The Top 10 Games of Christmas 2014

08. Sniper Elite 3

ESRB Rating: M (for Mature)

Price: Xbox 360 & PS3 $39.99 / X1 & PS4 $49.99

Special Requirements: Broadband for Online Play

Launched in June and July of 2014 first in Europe than worldwide, SE3 was crafted by game development studio Rebellion Oxford and then published by 505 Games (Rebellion self-published the PC version) to a warm reception.

Offered as a prequel to Rebellion's Sniper Elite V2 (2012), SE3 was released on PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows, and offers gamers a very tight and entertaining series of challenges that are almost puzzle-like in the assembly of the solutions for each level.

The game is a tactical shooter with stealth elements that rewards out-of-the-box thinking despite the fact that it is largely - and necessarily - on something of a tight rail in terms of the world and your game play goals.

The events that are experienced in SE3 take place several years prior to those in V2, and follow the exploits of a gifted warrior and sniper who is attached to the Office of Strategic Services (forerunner of the modern day CIA) named Karl Fairburne.

Karl is working his way across North Africa killing Germans as he goes, while trying to solve s rather confusing mystery surrounding how Adolf Hitler, the ruler of the Nazi Empire, can be in so many places at almost the same time?!

Along the way Karl learns about a new secret wonder weapon programer that has the potential to be a game-changer in terms of the war - a secret wonder weapon that must be destroyed, along with its construction facilities and plans as well!

Our first exposure to SE3 took place at E3 and, later, at PAX East, where we received a presentation that involved hands-on play of an early version, and the realization that this was sure to be an awesome and very entertaining romp through North Africa!

That hand's on experience took place in June of 1942, and challenged us to survie the Battle of Gazala, so that we can work our way towards assassinating German General Franz Vahlen while we worked to uncover his top-secret wonder weapon project.

Through a combination of stealth-action play and sniping in which practically every aspect of the environment eventually makes a contribution, the most unlikely - and bloody - of game play mechanisms ended up imprinting the game with a macabre feel that pretty much etstablishes its vouce and its drawing power!

While we briefly hook up with an AI spotter/partner early on, the beauty of SE3 is not the fact that we could then very easily continue on with the adventure on our own and with great effect, but rather it was the fact that we were not meant to that really draws us in.

Sniper Elite 3 is a game that was created from the ground up to be played with a friend or friends, and offers the very rare and very entertaining option of hooking up with a mate and working your way through the many challenging missions together. An approach we strongly recommend.

It seems to us - knowing what we know - that the best way to handle SE3 is to gift yourself a copy, and then be sure you also gift it to as many of your mates who thrive on stealth-action shooters as you can so that you have a ready-made group to play with! Yes, the co-op side is that stimulating and entertaining.