It's that most wonderful time of the year once again, and that also means it's time for my annual last minute Holiday gift guide. This year we were graced with one of the best sports gaming lineups in recent history, which means there were many high quality titles that were overlooked. So if you're feverishly searching for a perfect gift for that sports gamer on your list, look no further.

1. Trials HD (360/PS3)

Trials HD is the perfect game for fans of old-school obstacle-course racers -- think Paperboy meets Excitebike, and you have the gist of what Trials brings to the table. Featuring gorgeous graphics, tight responsive controls and some of the most challenging tracks ever created, Trials is definitely one of the best games I played this year.

Retailing at a mere 1,200 Microsoft Points (or $15 for you PS3 players), Trials is also one of the best values of 2009. And by the way, Trials is also the game that will keep on giving since there is also additional content for the game coming soon, which will add even more insane challenge to this already rewarding experience.

2. Punch Out!! Wii (Wii)

For some strange reason, Punch Out!! Wii released to little fan fare here at OS. The game scored a well deserved 9.0 on our site because of its exceptional level of gameplay polish. And in a year where several of the most popular sports games required multiple patches, Punch Out played beautifully out of the box. Punch Out is also the ultimate tribute to Nintendo's original 1987 boxing classic, introducing a whole new generation to Little Mac and a slew of quirky and unique opponents.

But Punch Out's best feature is the brand-new addition of its Title Defense mode. Here you engage in rematches with all of your previous opponents in a desperate attempt to remain atop the boxing world. To make things even more challenging, your opponents have learned from the previous bouts by protecting their weak sports and changing their attack patterns.

Punch Out is almost the perfect sports game in my eyes (sans the boxer Disco Kid), and will be a surefire hit for anyone with a Wii this Holiday season.

3. NHL 2K10 (360/PS3)

Overshadowed by the critically acclaimed NHL 10, NHL 2K10 provides an incredibly deep hockey experience for casual gamers and hockey vets alike. The game has outstanding presentation, an incredibly deep dynasty mode and some of the best end to end multiplayer hockey action I have experienced. If you are shopping for a hockey fan, you cannot go wrong with this one -- you can even drive the Zamboni!

4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 (Wii)

Simply put, this might be the most realistic playing sports game ever. Utilizing the Wii’s MotionPlus peripheral, TW10 on the Wii picks up just about every real-life flaw in your golf swing, leading to one heck of a rewarding video-game experience. The challenge of fine tuning your swing and mastering some of the finer aspects of the game's draw/fade controls will impress even the most hardcore golf gamers.

Frankly, not only is TW10 on the Wii console the most realistic playing sports game ever, it is (hyperbole incoming) hands down the greatest golf game to ever be released. If you have a golfer on your list, pick this game up ASAP.

5. Excitebike World Rally (Wii Virtual Console)

Just like the other games on this list, Excitebike World Rally is one of those games that completely slipped under the radar this year. Released in early November, World Rally is the spiritual successor to the NES dirt biking classic. All of the modes from the original game are present (including the track creator), with updated graphics, new camera angles, and best of all, competitive online play.

Coming in at a respectable 1,000 Wii Points ($10), World Rally is the perfect gift to give when on a budget. There really is not much more bang for your buck out there.


So you have MY list, but which games did you pick up for the sports gamers on YOUR list? Did any of my picks make your own list?