Games in 2011: The most anticipated titles

Batman: Arkham City (Warner Bros, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Taking place in a desolate chunk of Gotham City, recently restyled as a maximum security prison, Rocksteady Studios’ gritty sequel has the Caped Crusader rescuing Catwoman from marauding psychos. Think Escape From New York meets The Dark Knight. Release: Q4
Photograph: Public Domain

Bulletstorm (EA, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Described as a ‘blood symphony’, this sci-fi blaster promises gallons of gore-splattered action as two insane mercenaries shoot their way through an abandoned pleasure planet. Players can use combos to create truly extravagant kills. It won’t be subtle. Release: February 22 Photograph: Public Domain

Child of Eden (UbiSoft, PS3, Xbox 360) A visually astonishing musical shoot-‘em-up from Rez designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi. More like conducting a light show than playing a game, and it’s fully Kinect compatible so you can flail your arms around to create your own ‘kaleidoscopic matrix of synchronised music’. Wow. Release: Spring Photograph: Public Domain

Crysis 2 (EA, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) The original sci-fi shooter provided a stunning benchmark for gaming visuals, and the sequel – set in a devastated New York invaded by monstrous aliens – looks likely to spectacularly top it. It’s 3D compatible, too. Release: March 25 Photograph: Public Domain

Diablo 3 (Blizzard, Mac, PC) Blizzard hasn’t confirmed that this long-awaited action role-playing sequel is definitely coming out in 2011 – but we can hope. As usual, players roam dungeons, hack enemies and steal treasure. But with a wealth of new features and seamless multiplayer, it’s already got ‘PC game of the year’ stamped all over it. Release: TBC Photograph: Public Domain

Dragon Age 2 (EA, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) BioWare’s fantasy role-playing epic returns, this time following a refugee warrior named Hawke as he rises to kingship over ten years of warfare. The updated graphics engine, huge menagerie of new monsters and intriguing ‘framed narrative’ structure promise another involving experience. Release: March 11 Photograph: Public Domain

Gears of War 3 (Microsoft, Xbox 360) Yet more alien-slaughtering mayhem from Epic Games, this time chucking playable female characters into the macho hurly-burly. The trilogy finale also promises fresh multiplayer modes, a huge armoury of chunky weapons, and a vicious new alien race to point them at. Release: April 5 Photograph: Public Domain

Killzone 3 (Sony, PS3) The landmark first-person shooter series returns, pitching mankind into another hopeless battle against the evil Helghast forces. Boasts massive environments ranging from jungles to nuclear wastelands and a crunching melee combat system. Supports both 3D and the PlayStation Move controller. Release: February 25 Photograph: Public Domain

LA Noire (Rockstar, PS3) Set amid the rampant corruption of 1940s Los Angeles, the latest action-adventure epic from Rockstar follows a rookie detective as he investigates a series of grisly murders. Yep, Grand Theft Auto meets LA Confidential. Release: TBC Photograph: Public Domain

LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony, PS3) The cute physics-packed platformer returns, boasting an enormously refined ‘make-it-yourself’ mode, which lets players build their own games. Luscious handicraft visuals and an emphasis on co-operative creative play really set this one apart. Release: January 21 Photograph: Public Domain

Metal Gear Solid Rising (Konami, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) The latest instalment in the multi-million selling Metal Gear Solid series drops the sneaky stealth action in favour of all-out sword-swirling mayhem. The intriguing but painful-sounding 'free slicing' mode lets you chop up everything from robots to vehicles. Release: summer Photograph: Public Domain

Rage (Bethesda, PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Id Software, the creator of Doom and Quake, returns with a new title, a first-person shooter with RPG and buggy-racing elements, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. State-of-the-art visuals and innovative gunplay are expected. Release: September 16 Photograph: Public Domain

Star Wars: The Old Republic (LucasArts, PC) A massively multiplayer Sith v Jedi role-playing adventure? Created by BioWare, the legendary developer behind Mass Effect? No wonder this is one of the most hotly anticipated PC titles in a decade. Could it be the game that saves Star Wars? Release: TBC Photograph: Public Domain

The Last Guardian (Sony, PS3) A young boy must protect a gigantic monster in a dark, inhospitable world. And that’s all we really know about the third title from Team Ico, the visionary developers behind Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Expect grandeur and real emotional impact. Release: TBC Photograph: Public Domain

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (Sony, PS3) The most important new PlayStation ‘franchise’ returns, as dashing adventurer Nathan Drake searches for a fabled lost city in the Arabian Desert. An overhauled multiplayer mode and fresh combat mechanics have been mentioned. But they had us at ‘hello’. Release: TBC Photograph: Public Domain