The 10 Hottest Videogames of 2012

The videogame industry might have lost some of its retail strength, but come the holiday season, games still regularly top people's gift lists.

There's no better place to get a look at what's coming down the road than E3 – but too often, the games that get the bulk of the spotlight won't be out until the following year (or two, or sometimes three).

Selecting a "best of show” game is a fool's mission, given the number of titles on display and the limited time to see them all. But it is possible to get a better sense of which games will connect with players.

As we do each year, we've compiled a list of the games you can expect to be in demand this coming holiday season. Keep in mind, though, that while all of these titles are currently slated for a 2012 release, delays are regular occurrences in the video game industry – and there's no guarantee they'll make it to stores on schedule.

By Chris Morris, Special to CNBC.com
Posted 7 June 2012

Company: Activison-Blizzard

While the 2011 installment of this series has shown some signs of weakness, the decision to move it into a near future setting has reinvigorated players. Pre-orders are setting records and the segment Activision showed at E3 had crowds whooping it up. The laws of gravity say "Call of Duty" will have to fall from the top eventually, but it doesn't look like it will be this year.

Company: Microsoft

It’s been five years since "Halo" fans got to spend some quality time with the Master Chief – and they're ready to start the new adventure of their favorite Spartan. While series creator Bungie is no longer involved with "Halo," the new team in charge has infused the game with a sense of mystery and discovery, adding another layer to the popular shooter.

Company: Ubisoft

Previous games in Ubisoft's popular action series have been set in the Middle Ages, so the shift to an American Revolutionary War setting has fans excited. You'll play an assassin who's half Native American and helps the colonies defeat the British in key battles. Look for cameos in the game from everyone from George Washington to Benjamin Franklin. And look for Ubisoft to support it with the largest marketing campaign in its history.

Company: Sony

The developer behind the beloved "Uncharted" series launches a new franchise this year – and the demo at Sony's preshow news conference had people gasping. "The Last of Us" is an action/adventure series set in a plague-decimated world, where an adult survivor and a 14-year old girl fight for survival against infected, zombie-like creatures and hostile bands of marauders.

The first rule of videogames is simple: Never, ever, bet against the latest installment of the popular plumber. The new game allows up to five players to play simultaneously, with the holder of the Wii U GamePad acting as a "dungeon master" of sorts, guiding the action of others. The game will require new hardware to play, but the people who buy that system are quite likely to grab this game at the same time.

Company: Take-Two Interactive Software

Introduced in 1994, the XCOM series is one of the most beloved strategy lines in all of gaming. And when Take-Two attempted to introduce an action version of the game two years ago, it fell flat with fans. That game is still mired in development, but "Enemy Unknown" takes XCOM back to its roots – and leading its development is Firaxis, the team behind the popular "Civilization" games. The plot remains a fight against an enemy invasion but will be updated and feature the "one more turn" addictive gameplay that Firaxis (and studio head Sid Meier) is known for.

Company: Sony

Nintendo has seen tremendous success with its Super Smash Bros. series, which pits the most popular characters in its universe against each other in a raging battle. Now, Sony is hoping to capture that same excitement with its stable of well-known characters, including the heroes of "God of War," "Sly Cooper" and "Twisted Metal" – as well as several popular games made by outside developers that have risen to fame through the PlayStation brand.

Company: Capcom

This zombie-infused series isn't for everyone, but fans simply can't get enough. This year's installment features familiar heroes from past games and a new enemy that moves faster and regenerates. It also sees the U.S. president infected by the virus that mutates people – and the threat of a bioterror attack in China. Capcom has big hopes for the game, saying it expects to sell 7 million copies by the end of its fiscal year.

Company: Activision

"Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure," a fusion of real world toys and virtual worlds, proved to be one of the biggest surprises of 2011. The seemingly certain success of this year's follow-up won't shock as many people, but it will likely hit their wallets. The collectible toy aspect of the game has kept demand for the original game high (with some rare figures fetching over $1,200 on eBay). And the introduction of new, larger figures should once again drive kids into a frenzy. Be prepared to tussle for these at your toy store this year.

Company: Disney

2010's "Epic Mickey" wasn't a perfect game, but it sold 2 million copies and was a treasure trove for ardent fans of Disney lore. This year's sequel looks to correct some of the complaints (like the in-game camera) and teams Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Rabbit, letting players explore the game solo or with a friend. It's safe to say this is also the only game this year that will feature characters that break into song on a regular basis.