With many giant releases out already this year like Starcraft II, Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect 2 and God of War III, and with even bigger and better games due for the fall, 2010 is quickly becoming the best year for video games ever. Even if you're busy getting to level 50 in Red Dead Redemption or revising that 20-page research paper, there's no reason not to get pumped for the biggest titles coming this fall and during the holiday season. Here are the top five upcoming games you absolutely must play in 2010:1. Halo: Reach (Xbox 360)-Sept. 14

No one should be surprised at the number-one choice. Halo is the franchise to beat in terms of addictive split-screen multiplayer options, innovative online modes and engaging single-player storylines. Although Halo's future became unclear after Halo 3 ended the Halo trilogy, the prequel/add-on Halo 3: ODST and the upcoming Halo: Reach show that Bungie is far from done making really, really good sci-fi shooters. Halo: Reach takes place shortly before the original trilogy and puts you in the shoes of an elite United Nations Space Command super-soldier fighting against the Covenant. Expect an immersive cooperative campaign mode, new and improved character customization and original multiplayer modes like "Assassinations" and "Headhunter."

2. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (PC)-2010 (date TBA)

As of December 2008, World of Warcraft had more than 11.5 million subscribers worldwide. That makes way more people playing Blizzard's popular massive multiplayer online role-playing game, than there are people living in New York City. As a former WoW player myself, I can attest to why World of Warcraft has essentially held a global monopoly on the MMORPG business and why it will continue to be on top for years to come. Packed with countless environments and dungeons and constantly being updated with new content, the game has something to offer to both casual and hardcore players. As WoW's third expansion pack, Cataclysm will raise the level cap from 80 to 85, add two new playable races (the Goblins and the Worgen), redesign existing cities and zones, and have around 3,000 new quests for players to spend time on. Although the expansion is confirmed for a 2010 release, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime comments on WoW.com that "an exact release date has not yet been announced."

3. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)-Nov. 21

Everyone reading this needs to go on YouTube (now) and check out this game's premier E3 trailer. If the classic, yet revamped soundtrack alone doesn't convince you that this game will rock your nostalgia socks, how about this little tidbit: Donkey Kong Country Returns will be developed by Retro Studios of Metroid Prime fame. I can't think of one developer that did a better job breathing new life to a classic 2D franchise than the Texas-based game studio, so prepare for the best Donkey Kong game yet.

4. Gran Turismo 5 (Playstation 3)-Nov. 2

There's a reason why Gran Turismo 3 and 4 were the second and third best-selling PlayStation 2 games of all time. From the huge variety of cars and courses to the stunning visuals, Gran Turismo has proven to be the one racing simulator that delivers everything a car geek could want from a video game. In 2008, PS3 owners got a taste of the highly anticipated sequel with the downloadable "preview" game Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. GT5 will expand on the Prologue version with 16-player online capability, 70 different tracks and a rumored 1,000-plus cars. The graphics engine looks absolutely mind-blowing, so don't be surprised if your roommate ends up mistaking the game for actual racing footage.

5. PlayStation Move (PS3) - Sept. 19 and Microsoft Kinect (Xbox 360) - Nov. 4

Sony and Microsoft are no longer ignoring the success of the Nintendo Wii. Both companies will be launching their own unique motion-sensing platforms this fall, shifting the gaming industry's 2010 focus from software to hardware. Sony's PlayStation Move will feature an LED-equipped wand controller and a supplementary navigation controller that seem, at first glance, strikingly similar to Nintendo's Wii remote and Nunchuck combination. However, the additional use of the Playstation Eye-a webcam that senses the motion of the controllers-means that the controller's position can be tracked with higher precision and accuracy than the Wiimote, allowing refined controls for aiming on screen. Microsoft's Kinect heads in a different direction, eliminating the use of a controller completely. The Kinect sensor device includes a camera and microphone that allows 3D motion capture and voice recognition, so prepare to see yourself dancing, fighting and moving on your TV.

And there you have it: the top five reasons to keep on playing video games this fall. There are tons of great releases announced for 2010 not on this list, though, so keep your gamer's eye out as the fall approaches. Honorable mentions include Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii, Oct. 17), Fallout: New Vegas (Multiplatform, Oct. 19), GoldenEye 007 (Wii, Nov. 2), and Call of Duty: Black Ops (Multiplatform, Nov. 9).