Even though most of the year has come and gone, there are still a few games to look forward too between now and the end of 2009. Here’s a rundown of 5 games I think are worth checking out.

Borderlands (Due late October - PS3, 360 & PC)

Borderlands is a First Person Shooter & RPG set in a Mad-Max style wasteland. Up to 4 players can play cooperatively, completing quests and levelling up their respective characters. The game features random level and item generation which practically guarantees pretty much endless re-playability.

Borderlands: As close as you’ll get to being Beyond Thunderdome

Left 4 Dead 2 (Due mid-November - 360 & PC)

Left 4 Dead 2 is the sequel to the highly successful Left 4 Dead. This first person shooter pits up to 4 players against hordes of the infected. The game was originally banned in Oz due to excessive violence, but it’s developer, Valve submitted both an appeal and an edited version of the game to the OFLC. The edited version has been given an MA15+ rating, and the appeal is still pending (the appeal gets heard 22/10/09).

DJ Hero (Due late October/early Nov - Wii, PS3, PS2 & 360)

A spinoff from the highly popular Guitar Hero series, DJ Hero puts players behind a turntable peripheral where they can emulate a "human jukebox". The game features an extensive collection of mashups, which include acts like Daft Punk, Queen, Jay-Z, Eminem and The Killers.

Lego Rock Band (Due November - Wii, PS3, 360 & Nintendo DS)

Lego Rock Band promises to be a more "family friendly" music gaming experience, so it’s great for parents who are concerned their kids are singing "Sex on Fire". Essentially, it’s Rock Band set in the Lego universe with mini-games, so don’t expect something revolutionary. It should be noted that all the tracks will be exportable to Rock Band/Rock Band 2 (Wii, PS3 and 360), so it’ll add to your existing library. Artists with tracks in the game include Pink, Counting Crows, David Bowie and Bon Jovi.

Rock out with your blocks out in Lego Rock Band

Modern Warfare 2 (Due November - PS3, 360 & PC)

Modern Warfare 2 is the long awaited sequel to the highly successful Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Whilst the first Modern Warfare set new standards with it’s fantastic single player campaign and multiplayer modes, Modern Warfare 2 promises to raise the bar again. Modern Warfare 2 will introduce a host of new gameplay and multiplayer features, the most exciting being the addition of 2 player cooperative play.

...And Then?

Admittedly, there are some glaring omissions from my list. However, these games are also really worth checking out:

Forza Motorsport 3: The Xbox 360’s answer to the Playstation’s Gran Turismo, this racing sim looks fantastic.

Max Payne 3: This new addition to the Max Payne series takes place 12 years after the events of Max Payne 2. Provided it keeps to the same formula which made the first 2 games successful, this is sure to be brilliant as well.

Assassin’s Creed 2: This new game puts players in the shoes of a nobleman-turned-assassin named Ezio. It’s set in 15th century Italy and introduces gunplay as a new way to take down your targets.