A superior game to its predecessor, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is the game that probably should have been originally released. Even if it doesn't quite achieve everything it sets out to do.

A magnificent homage for the 25th anniversary of one the biggest franchises in gaming, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword provides a compelling gaming and artistic showcase for the indefatigable potential of the medium as a whole, and a reason to have gaming as a hobby.

Excellent presentation, compelling story and gameplay and value for money, Professor Layton and the Last Spectre is both a fitting sendoff for the DS and a great new beginning for the Layton series.

Sonic CD is one of the more robust examples of quality nostalgia and how developers should handle their distribution in the modern age.

With a greater sense of gameplay fun than ever before and a true evolution in controls, WWE '12 is an excellent wrestling game, but visual inconsistency and its overabundance of DLC hamper the game experience as a hole and hold it back from truly being a Great One.

A fitting end to the stories of Ezio and Altaïr build on a high standard of gameplay fitting for the series, ultimately held back by a lack of true gameplay evolution. Fans of the series won't be disappointed, but may find the wait for Assassin's Creed III made just a little bit harder.

Strong racing foundations let down by a weak single player are quickly made up by some of the best multiplayer components found in any Nintendo game. Best played online and with friends, this is Mario Kart for the socialite.

In Rayman Origins, Ubisoft and Michel Ancel have crafted both the best platforming game of the year and a striking monument to the giddy joys of the medium's heritage. Fun, funny and frantic.

Inventive, beautiful and dangerously addictive, Super Mario 3D Land is the 3DS defining game, capitalising on the system's strengths and value of portability, while recalling the best qualities of both 2D and 3D iterations of the franchise. Not to be missed.

Just about the finest example of core, yet accessible, Western RPG and open-ended gameplay. In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Bethesda have realised the game they wanted to make since the inception of HD gaming.

Football Manager 2012 exercises the same sheer depth and freedom that have seen the series leave other football management titles in its wake.

It might not deal with terrorists or modern combat, but Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary remains a downright enjoyable experience from start to finish that most gamers should experience.

Saints Row: The Third takes everything your teenage self found awesome and distills it into a single, outrageous game.

Proving that old school can still be cool, Shinobi makes a welcome return on the 3DS.

It's still rough around the edge, but House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut proves to be a package that is great value for money, especially if you haven't already played Overkill on the Wii.

Ties in the fates of the three protagonists very well, and makes some good improvements on the way. But the real revelation will be if the next proper sequel manages to improve rather than just polish an ideas pool running low.

Where it lacks in revolution it success in execution. Tropico 4 represents the best qualities found in city management simulators, and is the best entry yet in a beloved franchise.

Kirby: Mass Attack has all the features of an excellent DS game - innovative controls, delightful gameplay and eye-popping visual style. This may be one the of the last DS games, but without a doubt, it is one of the greatest.

Might and Magic Heroes VI is a great game. It brings back much of what veterans loved about the first few titles and remains feeling fresh and notoriously addictive.

Infinity Ward and Slegdehammer Games have fashioned a fantastic product, not for its fresh or innovate approach, but for the sheer content and refinements made to the existing product. The solo campaign, though short in length and somewhat lacking in climax, exemplifies flawless shooter gameplay while delivering a satisfying end to the Modern Warfare trilogy.

An unquestionable downloadable gem, Dungeon Defenders is a truly refreshing experience amongst a market dominated by whizzing bullets and big explosions. Just make sure you play it with some friends.

Battlefield 3 is a poor single player title, an amazing multiplayer game, but has layers of useless nonsense that hurt it in the long run.

Sonic Generations is, quite simply, the greatest Sonic game ever produced. Regardless of whether that statement still holds any relevance today, this game is a triumphant victory for Sonic Team and for the blue hedgehog himself. Stand proud Sonic, you deserve it.

Multiplayer, both competitive and co-operative, has been genuinely improved and provides an exciting alternative for PlayStation 3 owners. At the end of the day, for what it lacks in complexity, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception makes up for it in spades in delivering thrill and adventure.

Realistic, challenging, gorgeously presented and chock full of solid gameplay, NBA 2K12 is the new benchmark for solid sporting titles.

Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster is an excellent family-friendly experience that kids will learn a lot from and adults will have fun with. This is definitely a game that lives up to the Sesame Street name.

Believe the hype. Arkham City is one of the most important games made for this generation and it's also a masterclass in design, execution and treatment.

Brilliant budget priced arcade racing that recalls a simple, better gaming time. Be prepared to wear out the race reset key as you make the thousandth attempt at a perfect run, if just to show off your racing mastery to the world.

Dark Souls is one of the defining RPGs of this generation that goes above and beyond the genre to bring us something terrifying and unforgettable. An unmissable gem for the daring.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is the best air combat game of this generation. Project Aces nail the art of aerial action, with intense gameplay, sublime presentation and excellent solo and multiplayer modes.

Some niggling issues and problems aside, FIFA 12 is a fantastic sports game that delivers where it matters - gameplay.

Forza 4 impresses for not only providing a beautiful, solid and deep racing experience, but making it fun and accessible for any car enthusiast or newcomer.

