The Christmas rush starts now...

The festive fun begins on Friday (November 26) with no less than 42 games hitting UK stores. Christmas shopping has never been easier as every platform is graced with at least two 'triple A' titles. Here's our pick of the best for each system:

PC: Half-Life: Opposing Force, Hidden & Dangerous: Fight for Freedom.
Two completely different, yet equally brilliant, shooters get the expansion treatment.

PlayStation: Crash Team Racing, Tomb Raider 4.
There aren't many bigger pairs than this! Sony's answer to Mario Kart is sure to fly off the shelves and Ms Croft will no doubt steal into the nation's homes once again.

N64: Smash Brothers, 40 Winks.
Nintendo's zany beat-em-up finally arrives, while GT Interactive cater for the platform fans.

Dreamcast: Soul Calibur, Street Fighter Alpha 3.
Virgin must be absolutely bonkers to release SFA3 on the same day as the greatest fighter ever. Die-hard Street Fighter fans may disagree.

Game Boy Color: Micro Machines 1 & 2, Pac-Man/Pac-Panic.
A couple of classics hit the handheld in time for those boring trips to visit distant relatives (the old ones who never buy you games).

Also of note, Rage's UEFA Striker becomes the first footy game to make it onto Dreamcast - essential stuff for lager-fuelled festivities.