Superbly structured strategy gameplay and a wonderfully colourful, humorous and entertaining setting make Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness one of the best strategy RPGs around.

Massive, varied, challenging, rewarding and spectacular, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is a fantastic reboot and a premier action adventure title.

Lots of destruction, lots of action and a whole lot of fun, Red Faction: Guerrilla is a must have for anybody who occasionally gets the urge to needlessly smash things and have a good time.

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

A game that will last a ridiculously long amount of time. We personally shudder to think of how long it would take to complete the entire game, it would take at least fifty hours and this isn't including the Xbox Live features.

Mega Man 9 is more than just an experiment in aesthetics or retro fan service - it's the real deal. Tough as nails, rewarding, and endlessly playable. Essential for anyone with the requisite skill or determination.

The breath of fresh air that was needed in a seemingly stale FPS genre. It takes a remarkably good idea, slides across the battlefield, kicks the enemy into the air and shoots him in the crotch with it. It's that awesome, and exactly what you'd expect of a shameless, over-the-top and entertaining old-school action romp.

Unreal Tournament III is a great PC port for the PS3. It makes for a fun, fast and furious multiplayer shooter that stands out on a system without much else.

The type of game which could rack the fifty hour limit and still force you to come back and blow stuff up because it's just that damn enjoyable.

One of the most unique adventure games in years. Gripping stuff from start to finish.

One of the few "must haves" off the XBLA.

Rock Band Unplugged is a fantastic portable representation of the series, and is worth picking up for any music game fan.

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

Enslaved is a game that has managed to sneak past the hype radar, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the most enjoyable and entertaining action-adventure titles this year.

Tales of Monkey Island is an extremely funny romp that is well worth its meager price tag.

Portal is a compact game that manages to punch well above its weight.

Warlords does a great job of fleshing out some of the minor problems that persisted through the original, and also adds some exciting new features that does the series no harm. However, some gamers may not be happy with the lack of new content at hand, especially at its price.

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

A wonderful package. It’s got plenty of modes and a superb online/multiplayer setup, and is all nicely coated with a vast selection of memorable Nintendo visuals and melodies. Tetris purists may not welcome the new changes, but they only really serve to make the game different, not necessarily worse.

Resistance: Fall of Man impresses in practically every area. For what it lacks in originality it makes up in quality.

There needn’t be any hesitation to burn those points if you're still yearning for some more medieval madness, because the Shivering Isles adds even more incredible gameplay to an already stunning RPG formula.

ModNation Racers frees gamers from the shackles of the kart racer formula and injects a healthy dose of fun and creativity into the kart racing scene.

Lara is back in fine, downloadable form. A riveting quest from start to finish.

Just Cause 2 reminds us why we play games in the first place: to have an utterly ridiculous amount of fun, and to surf jets because it's possible.

Nintendogs is packed full of quality throughout and it’s always nice to see something so refreshingly different in a world overwhelmed with FPSs and sports games. Highly recommended.

NHL 09 is an outstanding hockey game. EA has delivered two truly new features to the genre, in the form of the EA Sports Hockey League and the Be A Pro mode, which have well and truly moved the goal posts. Or net, in this instance. Grab your controller and become a hockey legend today.

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.

Simple flaws aside, NBA 2K9's solid gameplay shine above the rest, assuring that the series lifts the championship banner into the rafters for at least another year.

The only real downside to this enjoyable game is that it failed to optimise on what it had available to it.

A game that you must play at all costs.

A launch game all 360 owners should consider. An unforgettable single player experience that gets better the further you go.

A great ending to Sam & Max's best season yet, and the final reason why any adventure gamer should check this series out.

What may be a little overwhelming for new JRPG gamers that are accustomed to today’s simple and heavily story-driven titles, Digital Devil Saga still provides one of the best old-school experiences available.

I had an absolute blast with the game’s weaponry and the ideas behind the deaths of killing the creatures ( the last boss was done quite nicely) were done extremely well. A minor downfall to the game is that I didn’t necessarily feel scared during the game.

Quite easily the best version released yet, and is an ideal RPG for handheld gamers. An essential purchase for what is, currently, a dead console.

It's Ninja Gaiden II, literally in every sense of the word. It doesn't break any real new ground, but on the other hand, does it really need to?

Short of stepping into the ring yourself, Fight Night Champion is the best possible boxing experience you can hope to find.

Resistance 2 is a rock-solid sequel and does everything required of a shooter in an extremely capable fashion. It may not be the most technically adept or memorable piece of software, but it remains consistently enjoyable for the months of gameplay it provides.

Borderlands shows just how compelling a mix of shooting and looting can be. And it can be even better with friends.

With more varied puzzles, top-notch graphics and a wonderful storyline, Professor Layton and The Lost Future is a game that a true gentleman or lady shouldn't pass up.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is another wonderfully crafted Mario game that is engaging for both old and new players. Sadly the lack of online multiplayer and innovation, and gimmicky motion controls prevent it from becoming the crown jewel of the series.

Ico is a fine game that boasts both excellent design and atmosphere, and one of the few titles from this generation that have and are likely to stand the test of time.

The Darkness is an experience first and something you play second. If you can get your head around that you’ll find plenty here for your hard earned cash.

Arguably the strongest single-player FPS this year. It is the total package – great graphics, great sound, great multiplayer and captivating single player.

One of the best puzzlers in years. It's dreamy visuals combined with an almost euphoric soundtrack makes Lumines as much an experience as it is a game.

Prince of Persia makes some bold design decisions that manage to come off well and they provide a great new start for the evergreen franchise.

The core gameplay outside of the combat is identical to the original game, the camera can still cause problems, enemies could have had a little more variety, some of the bosses are lacking in quality compared to others while the soundtrack is slightly limited. But none of these hinder the game in any major way.

