( CNN ) -- For video game junkies , blockbuster titles like Cold War-era shooter `` Call of Duty : Black Ops '' and post-apocalyptic role-player `` Fallout : New Vegas '' make 2010 a hard act to follow . But 2011 is shaping up to be a pretty good year for games , too . From jaw-dropping shooter `` Rage '' to animated fighting game `` Marvel vs. Capcom 3 , '' there are many promising releases coming in the months ahead . Here 's a look at some games to look forward to this year . The impending deluge begins this month -- traditionally a slow period for new releases -- with the combination platform-hopping , game-building `` LittleBigPlanet 2 , '' which lets you create and share new levels or challenges . Also arriving in January is sci-fi horror epic `` Dead Space 2 , '' which forces space cadets to survive a maze of high-tech corridors crawling with misshapen monsters . Hybrid puzzle and arcade game `` Lost in Shadow , '' wherein players manipulate illuminated objects to make shadows take on new angles and forms , will also make its debut . February will bring `` Portal 2 , '' a puzzle game that demands you solve challenges by teleporting items and individuals between locations . Like `` Angry Birds , '' the game allows fans to casually experiment with physics . Over-the-top , first-person shooter `` Bulletstorm , '' a tongue-in-cheek , hyper-macho run-n-gun outing that offers numerous ways to creatively off opponents , will hit stores shortly thereafter . Also coming next month is `` Blade Runner '' homage `` Deus Ex : Human Revolution , '' which lets you solve a futuristic global conspiracy through stealth , combat , hacking or the use of mechanical limbs . Ditto for `` Killzone 3 , '' a stunning sci-fi shooter game that promises to demonstrate how powerful the PlayStation 3 can be with its 3-D TV-ready effects and support for motion controls . Fast forward to March , and we get the long-awaited `` Mortal Kombat '' fighting game series reboot , as well as sci-fi run-n-gun extravaganza `` Crysis 2 , '' which hopes to raise the bar for graphic fidelity . `` Dragon Age II , '' a sequel to the grim and gritty fantasy epic , will make a violent appearance as well . Massively multiplayer online sword and sorcery tale `` Final Fantasy XIV '' is expected to be released on PlayStation 3 , joining its already-released PC cousin . Actual launch dates become murkier further out , but upcoming titles for the rest of the year appear no less intriguing . Fans of stealth action can look forward to `` Metal Gear Solid Rising '' and `` Batman : Arkham City , '' a sequel to the best-selling superhero action-adventure `` Batman : Arkham Asylum . '' Those who prefer a good mystery have `` L.A . Noire . '' Epic firefights abound in `` SOCOM 4 : U.S. Navy SEALs , '' `` Duke Nukem Forever , '' and `` Gears of War 3 . '' Sports enthusiasts will enjoy completely new spins on familiar pastimes in `` Mario Sports Mix '' and `` NASCAR : The Game 2011 . '' There are even a few hidden treasures for the role-playing crowd in `` Hunted : Demon 's Forge '' and `` Dungeon Siege III . '' It all adds up to a potential banner year for console and PC game releases . You might consider putting some holiday money aside for later in 2011 , when the real gifts arrive .
With such titles as `` Dead Space 2 '' and a `` Mortal Kombat '' reboot , a good year will be 2011 . Toolkit for `` Deus Ex : Human Revolution '' lets you create and share new levels or challenges . Those who prefer a good mystery have U.S. Navy and `` LittleBigPlanet 2 '' Sports enthusiasts will enjoy completely new spins on familiar pastimes .