After the unchallenged Christmas dominance of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the release dates for plenty of so-called triple-A games have been saved for 2010. While the first few months promise an absurd bumper crop, the rest of the year's looking like no slouch.
Gran Turismo 5
Playstation 3
Announced a seeming eternity ago, Gran Turismo 5, the latest instalment in the series that gave birth to realistic driving games, seems to have been "coming soon" for as long as anyone can remember. This year it will allegedly be released in all its HD, online multiplayer glory.
Out autumn
Split/Second
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Another racing game, but one in which you can blow up large sections of the track and scenery, creating shortcuts and dropping bits of buildings in front of competitors. Save up explosive power-ups for even bigger bangs in what promises to be a rather different way of winning.
Out May
Mass Effect 2
PC, Xbox 360
Another outing for Commander Shepard and his (or her, if you prefer) crew as you help stop a new threat to mankind, manifesting itself in the stealthy abduction of entire human colonies. More role-playing japes and lightweight action with the bonus option of making Shepard act like a jerk.
Out 29 Jan
Crackdown 2
Xbox 360
Mutants invade Pacific City and it's your job to stop them in this sequel to the excellent Crackdown. Playing like a sanitised Grand Theft Auto where you're on the side of law and order, there are no hookers in sight and you can upgrade your agent to leap small buildings.
Release date TBA
Aliens vs Predator
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
The eternal struggle continues as Alien fights Predator fights hapless space marine in a battle where humans feel more like trembling cannon fodder than conquering heroes. Promising three very different perspectives on the action and plenty of references to the blockbuster movie base material.
Out 26 Feb
Final Fantasy XIV
PC, PS3
More than five years in the making, the latest Final Fantasy promises accessible, massively multiplayer online gaming. Created with casual gamers in mind and designed to support quick dips as well as the hundreds of hours spent stuffing your face with Doritos that World Of Warcraft precipitates.
Out 9 Mar
BioShock 2
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Returning to Rapture, the decaying art deco underwater city that made the original so memorable, you step into the weighted diving boots of a Big Daddy, growling protector of the gene-harvesting Little Sisters who patrol the city for corpses. More mildly grisly, genetically enhanced entertainment.
Out 9 Feb
Alan Wake
Xbox 360
Although announced some time ago, Alan Wake is another game perpetually in preview. If it does finally appear this year, its brand of open world, action-orientated survival horror, pitting author Alan against all manner of terrors from his own fiction, should be well polished after long development.
Out 28 May
