We test drive the year's best video games

The figures speak for themselves: November 2012 saw the 12th consecutive month of decline for the video game industry, with sales down 11 per cent from the previous year.

Some say it's just a waiting game, with casual players holding out for the next generation in video game consoles. Others feel the console market is dead, dragged down by the ubiquitous nature of smartphones and their many free-to-play apps. But while it's true that smart gaming has its place and new consoles will soon emerge, the video game market is still strong. The industry made more than US$2.5 billion in that month, with the latest Call of Duty leading the pack as the fastest-ever game to reach US$1 billion in just 15 days.

Major analysts say it has just been a slow year for gaming, with 2013 predicted to kick things up a notch with major releases: Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Metal Gear, Dead Space, Splinter Cell and Bioshock, among others.

But you don't even have to wait that long - Christmas is just around the corner, and if Call of Duty's record-breaking sales are anything to go by, this last month of the year should give the industry a considerable boost. Start stuffing those stockings, because here we present the best games released for this holiday season.
 

The lack of a franchise is normally looked down upon in the gaming world, but Dishonored has a proven track record through its developers, with trend-setters Half-Life, Bioshock and Fallout under their belt. A first-person stealthy supernatural adventure, Dishonored blends many of their best characteristics: you take on the role of a super-powered assassin and each level sees you sent to kill your target by any means necessary, whether it's summoning swarms of rats to sneakily fool the guards, or using your Jedi-like powers to slaughter everyone in the room.

Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC