New Year, new funds and maybe a new console. But which titles should you be spending your cash on in 2012? Luckily, the next 12 months look to host a real gamut of future gaming classics. Here are our favourites…
1. Far Cry 3
Find self on island full of crazed militant types. Shoot militant types. Escape in one piece. More of the same, but gloriously beautiful more of the same.
2. GTA V
The trailer’s got us incredibly excited. Rockstar’s return to Los Santos is set to be a real corker and a technical achievement way beyond what was managed in GTA IV.
3. Agent
While half of Rockstar North’s working on GTA V, the rest of the team are busying themselves on a 70s secret agent shooter. We don’t know much, but you can guarantee greatness.
4. Max Payne 3
After some serious time off, a relocated Max finds himself stomping around Rio as a fatter, balder and older version of himself. He’s still pretty handy with firearms, though.
5. Metal Gear Solid: Rising
It’s Raiden, not Snake, but Raiden’s cool now, right? Time to stop sneaking around in boxes and start hacking up fools with a massive sword.
6. Mass Effect 3
Oh good, another Mass Effect game’s coming along to completely destroy your life and eat up a good 100 hours of your precious free time. Just when you got over your Skyrim addiction.
7. inSANE
Visionary director Guillermo del Toro is a big games fan. So much so that he’s working on one himself, with the help of THQ. The survival horror game will have you questioning your “senses of morality and reality.” It claims it’ll launch in 2013, but that may change.
8. Tomb Raider
Forget the slew of lackluster sequels from the last console generation; this is a series complete reboot with some serious money and production pumped in. It looks immense.
9. Halo 4
We don’t really need to say much about this one. It’s a new Halo game. Master Chief’s back. That is all.
10. BioShock: Infinite
The floating city of Columbia looks to pose as much of a mad set of dark mysteries as did the underwater Rapture. Just as much stuff to shoot at, too.
11. South Park: The Game
We’re looking forward to this one in a big way. A massive solo RPG written, voiced and controlled by Matt Stone and Trey Parker. No trailer yet, sorry.
12. Twisted Metal
Anyone who had a Playstation One will be over the moon at reading the above two words. The car-based deathmatch classic is bound for a PS3 remake. It’s about time.
