This epic role-playing game might be Bethesda's best game yet, and offers an unique and spectacular world filled with fun. The freedom ensures a great experience for both the casual and hardcore gamer, as you're free to play the game how you like.

A gumbo of immaculate gun play, a story that stays stimulating until the very end and one of the most remarkable worlds seen in any game combines into this fantastic symbiosis. The sandbox genre has a new king, and his name is John Marston.

With one of the best open worlds in any game and an immaculate mix of great side missions, tons of content and a fantastic atmosphere, Batman: Arkham City stands among the greatest action experiences in recent times.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still, thirteen years after its initial release, one of the best adventure games out there. The refurbished 3DS-version looks stunning with its improved graphics and the control had been successfully adapted for the handheld console. Games like these are the reasons we love gaming.

The PS3 version offers the most complete Mass Effect 2 experience. Even if the cartoon representing the story of the original Mass Effect, though nice to look at, seems a bit redundant, ME2 is still a game that everyone should experience and enjoy.

Bioshock Infinite is a visionary piece of entertainment where the gameplay, characters, art style and story all come together to make what undoubtedly will be considered one of the best games of this generation.

StarCraft II proves that old game mechanics can still work if done right. The game is fun to play in singleplayer, but its true excellence is stated in the best realtime strategy multiplayer yet to date. It´s an instant classic which will be played in many years to come.

The 1.0 version of the indie phenomena is still obviously unfinished and flawed in many ways, but it's so easy to forget that when you're building your dream castle, exploring scary caves and vast mountain ranges and having a great time in its blocky world.

Persona 4 Golden is part detective novel, part teenage simulation and part asian RPG – all being important pieces which combine to create some of the most memorable and entertaining moments I’ve ever had with a JRPG.

Although Mass Effect 3 may be quite far from beeing the best role-playing or shooting game out there, it certainly concludes one of the most intelligent and epic science fiction universes shown in games. As both the best game in the series and an instant game classic, this is truly an experience no gamers should miss.

Link is back in the best shape we've seen him in for years. The puzzles and challenges are brilliant, and the motion controls really shows you how to do something right. This 25 year old kid is still as relevant as ever.

Contre Jour ends up being -- despite some small flaws -- a good physics based iOS game. A well thought out game mechanic revolving around manipulating the terrain lies as a solid foundation, and every level completed feels like a small triumph.

This is the definitive action game. This is a game that stands on the shoulders of giants, and stretches even further.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception's visuals are absolutely stunning, from beautiful and life-like surroundings to characters that look like they could walk into your livingroom any moment. And when Drake returns this time, developer Naughty Dog has perfected the balance between storytelling and gameplay. They've practically ticked all the boxes this time, and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception may very well be one of the best games this year.

Fire Emblem: Awakening is the most accessible Fire Emblem game to date, but still manages to stay true to its core. With a wealth of customization options, tons of characters to meet, pair up and develop, and a rock solid strategy RPG foundation, it is easily one of the best games on the 3DS today.

ICO and Shadow of the Colossus stands out from the crowd, offering a deep and engaging story that keeps you going until the end credits. Not as groundbreaking in 2011 as when they first came out, but still with a unique and emotional gameplay. Pure quality - now in HD.

Dishonored is a love letter to everyone who has longed for more stealth action games in the vein of Thief. With its vast levels, openness, and its plethora of different ways of play this is a game that should be a great fit for practically everyone.

LittleBigPlanet started a movement, and with its immensely powerful tools, this sequel might very well repeat that. LittleBigPlanet 2 is a great game and a fantastic tool – now it's all up to the players to create new content.

The depth, the possibilities and the realism make this a must have purchase for those interested in baseball. A title that truly rewards those who commit themselves to the game.

Bungie says a fond farewell with Reach. The Single Players does nothing new as supposed to the previous games, but Reach is more defined by its excellent depth in multi player than anything else.

Forza 4 gives us the most complete experience of all the Forza games. The physics are better, the multiplayer and career modes are improved and there are more cars and tracks than ever before. But there are few truly new features for the racing enthusiast. Where is the dynamic weather and night racing?

