2009 Christmas Gadget Countdown: 4. Video games

Had to feature somewhere in the Christmas countdown. There are no new consoles or gaming devices out this year so it's all about the games themselves.

I have to confess to being fairly ignorant of gaming trends, having three very non-techy daughters. Personally I don't have the patience or interest to play games that go on forever and basically require you to do the same thing over and over again in the hope of beating your last score or unlocking some feature or other. For people like us, Nintendo have got it just right with the DS and Wii.

Game of the year therefore has to be The Beatles Rock Band, which combines some of my favourite music with great graphics. And it's available for Wii, X-Box 360 and PS3. 

Super Mario Brothers looks like this Christmas's big hit for more traditional gamers, while Avatar: The Game is the latest craze on the DS for those for whom Dr Watchamacallit's Brain Training just isn't exciting enough!

X-Box gamers seem to be primarily teenage boys, or at least definitely male, looking at the latest charts - Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Left 4 Dead 2 and FIFA 10 - so now you know what to buy your teenage nephew. On the other hand he's probably got it already.

Wii Fit Plus is that New year's resolution game you can buy yourself and promise to play it every day in 2010 as part of your new fitness regime. If you have to play a Wii game, the Raving Rabbids series hits a suitably anarchic vein of humour that strikes a chord with me. Rabbids Go Home looks like another winner this Christmas.

Got a favourite you care to nominate this year?