Major Video Game Releases for 2010
Pre-teen (these games will be suitable for children under 13. Each game has a specific rating)
New Super Mario Bros Wii (released late 2009)
- Platform: Nintendo Wii
- Publisher: Nintendo
- ESRB Rating: E
- Price: $40-100
The classic Mario platform game is coming to Wii! For the first time, you can experience an action-packed Mario platformer on Wii with simultaneous multiplayer fun as New Super Mario Bros. Wii launches across Europe on 20th November.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
- Platform: Nintendo Wii
- Publisher: Nintendo
- ESRB Rating: E
- Price: $40-50
Mario collects stars as he travels from galaxy to galaxy. Every level is new, but the game retains the charm, sense of wonder and beauty in line with Mario’s history. Mario works his way through the various levels, sometimes upside-down, sometimes floating from place to place.
Sid Meier’s Civilization V 
- Platform: PC, Mac
- Publisher: 2K Games
- ESRB Rating: E10
- Price: $40-100
With over nine million units sold worldwide, and unprecedented critical acclaim from fans and press around the world, Sid Meier’s Civilization is recognized as one of the greatest strategy franchises of all-time. Now, Firaxis Games will take this incredibly fun and addictive strategy game to unprecedented heights by adding new ways to play and win; new tools to manage and expand your civilization; extensive modding capabilities; and intensely competitive multiplayer options. Civilization V will come to life in a beautifully detailed, living world that will elevate the gameplay experience to a whole new level making it a must-have for gamers around the globe!
Teenagers
Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions 
- Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii PC [late November])
- Publisher: Activision
- ESRB Rating: T
- Price: $40-60
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is an action-packed adventure encompassing four dramatically different parallel universes, each with its own Spider-Man armed with unique strengths. Each stunning universe has its own detailed art design and thrilling gameplay with challenging skill sets to master in order to unlock powerful new moves. Explore dramatic, stunning environments, wield explosive new powers, and face epic boss battles against extraordinary foes. Experience the legendary Super Hero like never before: Four unique worlds. Four distinct Spider-Men. One unparalleled experience!
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty - Strategy
- Platform: PC
- Publisher: Activision Blizzard
- ESRB Rating: T
- Price: $40-50
Continue the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.
Adults (note, M for Mature is actually 17+ but included here to separate it from the standard T for Teen rating.)
BioShock 2 
- Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
- Publisher: 2K Games
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $25-40
- GDN Review
Step back into the unforgettable world of Rapture in BioShock 2, the next installment in the franchise that has won more than 50 Game of the Year Awards and has sold more than 2.5 million units worldwide. Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. Players step into the boots of the most iconic denizen of Rapture, the Big Daddy, as they travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and their own survival.
Mafia II
- Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
- Publisher: 2K Games
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $35-60
- GDN Review
From the developers of the award-winning Mafia comes Mafia II, a beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia where clothing, cars, music and advertising are meticulously created to replicate an American city in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Players will easily become engaged in the game’s cinematic, Hollywood-style experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing city that transports them to a time when rock-n-roll first strummed its guitar and chrome-plated hot rods roared down boulevards.
Borderlands Game of the Year Edition (technically released in 2009, but this package is a major deal)
The dynamite packed Borderlands Game of the Year edition is a highly charged value-packed collection of the critically acclaimed and best-selling Role-Playing-Shooter that has captured the imagination and attention of single-player and cooperative gamers around the world. Borderlands Game of the Year edition customers will receive all four frenzied downloadable adventures including The Zombie Island or Dr. Ned*, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot*, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx*, and the latest robotic Claptastic adventure - Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution* - where players will join forces in an attempt to suppress the infamous Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap.
Halo Reach (Xbox 360)
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Publisher: Microsoft
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $40-60
Reach brings Halo a GDN Gold award this time round, topping ODST (which got a Silver). It just seems like they finally took some extra time to make the game better instead of rehashing what came before. It’s different, but still Halo.
Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360)
- Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
- Publisher: Rockstar
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $40-60
A top-notch single-player game with interesting online multiplayer, Red Dead Redemption is one of the best titles of this console generation and more than overcomes its minor flaws.
God of War III
- Platform: PS3
- Publisher: Sony
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $40-60
Set in the realm of brutal Greek mythology, God of War III is a single-player game that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he scales through the intimidating heights of Mt. Olympus and the dark depths of Hell to seek revenge on those who have betrayed him. Armed with double-chained blades, and an array of new weapons and magic for this iteration of the trilogy, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest to destroy Olympus.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
- Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Publisher: EA
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $40-60
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 players will have a selection of 46 weapons that they can customize into over 200 different, high-powered firearms. There are over 15,000 kit variations possible in the game, giving each squad member the ability to choose the weapon upgrades and combat enhancements that best fits their playing style. Between the weapons, kit combinations and deadly vehicles, players will be equipped with a wide range of gadgets, accessories and character specializations to give them the edge in the heat of battle.
Mass Effect 2
- Platform: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Publisher: EA
- ESRB Rating: M
- Price: $20-60
The second chapter in the Mass Effect trilogy takes you to the darkest reaches of space, where you must uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of humans across many worlds. Prepare yourself for a suicide mission to save mankind. Travel the galaxy to assemble a team of soldiers and combat specialists, and launch an all-out assault on the heart of enemy territory.
Most games can be purchased through either the GDN Amazon Store or GamersGate.
Other GDN Holiday Guides:
The Staff recommendation guide will include gaming items and staff recommendations that are under the $100 mark.
The Non-gaming Guide (later this week) will feature items that aren’t exactly gaming-related but that would appeal to a wide range of gamers and fall into common interests or just downright cool gear.
The Dream guide (later this week) will include the fantastic, the outrageous and the downright expensive. Mostly just for fun since few of us will be able to afford many of the things on that list.
