Video games- The best titles for Christmas 2008

Video games make the perfect Christmas gifts for 2008. However, there is so much on the video games market at the moment that to the outsider it can be extremely daunting when looking for the right titles to choose for friends and family at Christmas. There are some fantastic games out there on the market to suit almost every taste, and here we’ll take a look at some of this year’s biggest games. Before we do, it should be said that you might like to check out what titles the person you are buying for already has in their collection, to ensure they aren’t disappointed at Christmas. If you’d like to keep it a surprise, then ask a friend or relative of theirs if they can cast a glance over their collection.

The video games market has been dominated in 2008 largely by two major franchises, namely Halo and Gears of War. While the third Halo game brought with it a level of success previously unseen in any video games property (along with a wide range of tie in Halo 3 merchandise such as posters, clothing, action figures, calendars and more), the new hit Gears of War seemed to be stealing a great deal of Halo’s thunder. With its gritty science fiction action and strong characters, Gears of War has become the big hit of the year, also spawning its own merchandise range and a huge legion of fans. Now comes the hotly anticipated sequel, cunningly entitled Gears of war 2, which looks set to repeat the popularity of the first and also build on it further.

Another title that is high on everyone’s lists this year is Dead Space, another action-packed shoot ‘em up that seems to be the replacement for the much loved DOOM games, featuring more horror and alien action than any other game around right now.

The fighting game series Soul Calibur returned with a fourth entry in the franchise, to much acclaim from critics and fans alike. Also on the action front there is Fallout 3 and the awesome Star Wars: Force Unleashed, which is essential for any fan of the genre.

But 2008 hasn’t just been about violence and explosions. The Wii console really came into its own this year with the advent of Wii Fit- the great system for exercising while you play, using the unique interaction of your Wii console to help you play sports and enjoy aerobics and other workout methods. This has been something of a revelation for the gaming industry and has seen the whole medium regain some much needed respect.

Then again, if you’re after fun, you can’t go wrong with Guitar Hero or Rock Band, both games that are making every wannabe rock star’s dreams come true.

There really is something out there for every taste in the world of video games this Christmas, whether you want to blow aliens up on your Xbox or train your brain on your Nintendo DS, the perfect Christmas gifts for 2008 are easy to find.