Super Mario Galaxy is without doubt the finest game Nintendo have produced this decade - endorsements don’t come much stronger than that.

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.

There are a few technical issues; the frame rate does drop at times when things get hectic and there is some very noticeable pop-in when you're driving through the city.

The captivating storyline and uniquely brilliant gameplay make this arguably the best game on the PS2.

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.

As close to a perfect game as any you will play this year, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an exuberant masterpiece of game design. Challenging yet accessible, imaginative yet aglow with nostalgia, this is a game for everyone which posits Nintendo as a master at the height of its power.

Simply a remarkable game that hasn’t been witnessed for years. The amount of detail and care that was put into this game shows, resulting in one of the most fascinating experiences for any platform.

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.

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.

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.

A gaming masterpiece that provides an experience unlike any other.

It's a game that deserves every superlative attached to it, a title so well-rounded and technically superior that it demands to be played. [Offline review only - includes multiplayer]

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the definitive RTS experience that bends the genre to its will, and is one of the best PC exclusive titles to be released in years.

It has taken everything which made Metroid Prime so stunning in the first place and molded, defined and enhanced it into something that is even more stunning.

Bayonetta is the new Queen of action games, making other games in the genre feel redundant by comparison. Kratos, Dante and Ryu… eat your heart out because Bayonetta is here.

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.

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.

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.

Half Life 2 Episode Two equals Half-Life 2's achievements and in many cases vaults over the high bar which it created. Brimming with great story telling and excellent action it is almost a must play for anybody even remotely interested.

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

It's hard to imagine Zelda getting any better than this. Quite simply, one of the best games ever created.

Fantastically creative, wonderfully cute, and most of all splendidly fun, LittleBigPlanet reminds us of what 'play' is all about.

Simple. If you own a PC and are willing to devote your life to a great game, you need to buy this.

While the GC version is superior in key areas, RE4 is still an absolutely fantastic game and arguably this generation’s finest.

If you’re a Civ fan this game is a must, if you’re a fan of strategy games this also is a must.

Uncharted 2 is a masterfully crafted game that not only blurs the lines between game and film, but sets a really, really high benchmark for action games to come.

In a realm where creativity can so often be found lacking, Limbo stands out as one of the greatest independent games you're likely to find.

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.

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.

Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a mature and rewarding visual novel experience with an unforgettable story that features some truly excellent writing.

Wipeout HD is the best PSN game yet, jam packed full of content and polished to a shine. Highly recommended to anyone with a love for speed.

A fantastic expansion and worth every cent, Beyond the Sword offers plenty of new content to properly upgrade the world of Civilization IV. A must buy for fans of the game.

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.

Takes "Burnout 2," completely reworks it, adds a stack of variety, speeds up the game play, introduces more modes to take full advantage of the crashes and never stops sending out the challenges. It is the arcade racer to own, bar none.

Bigger and better in practically every way.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is a wonderful new adventure that takes new directions while also maintaining the foundations set by its predecessors. There are a few minor hiccups here and there, but otherwise it should not be missed by any Mario or RPG fan.

Improved in practically every way. More abilities, more weapons, more gadgets and overall just more choice. Level designs offer far more options to the player and the game is simply more fun because of it.

BioShock's combination of a compelling story, increased interactivity and fantastic gameplay raises the bar for all future first person shooters.

It's the beauty of the unique multiplayer that pushes Four Swords amongst this generations best games. An essential addition to any GC collection.

The surprisingly deep combat, impressive AI, immersive cut-scenes, lack of loading and smooth frame rate combine to deliver not only one of the PlayStation 3's best games yet, but one of the best games yet this generation.

Nobody could have predicted this. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is fan service of the highest order, all the while breaking new ground with a terrific multiplayer experience.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is an essential purchase for Wii owners which finally shows what the Wii is capable of, not only technically but in regards to control too.

The best version of one of the top games of this generation - buy it now.

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.

A game that you must play at all costs.

God of War III is as brutal and suitable a conclusion as you could have possibly asked for. Kratos WILL get his revenge.

Darksiders is a fantastic debut for Vigil Games and an addictive adventure destined to spawn a cult of worshipers.

Simply the best platformer to be released on any handheld.

Bad Company 2 is a great single player experience, but a near Godly multiplayer one. A must play for shooter fans, especially in the PC community.

A terrific compilation which gives two of the best games of the previous console generation the tender, loving care they deserve. Utterly essential for everyone with a PlayStation 3.

A wonderfully crafted world with plenty of things to see, do, achieve and kill. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has absolutely everything. An essential purchase.

A fantastically deep and satisfying fantasy world.

This is the XBox RPG to own, great combat, a brilliant storyline and fantastic character modelling.

BioWare have set a new standard in storytelling, and if you have even the faintest interest in RPGs or science fiction, then this game simply demands to be played. While there are some technical issues and awkward gameplay decisions that are hard to ignore, when it comes down to it, Mass Effect is so compelling that most people will be able to push the issues aside and immerse themselves in one of the most detailed game worlds every created.

Sid Meier's Civilization V is a fantastic sequel to the popular series and once again pushes the genre forward in polish, accessibility and insane depth.

Team Fortress 2 is, at heart, a gloriously simple game that's been created with style, panache and an undeniable love of gaming. It's the kind of game that you want to show to people who don't play games so that they understand and then either get involved or go away. There is life before Team Fortress 2, and there is life after. After is better.

As the first game to truly establish the balance between a console game and portability, Daxter is arguably the best game on the PSP.

One of the greatest Racing games I as a gamer have ever played... Rockstar made a great choice by affiliating with DUB.

