With the holidays coming up, it’s time for some Herald Holiday Picks. We’ve picked out some of the best games (and some of our favorites) this year for any boy or girl, man or woman.

—”Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3”: Rated M (360, PS3, Wii)

This is most likely already on your wish list, but for those who aren’t convinced Call of Duty is where it’s at, consider the fact that more people are playing Call of Duty than any other game except maybe World of Warcraft. If you like your games in a social setting and have some decent Internet, Call of Duty’s online multiplayer awaits.

—“Batman: Arkham City: Rated M (360, PS3)

He’s the goshdarn Batman and he’s back with a great game that many say was better than the first breakout Batman title “Batman, Arkham Asylum.” Though there’s plenty of similarities, a longer story and more sidequests give the same Bat gameplay the same Bat fun.

—“Dark Souls”: Rated M (360, PS3)

“Dark Souls” is for the masochistic gamer in all of us. A great title which incorporates Western-style RPG mechanics under a Japanese RPG style, “Dark Souls” is definitely worth the price of admission.

—“Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim”: Rated M (360, PS3, PC)

Speaking of great RPGs, “Skyrim” is arguably 2011’s greatest game. There’s plenty of customization and a massive open world with hundreds of quests to complete and dragons to slay. Needless to say, it’s addictive and incredibly fun.

—”LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game”: Rated E 10 (360, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, 3DS, PC)

The LEGO games are always fun, and this one is no exception. A May 2011 title, this game actually revealed the plot of the fourth Pirates movie several months before it came out, a bonus for frantic Pirates fans. This game captures the spirit of the movies and is one of the best family-friendly games out this year.