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Top Video Games for the Holidays 2011

Coming this Fall: "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3"

Wondering what the hottest video games are this holiday season?

Just follow the trail of popular movies, cartoon characters, rock bands, and fantasy figures, and you're halfway home to picking the best of the best video games available.

As they firmly apply their finger to the pulse of pop culture nation, top video game producers say "give 'em what they want."

Some of these games are bigger and better versions of past hits, while others are bright new shiny toys to feed the need for speed.

Many of these games are available just in time for the holiday season to buy as gifts for yourself or for those lucky gamers on your Christmas shopping list.

What's new in video games Fall 2011

The season kicks off with the end of the "Gears of War" trilogy, already having received over one million pre-orders before its September release, making "Gears of War 3" the fastest pre-selling Xbox game ever.

In November, another highly anticipated game comes as a PS3 exclusive, with "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception" expected to hit the store shelves on November 1. For sheer sales numbers, also look to the Call of Duty franchise to once again kick butt in 2011 with the premiere of "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" on November 8.

And what would the holidays be without the return of Mario? Watch for exciting new features in DS3 versions of "Super Mario 3D Land" debuting on November 13, and Mario Kart 7 on December 4.

Top Video Games for Fall Release 2011

Video Game	System	2011 Release date
Gears of War 3	Xbox 360	September 20, 2011
FIFA 12	360, PS3, PC, Wii, PSP	September 27, 2011
Dark Souls	360, PS3	October 4, 2011
Rage	360, PS3, PC	October 4, 2011
Spider-Man: Edge of Time	360, PS3, Wii, 3DS	October 4, 2011
Forza 4	360	October 11, 2011
Batman: Arkham City	360, PS3, PC	October 18, 2011
Battlefield 3	360, PS3, PC	October 25, 2011
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception	PS3	November 1, 2011
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3	360, PS3, PC, Wii	November 8, 2011
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	360, PS3, PC	November 11, 2011
Minecraft	PC	November 11, 2011
Super Mario 3D Land	3DS	November 13, 2011
Saints Row: The Third	360, PS3, PC	November 15, 2011
Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary	360	November 15, 2011
Assassin's Creed: Revelations	360, PS3, PC	November 15, 2011
Rayman Origins	360, PS3, Wii, 3DS, PC	November 15, 2011
Need For Speed: The Run	360, PS3, PC, Wii, 3DS	November 17, 2011
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword	Wii	November 20, 2011
Mario Kart 7	3DS	December 4, 2011

More about 2011 video games around the Web:

Wikipedia - 2011 in Video Gaming - Covering the entire year with a huge list of video game debuts, information, and release dates.

VGR - Video Game Releases - What's coming down the pike this year and next with overviews, videos, pictures and screen captures.