Gears of War 3 is the definite pinnacle of the series. The third chapter about Marcus Fenix and his gang of brutes is exciting from start to end, and an incarnation of everything that Epic Games has learned during the last five years.

While the overall improvements aren't too severe, the new tackling and physics systems drastically change how the game is played. FIFA 12 feels like an entirely new game in many ways, the question is whether you're ready to try something new or not.

Trials Evolution lives up to its name by offering a better learning curve, visuals, environments and multiplayer integration than its predecessor. At 1200 MS points, this is easily one of the best value Xbox Live Arcade games in years.

While the overall improvements aren't too severe, the new tackling and physics systems drastically change how the game is played. FIFA 12 feels like an entirely new game in many ways, the question is whether you're ready to try something new or not.

The whole game is over far too quickly, and the whole feels too fragmented and superficial to stand among the best. Aesthetically, the game is exceedingly interesting, but the interactions are somewhat trite. Still, its conceptual uniqueness makes it a game worth playing.

Stunningly beautiful and hauntingly atmospheric, Limbo is a modern day masterpiece. The puzzles are balanced and intelligent, and the art direction is phenomenal. This is one of the classics you owe yourself to experience.

Ever wanted to rule the world? Civilization V gives you all the tools you need to do just that, and boy is it addictive. This is a game absolutely everybody needs to try.

Mario is back! In a classic Mario-fashion you jump your way througheight worlds, where you battle goombas, koopas and the main meaniehimself, Bowser. This game is never particularly difficult, butgradually advanced to a challenge that feels just perfect. Fun, varied and guaranteed to make you smile.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution offers incredibly flexible game play, a strong role-playing system, tons of action and a quite good story. All taking place in a dark and intriguing future. It is up to you to determine whether humankind will go forward as either man or machine.

The series is back where it all began and Shogun 2 is both at tribute to the original and a testament to how far the series have come. It's a solid game with excellent gameplay, but prone to becoming a bit monotone after several playthroughs.

Recycling weapons has never been this fun. Borderlands improves and expands on everything in the predecessor. It's bigger, better and even more hilarious than anything you could have hoped for.

There's nothing you haven't seen before. It only takes a bright solid, arch-depressive medieval world, mixes it with a fantastic battle system and pushing the limits of your patience to the extreme. The result is unique in all the right ways.

This game is huge, addictive and polished in every single manner. When it all comes to it, Hot Pursuit captures the very essence of what a racing game should be - fun.

Fez pulls you in with its unique premise and forces you to change your perspective and solve puzzles in new and inventive ways. Beneath the cutesy retraux visuals and simple platforming lies one of the most fiendishly deep puzzle experiences in 2012.

This game definitely isn't perfect, but it is the most solid addition to the FIFA franchise thus far. FIFA 11 represents the greatest and most mature simulation of football in a video game to this date.

L.A. Noire does a lot of things right, and the fantastic facial animations alone make it worth a closer look. That being said, the game is not flawless, and there is quite a bit of work to do if there is to be a sequel.

With XCOM: Enemy Unknown Firaxis brings back a diminished genre and proves that turn based tactical gameplay is just as fun now as it was 15 years ago. With its great depth the challenging combat aspect overshadows the mediocre storyline to make this a great revival of a classic series.

Although its single player campaign lacks some inspiration, Battlefield 3 stands out as the pinnacle of modern day war-based first-person shooters. With its astounding visuals, sound effects and addictive multiplayer gameplay, it's a game that will be played and loved for a very long time.

Dead Space 2 is clearly streamlined to cater to a more trigger happy demographic than its prequel. I wish this game was scarier, but there's no denying that it is a great game nonetheless.

As one of the few franchises that can challenge the EA Sports hegemony, NBA 2K11 isn't only a great addition to a good sports series. It is compelling, challenging and competitive, and might very well be the best basketball game to date.

If you push yourself through this nightmare and its spiritual prequel, you will find that you enjoy modern games a lot more. Dark Souls lacks the open structure of Demon's Souls, but might be even more rewarding.

