Although Sony's handheld is gradually clawing back some market share thanks to some particularly profitable months in Japan, the sad fact remains that Nintendo's DS has the PSP well and truly beaten elsewhere in the world. A cursory glance within your local high street retailer tells a sorry story for hardcore Sony devotees – Nintendo's dual-screened wonder commands the lion's share of shelf space whilst the poor old PSP is finding it harder and harder to stand up to the never-ending flood of 'me too' DS software.

However, if you look hard enough you'll discover that there are some reasons to be cheerful this winter if you're a PSP owner. Okay, they're not as exciting as last year's reasons, perhaps, and the choice is certainly more restrained than 12 months ago. Still, we've thoughtfully compiled this list of games – all of which will be available between now and when Saint Nick squeezes his sizable girth down your chimney – so join us as we give you some inspiration for those moments when family members ask what you'd like to find in your stocking this year...