The year is coming to a close once again, and with it, it has brought us many new games, great games we all certainly miss playing. Many of us are probably still playing them now! I've put together a brief insight of what I thought the best game each major genre in the video game field was this past year! For any of those looking for any last-minute gift ideas for the holidays in two weeks, any of these fantastic titles would be a perfect piece of software to pick up. Keep in mind the following games were chosen based on my opinion!

Best RPG of the Year ~ The Witcher 2

The Witcher 2 has to be the no brainer in this category, the game is simply greater than anything I have gotten the pleasure to play ever. The game is almost untarnished in just about every category! The greatest perk of the game however is the story. Never has a game drawn me into a story and left such a lasting effect as this game has done. The player gets to shape how the story plays out by making certain and sometime tedious decisions that will lead you down many different paths and storylines, along with multiple endings. Players are in control of Geralt of Rivia, one of the few remaining witchers. He hs been framed for murdering the king and has to clear his name. For an RPG, the 20 hour or so experience passes by at an excellent pace, while still maintaining a high level of replay value.

Best Shooter of the Year ~ Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

After playing both Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 for hours on end, I came to the decision that Modern Warfare 3 was the better game. The game may not have brought as much innovation the over saturated franchise as it could have, but in the end, it's the most fun. It has pieced together yet another, cinematic savvy experience that will keep your heart pounding out of your chest throughout the entire campaign. Multiplayer is just as fun as it once was, with the few tweaks here and there only further enhancing the sublime experience. Other editions such as Survival mode in Spec Ops only add to the fun! If you're looking for a good time, this is a game that won't disappoint!

Best RTS of the Year ~ Shogun 2: Total War

I don’t know exactly how Creative Assembly did it, but somehow they got their Mojo back. Shogun 2 is so charming and so full of fun that it has already taken a place on a pedestal next to my former favorite Medieval. For practically the first time, I didn’t even win my first campaign game, yet I still had a blast even while I got my butt kicked by the vigorous AI. Normally it can be a little frustrating when an AI gives you a major beat down, but in Shogun 2 I was practically cheering every time. After all the mishaps the franchise suffered back in Empire, it was great to see some intelligence in my virtual opponent again. The game most definitely marks itself as one of the greatest RTS's ever made, especially one of the most beautiful looking ones!

Best Sports Game of the Year ~ FIFA 11

FIFA 10 was a huge achievement for EA Sports' soccer series when it launched last year. It took a huge leap forward in both gameplay and feature set design. Though FIFA 11 doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, there's little doubt that this year's entry builds significantly on the series' rock-solid foundation! FIFA has always been about delivering the most realistic depiction of the sport of soccer, and this year we got just that and more with personality plus! Players are going to display authentic emotions on the field, which means the way players look, run, shoot, dribble and react to physical interactions will change dynamically making for the most realistic experience yet! FIFA 11 delivers a more refined soccer experience for fans of the sport and won't be any short of a thrill to those that play it!

Best Fighting Game of the Year ~ Mortal Kombat

In my opinion, Mortal Kombat is by far the best fighting game of 2011. The gamemarks a triumphant return to the series and is driven by an all new graphics engine. Better yet, the fan favourite Fatality is back and is presented in more gory detail than ever before! Satisfied yet? The game also features a number of new game-play features including tag team, a genre-shattering story mode, and a fantastic list of characters! If you're looking for a great game to just sit down and play in both short and long spurts, this is the perfect game for you!

Best Party Game of the Year ~ Just Dance 3

Just Dance 3 is a perfect example of dancing games at their best! The great thing about this game is that you don't even need to know anything at all about games to enjoy it. All you really need to understand is the title. If you like dancing, then by no doubt you'll like this game. The reason I chose this game over Dance Central is because Just Dance 3 is silly and provides good music; in the end creating an enjoyable experience for anyone and everyone that is playing. The game is meant to be played for fun, not for the next high score as featured in Dance Central.

Best MMO of the Year ~ Rift

Rift is a game built for MMO veterans. Its core gameplay is almost identical to that of World of Warcraft and is surprisingly incredibly polished. Though it lacks much innovation that could make it stand out amongst the rest of the genre, it is still an incredibly fun experience. During character creation, you choose a character archetype or "Calling" out of four options -- Mage, Rogue, Cleric and Warrior. The classes are then further broken down into "Souls" than can be obtained in-game. Souls will allow you to practically enact any kind of role you'd like. Heal, tank, dps, etc. PvP is a blast as well in Rift. There are four warfronts that you unlock at various levels that are all uniquely designed. Perhaps the most enticing thing about Rift is the invasion system. Rifts will randomly tear out of the sky in any zone and spawn an invasion of different types of enemies that will ravage the countryside and assume control of quest hubs until dealt with! Rift is the perfect MMO for anyone looking for that perfect fix to hold them over until GW2 or SWTOR comes out. It may even become your main MMO, at the moment, that's how it is for me!

Best Handheld Game of the Year ~ Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land is what saved the Nintendo 3DS. If you're one of the many people still looking for a good game to play on their 3DS, this is most definitely a must buy for you. 3D gaming has never been fully realized before this. From the clever platforming puzzles to the creative level design, the game is a blast the whole way through. The game does a perfect job at creating both new feature aspects for the game, while at the same time blending in old school Mario concepts like Music Blocks and flagpoles. This is the perfect game to play either on the go or slouched down on your couch!