Check out the lists, and keep an eye out for our PlayStation Network shopping guide in the coming days!
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PlayStation 3
One -- no, wait, two! -- of the best games on the PS2 have received a facelift, and are now available on the PS3 in one sleek, $40 package. A must-have for fans of the original, and a double-must-have for folks who've never experienced them before.
LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition ($50.91)
If you're looking for something to stretch your shoppee's creative muscles, look no further. LBP 2's got the most robust, easy-to-understand content creation tools of any game on the market, and a madcap, thoroughly delightful campaign to boot.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception ($44.99)
This is a game about being on various forms of transportation while those forms of transportation are exploding. You're going to want to pick it up.
Infamous 2 ($43.99)
A huge open world, a new suite of powers and a morality system with actual in-game implications. Infamous 2 expands on and improves over the original in nearly every conceivable way -- for instance, the last game didn't let you shoot a grappling hook made out of lightning.
Resistance 3 ($36.99)
Without a shadow of a doubt the best single-player campaign of any shooter to come out in 2011. It's also got a pretty satisfying arsenal of firearms, to boot -- you like revolvers? How about revolvers which fire bullets that can be detonated inside of enemies? Yeah, we thought you'd like that.
An incredibly deep and rewarding turn-based strategy title. Perfect for fans of the franchise, but a tad uninviting to folks with no patience for hundred-hour campaigns and entire libraries of esoteric game mechanics.
House of the Dead Overkill Extended Cut ($39.95)
See: The exact opposite of Disgaea 4. Nothing but shooting, bloodshed, brainshed and swearing. So, so much swearing. Perfect for folks with a number of Moves lying around the house (and a number of people to use those Moves)!
Dark Souls ($49.96)
It's by far the most punishing game to come out this year -- but it's also one of the most rewarding. Fans of Action-RPGs (as well as Demon's Souls, the last game in the series) shouldn't miss out on this gem.
Portal 2 ($58.99)
It's like the last, completely perfect Portal game, only way longer! Okay, there's more to it than that: Tons of new puzzle elements are thrown into the mix, and a full cooperative campaign adds a few more hours to the brain-juicing delight.
Batman: Arkham City ($49.96)
If you played last year's surprisingly excellent Arkham Asylum, you know the score: Batman must use his insight and dude-punching abilities to thwart the plans of Gotham's most mean. The addition of a sizable open world makes things ... well, more awesome.
One of the biggest, loveliest open worlds ever created in a video game. If the recipient of your holiday kindness is a fan of role-playing games, this is definitely the one to get.
Child of Eden ($35.66)
A trippy yet moving rhythm-based shooter which really shines with the PlayStation Move. Also, only like, 200 people bought it when it first came out on 360. Why not show it some love?
Mass Effect 2 ($19.25)
This formerly 360-exclusive role-playing game is one of our favorites from last year -- we're sure the PS3 version, which dropped this January, is equally impressive.
Rayman Origins ($55.98)
If LittleBigPlanet 2 doesn't scratch that platforming itch, Rayman Origins should supply all the cooperative, item-collecting, gap-leaping excitement that you crave.
Saints Row: The Third ($39.99)
Not only is it just about the most outlandish game ever created (hoverbikes and genitalia-bats!), it's also a smart, occasionally hilarious open-world action game that's so fun, it makes some of its competitors seem like paperwork.
A few rough spots aside, Deus Ex has some of the neatest moments of dynamic action of any other game released this year.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 ($39.96)
It might be worth skipping if that special someone is still working on the non-Ultimate version of the game (which was only released this past February). Otherwise, it's sure to please the fighting game enthusiast on your list, and at $40, it'll do so pretty thriftily.
Greatest Hits Collection Titles
It's hard to go wrong with anything from this list of budget-priced titles: There's the challenging RPG Demon's Souls, both Uncharted games, MAG, Final Fantasy XIII, Super Street Fighter IV and ... well, just about everything else on this list!
PlayStation 3D Display and Console
If you're in the market for both a 3D television and a PS3 console, you could do worse than this Best Buy offer: If you buy the PlayStation 3D Display -- the Sony-branded, $499 3D-ready screen that comes with MotorStorm Apocalypse -- you can attach a 160GB PS3 to your purchase for just $100.
PlayStation Portable
It was a great year for PSP owners, assuming they're raging fans of RPGs and virtually no other genres. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is one of the biggest wins for the console -- this oft-requested port of a Japanese 2004 PC game found a small, but diehard fan base on the PSP.
Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection ($29.99)
Includes an updated version of the SNES RPG classic, as well as the "After Years" sequel which debuted on Japanese mobile phones. If classics are in the wheelhouse of your recipient, this one is not going to disappoint.
Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy ($17.54)
As long as we're on Final Fantasy, Dissidia 012 would be a great gift for a diehard fan of the franchise. It's incredibly difficult-to-master rules make it a challenging game to get into, but the appearance of the series' familiar characters should make it hard to put down.
Another remake of an SNES classic -- this one, however, is a bit more tactical than Final Fantasy IV. Don't let that scare you off, though; it was a great game in 1995, and it's a great game today.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin ($29.99)
We sure hope you're not sick of RPG remakes, because Persona 2: Innocent Sin is also a blast from the late 90s. If your recipient is into more hardcore dungeon-diving RPGs, Persona 2: Innocent Sin is the one to go with. (Also, kudos for knowing so much about your recipient's gaming interests!)
Patapon 3 ($19.96)
It's just like every other game out there, only it's a strategy game where you press buttons in rhythmic combinations to give orders to lovingly drawn, highly customizable silhouette monsters.
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood ($27.88)
If this trailer for the totally bizarre action-platformer doesn't scare you off, then congratulations! You're of an incredibly rare breed, and should give Prinny 2 a shot, you weirdo.
