Chosen by JOE GRIFFIN and CIARA O'BRIEN
ASSASSIN’S CREED: REVELATIONS
Each new Assassin's Creedgame deepens both the mythology and the sophistication of the gameplay. Moving the action away from Italy was smart, as Constantinople is a perfect new playing field – a grandiose centre of the old world. This remains a classy franchise, despite-a-some-silly-accents.
BATTLEFIELD 3
The single-player campaign was divisive (we liked it though), but the online multiplayer was breathtaking; a teeth- rattling, ground shaking, eye-searing battleground with an almost endless number of ways to show your mettle. Battlefield 3also showed striking attention to detail, from every dusty corner to each splash on the virtual camera.
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3
The Call of Dutybehemoth barrels on with this none- too-subtle war saga. The campaign was epic, exploiting hot-button topics (via some terrorist-ravaged landmarks), changing gravity and numerous transport modes and weapons. Action movie directors could learn a lot from Activision.
DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION
What makes us human? Where will technology take human augmentation? And what's the best way to take out a security guard? This writer's favourite game of the year, Deus Ex: Human Revolutionwas a gorgeously rendered science fiction yarn with thought-provoking plot, slick gameplay and attractive gold-hued graphics.
DRIVER: SAN FRANCISCO
We're not going to lie: the series needed a shot in the arm, but a big budget and a fun new gimmick provided more than enough horsepower. With the ability to teleport into other drivers instantaneously, Driver: San Franciscogave us a kinetic, distinctive driving experience: Inceptionmeets Bullitt.
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM
The latest Elder Scrollsgame delivered a hugely satisfying and immersive experience, from the sumptuous design of its world to the intricate plot and gameplay.
A vast, vast role-playing game, Skyrimseemed to go on forever (not that there's anything wrong with that).
FIFA 12
More authentic than ever before, thanks to its Player Impact Engine, FIFA 12continued its dominance in the digital football arena (essentially eclipsing Pro Evolution Soccer). Everything is more detailed, whether it's the new TV-style formatting, improved precision in tackling – even Wayne Rooney's new hairline.
LA NOIRE
Though never a company to shy away from ambition, LA Noiremight be Rockstar's most mature work. Not only was the sleuthing and crimefighting rewarding, but the nascent Los Angeles was so lovingly assembled that it felt like driving through a James Ellroy novel.
PORTAL 2
One of the smartest, wittiest games of the year, Portal 2 gave us challenging puzzles, a super sci-fi narrative and colourful characters, especially the dim-witted Wheatley and the complex ghost in the machine, GLadDOS. We’ll ne-vEr for-GET her U-nique CA-dence.
UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE’S DECEPTION
The latest adventure for Nathan Drake once again had charm and personality to spare. The developers had fun placing the treasure hunter in sticky situations (dangling from plane doors in mid air, running from a burning chateau, wandering the desert). As usual, the results were utterly cinematic.
