20 PC Exclusives Releasing in 2011

It's often said that PC gaming is dead, and that the platform has been all but forgotten by game developers. This couldn't be farther from the truth. The list ahead consists of the 20 top exclusives for the PC that are destined to remain exclusive to the platform.  

Guild Wars 2 

The first "Guild Wars" redefined the MMORPG genre with its free to play set up and competitive leagues. With a tightly knit cooperative gameplay experience, Guild Wars went above and beyond what most pay-to-play MMORPGs (with a few exceptions) accomplished.  

"Guild Wars 2" is a return to that setting, now featuring many different races to play as, including the dog-like Charr with whom you did battle in the first game. The game promises to feature a more open environment, with larger scale battles and an interesting story to boot. If you aren't willing to invest time and money in a hardcore MMORPG but want to enjoy a cooperative online experience, "Guild Wars 2" is definitely your best bet.  

Shogun 2 Total War 

The "Total War" series has always been a little hit and miss. It's featured classics like "Medieval" and "Shogun", but also flops like "Empire". It's hard to say whether "Shogun 2 Total War" will be a hit or a miss, but I'm counting on it being a hit.  

The formula itself is pretty simple: you control a shogun (that's a Japanese warlord) who owns various territories on an overland map dotted with cities, constructions and unit pieces that represent your armies. When you move your units into enemy territory held by opposing forces, the game drops you into a battleground where your armies, separated by columns and other formations, do battle in real time.  

Judging from the trailers and some of the new RPG elements that Creative Assembly intend to put into the game, it'll look pretty and inject a lot of new gameplay mechanics into the formula.  

The Witcher 2 

"The Witcher" thrust you into the role of Geralt, last of his kind--a Witcher. Genetically engineered and trained in the deadliest skills, a Witcher's task is do do battle against supernatural creatures.  

The sequel to "The Witcher", titled "Assassins of Kings", puts you back in Geralt's shoes. There is a storm on the horizon. A war is coming. Little else is known about the game's plot, but it is rumored to feature 16 different endings. The game features an entirely new engine--one that's leaps and bounds better than the highly modified Aurora ("Neverwinter Nights") engine used by it's predecessor, and a similar combat system. 

Players can expect to make a wide array of decisions throughout the game, much like in the original, and follow a multilinear story with branching paths. Needless to say, the game is one of the most highly anticipated titles on the PC platform due to it's exclusivity.  

Star Wars: The Old Republic 

"World of Warcraft" may well be the reigning MMORPG at the moment, but Bioware intends to give Blizzard a run for its money with "Star Wars: The Old Republic". The game will allow you to side with the Republic or the Sith while choosing from a variety of classes like the Han Solo-inspired Smuggler and the Bounty Hunter.  

While not terribly different from traditional MMORPGs, "The Old Republic" diverges from "World of Warcraft" by offering fully voiced characters and a large emphasis on story. Players will also be able to own their own starship as an in-game base.  

We'll just have to see if it's enough to topple "World of Warcraft".  

Heroes of Might and Magic VI 

The "Heroes of Might and Magic" series was originally a spinoff from the "Might and Magic" series of RPGs but managed to earn a place of its own in the pantheon of classic games. In HoMM, players control a single faction that has its own units and heroes. Every faction has a castle where units are produced and placed into stacks. Heroes (who can earn levels and wear equipment that you find in the game world) then take these stacks who make up their army to do battle against enemy armies in turn-based mode over a battlefield.  

Due for release in March, "Heroes of Might and Magic VI" is being developed by Black Hole Entertainment. Although largely faithful to the "Heroes" series, "Heroes VI" will involve a mix of traditional gameplay and innovation, with new features such as boss fights, town conversion functionality and the introduction of a new reputation system. The game will feature four campaigns that can be played in any order, with five total factions: Haven, Inferno, Necropolis, Stronghold and a brand new faction.  

Black Hole has some damn fine artists working for it, so the game is sure to look as pretty as it plays.  

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