It has been said that 2010 was the biggest year in gaming. 2011 has made that statement obsolete. With the release of new technology and big name titles such as the Kinect and Call of Duty: Black Ops, 2010 had many things that made it an incredible landmark in gaming history. However, it was easy to see early on that 2011 would have no problem over-throwing 2010 as the absolute biggest year in gaming. We have had new console announcements, new technology being released, and unbelievable game announcements and releases. Let's start with some of the biggest games of 2011, up to this point.

1.) Dead Space 2

The return to this survival/horror was a great way to kick off the year. With even better graphics, new guns, new story, and the addition of multiplayer made this game better than the first. Easy to understand why this makes the cut in the biggest games of this year, thus far.

2.) BulletStorm
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This new IP was actually great fun, and extremely over-the-top. It was a good addition to this year's line-up, and it's inclusion of the Gears of War 3 beta made this game that much better.

3.) KillZone 3

Guerilla did it again with this one. This game was another fantastic release for 2011. Albeit a PS3 exclusive, it was great fun for those who have the opportunity to play it. Improved functionality, graphics, and gameplay make for a nice treat.

4.) Portal 2

This was exciting to finally play in co-op. The first game had just been something they threw together and didn't really expect it to be a hit, it was just for fun. With it's predecessor's wide success, Portal 2 came alive in a whole new way. From the new and even longer single-player, the crazy new puzzles, and the brilliant addition of cooperative gameplay; this game was truly something to just kick back and have fun with.

5.) Mortal Kombat

The most impressive fighting game I have ever played. This re-boot took the classic style of Mortal Kombat and completely re-vamped it. This game is something that should not be missed by anybody (unless of course you hate fighting games). It has loads of new and old features and has continuous support from the developer.

6.) L.A. Noire

Being a Rockstar title, you should have an idea of their style if you've ever played GTA or Read Dead Redemption. They managed to bring a whole new style of realism to the game using special motion-capture technology for facial expressions.

7.) Crysis 2

Crysis 2 has gameplay that I would call the "Superhuman" version of Call of Duty. That nano suit allows you to do some pretty ridiculous stuff, but it sure is fun. Single-player or multiplayer, either way you should find yourself having a good time. If not, at least you can to look at some of the most impressive visuals that gaming has to offer.

8.) Brink

This game was a little rocky when it first came out, but after the updates and playing it with friends you should find yourself having fun with it. If you're one of those people who only plays CoD, you may not like it. So, broaden your playing field. It's a game and it's meant to be played. It's a lot of fun if you work together with friends and try new things. It's certainly a different shooter than most people are used to, but if you give it a shot you might like it.

9.) Duke Nukem Forever

"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I'm all outta gum!" You can tell yourself that all you want, but the fact of the matter is that this game finally came out after 12 years of development. Despite the company issues that arose during this game's development, it turned out alright. It's not what everyone expected, but hardcore Duke Nukem fans should still enjoy it, and be happy that The King is back.

10.) F3AR

FEAR 3 is actually a lot of fun. It sort of lost its "Scare Factor" but it is definitely a nice shooter to have fun with. The game's cooperative multiplayer and cooperative single player are where most of the fun lies. Especially the campaign where you can play as two different characters that each have different abilities. The question is, would you prefer the super-soldier that can slow time, or his cannibalistic ghost brother?

This was a simple overview of some of the big games that came out this year that are definitely worth the time to at least rent, if not buy. The descriptions above are not meant to be reviews of any sort. If you have not tried these games out and you need to kill time this summer until the big games come out this Fall, I would recommend you at least try them. They may not all be for you, so go for the ones that might suit your taste. Look for "Part 2" later on, when I summarize some of the big titles (not yet released) that will be available later this year. Trust me, that's a much better list than what we have had so far this year. So, get pumped.

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