Rage is a bold new direction for id software with incredible art direction, old-school gunplay and a terrible story.

ICO and Shadow of the Colossus are two of the greatest games ever made, and they're still as emotionally gripping and visually astounding as before. This is the closest you'll get to perfection in 2011.

With tight vehicle controls, impressive presentation and explosive dual-stick shooter gameplay, Renegade Ops is a highly entertaining and well-priced downloadable game that can be enjoyed by all.

F1 2011 is a technically stronger outfit than its predecessor, with some sweet new additions for fans, but we can't say that it's absolutely vital unless you're very passionate or curious.

Beyond Reasonable Doom, along with the whole Hector trilogy, is hilarious and well worth a look for any fan of British humour or classic adventure games.

The Gunstringer not only shows off great potential for Kinect, it shows off the possibilities of a little bit of creativity added to the presentation.

It's easily the most compelling application of 'synaesthesia' and a wholly unique audio/visual experience. It probably loses a little bit of the involvement that came along with Kinect, but Move is still an accurate experience that outweighs the conventional controller, and will make this the most accessible version.

Repetitious gameplay and confusing plot drag down what is otherwise a breathtaking audio and visual experience. Visually there is absolutely nothing else like it, which alone warrants a serious look.

Though not without its faults, Gears of War 3 ties up the trilogy in a brutally final and satisfying manner.

Space Marine is a thrilling, well paced action game that is only really let down by its shoddy matchmaking system and somewhat repetitive nature.

For 800 MS Points, Crazy Machines Elements is well worth the money, providing patient players willing to overlook its minor flaws with countless hours of fascinating and complex puzzles.

NHL 12 is the new benchmark that sports games will aspire to challenge, it's also the best and most complete title that EA Sports has released in years.

Longtime fans of the Driver series should breathe a sigh of relief, as Ubisoft Reflections has managed to produce a largely successful reboot. While the narrative is completely laughable, it does pave the way for the shifting mechanic, which is well-handled. If you can battle through the frustration associated with sporadic difficulty spikes and some of the game's other minor flaws, you're bound to have some good old fashioned fun with Driver: San Francisco.

Not even a wobbly second act can derail Insomniac's achievement with Resistance 3, a lean and engaging shooter which hums on a current of renewed creative energy and artistic focus. The franchise has finally founds its voice, and we look forward to what it has to say next.

Star Fox 64 3D still holds up well today, and certainly enough to justify this remake. It's not a classic that redefined a genre, but it is a very fun arcade shooter with a huge amount of replayability.

Has everything that made the original such a great game, and so much more. It's a proper visual update of one of the most important fighting games ever made, with plenty of new modes, features and a well functioning online mode.

Dead Island, while rough around the edges, has a lot of content for those willing to put in the hard yards of side questing and zombie murdering, and is ultimately a solid open world adventure.

Outside of the rough edges, Deus Ex: Human Revolution manages to truly realise the concepts of openness, choice and consequence, while wrapping them in a unique, faithful and wholly excellent gameplay package.

A deep breath of fresh air for an arguably stagnant genre, Xenoblade Chronicles is essential gaming for anybody with a flavour for role playing. It represents the absolute best of what traditional Japanese RPGs could be, and triumphantly what Japanese RPGs should be.

Requiring much more lateral thinking and old-school adventure antics than some of Telltale's latest offerings, Senseless Acts of Justice is both hilarious and challenging, although it once again leaves us hungry for more.

SPY Mouse is an attractive, well-designed and fun game that's a must for any fan of Flight Control or anyone looking for a bit of mobile stealth puzzling.

There are a couple of problems with how the game is controlled, but they mostly do not affect the fun and mindless gameplay experience that Fruit Ninja Kinect should (and does) offer.

If you hate puzzle games,Catherine will be like a scorned lover, vying desperately for your attention with methods that don't always work. If you love puzzle games though, Catherine will be the closest you will ever get to having the perfect relationship, drawing you in with its strong and compelling storyline and deep and multi-faceted gameplay.

Seamlessly combining minimalist presentation with intuitive puzzle design, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet makes great use of the Metroid formula.

A wonderful new addition to the Xbox Live Arcade that suffers from small irritations more than anything else, but it's still a beautiful experience.

Addictive poker role playing with real tactical depth making sure every battle keeps you on your toes, all at a bargain price.

Those willing to explore and look past the heavy-handed story will find that Bastion is a safe place to put their money into, and that Supergiant Games should be looked out for.

Solar 2 is a simple but effective sandbox title that feeds off your addiction to it and delivers an enjoyable ride across the universe.

Whether you fancy the occasional puzzle or PSN title, or you're a puzzle game addict looking for your next hit, Puzzle Dimension will be the answer to your prayers. With a creative twist on mechanics and a welcomed splash of retro paint, be prepared to say goodbye to many, many hours.

Schafer hasn't been able to crack the finer details of blending a story with action and strategy, but Trenched is definitely a step in the right direction, opening up a myriad of possibilities.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is a lovingly remade version of a all-time classic, and is currently the best reason to own a Nintendo 3DS.

