8. Viva Piñata series (Xbox 360, DS)

Developed by the legendary Rareware group, 'Viva Piñata' is a breath of fresh air for the Xbox 360 and DS. The aim of the game is to create a garden to attract piñata creatures to stay in it, as well as providing food and shelter for the little critters. With comparisons to 'The Sims', 'Animal Crossing' and 'Harvest Moon', 'Viva Piñata' is an excellent game by any standard.

9. World of Goo (Wii, PC)

Created by 2D Boy, 'World of Goo' has become a cult classic thanks to its unique atmosphere and premise. The player is tasked with building structures out of goo balls in an attempt to escape the level. What makes 'World of Goo' even more remarkable is that it's an independent game created for Nintendo's Wiiware service, as well as being available for PC.

10. Braid (Xbox 360, PC)

Another indie game darling, 'Braid's' combination of time-manipulation, platforming, puzzles, and mesmerizing atmosphere is an intriguing one. Developed by Jonathan Blow, 'Braid' is the highest rated Xbox Live Arcade game available.

11. Boom Blox series (Wii, NGage)

Steven Spielberg's first foray into games with 'Boom Blox' is a winner. A puzzle game in the vein of 'Jenga', it features hundreds of levels with various objectives, such as blowing up certain blocks or destroying everything. The sequel, 'Bash Party', introduces a number of improvements and additions such as underwater and outer space locales.

12. Mario Kart series (Gamecube, Wii, DS)

First released in 1992, the 'Mario Kart' series has spawned countless clones, but it's the original series that keeps on providing the fun. Armed with various "weapons" such as shells and banana peels, 'Mario Kart' keeps on going from strength to strength.

13. Project Gotham Racing 4 (Xbox 360)

The 'Project Gotham Racing' series can trace its roots back to 'Metropolis Street Racer' for the Dreamcast, with Bizarre Creations moving the series over to the original Xbox back in 2001. The 'PGR' series is a cross between simulation and arcade, creating a fun racer with depth. The series is also notable for being Bill Gates' favourite game.

14. Gran Turismo series (PS1, PS2, PS3)

The work of Kazunori Yamauchi, 'Gran Turismo' popularised car racing sims on consoles. The latest full-fledged game in the series, 'Gran Turismo 4', features a series-high 700 cars from 80 manufacturers and 50 tracks. The newest iteration promises damage modelling as well as weather changes during races.

15. Animal Crossing (Gamecube, DS, Wii)

Billed as a life-simulation of sorts, the 'Animal Crossing' series has gained a gigantic following. Starting out penniless in a randomly-generated village, 'Animal Crossing' encourages you to socialise with the villagers. One of the many innovations in the game is the introduction of a real-time clock, with your surroundings changing and villagers going about their business as time goes by.