2009 was a great year for gaming, with spectacular blockbusters like Assassin's Creed 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum and indie gems like Machinarium and Critter Crunch all competing for our precious gaming time. And this year looks to be even better. In fact, just narrowing down our list of most anticipated games to 20 was a task itself, and that doesn't even include some of the great games that have already been released. But after much deliberation, we've settled on 20 great looking games that we absolutely can't wait for. We apologize for any inconvenience this list may cause to your wallet.

BioShock 2

What is it? The sequel to one of 2007's most acclaimed games.

Where can I play it? PC, PS3, 360.

Why should I care? Despite a change in developers—2K Marin and 2K Australia have taken over development duties from Irrational Games—BioShock 2 still has us intrigued. Taking place 20 years after the original, the game will send players back to Rapture, only this time as a Big Daddy who attempts to overthrow the dystopic city's new leader and her army of Big Sisters. And as anyone who's ever been chased by one can attest to, playing as a drill-armed Big Daddy has the potential to be very cool. The game even has a multiplayer mode which takes place before the events of the original game, so you can experience the downfall of Rapture first hand.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

What is it? The third expansion for World of Warcraft.

Where can I play it? PC.

Why should I care? The world's biggest MMO gets even bigger with its third expansion, Cataclysm, which will add a heap of new content into Azeroth. This includes two new races (Worgen and Goblins), an increased level cap (85), new higher-level zones, additional race and class combinations, flying mounts, and more. Some of the classic areas from the game will even get a makeover and a new secondary profession, archaeology, will be introduced. It looks like it'll be more than enough to keep the World of Warcraft train going for a long time.

Final Fantasy XIII

What is it? The thirteenth installment in the long-running JRPG series and the first to be released in four years.

Where can I play it? PS3, 360.

Why should I care? It's been a long time coming, but Square-Enix's latest blockbuster RPG is almost upon us. After experimenting with real-time combat in FFXII, the thirteenth installment of the main Final Fantasy series will go back to the turn-based battles that the series is known for. It also features other throwbacks to classic FF, including new takes on the Active Time Battle and Jobs systems. And it looks absolutely gorgeous. Early trailers and screenshots show off a stunningly realized world that seamlessly combines magic and technology. We can't wait to explore it.

God of War III

What is it? The (possibly) final chapter of the God of War series and the first to appear on the current generation of consoles.

Where can I play it? PS3.

Why should I care? The scale and scope of each new God of War game gets progressively larger, so it should come as no surprise that God of War III is the biggest yet. The bosses are almost absurdly gigantic, and some of the battles will actually take place on the bodies of enormous Titans, while Kratos' new attacks will raise the bar when it comes to violence inflicted on mythical creatures. The game should also finish Kratos' story once and for all, so we can finally see the angry Spartan get his revenge on the Gods of Olympus.

Heavy Rain

What is it? The latest game from Quantic Dream, developers of the excellent but flawed Indigo Prophecy.

Where can I play it? PS3.

Why should I care? Games are often derided for their ability to tell a good story, so that's reason enough to get excited for Heavy Rain. The PlayStation 3 exclusive tells a gritty crime drama from the perspective of four different characters, each of whom can die at any point in the game. And stay dead. It may be light on action, forcing players to do the most mundane of tasks, but that doesn't mean it won't get your heart racing. One sequence has you searching frantically for your lost son in a crowded shopping mall, and it certainly had an effect on us.