Nintendo has largely owned the portable gaming arena with the DS, so its successor needed to be something special. The 3DS forces back the boundaries all over again.

Price: £229.99 |Nintendo

The first console to deliver 3D visuals without the need for glasses, the 3DS offers new control options – motion sensing and an analogue pad for a start – augmented reality games, greatly improved graphics and an innovative new way to communicate with fellow 3DS gamers.

The glasses-free 3D effect works like a lenticular image come to life; the screen directs light in two different directions, one for each eye, thus tricking your brain into seeing depth that’s not there, and the effect is jaw-droppingly impressive.

SpotPass and Street Pass modes adds strong social gaming elements, and with 3D content on the way from the likes of Sky and Eurosport, this is only the beginning for the Nintendo 3DS.

Nintendo 3DS video