F.E.A.R. 3 is a fun shooter best played with friends, and although the campaign is short and kind of confusing, there's plenty of replayability in the multiplayer to make this a worthy purchase for any fan of the series.

Shadows of the Damned is more than the sum of its rough parts, a rollicking gamers' game which brims with personality and individuality amid a muddy ocean of po-faced shooters. Experience it before its relegation to the status of 'cult classic'.

The best episode of the bunch, OUTATIME provides some great closure to the series and a great final adventure with Marty and Doc.

A gale of fresh air, Child of Eden compels and delights on a number of levels.

InFamous 2 is a much better game than the first but not a better story, and still suffers from a few inconsistencies which keep it from being truly excellent.

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie wraps up the 'Nintendo DS remake trilogy' by being the best one yet. Absolutely anyone will enjoy this top-quality role-playing game, so go and experience this 'proper' Japanese RPG for yourself.

DiRT 3 is the best racer since Forza in 2009, and we can't think of greater praise.

Though not radically different from the Wii version, No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise remains a blood soaked, mayhem filled title that is definitely deserving of a look-in for those who are yet to experience the world of Travis Touchdown.

L.A. Noire superbly reproduces classic film noir, and combines great new gameplay ideas with groundbreaking technology and smart designs.

With its awesome gameplay mechanics and game design, beautiful graphics and original setting, Gatling Gears is likely to be one of the better downloadable titles you'll play this year.

If you've got the PC for it, you must buy The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, as it is not only an incredible experience but one of the best RPGs ever made.

Friendly enough to for the non-Sims-enthusiasts among us and something fresh for players that have been around the block before, The Sims Medieval shows that there's still some life in this franchise yet.

It may not be leaps and bounds away from the original Nintendogs, but a few improvements and additions, regardless of gimmick factor, means that Nintendogs + cats does prove that the virtual pet genre is still alive and kicking.

It may not be leaps and bounds away from the original Nintendogs, but a few improvements and additions, regardless of gimmick factor, means that Nintendogs + cats does prove that the virtual pet genre is still alive and kicking.

It may not be leaps and bounds away from the original Nintendogs, but a few improvements and additions, regardless of gimmick factor, means that Nintendogs + cats does prove that the virtual pet genre is still alive and kicking.

While you wouldn't call it epic, Kirby's Epic Yarn is a welcome addition in the current, and possibly continuing, dearth of quality Wii titles.

If you're looking for something much more different from a typical hack-and-slash RPG and want plenty of challenge, Din's Curse and its expansion, Demon War, will be sure to sate your appetite for a long, long time.

Fast, fluid, challenging, alluring, a visual and audio treat, Outland utilises classic inspiration, modern sensitivities and innovation to create the best original platformer in a generation.

With some good gameplay additions and a new twist on the career mode, Virtua Tennis 4 still manages to play a great game of arcade tennis.

Built on the shoulders of Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood is the most polished and robust execution of the Assassin's Creed formula yet.

The single-player campaign doubles the length of the original, and is crammed with even more hilarity and devious puzzles than ever before, as well as extending the concept with the introduction of larger environments and new mechanics like the gels. The co-op is amazingly fun, and while the story is less complex, the gameplay is even more concentrated insanity than the single player.

Swarm really has a killer one-two punch with its combination of engaging and unique gameplay and whimsical presentation style.

It may not be anything particularly extraordinary or hardcore, but Starnia is an entertaining shooting package that succeeds at providing a uniquely fresh shooting experience. It offers an interesting mix of traditional shmup conventions and modern game design innovations.

Shogun 2: Total War is a great addition to the Total War series, and is definitely one to pick up if you're a fan of Sengoku-era games, or have the slightest interest in RTS titles.

One of the better launch titles for the 3DS, Ridge Racer 3D delivers a boatload of content, solid arcade gameplay and great 3D effects.

WWE All Stars is easily the most entertaining wrestling video game to come out in years. What it lacks in content is more than compensated by its superb play mechanics.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters definitely uses the iconic tournament as an advantage and is a great golf game. But it needs more tangible reward and polish, with less fluff and gratuity.

Take the Super Street Fighter IV package and stick it on a handheld. They said they were crazy. We say they're brilliant.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile goes straight for the jugular, rips out the voice box and releases a deafening roar. Why? Because it can, and because it's awesome.

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together sets the bar for what a good remake should be and certainly cements itself as one of the best isometric strategy role-playing games around.

While Yakuza 4 doesn't really feel like a huge improvement on the formula, it tells a great story just the same.

Shift 2: Unleashed doesn't offer the experience that so much of the preview footage was based on. That being said, it's still a great racing game.

While losing some of the scope and ambition of the first game, Crysis 2 is still a phenomenal title which rewards the inventive player and takes FPS into a different direction for the better.

There is little lacking and so much right within Okamiden. A great sequel, a suitable DS send-off and an outstanding game in its own right.

It's de Blob as you might expect, but it's the best damn Blob money can buy, and an exceptional game in its own right.