Year in gaming: Sequels stand out

— -- Online and mobile games such as CityVille and Angry Birds may have kept us busy in 2011, but console game developers and publishers offered a year of excellence, with top-notch releases across nearly every genre — action, adventure, shooters, puzzlers and role-players. And developers proved sequelitis is not a weakness: Seven of our top titles of 2011 list are from existing franchises. Here are USA TODAY Game Hunters Mike Snider and Brett Molina's Top 10 of 2011.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

$59.99, for PS3, Xbox 360 and PCs;

rated M, ages 17-up

Once players slay their first dragon, the role-playing odyssey from Bethesda Softworks will have them hooked. It's easy for folks to sink dozens — if not hundreds — of hours exploring new towns and accepting fresh quests and still feel like they've only scratched the surface of the world of Skyrim's offerings.

2. Portal 2

$29.99-$39.99, for PS3, Xbox 360, Mac and Windows PCs; ages 10-up

The charming puzzle game features a test subject running through a battery of challenges armed with a gun that creates portals. It's highlighted by two of the year's most memorable characters: witty assistant Wheatley and crazed artificial intelligence GLADOS. The dialogue and puzzles are clever, and the co-op mode is equally engaging.

3. Batman: Arkham City

$49.99-$59.99, for PS3, Xbox 360 and PCs; rated T for ages 13-up

It's one thing to conjure up a city-sized prison to explore, and toss in a who's who of Dark Knight villains. But Rocksteady Games' ability to maintain cohesion throughout the story is what elevates this title to the top tier; such continued devotion to Batman lore is why this is the best game franchise based on a superhero.

4. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

$59.99, for PS3; ages 13-up

The PS3's premier action hero strikes again with another gripping adventure. His quest for clues about ancestor Sir Francis Drake takes him to the Arabian Peninsula in search of a mysterious lost city. Like 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, this chapter features astonishing action sequences and sharp dialogue. And the scenes of Drake in the desert are mesmerizing.

5. L.A. Noire

$39.99, PS3, Xbox 360 and PCs;

ages 17-up

Rockstar Games could have easily released this 1940s-era detective drama as a Grand Theft Auto open-world game that let you explore being on the side of law and order. Instead, they created a sophisticated experience combining smart crime investigative mechanics with traditional combat.

6. Bastion

$15, Xbox 360 and PCs; ages 10-up

While gamers are served a sequel buffet at retail stores, digital downloads such as Supergiant Games' role-playing adventure prove that originality still thrives. Bastion features The Kid, who fights to build a safe haven following a global catastrophe. The unique approach to storytelling — highlighted by a shrewd, soulful narrator — meshes beautifully with a robust combat system.

7. Gears of War 3

$59.99, for Xbox 360; ages 17-up

Epic Games' final chapter in the Xbox 360 trilogy is not only the best in the series, but 2011's best shooter in either first- or third-person form. The reason? It delivers the most complete package across all fronts. Its single-player campaign — starring Marcus Fenix and his trusty chainsaw bayonet — is explosive, and bolstered cooperative modes including Horde and Beast add extra power.