It’s not only childen who will be looking forward to unwrapping a new computer game on Christmas Day: 2006 has been a vintage year for titles that will appeal to all the family from teenage tearaways to the misanthropic mother-in-law.

One reason for this is the arrival of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 — a “next generation” console boasting better graphics and more immersive gameplay (how much the player can interact with the game). It has been flying off the shelves since late last year and has set new standards for games manufacturers to work to.

A new crop of titles for the Nintendo DS handheld console has extended the choice of games suitable for playing on the move and many of these have been highly original. Nor is the current-console generation dead. More than 100,000 Sony PlayStation 2s are still selling every week in Europe, though the PlayStation 3 is nigh, and this year saw several classic PS2 games released.

So here is our rundown of the year’s best games. We have broken them down into six categories. Each game has been judged by five criteria: oExcitement: how enjoyable is it? oStickability: is there enough variety, length and difficulty to keep you coming back for more? oEase of use: are the controls and the menus well presented? oGraphics: are the visuals slick and realistic, and are there any outstanding special effects? oInnovation: does it break new ground?

STRATEGY

Strategy games, which rely on the player’s decision-making ability to create new civilisations or command armies, have traditionally forgone snazzy graphics. However, this year’s PC-based classics bucked that trend. Medieval II: Total War is effectively two games in one: you must manage your medieval empire on a vibrant European map and complete tasks such as overseeing the building of cities. But when it comes to fighting your opponents you can zoom in close to the action on a richly depicted battlefield. Rise of Nations requires strategic thinking on a larger scale and challenges players to build civilisations stretching over 6,000 years of human history, while a more contemporary take on the theme is Tycoon City: New York. Set in a richly detailed Big Apple, wannabe entrepeneurs are charged with transforming a small plot of land into a thriving commercial hub.

WINNER: Company of Heroes. This second world war game sets a new benchmark with its realistic graphics and great gameplay. You control American troops fighting in the aftermath of D-Day in 1944, but rather than simply directing your men from on high — as is the convention with these games — this one also gives you the option to command them up close on the battlefield. DE

SPORT AND DRIVING

It was the year of the sequel in this category. In the football dugout, Pro Evolution Soccer 6 beats rivals such as FIFA 07 and Sensible Soccer, with great visual detail and more realistic gameplay. Armchair managers should opt for Football Manager 2007 on the PC which provides even more ways than its predecessor to control the destiny of your club without setting foot on the pitch. This year also saw the return of a past master: Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Xbox 360), now the definitive golfing game and virtually faultless.

WINNER: GTR2. With its hair-raising hairpins and dizzying speed, this challenging PC-based driving game is almost as good as the real thing. And it looks stunning, too. DE

ACTION

The Xbox 360 has taken fast-shooting action games to new levels of realism and extreme energy. Take the imaginative sci-fi shooter Prey.

Exploring the gloomy laboratories and chambers of a vast alien mothership makes for an unnerving experience and there are some cool touches, such as the option to switch off gravity. The ultra-realistic military simulation
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and the spy game Splinter Cell Double Agent, which casts you as a Jack Bauer-like character, are also stand-out 360 action titles. The other platforms have delivered some big hits, too. On the PC, Half-Life 2: Episode One packs in a huge amount of action for a bargain price while Black gives the PS2 its best 3-D shooter. Not bad for a console supposedly on the way out.

WINNER: Gears of War. This futuristic Xbox 360 blaster, where you defend the planet from alien hordes, combines stunning visuals with thrilling and often terrifying gameplay. SA

ADVENTURE

Top adventure titles must create complex and totally compelling fantasy worlds. Guild Wars Factions on the PC is surprisingly accessible and the oriental settings and Chinese and Japanese mythology are a novel twist. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King requires more perseverance but ultimately rewards players with an enormous fantasy extravaganza full of character and charm that’s larger than any other fantasy adventure yet seen on the PS2. Similarly, Shadow of the Colossus(PS2) wowed us as much for its lovely hazy lighting and unique landscapes as for its demanding quest to slay 16 giants. The introduction of a moral element, as your character ponders whether what he is doing is acceptable, is an original touch.

WINNER: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It took most of the year to explore Oblivion on a PC or Xbox 360. But that didn’t matter because deciding whether to take part in an epic battle against evil, or simply swinging your sword for personal gain is totally compulsive. SA

FAMILY GAMES

Family games need to be instantly accessible, not bogged down in complex rules. Kingdom Hearts II (PS2) is the perfect example, bringing together much-loved Disney characters, such as Goofy, and placing them in a simple sword-and-sorcery quest. The spin-off from Pixar’s movie Cars also has surprising depth for a kids’ game. You could spend hours exploring the town where the movie is set thanks to the free-roaming structure.

Finally, Lego Star Wars II proves that a crazy idea can be great fun as players compete in a world of Jedi Knights made from the children’s plastic bricks.

WINNER: Guitar Hero II. (PS2) By playing along to classic rock anthems with a plastic guitar-shaped controller, you bring the stadium to the living room. The orginal Guitar Hero was one of the games of last year, and this sequel has upped the fun stakes by enabling a second player to duet. Rock on. DP

HANDHELD GAMES

Portable games on the DS such as Animal Crossing: Wild World that created a wacky virtual world populated by cute animals, and Super Mario Bros — a more familiar franchise but full of fresh ideas — came out top against this year’s offerings from the PSP. Sony did manage some gems that showcased the console’s pin-sharp graphics. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (a well realised if unoriginal action game) and Daxter, a 3-D adventure featuring train chases and flights on giant winged creatures, probably the pick of them. We hope for better things from Sony in 2007.

WINNER: Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training 2. Ideal for short bursts, this Nintendo DS title keeps your grey matter buzzing with a host of puzzles and tests to ponder on the move. DP