Digital Spy's Christmas Gift Guide: Games

Allow a loved one the chance to escape from the usual family arguments and morbid festive specials of EastEnders with some fun console games this Christmas. Covering everything from art, 007, fitness and shooting ten shades of xxxx out of anything that moves, our range of gifts feature something for everyone...

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Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)

Scared of going to the gym and being eyed up by lots of sweaty, meatheaded brutes lurking in the weights section? Well, the Wii Fit Plus is here to ensure you can burn plenty of calories and monitor your fitness levels without leaving the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of games to enjoy and fitness challenges to take, while there's even a multiplayer mode to take on your pals. It's also great for helping homebound elderly folks stay active.

Price: £74.91
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Gran Turismo 5: Collector's Edition (PS3)

Nothing to do with the legendary album by The Cardigans, this fifth instalment in the racing simulator series offers more cars, tracks and features than before. You can even zoom around the Top Gear test track and race online against others. The Collector's Edition contains plenty of goodies, in addition to providing UK drivers a chance to hit the virtual roads while the country grinds to a halt due to the inability of councils to grit the roads properly.

Price: £49.99
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X Factor : Dual Mic Pack (PS3)

You'll look like a popstar, sing like a popstar, make the song your own, smash it, own the stage and every other possible tedious Louis Walsh cliché – all with the help of this PlayStation game. An ideal present for an X Factor fan, it kicks off with the auditions and progresses through to Boot Camp and the Judges' Houses, before reaching the live shows. Contestants have to impress the judges though - so don't rule out a Katie Waissel-style makeover...

Price: £25.97
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Call of Duty: Black Ops (Xbox 360)

War. What is it good for? Well, it's great when used as a foundation for a game to satiate the bloodlust of couch potatoes across the globe. It's also solid escapist fare to wile the time away. Set amidst the backdrop of the Cold War in the late '60s, this first-person shooter takes in locations from the jungles of Vietnam to the snowy Ural Mountains. There's an abundance of weaponry to slay your opponents with, including your very own chopper.

Price: £39.99
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FIFA 11 (Xbox 360)

The furore over FIFA's decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia will have died down by Christmas, so it's safe to snap this footy game up as a present. The big selling point in this follow-up to the award-winning FIFA 10 is that the footballers come equipped with Personality+ - a feature that uses the traits of the player to dictate their style. Alas, this component doesn't go as far as including a Post-Match Brothel Trip Mode.

Price: £24.99
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Michael Jackson: The Experience (Wii)

Despite the title, this game doesn't involve a dubious sleepover at Neverland and slurping of the infamous 'Jesus Juice'. Instead, it gives you a chance to relive the magic of the sadly departed King Of Pop by recreating the iconic moves to the likes of 'Thriller' and 'Beat It' with the help of the trusty Wii remote. If you know someone who has never quite managed to master the Moonwalk, then send this game their way for Christmas.

Price: £24.99
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Wii Party

A 'Wii Party' sounds like the type of morally dubious soiree traditionally attended by MPs and shamed television presenters in the late 20th Century, but in actual fact it’s a piece of Nintendo software containing more than 80 mini-games for you and your friends to enjoy. Cleverly, its multiplayer mode means that you're not just gaping at the screen all the time, as both your living room and interaction with your fellow players are a key part of the fun.

Price: £44.99
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We Sing: Robbie Williams and Two Mics (Wii)

Even though The Robster has now infiltrated the ranks of manufactured manband Take That once again, his solo output over the years should not be forgotten. With this game, it's your chance to immortalise hits like 'Let Me Entertain You', 'Rock DJ', 'Feel' and the iconic 'Angels' by belting them out until your lungs can take no more. Your neighbours will also be happy, for their ears won't be desecrated as the single 'Rudebox' is absent from the tracklist.

Price: £44.99
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Just Dance 2 (Wii)

While Niles Crane in Frasier may have abhorred "public displays of rhythm", many love a groovy boogie in the comfort of their own home. This Wii game involves participants holding the remote and nunchuck while copying various dance moves on the screen, with the devices used to track their movements. The funky choreography to the array of classic tunes in this package might even turn Ann Widdecombe into the reincarnation of Fred Astaire.

Price: £21.99
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Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (Xbox 360)

This direct sequel to the 2009 megahit Assassin's Creed II allows players to take on the guise of master murderer Ezio once more, with a range of challenging quests and eye-catching visuals. The fluidity of the controls and gameplaying options have been improved, in addition to a new multiplayer mode that allows players to take on a range of character classes – from blacksmith to courtesan. Bizarrely, Leonardo da Vinci also pops up – to offer weapons, not art.

