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.