EDGE Holiday Gift Guide: Video Games

Christmas 2011 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory for gamers. This season the industry is releasing games that run the gambit from campy and fun to adventurous and gory. Hold on to your controllers, gamers - here comes Santa Claus!

Just Dance 3

Just Dance 3 kick-starts the party with over 45 tracks from multiple genres and popular artists including today's hottest hits like "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO, "California Gurls" by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, and "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green. Also included are legendary favorites like "I Was Made For Lovin' You" by Kiss. With a variety of all-new gameplay modes, tracks with 4-part choreography that allow up to 4 players to uniquely shine, and innovative cardio options, Just Dance 3 was made to keep the world dancing, and dancing, and dancing ...

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is first-person shooter rooted in a fictional, but ultra realistic near-future conflict of mostly American forces with those of the Russian Federation around the globe. The third installment in the "Modern Warfare" branch of the "Call of Duty" franchise, Modern Warfare 3 features a heavy focus on multiplayer gameplay which includes innovative new functionality that encourages multiple gameplay combat strategies, a new 2-player co-op option, new play modes, weapons and more. The game also includes a gripping single player campaign that picks up where "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" left off, and game integration with the "Call of Duty: Elite" online service.

Fallout New Vegas

Experience all the sights and sounds of fabulous New Vegas, brought to you by Vault-Tec, America's First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation. Explore the treacherous wastes of the Great Southwest from the safety and comfort of your very own vault: meet new people, confront terrifying creatures, and arm yourself with the latest high-tech weaponry as you make a name for yourself on a thrilling new journey across the Mojave wasteland. Enjoy your stay.

Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City is third-person action-adventure game that delivers an authentic Dark Knight experience rooted in an original and engrossing story leveraging a combination of melee combat, stealth, investigative and speed-based challenge gameplay. A sequel to 2009's "Batman: Arkham Asylum," Arkham Cityfeatures the full range of classic enemies seen in the previous game, in addition to Catwoman, who is a playable character and has her own storyline in the new release. Additional features include: a range of new gadgets, an increased number of possible melee opponents and a range of movement options for Batman that include leaping, sliding, gliding and the grapple hook.

Toy Story 3 The Video Game

Enter into the world of Disney/Pixar action with Toy Story 3: The Video Game for Sony PlayStation 2, loosely based on the movie. Players can choose their favorite character amongst Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and even Zurg as they pass through various scenes of the game. Change the size of your character with the Magic Goo feature. Enter into the world filled with interactive environments, completely customized buildings and a huge virtual toy with the Toy Box mode. Gamers can take part in mini-games such as car racing and unlock numerous bonus features. This game can be easily played with two players at the same time.

Rock Band 3

Rock Band 3 is the third main release in the iconic video game series that challenges gamers to live out their Rock & Roll fantasies together in a band, both locally and online. The game features an ever expanding song list from every era of Rock & Roll history, easy to pick up yet challenging addictive Note Highway gameplay, compatibility with earlier releases in the series and all platform-specific instrument controllers including most Guitar Hero controllers, extreme in-game character and band customization, and a slew of new features. These new features include: new setlist search functionality, the addition of 3-part harmonies and a keyboard peripheral and expanded play modes, including the advanced Pro Mode. Rock on!

DJ Hero 2

The follow up to the award-winning #1 new videogame IP of 2009, DJ Hero 2 will transform living rooms into nightclubs all over again with an entirely new music-gaming experience. Friends & families can become mix masters and singing sensations to experience hit music like they've never heard it before. With a host of new DJ and vocal multiplayer modes, including innovative DJ Battles, and 80+ mixes featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits (how can you go wrong with the likes of Lady Gaga and Rihanna), DJ Hero 2 is a hot title for the glitter stockings of music-lovers (or club kids).

Halo Reach

Developed exclusively for Xbox 360, this game is the blockbuster prequel to the landmark "Halo" video game franchise and is the biggest game yet in the Halo series. "Halo" is one of the biggest video game series in history, and is the top selling franchise on Xbox. It has defined a generation of gamers and changed how people view this medium. Halo: Reach tells the tragic and heroic story of Noble Team, a group of Spartans who through great sacrifice and courage saved countless lives in the face of impossible odds. The planet Reach is humanity's last line of defense between the encroaching Covenant and their ultimate goal, the destruction of Earth. If it falls, humanity will be perched on the brink of destruction. Care to place your wager? Either way, the gamer on your list will be ecstatic - and then will disappear for 72 hours straight.