Price: £36.99
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Art Academy: Learn Painting and Drawing Techniques with Step-by-Step Training (Nintendo DS)

Computer games don't need to just feed the appetite of lecture-dodging students or agoraphobics. They can also bolster the skills of any budding artist out there, courtesy of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen providing a canvas to harness their talents. There are tutorials that teach art theory and techniques used by the likes of Cézanne and da Vinci – but sadly not Rolf Harris – along with realistically-behaving paints and pencils to concoct your own masterpieces.

Price: £17.91
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GoldenEye 007 (Wii)

For many years, this first-person console shooter has been the benchmark, its multiplayer mode on the Nintendo 64 causing plenty of late nights across the globe. It's finally reached the Wii, with an abundance of exciting updates including Daniel Craig taking on the role of James Bond, a re-recording of the classic title song by Nicole Scherzinger and an eight-person multiplayer mode. Prepare to be addicted all over again…

Price: £25.00
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Super Mario All-Stars - 25th Anniversary Edition (Wii)

Where would the world be without the Super Mario Brothers? Well, it would probably be imposing less stereotypes on Italian-American plumbers for one. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of their arrival onto platforms, Super Mario All-Stars features the original NES series of the four classic games alongside a bundle of collectables including an audio CD containing music from the much-loved franchise. Who needs Coldplay?

Price: £17.99
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Toy Story 3: The Video Game (Nintendo DS)

You've seen the movie and snapped up the Buzz Lightyear toy, so why not splash out on Toy Story 3: The Video Game? Players can explore the wonderful universe created so lovingly for the movie trilogy and take on the roles of Buzz, Woody or Jessie as the Sheriff of the toyland town. Plenty of treats can be found lurking inside the Toy Box, including a spot of car racing and even ghosthunting trips. You can also recreate the mesmerising events of Toy Story 3.

Price: £17.52
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Professor Layton and the Lost Future (Nintendo DS)

Help Professor Layton and his young accomplice Luke solve a mystery spanning time and space by solving a myriad of puzzles to enable them to continue on their adventures. There's everything from logic puzzles to riddles and optical illusions to mathematical quizzes – plus an option to download new puzzles on a weekly basis. The hand-drawn animation on this game is a joyous sight to behold too, backed up by more voice acting than before.

Price: £25.00
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Peppa Pig: The Game (Nintendo DS)

Plenty of young children love computer games, but giving them Call Of Duty would probably propel them on the path to Jeremy Kyle Show contestant territory. Or even worse – a PE teacher. Peppa The Pig: The Game is ideal fare for the littleuns, being easy to use and containing fun and engaging games like pancake-flipping and hide-and-seek. There are three different skillsets – easy, medium and hard – to ensure the player is catered for.

Price: £12.99
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Doctor Who Return to Earth (Wii)

Doctor Who hysteria is to reach fever pitch this Christmas with Matt Smith's first festive adventure in the role of The Doctor. Fans can now take on the role of the iconic Time Lord with this 3D game, which features both Smith and Karen Gillan on vocal duties. Did we also mention the Wii remote can be used as the Sonic Screwdriver and both Daleks and Cybermen are encountered along the way? As a recent incarnation of the Gallifrey might say – fantastic!

Price: £24.91
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PlayStation Move Starter Pack with PlayStation Eye Camera, Move Controller and Starter Disc (PS3)

Why interact with the real world when you can connect your movements to the telly and spend entire afternoons swatting virtual flies? This PlayStation Move Starter Pack contains advanced motion sensors such as a three-axis accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor to measure your movements. No idea what that means, but hopefully it will lead to plenty of Avatar-like adventures involving randy blue aliens.

Price: £57.49
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James Bond: Blood Stone (Xbox 360)

The constant delays surrounding the next instalment of the legendary 007 movie franchise are infuriating to say the least, but they're made a lot easier with the arrival of James Bond: Blood Stone. Featuring an original story and the vocal talents of Daniel Craig as the British spy and Judi Dench as M, Blood Stone is a globetrotting romp with plenty of hi-tech gadgets and fighting along the way. There's also an original theme tune by Dave Stewart and Joss Stone!

Price: £26.97
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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction (Xbox 360)

Take on the role of superspy Sam Fisher in this brutal quest for revenge following the murder of his daughter. There are lots of murky conspiracies and dangers lurking in the shadows in this action-heavy game, which sees Sam deserting the government and not playing by the rules. Refreshingly low-tech, the latest Splinter Cell also features a new 'mark and execute' component that allows for easier multitasking – normally impossible for guys!

Price: £10.35
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