition to the tower defense genre spiced up with enough action to make it even more interesting and addictive.

Bleach is an amazing Manga and Anime with a massive story and very deep characters that don't quite fitinto a hack'n'slay game. Nonetheless, Bleach: Soul Resurreccion is a solid game with nice graphics, amazingly fluid controls and is great fun to play.

Despite some shortcomings on a content and story level, RAGE still is one of the top shooter releases of 2011. id Software presents an unmatched graphics experience with wonderful handmade settings.

Because of its insanely high difficulty, Dark Souls isn't for everyone. That said, after playing a while, you'll eventually fall in love with Dark Souls, and spend mnay, many hours on it. Prepare to die!

A highly frustrating, but also motivating Action-RPG in the best sense of the word: Keep yourself motivated and you will earn fame in this hardest game of 2011. A must-have for all RPG enthusiasts.

Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension is good fun particularly for fans who have already viewed the film. Some imperfections, but cool level designs and tons of unlocks.

Taking control of the ultimate soldier has never been more entertaining. The gameplay and controls of Crysis 2 are outstanding and rate among the best in the genre. Graphics and sound are incredible, the post-apocalyptic atmosphere hasn't been this good since Fallout 3. The unique Crysis 2 is much more than a typical shooter.

If you're into Formula One sports, there is no reason not to try F1 2011. It's your best shot if you want to find out how a true F1 driver has to act and think.

Red Faction: Armageddon has weak points and highligts. The story isn't that great, the dungeon-crawling experience isn't that cool and in fights chaos reigns. On the other hand, it's damn fun to kick some alien ass and destroy everything you want.

Trackmania 2: Canyon is a must-have for racing fans who do not necessarily expect pure realism.

A solid adventure with a lot of puzzles and riddels. The amount of content is pretty cool, but there are small weaknesses everywhere. The hints aren't always useful, the questions aren't clear all the time and the story is not as stunning as in Professor Layton last adventure.

A bit reminiscent of NES classic Ice Climber, but done in a rather unique way. What it lacks is variety, once you've seen a quarter of the game, it gets repetitive. Still a fun hunt for high scores and medals, apparently aimed at a fairly young audience.

City of Heroes Freedom combines the tried and true elements of a classic MMORPG with redesigned and enriched graphics. Battle-tested gameplay meets multiple new options and features.

A roaring fan game for all motocross-lovers – without disturbing advertising, but with cool flair, atmospheric commentaries and a lot of stunts.