Every new calendar year there are one or two titles that every gamer is looking forward to in the upcoming video game season, however rarely does a release list look quite as impressive as the upcoming 2011 list of games. Three games stand out more than anything this year, and they all have one big thing in common: People have been waiting a long time for them.
1. Diablo 3 (Blizzard) -- For years, Diablo 2 was the powerhouse of the competitive online world, and even to this day you can find thousands of players online at any given time hacking away at demons, or running through bosses for the millionth time still hoping to find that ever-elusive Windforce. Now, after eleven long years, Diablo 3 is ready to take back the crown its series once held and take gamers back on the road of a hero, this time with a brand-new crafting and rune system to further add depth to what is expected to already be one of the most replayable games ever made.
2. Defense of the Ancients 2 (Valve) -- Defense of the Ancients, or DotA for short, is a bit of a phenomenon in the world of online multiplayer games. While most games are developed by big companies and distributed by major publishers, DotA began as a community mod for Blizzard's popular Warcraft III game. After years of community updates and a massive increase in attention by fans who loved the unique style of play, Valve managed to hire the latest developer of DotA and patent the name for future use. Yes, that's right, Valve took the mega-popular DotA game right out from under Blizzard's noses, and are now in development of DotA 2, which is scheduled to release early in 2011.
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda) -- The Elder Scrolls series hit mainstream affection in 2002 when it released its critically acclaimed third-installment in the series, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Unlike many of the games during its time, Morrowind introduced gamers to the concept of a massive, free-roaming world that put it in the player's hands to decide how they wanted to craft and enjoy their experience. A few years later, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was released, and while it initially garnered good reviews for its impressive graphics and reworked combat system, it has ultimately been considered by many to have been a disappointing continuation of the saga, especially coming after the masterpiece that was Morrowind.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the fifth installment in the series, and is set to introduce several new features and enemies, including dragons, dungeons and a controversial removal of the long-standing class-based system. Many gamers are looking for Skyrim's release in 2011 to be the true sequel worthy of building upon Morrowind's success, although only time will tell whether or not Bethesda's latest installment can bring the series back to its glory days.
David is an avid gamer and current video games entertainment writer. When not salivating at the prospect of defeating hoards of skeletons in Diablo 3 later this year, David can be found teaching gamers in the real world how to approach a girl and win on his Alpha Male tips website.
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