Modern Warfare 3 doesn't reinvent gunpowder, but sticks to the recipe of the previous games in the series. With a decent story and good multiplayer it's a game worth playing, but the lack of willingness to add improvements in gameplay show a laziness often found in a complacent game series.

The PC version of Assassins Creed: Brotherhood offers updated graphics and reduced loading times to give you the ultimate assassin experience. Relive 16th century Rome like never before and lose yourself in this epic action game. Rome has never been this beautiful.

NHL 11 is not only the ultimate hockey game, it's the ultimate sports game. EA Sports gives us the authentic feel of the NHL in a game where you are the star. It's no doubt in my mind that this is the sports game of the year 2010.

Far Cry 3 is impressive on all levels. The island pours over with insanity, helped along by a great cast of friends and foes. Graphically stunning, and a candidate for Game of the Year-awards.

NHL 11 is not only the ultimate hockey game, it's the ultimate sports game. EA Sports gives us the authentic feel of the NHL in a game where you are the star. It's no doubt in my mind that this is the sports game of the year 2010.

The Enhanced Edition improves upon an already excellent game and brilliantly spreads the Witcher gospel to Xbox-owners. The dark and brutal adventures of Geralt are still marvelous and everyone who hasn't played Witcher 2, but enjoys an occasional RPG, should prepare themselves for an exciting and seductive experience.

In this latest installment of the series you get a story that's even darker than before. A lot of hard moral dilemmas are thrown at you, and you see the group you've come to know as a family falling apart. This episode also brings more puzzle elements than before, making it feel more like a traditional adventure game than an interactive graphic novel.

Although it is a new game wrapped in old game mechanics, Diablo III stands out as an achievement in game craftsmanship. The shear brilliance, flow and amount of fun this game offers is nothing short of staggering.

With five new maps, new weapons and vehicles, Vietnam is a good multiplayer-expansion to 2010s best first person shooter. Although a new mode would have given the package more meat to the bone, there is plenty of napalm to go around.

Modern Warfare 3 doesn't reinvent gunpowder, but sticks to the recipe of the previous games in the series. With a decent story and good multiplayer it's a game worth playing, but the lack of willingness to add improvements in gameplay show a laziness often found in a complacent game series.

With five new maps, new weapons and vehicles, Vietnam is a good multiplayer-expansion to 2010s best first person shooter. Although a new mode would have given the package more meat to the bone, there is plenty of napalm to go around.

The Witcher has matured from a game brimming with potential to a milestone in rpg-history. The Witcher 2 offers a thrilling and well-polished adventure with all the raw brutality we crave. An instant classic.

It's a formidable return to form for Master Chief. This gorgeous game offers thrills and challenges from start to finish, and provides a much more personal story for our hero than what we've seen before.

Dirt 3 is a good mixture of traditional rally and modern car sports like gymkhana. A distinct and good driving experience combined with great graphics and music, overshadows the lack of inspiration in the single player campaign, and make Dirt 3 a driving game petrolheads surely will enjoy.

Max Payne 3 brings back the depressed and trigger-happy former cop, in a new and surprisingly entertaining chapter of his life. Rockstar has brought the story to São Paulo, equipped Max with a few new tricks and made everything look a bit more polished and updated. The addition of a well-rounded multiplayer proves to be a stroke of genious that adds loads of extra hours of fun gameplay.

A timeless classic is back to demonstrate once more how amazing it is. The gripping story is accompanied by a brilliant combat system and rock solid character progression. If you ever wanted a true gem for your portable, this is it.

Dirt 3 is a good mixture of traditional rally and modern car sports like gymkhana. A distinct and good driving experience combined with great graphics and music, overshadows the lack of inspiration in the single player campaign, and make Dirt 3 a driving game petrolheads surely will enjoy.