Killzone 3 is a sequel that improves upon its predecessor in just about every way, and is a visually astonishing spectacle to look at.

An excellent compilation and current-gen send off for the MGS series.

Titan Quest is a godsend. It has been a while since we’ve played a quality action RPG, and Titan Quest fulfills our expectations perfectly. The game is deep, the combat is enjoyable, the game looks superb and there’s just so much to do. While the game borrows a few gameplay elements from Diablo II, Titan Quest does enough to feel fresh and offers enough variety to ensure that newcomers and fans of the genre will enjoy the experience.

Street Fighter IV combines accessibility, nostalgia, depth and sheer technical prowess to deliver one of the best games we will see in 2009.

A resounding success and the best sci-fi strategy game currently available.

The game that changed a series, and this GBA remake is near perfect. We went close to giving it a higher score, but if you like RPGs at all you really should buy this game.

Simply amazing. From the enjoyable story mode to the multiplayer the game just sounds, looks and plays terrifically.

Alan Wake is an absolute masterpiece of great storytelling engrossed in a deep backstory, accompanied with brilliant complementary gameplay to an amazing degree.

One of the strongest multiplayer shooters on the market. With classes that compliment each other, a brilliant squad system, and fast, furious gameplay, Battlefield 2 is about as much fun as online shooters get. An easy contender for game of the year.

Micro to macro, creation to community, Spore is a wonderfully imaginative and engaging experience. Don't expect great gameplay - instead, expect creativity you never knew you had, and a real attachment to the creatures in your virtual petrie dish.

Refined gameplay and a wonderfully imagined return to Rapture makes Bioshock 2 a must play experience, and one of the best games available this generation. Incredibly effective and, like the first, leaves an impression that lasts.

Even those who normally don't consider themselves fans of music games will enjoy Guitar Hero II, it's so easy to pick up and play yet so incredibly difficult to put down. An instant classic.

Mass Effect 2 is a fantastic debut for the series on Sony's console, with an engrossing sci-fi story, intriguing characters and outstanding production values. Added to the included downloadable content, Mass Effect 2 is the best value RPG on PS3.

One of the finest portable adventures ever created, and yet another high point for one of gaming's greatest franchises.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 offers a unique and unforgettable Japanese RPG experience that even succeeds at being significantly different from what Persona 3 offered. Persona 4 is the kind of game that will win back gamers who grew tired of the genre a long time ago.

It’s not the hardest game in the world, and it doesn’t quite match Zelda in depth when it comes to puzzles and combat, but it’s a beautiful game, it’s lengthy, it’s packed full with fresh ideas and, most of all, it’s an unforgettable experience that should be experienced by as many people as possible.

Not to be missed by fans of point-and-click adventuring, The Tomb of Sammun-Mak represents the very best of Sam & Max, boasting ingenious puzzles and a surplus of imagination.

Whilst Burnout Legends feels more like Burnout 3.5 it is still a highly recommendable arcade racing game, it is easily the best racing game on the PSP, and quite possibly the best title on the handheld yet.

A vast improvement over the original, Assassin's Creed II is among the most compelling action sandbox titles available.

One of the Xbox 360's best moments to date. Gears of War trades off innovation for the sake of high-class production, solid gameplay and enjoyable combat. A must.

Call of Duty 4's engrossing story, realistic graphics and compelling gameplay makes this shooter one of the releases of the year.

Excellent. A game that you must play at all costs. One or two concerns, but otherwise great.

Immersive, expansive and funny to boot, Fallout 3 makes the end of the world something to look forward to, indeed.

Mario Kart at its absolute finest. Miss it at your peril.

A brilliant game that should please everyone.

Patapon reminds us that there is still room for originality in gaming. Easily one of the must-have titles on the PSP.

Pacific Rift is what the original MotorStorm should have been, and is a must for any racing fans with a knack for destruction and chaos.

One of the purest forms of fun in gaming today. Unless your music tastes lay elsewhere this is something that should be in every PS2 owner’s collection.

The new cities are fantastic; the handling model still hits that perfect balance between fantasy and realism and the sheer amount of things to do, plus its online multiplayer means you be playing it for a long time to come.

You'd be hard pressed finding a more visceral, intense and atmospheric experience with top-level design and a brutal challenge than in the package that is Dead Space 2.

Demon's Souls is an obsessive title, a masochists dream, and an utterly amazing RPG.

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.

Arguably a better game than its predecessor in every way. Level design is more intelligent, puzzles require more thought, and the boss battles are more cinematic than ever before. In terms of the storyline, the first game has the edge.

Guerrilla have defied the claims that they could never reach the visual clarity of that infamous 2005 trailer and they defied claims that gameplay would be lacking. They haven't done anything really 'new', nor have they made a game that redefines the way we play FPS games. They've made a game that sets the benchmark for what level of quality FPS games should aim for, and stands strong against this generations biggest FPS games, proudly presenting itself as a vicious shooter that will grip you by the throat, and won't let go.

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.

Just like the physics, the trained ear will noticed that all the engine noises are unique, and change with exhaust modifications. Not only that, but they sound just like the real thing, which will no doubt send motoring enthusiasts to their happy place.

Whilst the game isn't as impressive as San Andreas, it's still incredible and some aspects that were missing from "GTA III" have been included in LCS like motorbikes and more aggresive police.

It features everything that makes a great RPG great, and offers a lot more that many don't. Shadow Hearts: Covenant is one of the unexpected surprises of the year.

Though i wouldn't expect anything less from the makers of "Dead or Alive," Ryu's animations are brilliantly motion captured and suitably fluid.

The best of the best comes to the Wii, and it's a resounding success. A great port, and great motion control.