Need for Speed to Star Wars: top video games for Christmas

It's that time of the year again when some of the biggest video games emerge from developers' studios in time for the Christmas rush – from Call Of Duty and Football Manager to a new Star Wars game, we look at seven of the best.

Fallout 4

Following a five-year wait for fans of the post-apocalyptic franchise, Fallout 4 shifts from the 2010 game setting of Washington DC to Boston. Players will start the game just before the nuclear bombs fall, when they can completely customise their character. They will then emerge from the vault 200 years after the nuclear holocaust to complete tasks and battle ghoulish mutants with their trusty hound Dogmeat. Released on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 10 November.

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Need for Speed

There has been a movie with Aaron Paul and a two-year wait, but now Need for Speed is back with a reboot. Despite the name, NFS isn't just about going fast, says Ars Technica. "The game is aimed at a certain kind of car lover" who likes to customise his vehicle. There are also plenty of missions where a crew member will call up and arrange a meeting at a map location, and a vast, night-time open world. Need for Speed is out now on Xbox One and PS4.

Lara Croft – Rise of Tomb Raider

Leggy archaeologist adventurer Lara Croft is back, this time tackling the frozen wilds of Siberia on the hunt for the lost secrets of immortality and to redeem her father's legacy. There are plenty of breath-taking environments, shadowy Trinity organisation bad guys, grumpy bears and tombs to raid along the way. Available on Xbox One, Xbox 360 on 13 November, and PC early next year.

Minecraft Story Mode

Telltale has created a new spin-off adventure game based on the hugely popular Minecraft world. The storyline centres around block-building protagonist Jesse (male or female), who must find five historic heroes to save the Minecraft world. Split into five episodes available separately over the coming months (with the second just released), Minecraft Story Mode will appeal to fans of Minecraft as well as those who are yet to try the block-building game. The release date for Episode 3 is reported to be in December.

Star Wars Battlefront

EA's upcoming Star Wars Battlefront is a multiplayer shooter that pits two teams of soldiers against each other in a galaxy far, far away, says The Verge. This game draws on the classic trilogy for its settings, but also bridges the 30-year gap between Return of the Jedi and the new films. Players get to fly X-Wings and control AT-ATs, allowing them to relive fights from the films, including the Empire Strikes Back's battle of Hoth, over and over again. The release date is 19 November for Europe, 17 November for the US.

Football Manager 2016

Sega's sport simulation game allows players to become a football club manager and even customise their appearances on the pitch. Two new modes include Fantasy Draft mode, in which multiple players can play together and draft players with a fixed budget; and Create-A-Club, allowing players to create their own club with kits, logos, stadiums and transfer budget. Available on PC and Mac on 13 November.

Call of Duty Black Ops III

Another futuristic first-person shooter from the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops III continues the story Treyarch started years ago in the original Black Ops. We leap forward to a dystopian future set in 2065, amid rising fears of a robotic takeover. There are two Zombies storylines, a cooperative four-player campaign and the all-important multiplayer mode, which continues to keep Call of Duty at the top of the gaming heap. Due to be released 6 November worldwide for PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3, Xbox 360.