Tomb Raider is trying to tell Lara’s origin story in a mature fashion, and it somewhat succeeds by depicting the island as an organic living being, and making sure Lara is a believable character with great performances by actress Camilla Luddington. The rest of the game is less impressive, with the sheer amount of jarring enemies, stale combat and tacked on multiplayer.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective offers a great and eccentric cast, well-written dialogue and a unique take on the point-and-click genre. If you skipped the Nintendo DS release you should not let this one pass by unnoticed.

Call of Duty: Black Ops has a solid and fun multiplayer, and the best story in a Call of Duty-game yet. Despite this, it has got issues with arbitrary and unnecessary design. It isn´t as tight as its predecessor, and unless you are either not a fan of singleplayer story, og just plain tired of the multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2, the latter is still the better game.

This special edition comes with all the free multiplayer DLC, as well as the extended cut of the ending and bonus mission From Ashes. It's a pretty good package overall, and the Genesis motion comic fills in the story of the two preceding games. The inhumanly long loading screens of the Wii U version do put a damper on the experience, and Genesis skips plenty of important decisions from previous games that makes the story feel a little incomplete. But for newbies to the Mass Effect universe this is a damned good purchase.

Who knew a stroll into Arts and Crafts land could be this much fun? Kirby's latest adventure is a pure joy, and although it's a bit on the easy side, it'll keep you very entertained from start to finish without even flinching.

Fall of the Samurai is a good expansion pack for one of the best strategy games of 2011. It gives a great history lesson about en epoch in japanese history the western hemisphere tend to forget. Furthermore, it is the first time the Total War franchise shows the staggering effect the industrial revolution had on military warfare - evolve or die.

Football Manager 2013 has inherited its throne as the #1 manager simulator. Don't expect a revolution, but a few tweaks here and there, and the addition of a couple of new game modes mean this year's release does just enough to be a must-buy for fans of the series.

Capitalizing on the recent flow of word games seems to have paid of. Puzzlejuize is a great blend between Tetris and Boggle, and mixing spelling and stacking becomes second nature after a little while.

Hank Hazard is good at unveiling its elements through the many good levels, and the general visuals bears comparison to many a cartoon mascot. The game does not try to invent the genre anew but is an enjoyable experience anyway.

Although amendments have been made to cater Crysis 2 to a multi-platform audience, it is still a fun game for shooter enthusiasts. It's brilliant use of the nanosuit, high production values and good weapon physics make Crysis 2 a great first person shooter in singleplayer and multiplayer.

Blizzard's newest expansion keeps StarCraft II as the king of real time strategy, even though I'm not a huge fan of the narrative. The campaign is composed of well-crafted and varied missions, while multiplayer also offers some new and interesting additions to the formula.

To me, this series is a perfect example of a video game larger than the sport it simulates. You don't have to be a ice hockey fan to enjoy it, nor do you need to be an avid gamer to understand its magic. This is one of the greatest sports games of all time.

In all it's familiarity the Diabloesque gameplay sucks you in, but it is the beautiful word, the brilliant music, and the genius voice over that keeps you going. Bastion might be a game, but it's much more a fascinating fairy tale told in real time.

A fun and colourful mix of platform and racing. It won't set your world on fire, but is a solid downloadable title well worth checking.

Luigi's Mansion 2 does exactly what a good sequel should do and builds upon he solid foundation of its predecessor whilst also bringing fresh new elements to the table. Our frightened protagonist is as charming as ever, and the game's mission based structure is a welcome addition over the open world setting of the original game.

Splinter Cell: Conviction is faster and more action oriented than previous games in the series. It's getting closer to a third person shooter, but Conviction has not lost its unique Fisheresque soul. This is great entertainment.

With an engaging and touching story, beautiful graphics and a cast of charming characters, this is one of the best game experiences this year. You'll be whisked away to a wonderful world that's hard to tear yourself away from.

Tiny Wings is a charming, compelling and addictive sidescroller about a bird who needs help to fly due to his small wings. By pressing the screen at the right time and thus giving the bird speed, the game gives you a distinct feel of flow very rarely seen in mobile games.

You can't really go wrong with Street Fighter, and that's the case on the 3DS as well. Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edtition is tons of fun and the best launch title on the console.

