PlayStation gift ideas for over 18s

Turn the volume up and the lights down, and enjoy some of the best titles available for adults this festive season.

PlayStation 3 shooter fans can rest easy thanks to some film style blockbuster action that will make sure the house is constantly filled with excitement. Killzone 2 is an intense sci-fi combat epic, dropping you on the hostile planet of Helghan where you have to survive the brutal environment as well as the intimidating Helghast army.

A bit closer to home on Earth, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 brings the breakneck pace of an action movie thriller straight into your living room and into your hands. Loaded with stunning set pieces and a brilliant array of multiplayer modes that will have you taking on friends all over the world on PlayStation Network, there's no stopping this unmissable title.

Hailed by many as one of the most spectacular games yet on PS3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves blends slick action, exotic locales and massive set pieces into an irresistible adventure. This action thriller sees the return of charismatic treasure hunter Nathan Drake as he becomes tangled in a twisting plot to find the fabled city of Shambhala and its precious prize, the Cintamani Stone. Whether it's the scintillating single player story or the engaging multiplayer mode, Uncharted 2 captures the imagination on all levels.

Shocks, scares and survival horror are the ingredients for Resident Evil 5, a PS3 action adventure which continues the massively successful series and adds a new twist - a co-operative two player mode. Set in a fictional town in Africa overrun with a lethal and horrific virus, you take the roles of Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance agents Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar to uncover the origin of a terrifying conspiracy - made all the more frightening with razor sharp High Definition visuals. Play it with the lights off - if you dare...

Adult themed, comic book style titles have safe refuge on PS3, with the highly acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum and inFamous ready to shock and surprise you with their dark and stormy tales. Batman: Arkham Asylum takes you beneath the cape of Gotham City's greatest superhero as you attempt to bring order back to the chaos of Arkham. Meanwhile, action adventure inFamous asks the question - do you want to be a hero... or take a darker path? As Cole MacGrath you can choose whether a devastated Empire City will rise again thanks to your good deeds, or fall beneath your more selfish decisions. With your electricity based superpowers, you decide the fate of thousands.

Tekken 6 on PS3 and PSP is bound to keep you on your toes during the quiet moments of your festive break, with a hearty feast of beat 'em up action between dozens of fighters to claim undisputed victory in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 6.

There's no doubting that World War II action adventure title, The Saboteur, is aimed at adults, with its gritty tone and storyline. Controlling street-tough Irish mechanic Sean Devlin in Nazi-occupied Paris, you're tasked with sabotaging the lives of those who have killed Devlin's loved ones. An entertaining open world (which has you racing as well as causing destruction) and novel use of colour makes The Saboteur a standout game for PS3.

Sneaking into the tail end of 2009 just in time to grab your attention with its slick, stealth based action is Assassin's Creed II on PS3. Take up the bloodstained cowl of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young assassin fighting for justice in the Italian Renaissance.

PSP isn't left out either, with Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines also emerging from the shadows. Become the feared assassin Altair, fresh from his adventure in the original Assassin's Creed, and fill in the missing story between the games - and unlock bonuses in Assassin's Creed II on PS3 by linking up with Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines on PSP.

If you're looking for titles to take to family gatherings, a couple of PSP games can transport you away from any potential disagreements over what to watch on the television. Resistance: Retribution mixes sci-fi with horror for a breathless third person action adventure where you struggle for survival against the deadly Chimera in a war-torn alternative history Europe.

The mighty Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars joins Resistance to create a perfect double whammy of adult PSP games, letting you take the dangerous tales of Liberty City anywhere you go. You assume the role of Huang Lee, a young Triad who travels to the city after the mysterious death of his father. A huge batch of varied missions and the popular GTA humour take you on a journey that provides as many laughs as it does surprises.