Better prep those pocket books and check the expiration dates on those debit and credit cards, because the holiday season is right around the corner. Q4 always offers the heavy-hitting titles of the year, and odds are there’s more than one game coming out in the next couple months you’re hoping to scoop up before the year is out. In case you’re looking for some recommendations, here’s 11 games to keep your eyes peeled for, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood GotGame staffer.

11. Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d You Steal Our Garbage? (3DS/DS)

Release Date: November 20, 2012
Cartoon Network’s prime-time hit TV show has been long overdue for its own video game. Managing to tread a line between random, child-based humor and intelligent, witty commentary , my hope is that this game’s going to offer an experience for all ages as well. It looks like it borrows a bit from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link in its gameplay style, and so long as it offers some of the quirky banter that the show does, this game should be plenty of fun.

10. Medal of Honor: Warfighter (PS3/X360)

Of course, with every holiday season comes a flurry of shooters. EA’s Medal of Honor: Warfighter promises to offer a game more grounded in the reality of global war, using real weapons and basing locations and teams on real-world situations. Considering it’s going to be battling against a couple of other shooters that show up later on this list, it might be hard for the game to make the splash it’s looking for, but it looks like it’ll still have plenty to offer.

9. Zone of the Enders HD Collection (PS3/X360)

Release Date: October 30, 2012
High-octane space combat and a fun anime-style storyline come together in one of Kojima’s most under-recognized titles. Rereleased and up-scaled from their original releases on the PS2, Zone of the Enders HD Collection presents both the original game and The Second Runner in their entirety. It also comes with a demo for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. At $39.99, the game’s a steal.

8. Hitman: Absolution (PS3/X360)

Release Date: November 20, 2012
Square-Enix’s most recent release of Agent 47s exploits have plenty of seasoned assassins foaming at the mouth. A sampling of the gameplay was available with the Hitman Sniper Challenge content available for those who pre-ordered the game, but otherwise you’ll just have to wait until the 20th to get those guns blazing.

7. LEGO The Lord of the Rings (PS3/X360/Wii/3DS/DS/Vita)

Release Date: November 13, 2012
The LEGO series of video games has come a long way since the release of the original LEGO Star Wars. Tough I’m still a bit on the fence about the use of voice acting in these titles, taking Frodo, Sam, Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship through LEGO Middle-Earth is going to be a blast, especially when you can pound on your buddies in the process.

6. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PS3/X360)

Release Date: October 30, 2012
Racing games are evolving pretty quickly, and the follow-up to one of the most successful games in the Need for Speed series looks gorgeous. Running from the cops, doing time trials, and taking pinks slips from your friends will just be another part of the day-to-day action as you race in the game’s open-world atmosphere. Grab your car, take the wheel, and drive.

That’s the first half of the list, folks. Check back tomorrow for the Top 5 games coming out this holiday season! What games are you expecting to see there?

And what games are you looking forward to?