5 Most Wanted Games for the 2010 Holiday Season

With hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide, you're bound to have at least one on your holiday shopping list. If you don't play video games yourself, this can make your gamer friends and family members difficult to shop for. Maybe you've had a red-faced encounter with gifting them a game that's no good, or maybe you don't know where to begin. Regardless of where you stand, here's a quick look at some of the most wanted games for this holiday season. This will help you make sense of who the various games appeal to, to take a little of the guesswork out of buying gifts for gamers.

Most Wanted Games for Holiday 2010 - Call of Duty: Black Ops
Platform: Wii, DS, PC/Mac, PS3, Xbox 360, Mobile Phone
Wished for by: Competitive Gamers, Jason Bourne

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first-person shooter (FPS), focusing on military stealth and tactical operations. This game is set during the Cold War era, unlike the numerous futuristic or WWII-era games in the same genre. The game contains both solo and online multiplayer options, and is bound to be played at LAN parties and gaming tournaments. If the gamer you're buying for likes games like Medal of Honor, Halo, or Gears of War, Call of Duty: Black Ops is likely to be on their wishlist.

Most Wanted Games for Holiday 2010 - World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Platform: PC/Mac
Wished for by: MMORPG Fans, Night Elves

According to the Guinness World Records, World of Warcraft is the most popular MMORPG in the world. MMORPG, which stands for "massively multiplayer online roleplaying game," refers to the game's system of play. To play the game, players need to interact with other players, and a game world that can be manipulated by the actions of other human players. Chances are you already know a little bit about it if your resident gamer plays WoW, due to cancelled plans or missed meals. Cataclysm is the latest expansion pack for the game, adding new dungeon play and an increased level cap among many other game-changing updates. If someone you love plays WoW, they probably can't wait to get their hands on the Cataclysm expansion pack.

Most Wanted Games for Holiday 2010 - Rock Band 3
Platform: Wii, DS, PS3, Xbox 360
Wished for by: Families, Casual Gamers

Rock Band 3 is the latest rhythm game that's playable with friends or family members. Put Mom on drums and let your little sister sing, and suddenly you've got a family band. One part skill, one part karaoke, the Rock Band series and games like it have been some of the most popular games sold for consoles in recent years. Due to the collaborative group play, games like Rock Band are especially popular among people who wouldn't otherwise play video games. They're fun for fooling around at social gatherings, or to play on a level field with people of all ages and skill levels.

Most Wanted Games for Holiday 2010 - Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2011
Platform: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360
Wished for by: Dads, Dick Cheney

Dangerous Hunts is a hunting game, in which players go after dangerous predators (like the grizzly bear featured on the box). Though people of all age groups can enjoy this game, it's most likely to be a favorite of people who aren't interested in the latest games. This is a good fit for someone who only plays video games for brief periods, and isn't concerned with extra details like competitive online play. This is why it's a great fit for parents, who often want to play video games but just don't have the time to devote to most of them.

Most Wanted Games for Holiday 2010 - Epic Mickey
Platform: Wii
Wished for by: Kids, Retro Gamers

This hotly-anticipated game featuring the one and only Mickey Mouse is bound to be a hit with kids of all ages. Take Mickey on an epic adventure to change the world with a magical paintbrush, solve puzzles and make friends (or enemies). Epic Mickey is an action-adventure platform game, similar to some of the most popular video games ever created - namely the Zelda and Mario games. If the gamer you love grew up with games like those, they're likely to get a kick out of Epic Mickey. The bright colors and cartoon hero are also bound to appeal to kids.