I covered what to buy for the Xbox 360 gamer this Christmas the other day, so now it’s the Playstation 3’s turn. I’ve tried to choose games that don’t appear on the Xbox 360 (apart from one), as it is important to note that the PS3 also has its fair share of decent exclusive content.

Here’s ButtonSmasher’s christmas buying guide to for the Playstation 3.

LittleBigPlanet

Although the game has been getting a lot of flak recently for over-zealous level moderation LittleBigPlanet is still a PS3 essential. While the platforming aspect of the game is relatively simple, it’s the creative tools that really make the game shine. With these tools you can create and share any level that you can imagine, providing it isn’t copyrighted of course!

Resistance 2

The follow-up to PS3 launch title, Resistance: Fall of Man, is easily the best first person shooter game available for the PS3. An epic storyline is made all the better when you consider that up to 8 players can play through the game on co-op. If you get bored of that then there’s always the 60 player multiplayer to play around with.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

This is one of those ‘essentials’ that I keep talking about, but really now - a PS3 owner has absolutely no excuse not to own this game. In fact, this is the game that many people bought a Playstation 3 for, and it easily gets the most out of the most powerful console on earth. Plus, there’s Solid Snake with a moustache.

BioShock

Xbox 360 owners got to enjoy the experience that PS3 owners are only just getting, and what an experience it is! The PS3 version includes the same great game that appeared on the Xbox 360; but it will also have downloadable content in the form of ‘challenge rooms’ that should be with us in time for Christmas.

Buzz! Quiz TV Bundle

What better way to spend Christmas then playing a TV style quiz game in your living room? The pack comes with four wireless buzzers to give you that TV quiz feel, and you’ll also be able to create your own quizzes to confuse the rest of your family. Just make sure that you were adequate protection to protect yourself from the inevitable buzzer being thrown at you.

Singstar Bundle

Singstar has long been proving that you don’t need to be in your local pub filled up with alcohol to show the rest of the world just how bad your singing is. The PS3 version won’t fix your horrible singing, but it will provide hours of quality party entertainment and ridicule from your family and friends.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

This is the PS3’s very own version of Indiana Jones, with more explosions (if that’s even possible). Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune is easily the best third-person action game available for the PS3, and while you may think that there’s not much competition to begin with you’d still be a fool for not having this one in your collection.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Visually stunning and frantically fun, Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction showcases just what the PS3 can do when it comes to sprawling platforming games. It’s also perfect for the young ones in your life - but any true gamer would probably appreciate it as well!

Valkyria Chronicles

Lovingly crafted in a hand-sketched graphical style, Valkyria Chronicles an epic storyline and more than 100 customisable characters to keep players busy. It’s also a testament to the fact that some of the very best RPG’s appear exclusively on the Sony consoles, something that Xbox 360 owning RPG fans (like myself) are slightly envious of.

As mentioned in the Xbox 360 guide Grand Theft Auto IV and Fallout 3 are also excellent additions to any gamers PS3 library, so check out that guide for why you should buy them.

Wii is coming up next!