Expected release date: February 7

Inversion makes the list because the game makes use of some interesting gravity effects. From what has been played so far, the mind-altering gameplay will provide some truly unique scenarios that go well beyond the average third-person shooter.

• The Darkness II (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: February 7

The Darkness II is shaping up to be a compelling sequel. Back with a new art style, The Darkness II also boasts quad-wielding, which lets the player use four appendages for maximum carnage.

• Syndicate (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: February 22

Many People are impressed with what have been seen from Syndicate, the first-person relaunching of the franchise of the same name. A handful of futuristic weapons are at your disposal, in addition to neurological powers that allow mind-hacking.

• Max Payne 3 (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: March 6

Max Payne 3 is looking like the true sequel loyal fans have been waiting for so long. While some initial screenshots had us thinking otherwise, the third Payne game will feature everyone’s favorite disgruntled cop in various new environments as well as some familiar ones.

• Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: March 6

The Mass Effect trilogy ends here. For the last time players will suit up as Commander Shepard and take on the Reaper invasion.

• XCOM (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: March 6

The franchise reboot XCOM had impressed many at E3 2011 with its unique alternate-history alien invasion storyline and intense gameplay. Shooters are nothing new, but XCOM has enough originality to keep us anxiously waiting.

Expected release date: Q3 2012

Tomb Raider will act as a relaunch of the series, allowing for a gritty retelling of Lara Croft’s origin.

• Call of Duty: Whatever (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: November 2012

No shock here. Activision will publish a new Call of Duty game in 2012, and if the pattern of the last five years continues, it will see Treyarch coming in as the developer. Write down a bunch of military conflicts from the world’s past, shuffle them up in a hat, pick one, and you’ve got the next Call of Duty game.

• Borderlands 2 (360, PS3, PC)

The sequel to the highly addictive shoot-and-loot RPG with its distinctive cel-shaded art style will hit consoles and the PC in 2012.

• Far Cry 3 (360, PS3, PC)

• Darksiders II (360, PS3, PC)

Expected release date: TBA 2012

While Metro 2033 took a while to get going, the hype train is in full effect for Last Light, which continues the story of an underground civilization in post-apocalyptic Russia.

• Prey 2 (360, PS3, PC)