Top 5 best PC games to play this winter

December 1st, 2010

You probably don't need any more games to play right now, given the glut of annual and holiday PC hits already released. But just in case, keep an eye on these upcoming highlights scheduled for release in December, January, or February:

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (Dec. 7)

Feed the addiction. What more can I say? It's the newest World of Warcraft expansion, featuring 3500 new quests, three new raids, seven new dungeons, and increased level cap to 85. Like the Energizer bunny, this game keeps going, and going, and going...

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam (Dec. 18)

Uh... wanna play what many gamers dub the best "modern warfare" shooter out right now, even better than Call of Duty? Scoop up Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for $20, then scoop up this new Vietnam expansion pack for $15. A jolly good time for a combined $35 bucks.

Back to the Future: The Game (Avail for download in "December")

I can't gaurantee that Back to the Future: The Game will be any good. But that doesn't mean I don't want it to be. And you'd be silly to overlook the fact that it's being developed by Telltale Games, episodic makers of the excellent Sam & Max, Tales of Monkey Island, and Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. I doubt it will blow your mind. But I'm confident it will be a nice change of pace and an entertaining little adventure.

Two Worlds II (Jan. 1)

The original Two Worlds was an enormous RPG. With clunkey graphics, an annoying interface and terrible voice acting, however, its appealing size was far from perfect. But if early European reviews are to be believed, Two Worlds II (that's a mouthful) appears to have refined the game while keeping the enormity intact. Hooray for RPG fans!

Dead Space 2 (Jan. 25)

If you enjoyed the first Dead Space, it's highly likely you'll like the sequel. It takes the same Alien-inspired survival horror gameplay and moves the from space ship to space station, complete with online multiplayer. For those who missed the first game, it's best described as a modern day Resident Evil.

Honorable mentions (Listed with "early 2011" dates)

1. Fable III
2. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
3. Guild Wars 2
4. Duke Nukem Forever
5. Darkspore
   

See also:

• Top 5 best PC games to play this fall
• Top 5 PC games to play this summer
• Top 5 best PC games to play this spring
• More PC gaming headlines