I love action-oriented games. I love firing off virtual guns and setting off digital explosions as much as the next gamer. That said, it is nice to be able to settle into something a little more slow-paced, something quiet and gentle, that puts characterisation and storytelling ahead of action.

Traditionally, saying "adventure game" meant a Sierra or LucasArts style point-and-click, like Monkey Island or Space Quest. These days, adventure games take all kinds of shapes, from first-person adventures like the hauntingly beautiful Dear Esther, through the 3D platforming and exploration of Journey, to interactive movies like Telltale's groundbreaking Walking Dead serial.

We didn't get many adventure games in 2012, but the ones we did were of exceptional quality.

While the field of nominees is fairly small in this category, competition is going to be very fierce. I am a big fan of thatgamecompany's incredible piece of interactive art, Journey, and I hope it will do well in the voting, but I also know that there are many Walking Dead fans in Screen Play's readership, who have been devouring every episode of this nail-biting interactive thriller.

The Unfinished Swan is likely to do well in voting, too. While I found it unsatisfying overall, there is no denying the charm of its opening paint-spattered levels. Wilderness survival adventure Miasmata, a remarkable project made by two brothers, is also receiving excellent word-of-mouth recommendations.