Best Xbox Games of 2012

Mass Effect 3 is the perfect ending to a masterful trilogy that's gone from strength-to-strength with each title. It's the conclusion you're hoping fo... Read More

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is not just the best strategy game this year, it’s the best strategy game this generation and possibly the best ever strategy game... Read More

A true cinematic gaming masterpiece, Max Payne 3 is not just another triumph for Rockstar, but testament to what it can do when it turns its hand to l... Read More

Dishonored is this year’s must-have new IP, with fresh ideas, plenty of charm and inventiveness, all tied together in a stylish fashion. Who said crea... Read More

Brilliant. The last big release of the year, Far Cry 3 may well top them all. Almost unfalteringly entertaining, it’s a game that will have you coming... Read More

Yet another masterful entry in the world-beating series, NHL 13 is an exemplary ice hockey game and the perfect example of how a sports game should be... Read More

Assassin's Creed III is a fantastic game that's marred only by a glacial few opening hours, a surfeit of history and exposition, and the odd glitch. T... Read More

Borderlands 2 is a fantastic sequel full to the brim with colour, verve and personality, excelling as an enjoyable shooter with involving RPG elements... Read More

Brilliant. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is undoubtedly one of the best console RPGs of 2012. Stop reading now and just buy it already.... Read More

Another podium-worthy effort from Codemasters that deserves to be doused in expensive champagne once more. F1 2012 is the best Formula One game Codies... Read More

A breath of fresh air for the series and one that should appeal to fans old and new, Forza Horizon may have toned down on the realism but the open wor... Read More

With big shoes to fill and an enormous amount of pressure on them from fans to deliver, 343 Industries has struck a home run on pretty much their firs... Read More

Street Fighter X Tekken is a triumphant marriage between two huge fighting franchises that could have quite easily been a mess. Filled to the brim wit... Read More

Devil May Cry HD Collection is up there with the better examples of HD remakes, perfectly complementing the games' fast and frenetic action with gorge... Read More

Retaining its position at the top of the league, FIFA 13 shows us yet again that EA Sports is the daddy of iterative improvements. It may not be a hug... Read More

NBA 2K13 scores big once again, although it fails to offer little in the way of sweeping changes or innovations. It's still the undisputed daddy of ba... Read More

It's hard to believe that this almost got canned. United Front Games has crafted a stunning open-world action romp that draws on a variety of cinemati... Read More

LEGO Batman 2 is the best LEGO title to date and one that uses all of the source material on offer to wonderful effect. Tightly constructed levels int... Read More

Supreme fan service, an epic sense of scale and plenty of gameplay variety ensure that Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is not only an unreservedly bri... Read More

A series that has reached the height of its powers and shows exactly why dance games reign supreme on Kinect. The ridiculous, quirky story is a wonder... Read More

Soul Calibur V is an assured return for the franchise that boasts a robust roster of fighters, a good selection of modes and the best visuals yet seen... Read More

Codemasters has delivered once again with DiRT Showdown. It's another superlative racer, even if it is a little one note. Unapologetically brash, bold... Read More

LEGO Lord of the Rings is another triumphant addition to the series and uses a great open world structure, plus cleverly designed levels and abilities... Read More

Digital Extremes has delivered the goods with The Darkness II, marrying story, action and great gameplay. It might be a little on the short side, but ... Read More

Binary Domain is a fantastic third-person shooter that'll be criminally overlooked, when it deserves to hold its head high among some of the best in t... Read More

More than just something to tide fans over as they wait for FIFA 13, FIFA Street has an identity all of its own. It deserves a place in any football f... Read More

The second truly characterful RPG to hit in recent weeks, Dragon’s Dogma doesn’t quite match up to the grim, Eastern European splendour of The Witcher... Read More

Hitman: Absolution is the sequel to Blood Money that fans have been itching for. In terms of game mechanics it’s the best Hitman that IO Interactive h... Read More

UFC Undisputed 3 is a triumphant return for the ultimate fighting champion, with more modes and options than you can shake a clenched fist at. In the ... Read More

A brilliant sequel that compares favourably to Mario Kart in the mascot racer stakes, Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed might be hard as nails, bu... Read More

Syndicate isn’t just your run-of-the-mill shooter – which is hardly surprising since Starbreeze is behind it – instead what you have is an empowering ... Read More

A relentlessly fun game, Prototype 2 is marred only by a barely decipherable story and a dull, unsympathetic character in Sgt. James Heller. Everythin... Read More

Spec Ops: The Line is a cut above the usual generic military shooter with solid gameplay backed up by a story that pulls you in and doesn't let go. An... Read More

Juliet never manages to overtake some of her peers, which is a shame considering the potential on offer, but Lollipop Chainsaw is still a grand advent... Read More

There's not exactly a slew of karting games on consoles these days, so F1 Race Stars is a welcome addition to the genre and a wonderfully crafted litt... Read More

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is a decent successor to the original but despite the flashy tricks up its sleeve, this plays in pretty much the same way. ... Read More

Final Fantasy XIII-2 isn't a full blown return to the classic Final Fantasy games many people know and love, but it is certainly a step in the right d... Read More

SSX is an enjoyable experience that revels in its ability to send you hurtling towards the clouds, cartwheeling as you go. It’s only when that carefre... Read More

Darksiders II may not be the world-destroying beast we hoped it would be, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable. Whether you are jumping around on ... Read More

For those holding out for a fresh new dance experience, this isn’t it, but for those wanting more of the same with a few extra options, tweaks and son... Read More

Resident Evil 6 is a truly immense RE title that succeeds as a third-person action shooter, but falls flat on its face as a survival horror game. Yes,... Read More

Bugbear has done a sound job exploring the dark side of the Ridge Racer franchise, with a slick arcade racer that could be the start of an interesting... Read More

Sniper Elite V2 is a solid game and one that should provide plenty of entertainment for those with an interest in brutally doing away with their enemi... Read More

A well made, if slightly flawed, adaptation of the friendly neighborhood webhead that is sure to provide far more entertainment than it does boredom. ... Read More

A fantastic racing game at its core, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is let down by too few race types and a multiplayer mode with somewhat limited appeal... Read More

Despite EA Sports leaving itself plenty of room for improvement in future iterations of Grand Slam Tennis, what’s here is enjoyable. Perhaps a little ... Read More

This is a game in only the loosest sense of the word, but is an intriguing proposition nonetheless, especially for those with a penchant for action ba... Read More

The latest Naruto Shippuden game still provides plenty of entertainment, not to mention looking and sounding great, but the decision to shift away fro... Read More

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning offers fantastic combat, a decent story, intuitive menus and the occasional visual flourish. Yet it's almost entirely la... Read More

Silent Hill: Downpour is a solid game with a typically twisted story underneath all of the pretence. Still the gameplay mechanics are starting to show... Read More