Dozens of games are due for release between now and Thanksgiving, but there are five that stand out in our minds.  Some of these games promise to push PC gaming to new heights, while others look to simply offer a fun gameplay experience.  No matter the genre or the theme, all of our Fab Five games are important titles you'll want to keep an eye on during the coming months:

Red Alert 2
Almost exactly a year ago, Westwood Studios unleashed the over-hyped Tiberian Sun.  Fast forward a year and you'll notice considerably less hype for Westwood's late-October release of Red Alert 2, the game that returns to the battle between Soviets and Allies.  But don’t let the lack of hype fool you – Red Alert 2 is bound to surprise you with its depth of gameplay, breadth of unique units, and over-the-top storyline. 

Yes, Red Alert 2 still uses the Tiberian Sun engine, but it actually looks a lot better than its predecessor thanks to a cleaner and cartoon-ish graphic style.   While Tiberian Sun's interface was largely unchanged from the days of C&C, Red Alert 2 finally introduces tabs on the build bar (grouping items into different categories) and an advanced toolbar along the bottom to allow players to better command troops on the ground – for instance, you can now select all units of one type with a few mouse clicks.

So what makes this game more than just another derivation of the C&C formula?  If Westwood delivers what it promises, expect some truly innovative units and structures that ups the "coolness" factor of C&C.   Examples include the Tesla Troopers (which can power up a Tesla coil when the base is in the red for power) and the Kirov Airship (which can be lethal if it gets anywhere near your opponent's base). 

Unlikely to slip past its planned fall release date, the only lingering question about Red Alert 2 is whether Westwood can get the balance just right and add that extra bit of polish which used to set the company apart from its competitors.  Based on what we've seen, Red Alert 2 should be a pleasant surprise.