Christmas is just around the corner and you’re constantly worrying about what to buy your gamer-minded partner/daughter/son/friend. Well, fear not my friends, for I have come up with a series of Christmas guides that point you towards some of the best games available today.

We kick things off with a personal favourite of mine, the Xbox 360, which surely has something for everyone.

Call of Duty: World at War

An epic single-player mode combined with one of the best console multiplayer experiences out there means that you can’t really go wrong with buying this as a bift. As we shall see from the following game you’ll be giving the gift of months of extra gameplay, but unfortunately you’ll probably be seeing a lot less of whoever you buy this for. Plus, did I mention that this game had zombies? I don’t think you should be considering to buy this as a gift, there should be no question about it!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 

If you actually know someone who likes shooters, owns an Xbox 360 and doesn’t own this game then ask them what cave they’ve been hiding in. If you do manage to find someone then this game is a much cheaper version of the game above. In fact, this is the game that spawned the excellent multiplayer that the game above uses, and you’ll easily still be able to find thousands of players enjoying this game. This is really a must-buy, and anyone who plays World at War before Modern Warfare is missing out on a great deal of fun, and maybe missing out on a game that actually surpasses it’s follow-up.

Far Cry 2

While it’s not the best FPS game on the market right now it’s still a good substitute for those that already own the above games. The single-player mode is a lengthy experience, packing enough in there for well over 20 hours of zooming around Africa before setting everything on fire. There’s also a pretty decent multiplayer mode, and while it’s not up to the standard of the above two games the in-built (and incredibly detailed) map editor means that there’s enough originality to keep people for a long time to come.

Left 4 Dead

I’ve always said that you can’t really go wrong with zombies, and Left 4 Dead isn’t about to buck the trend. Taking on the hordes of randomly generated zombies (and a bunch of other ’special’ zombies) with three other friends is where this game shines, and you can’t really beat the sheer hilarious terror when players see a tank barrelling towards them and scatter.

Gears of War 2

This is yet another ‘must own’, and if you know someone who owned the first Gears of War then you owe it to them to buy them the sequel. The sequel is packed with twice as much action, which means twice as much gory chainsaw kills. The multiplayer mode also returns, along with the addictive ‘Horde’ mode where players have to defend against increasing waves of enemies.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Here’s yet another ‘must own’ (the 360 tends to have a lot of these) and, damn, is this game epic or what? I’m a storyline guy, so I loved the concentration on Niko’s struggle to make something of himself in Liberty City (the games fictionalised recreation of New York City). Others were disappointed at Rockstar for removing things like jet packs and planes, but there’s still a pretty fun multiplayer mode in there for those that aren’t big on story. Regardless of your tastes the city is the real star here, and gamers just have to experience it if only to simply see just how far gaming environments have come.

Saints Row 2

As I said above, Grand Theft Auto IV is more about the story and a living breathing incredibly detailed city. Saints Row 2, while still having a somewhat interesting story, retains all the whacky and hilarious fun that can come with sandbox environments. From streaking around the city streets to firing raw sewage and pedestrians this game pretty much has everything. It also arguably has a more enjoyable multiplayer mode than GTA, and does trump GTA by allowing you to play through the main game with a friend. This isn’t an alternative, it should be bought with GTA IV so players can experience both sides of the fence.

Fable 2

Possibly the best fantasy role-playing game the 360 has right now, Fable II will never allow a gamer to utter the words ‘there’s nothing to do!’. Whether it’s raising a family and then setting them on fire, or adventuring around the world of Albion with a dog that you’ll fall in love with there’s plenty for gamers to do here. Everything the player does has a consequence, and to top it all off you can fret about your sins with a friend.

Fallout 3

Although this is the 3rd game in the post-apocolyptic RPG series Fallout 3 will probably be most gamers first introduction to the world. The first time you step out of the vault and see the sprawling wasteland ahead of you may actually scare you with the realisation that, for once, you have a choice of where to go and what to do.  Thirty hours on and you still won’t have seen everything this game has to offer, and some of it won’t actually tie into the main game. So, yes, you have a choice of whether or not you want to see this content, which makes it all the more exciting.

Infinite Undiscovery

Square-Enix (makers of the hugely successful Final Fantasy series) are no strangers to long RPG’s, and Infinite Undiscovery is no exception. This is for those gamers that enjoy hefty RPG’s crammed full of story all wrapped up in that unique Japanese style. The story takes a while to get going, but once it does it’s pretty entertaining, and there’s some great fast paced action sequences in there too. Perfect for those that love their JRPG’s.

Burnout Paradise

Burnout Paradise presents excellent value for money. Not only to you get a superb racer with absolutely stunning crashes, but you also get constant content updates from Criterion. Toy cars? Check! Floating cars? Check! Motorbikes? Check! Seamless multiplayer modes? Check! This is one racer that you have absolutely no excuses for not owning - unless you don’t like racers of course!

Dead Space

What better way to spend Christmas then watching your significant others jumping out of their skin every five seconds? I’m not going to lie, Dead Space is an absolutely terrifying game but this is why it’s so enjoyable. Combine this with some absolutely horrendous enemies, a decent storyline and enough puzzles to keep your brain ticking while you constantly watch your back and you’re on to a winner. Terrifying? Yes! Worth the price or new pants? Easily!

If you have any other suggestions then feel free to post them in the comments. I couldn’t put every good game for the Xbox 360 on the list, so I chose to post the games I thought were the best. Feel free to rip into my decisions!

Up next - Playstation 3 game buying guide.