The holiday season is always an exciting time for the gaming industry, as high-powered developers tend to release their much-anticipated, big-budget games right as younger gamers are flush with disposable income.

Now, it may seem a bit early to be thinking about the winter holidays before anybody has even gone home for Thanksgiving, but developers are getting a head start this year, and it is never too early to begin drafting that wish list. In order to help you out, I've rounded up a few of the titles you should keep an eye on as winter gets underway.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword — Nov. 20, Wii

Zelda is back, five years after the release of Twilight Princess, with the first entry in the series to be designed exclusively for the Wii. Players will once again be tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda and saving Hyrule, the world where the game takes place. This time, however, they'll do so with much-improved visuals and gameplay that features one-to-one motion control swordplay with the Wii Motion Plus attachment. Set to be one of the largest Zelda adventures yet in a series known for excellence, Skyward Sword should be one of the best games to be released on the Wii and is the holiday release I'm most excited for.

2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim — Nov. 20, PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360

The Elder Scrolls series is known for its massive open-world gameplay, complex role-playing systems and the unbelievable freedom it gives its gamers. Skyrim should be no different, with gorgeous graphics, intricate detail and gigantic scale. It's difficult to overstate just how large and detailed this game is. Estimates put Skyrim at around 100 hours of gameplay—meaning it will take about 100 hours to complete the game. Non-player characters in the world, voiced by over 70 actors, will respond to almost everything you do, and nearly every object in the world can be picked up, stolen, sold or used.

This time around, dragons have reappeared in the world of Skyrim, and it is up to the gamer to investigate the source of this occurrence and save the people of Skyrim from the threat. Skyrim is by far the most anticipated role-playing game of the year, and gamers who pick this one up can plan on playing well into the spring.

3. Super Mario 3D Land — Nov. 11, Nintendo 3DS

Another classic Nintendo franchise will be making an appearance this holiday season, this time on Nintendo's latest portable system, the 3DS. Mario's newest adventure is expected to blend classic side-scrolling Mario gameplay with more modern gameplay elements found in the Wii's Super Mario Galaxy games. All of this will use the 3DS' three-dimensional graphics, making for a truly unique Mario experience.

Nintendo has always done a great job preserving its iconic franchise, and gamers can expect Mario 3D Land to exude the polish and quality for which the series is known. 3D Land is set to be one of the best games to hit the 3DS, and owners of the portable system should definitely make sure to pick this one up.

4. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception — Nov. 1, Playstation 3

The Uncharted series moves forward with some of the most stunning visuals gamers will find on the market today. The most recent entry in the series continues with the same action-adventure gameplay that made it such a hit. Gamers can look forward to delving deeper into the game's fantastic story and enjoying more of the creative voice work the series has become known for, while on the hunt to uncover a lost city à la Indiana Jones. If you're the owner of a Playstation 3, this exclusive title should be at the very top of your wish list.

5. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Nov. 9, PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360

The most recent entry in the Call of Duty series has certainly seen its fair share of hype, and while it's unlikely to live up to those expectations entirely, it should be another solid addition to the franchise. Gamers can expect more epic set pieces, more fantastic co-op missions and, of course, more great online multiplayer options, which include additional levels, upgrades and a whole new batch of maps to play in. The game will once again take place in the present day and feature missions that take place in settings around the world. Modern Warfare 3 won't exactly change the premise of its predecessors, but it will give gamers more of what they love and feed their addiction to multiplayer competition.

Other Notables:

Batman: Arkham City (Oct. 18, PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360), Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Nov. 15, PC, Playstation 3, Xbox360), Forza Motorsport 4 (Oct. 11, Xbox 360), Mario Kart 7 (Dec. 4, Nintendo 3DS) NBA 2K12 (Oct. 4, PC, Xbox 360, Playstaion 3, Wii, Playstation 2, Playstation Portable).