The Sims 3 provides gamers with a title that is more evolved and still thoroughly as addictive as its predecessors, giving gamers a greater sense of freedom and an overall refined experience.

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 severely lacking in some features that really should've been there and being a little unfriendly to newcomers, Marvel vs Capcom 3 is a fun, deep and unique fighter full of visual flair and satisfying combat.

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.

Experimental by design. It might not always work, but when it does its an experience hard to forget, wearing the Metroid tag with pride with its head held high.

Multiwinia makes most other RTS games look like bloated, honking walruses.

The game's a little easier this time, but playing through with Vergil is a completely different experience.

With a lengthy single player adventure and 3 dozen mini-games to enjoy, Super Mario 64 DS is well worth the cash, despite its minor control issues.

Virtua Tennis 3 might be a mere incremental upgrade, but it has almost everything one needs in a tennis game. Online play on the 360 version of the game is just the icing on the cake.

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.

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.

There's no reason why you shouldn't purchase this if you already have the original. While it could do with some improvements in areas, the experience is still fantastic.

Thanks to a number of rewarding new bonuses, and excellent gameplay mechanics, Donkey Kong Country 3 offers one of the best portable platforming experiences on the GBA.

Rhythm Heaven is a testament to how simple gameplay mechanics combined with ingenuous design can create a highly entertaining and immersive experience.

A great mix of fun and frustration.

Jimmy Hopkins is a more entertaining character than any of the GTA leads (except perhaps Tommy Vercetti). This propels Bully to a status of well above average, providing a rich, detailed gaming experience – but not without its flaws.

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.

It's old-school arcade racing of the Daytona/Ridge Racer kind, where shaving milliseconds off lap times is the real reward.

EA Sports Active is a fine alternative to Wii Fit, and actually encourages you to get active outside of the game as well.

One of the best built games in recent times. Intuitive action makes it simple and satisfying with sim and arcade fans being able to get in on the fun.

Whilst it is the #1 stop for V8 fans everywhere, it still falls some distance behind the mighty "Project Gotham Racing 2" and "Gran Turismo 3." This game is much more simulation than arcade based, so those expecting to be able to powerslide corners at high speed should look to "OutRun 2" or "Burnout 3" for their arcade racing fix.

With a few good additions to the solid gameplay, and ignoring the one not-so-good space combat addition, A Crack in Time is a great conclusion to a great trilogy - and possibly the series.

A great suprise game only really let down by the latter couple of levels and some shoddy voicework.

Size Matters is an enjoyable addition to the Ratchet & Clank franchise, despite a few control issues.

Its well implemented concepts of both first person and third person perspectives and its centralisation between an apartment and an alternative world offer a rare kind of gameplay experience.

While the idea of mixing weapons based brutality with careful tiptoeing stealth may have been the result of having one too many at the pub, it certainly comes off much better than expected. Well worth a look.

One thing Mario Kart Wii features a lot of is multiplayer options.

Crush is easily one of the PSP's best games, thanks largely to a fresh premise and highly addictive, brain-teasing gameplay.

But my biggest problem with the game is really just the slight lack of craziness that I've come to expect from Wario Ware. I rarely laugh out loud at a game, but the original Wario Ware provided me with much humour with its general wackiness.

I was a little disappointed when I finished it, because I wanted more. A great game that shouldn't be passed up by any Kingdom Hearts fan.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is an extremely accessible and entertaining arcade racing game. You're not likely to find a better game involving speedboats than this one.

A huge collection of some of the toughest, chewiest, and most enjoyable crossword puzzles around.

One for the fans. Despite some issues, it's damn good action game as well.

The Wii version is slightly better looking and has motion controls that are reasonably well implemented, as is the extra content.

It desperately needs a more interactive in-game tutorial system to lessen the near-vertical learning curve, but there's currently nothing else that can challenge Black Shark in the hardcore heli-sim arena.

Bleach: The Blade of Fate may be two years old, but it still comes across as a great anime-based title and is far and away one of the best fighters on the Nintendo DS.

For all the improvements that come into Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, somewhere along the way, the game's vision became blurred.

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.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is no RPG epic, but it certainly offers hours of addictive and entertaining gameplay.

The best wrestling game so far of this generation, but there are still a few bits and pieces that need some refinement. Still, for the ultimate WWE gaming experience, look no further than the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw franchise.

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

An outstanding mix of action and strategy make Glory Days 2 one of those much-fabled hidden gems.

Graphic adventure fans would be drop dead crazy to let this this fantastic adventure pass. Pun intended.

Pixeljunk Monsters is a brilliant game that's perfectly suited to the PlayStation Network. With several levels and some incredibly easy to pick up gameplay, Pixeljunk Monsters is a title that's definitely worth picking up.

Scribblenauts is about as high-concept as a game comes, and delivers remarkably well on its creative premise. However, some control frustrations and limited level design hold it back just short of true greatness.

A top-notch FPS, and a huge improvement from Finest Hour.

A visual tour de force and quite comfortably the best-looking console game out there. The bar has been raised and then some, Bungie. All of which makes the game's length something of a letdown.

While it doesn't contain as much depth as its predecessor on PC, Sid Meier's Civilization: Revolution serves up the globe conquering fun that the series is renowned for.

Far from being a mediocre tie in to the Prince's cinematic escapade, the Forgotten Sands is a platformer of the utmost quality, albeit one which unfortunately favours familiarity over invention.

The best retro compilation ever, even without many big names.

It may not have the lifespan or the consistency of ideas that the highest caliber 2D platformers contain, but with its unique design and control system there’s no denying it’s a fun game in its own right.