3 cert, Konami, Xbox (also PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, PC) ****

It used to be that football sim fans were divided into two camps: Pro Evolution Soccer and Fifa. EA has pulled ahead in the past few years, but PES 2011 has built on improvements seen in its predecessor and appears to be back on form. Gameplay is better, with more control over passing, making it harder but more satisfying. Fifa 11 still has the licencing edge – it has all the major Premiership teams, while PES limits you to “Merseyside Reds” among a few teams such as Bayern Munich. One thing it does have, however, is the Uefa Champions League, and a more than decent Master League mode, improved from the last version, that allows you to develop teams, transfer players and manage your club in a detailed system that might prove a little too much for casual players, but is utterly compelling for more dedicated fans.