'Tis the season to be sporty

Add a little sporty spice to your gifts.

The festive season can be a tad difficult for sports fans. Between the changes in climate and many sports taking a break over the period, activities can dry up quickly. Thankfully there are a vast array of sports games to play for enthusiasts and gift buyers alike, making sure there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Kicking off the festivities are two highly regarded football titles: FIFA 08 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Available on PlayStation 2, PSP and PlayStation 3, both titles offer a wonderfully playable and deeply authentic football experience, recreating the fun and drama of getting on the pitch for a club match or taking to the grand stage of an international tournament.

Fancy a game with a little more punch? Fight Night Round 3 on PS3, PSP and PS2 should be a hit with any boxing fan, with the ability to set up dream bouts and trade blows with greats such as Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya and Joe Frazier. It not only plays well - EA Sports' boxing simulation is a visual knockout, too.

Those shopping with a taste for the extreme can't go wrong with Skate and Tony Hawk's Proving Ground for PS3, which bring skateboarding exhilaration to your home without the dangers of broken bones or seasonal hospital trips. With these slick games, you'll be able to pull off tricks and flips all in crisp High Definition - and still be back with the family in time for dinner.

If you're looking for something a bit more sedate, a certain Tiger may be your man. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 08 on PlayStation 3 is ideal for those who prefer their sports a little more deliberately paced. Realistic to a tee, this is graceful golfing at its best, made all the better for the ability to map your face to your on-screen character using the innovative PlayStation Eye camera.

As festive days are typically colder than those of the summer, it may be a bit tricky for tennis fans to indulge in their favourite sport, but that's exactly the reason why smashing titles like Everybody's Tennis on PS2 and Smash Court Tennis 3 on PSP are here. Playable without the hassle of getting the necessary tennis equipment and setting up a court, these intuitive and addictive games serve up an ace for beating back the winter blues, whether it's at home or on the move.

If big American sports are your bag, there's an equally muscular selection at hand on PlayStation 3 to satisfy anyone wanting to feel the hard hitting action of the NFL and NHL. Madden NFL 08 offers powerful American football entertainment in its most accessible form yet, making it the perfect choice for enthusiasts or newcomers, while NHL 08 puts you on the ice without you ever needing to suffer the cold or put on masses of protective gear, gliding silky smooth ice hockey on to your screen in glossy High Definition.