This might very well be the scariest game I've played in over 20 years as a gamer, and I dread the thought of all the nightmare-fodder I've given myself by playing it.

Forza Horizon is a fresh branch on the Forza tree. It is truly a pleasure to drive the beautiful cars pedal to the metal through the magnificent scenery, but Forza Horizon feels a little bit inconsistent at times.

This years edition focuses on streamlining team setups and tactics, as well as improving the importance of your staff. It manages to do that perfectly, and the result is another amazing game.

Exploring the beautifully rendered American east coast during the 16th century is a delight. The woodland nature areas provide a atmosphere and a sense of freedom that's been lacking in the series previous installments. Variation in quests, innovative and well developed systems are the game's strongest parts.

If you enjoyed Batman: Arkham City in 2011, there's really no great incentive to don the superhero costume again. The Wii U version is still a good way to experience and explore Arkham City if you've yet to play the game, though.

A hugely rewarding game for gamers who don't mind a challenge. Be prepared for many, many hours of exploration, in a game world that's truly memorable. The game is best played with a controller, but that should not be a problem for a PC gamer in 2012.

Unless you are a big Mario Kart-fan, this game might not be worthbuying. By all means, it's fun the way only Mario Kart can be, itlooks more stunning than ever before and if you need new tracks it caneasily offer hours of entertainment. But Nintendo must have made this game on autopilot.

Lords of Shadow is an impressive next step for the Castlevania-series. It's drop dead gorgeous, and the awesome combat system will challenge you to no end.

When you turn off your brain and let your intuition take over, you become one with Dante in a wild and seductive game you just want to play over when it finally ends.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMO founded upon a conservative, yet improving mentality. It delievers a great amount of good content within the Star Wars universe, and is by far one of the best games this genre has seen the last ten years.

Fallout: New Vegas marries the best of Bethesda's open world tradition with Obsidian's excellent storytelling, writing and quest design. This is a huge and addictive role-playing game with an enormous amount of content and options for the player.

SpaceChem is an intelligent and addictive puzzler with a high difficulty level but some of the most enjoyable and satisfying puzzles I've ever experienced. This is a modern classic in the puzzle genre.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes HD offers a battle system that focuses on patience, patterns and experience. Elements of other genres, like role playing and puzzle games, are ultimately mixed into a whole that result in a quite unique experience. The game's aesthetics are colorful and pleasant, and the engaging online battles offers hours upon hours of competitive fun.

Beyond Good & Evil HD is a visually lovely update to what many consider an ignored classic. There is much to be admired about how the heroine Jade is presented and how the game mixes a plethora of genres with some success, but the nonexistent difficulty curve and simplistic mechanics make it hard to recommend for fans of action-rpgs.

Monster Hunter Tri is a fabulously engrossing game with enough meat on it's bones to last a lifetime. It's fun, exhilarating and provides one of the best cooperative experiences money can buy.

Football manager never fails to deliver, and this year's edition, though not revolutionary, has some neat changes that improve upon an already fantastic game. Ready yourself for another holiday season in front of the computer, because this game will pick you up and never let you go.

The Director's Cut of Trine 2 is not a flawed version of a good game by any means. It's just the simple fact that Trine 2 wasn't all that good to begin with. Sure, the game looks fantastic, and it's general platforming sections handle great with the trio of protagonists, but the game's remaining two thirds are majorly flawed. The combat is bland, and the riddles are disastrously bad.

Like its predecessor, No More Heroes 2 is a mixture of brilliant originality and dull mediocrity. It has funny writing, bizarre characters and wonderful retro mini games, but also loads of tedious and repetitive combat that goes on for way to long.

This strategy game is a real gem. It's easy to learn and play, very smart and – thanks to a really evil computer opponent – very challenging. I just wish it had a bit more content, especially in the multiplayer department, but don't let that stop you from giving it a go.

This episode turns the story to focus on other survivors being as big a threat as the undead. You have to decide who you can trust, and make some very difficult choices along the way. The story is a lot darker and more brutal than before, which is both thrilling and horrifying.