Publisher: Rockstar

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3

Story: Set in the fictional city of Los Santos (based on Los Angeles), this third-person perspective game has its share of quirky characters. Franklin is a street hustler looking for money; Michael has retired from a life of crime but retirement benefits are no good; Trevor is just a maniac. And they live in a city in the throes of economic uncertainty.

What’s special: The gamer is placed in an environment that’s alive –– you go for a dip and so do sharks; hikers abound while you bike around mountains; and enemies are waiting with explosives.

Crysis 3

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, Windows

Story: The situation in Manhattan looks bleak as CELL has built a dome around the city to keep people away from a power source. The city is crumbling and has become something of a jungle. You take on the role of Prophet, who wears a nanosuit. He teams with Psycho, his friend from the first Crysis.

What’s special: Surprise the enemy by dropping down from the ruins of a skyscraper or shoot them with a bowgun.

Bioshock: Infinite

Publisher: 2K Games

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, Windows, OS X

Story: 1912. The floating city of Columbia is a marvel of technology. The captain (Comstock) wants to keep his men away from “the Sodom below”. Meanwhile, former Pinkerton National Detective Agency man Booker DeWitt has been given the responsibility to rescue a young girl, Elizabeth, who is on the floating city.

What’s special: The heart of the game is the relationship between Booker and Elizabeth. She is also the person who, from time to time, provides the player ammunition and coins.

Metro: Last Light

Publisher: Deep Silver

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, Windows, OS X

Story: People are trying to survive in Moscow’s subway system, away from the nuclear blast that had taken place. It’s dark and only the strong can survive. Based on the novels of Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, this is quite a blood-smattering first-person shooter.

What’s special: Ammos are hard to come by, so use stealth to get past enemies. And each time you are required to leave the tunnel, don’t forget your gas mask that constantly needs fresh filters.

Rising Storm

Publisher: Tripwire Interactive

Platform: Windows

Story: There are four fractions –– the US Marine Corps, the US Army, the Imperial Japanese Army and the Special Naval Landing Force. Like its predecessor, Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad, the setting is World

War II and players can side either with the Allies or the Axis.

What’s special: Each team is given the choicest of arsenal but what makes this game outstanding is that each team comes with specialists –– snipers to commanders.

The Last of Us

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Platform: PS3

Story: As the title suggests, it’s about the survival of the strongest. A “zombie outbreak” transforms most of humanity into monsters. Joel and Ellie need to fight their way through the East Coast and tackle monsters.

What’s special: It’s one of those rare games that covers a range of terrain, from forests to cities to mountains. And the background sounds are outstanding.

FIFA 14

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Platform: Android, iOS, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Windows

Story: Lionel Messi is once again on the cover of the highly-anticipated annual franchise from Electronic Arts. As usual, there are single and multi-player modes. All you have to do is make your moves and score some goals.

What’s special: The physics behind the movement of the ball has been well embedded into the game, making every shot appear authentic and accurate.

Remember Me

Publisher: Capcom

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, Windows

Story: Paris of 2084. Memorize Corporation has come up with a brain implant that allows people to upload their memories while deleting unpleasant ones. And there are the rebels or the Errorists, one of whom is Nilin, behind bars in the Bastille Fortress. Before the last few of her memories are erased, Edge, the leader of the Errorists, helps her escape.

What’s special: The story unfolds in cinematic settings.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Publisher: Konami

Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, Windows

Story: Here’s one of those games where the plot is unimportant. Once the cyborgs of Desperado Enterprises breaks the peace that has been reigning for the last few years, you are taken on a ride from Africa to Mexico to Russia to combat villains.

What’s special: Besides the usual enemy-killing moves you can use stealth mode (Ninja Dash) to take the hero, Raiden, behind enemy lines to gather information.

Tomb Raider

Publisher: Square Enix

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, Windows

Story: Lara Croft is back but this time she is no pistol-packing babe. This is her backstory. Here’s a teenager who is shipwrecked on an island filled with perils. The archaeology graduate learns to kill in an act of self-defence. She blows her enemy’s head off and slowly becomes the Lara Croft we know.

What’s special: Outstanding graphics and a complete overhaul of the Tomb Raider video game have made this the find of 2013. She slowly comes across tools –– axe, fire arrows, etc –– to help her survive. This is more of a game about discovery than about fighting enemies or raiding tombs.