Top PC games for Christmas

November 17, 4:39 PMGames ExaminerDaniel Nations

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Many years, it can be tough to find a good, solid game to give as a Christmas gift. Fortunately, that problem doesn't exist in 2008. Between a slew of really good games, some great sequels, and a number of solid expansions, there is a lot to choose from in the PC world this year.

These top PC games will make great holiday presents and there is a little something for everyone from first-person shooters to real-time strategy to role-playing to simulations. All in all, it looks to be a great Christmas for PC gamers.

Top PC Games for Christmas

• Call of Duty World at War

The Call of Duty series goes back to World War II in this great first-person shooter, but this time it arrives in the Pacific rim. With some of the best multiplayer action available in a PC shooter, this is a great choice for those that like to take the action to the front of the lines and battle it out with other players.

• Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3

Command and Conquer: Red Alert ushered in a new era of real-time strategy gaming back in 1996, and Red Alert 3 is one of the most anticipated strategy games this holiday season. In addition to the Soviets and Allies, Red Alert 3 also features the rise of the Empire of the Rising Sun.

• Dead Space

The big hit of the Halloween season, Dead Space makes for a great Christmas gift as well. Dead Space tells the story of the USG Ishimura, which lost communications with Earth after coming in contact with an alien artifact. Engineer iSaac Clarke goes to repair the USG Ishimura and becomes mired in a living nightmare.

• Fallout 3

If I wasn't dead set on avoiding oxymorons whenever I can spot them, I'd label Fallout 3 an instant classic. Based on the post-apocalyptic role-playing games of the late 90's, Fallout 3 fully realizes the vision of those games and creates a wide-open world ripe for exploration.

• Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV has already swept through the console world and climbed up best-seller lists. Now it hits the PC. Tune into Independence FM radio while you explore Liberty City in a PC game sure to be banned in several countries soon after its release.

• Left 4 Dead

Why have a Nightmare Before Christmas when you can have a nightmare on Christmas day? Left 4 Dead pits 1-4 players in the race for survival against the zombie hordes. In addition to great co-operative play, Left 4 Dead also features "the AI Director" that generates a unique game experience each time you go against the horde.

• Prince of Persia

Easily one of the most anticipated adventure games this holiday season, Prince of Persia is shaping up to be one of the top PC games of the year. With a new hero and a brand new combat system, Prince of Persia delivers the most open-ended feel of the series deliver the choice into your hands.

• Sacred 2: Fallen Angel

Absolutely cannot wait for Diablo 3? Driving you nuts anticipating that action-rpg experience? Sacred 2 might not be Diablo 2, but it is sure to delight those waiting for Blizzard's game to reach the shelves. And with a whopping twenty-two square miles of content to explore, it should take a while to find all those little nooks and crannies.

• Spore

Spore takes "God games" to the max by allowing you to not just control the history of a species, but to control both its creation and evolution. Putting a beginning and an end on Civilization, Spore allows you to create your own species, grow it into the most powerful race on the planet and then take to the stars. A great game for both kids and adults.

Top PC Games for Christmas - Great Expansions

Along with some really good PC games coming out this year, there is also a number of great expansions hitting the shelves just in time for Christmas. Here's a few of the top expansions:

• World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King. No doubt the most anticipated expansion of the year, Wrath of the Lich King gives birth to World of Warcraft's first Hero Class: the Death Knight.
• Everquest II Shadow Odyssey. An all-in-one expansion pack,Shadow Odyssey follows the path of extraordinary heroes known as Ethernauts on their epic quest to save Norrath from the renewed evil of the Shadowmen.
• Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria. The Mines of Moria. The dwarves dug too deep in their quest for mithril, and the uncovered terrors from the Nameless Deep. Now, it is up to you to explore the most famous dungeon ever.
• Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir. The second expansion for Neverwinter Nights 2 takes the RPG back to the old days of party-based adventuring by allowing you to create four distinct characters and control them during your adventure. It also adds a new world map system. And, of course, the new features can be customized and used in player-built modules.