Now that the holidays are over it’s time to prepare for the onslaught of new videogames coming out in 2011. Most are sequels to popular franchises like Gears of War, Uncharted, and the Legend of Zelda, but some are completely original. Here are 11 new games that aren’t sequels to keep your eyes on when you’re looking for something unique.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective– Nintendo DS

Out now as you read this, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is a text-based adventure game from the creators of the Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney series. What makes this game interesting is that the main protagonist of the story is dead. Only by solving puzzles and discovering clues will you unravel the mystery of who murdered you.

Child of Eden– PS3, 360

Child of Eden is the spiritual successor to Rez a rhythm action game where you create beats of music as you blast enemies to smithereens. The game is also playable on Microsoft’s Kinect and is one of the best examples of controller-free gameplay.

Journey– PS3

In Journey, you take on the role of a lost traveler in a sprawling desert meticulously designed to make you feel small and almost powerless to everything around you. Although, the game features a multiplayer component you won’t be able to talk with people you meet online. Instead, you will have to communicate your actions through gameplay.

Bulletstorm– PC, 360, PS3

First-person shooters are everywhere these days. So it’s refreshing to see a FPS that offers something different from its peers. Bulletstorm, developed by Epic Games the creators of Gears of War incorporates a skillshot gameplay system that rewards players for destroying enemies in the most creative way possible.

The Last Story– Nintendo Wii

The Last Story is a Japanese roleplaying game featuring real-time combat and online multiplayer support for up to six players. The game is designed by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and music is scored by series composer Nobuo Uematsu.

L.A. Noire– PS3, 360

This ambitious new game from Rockstar creators of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption is an open-world detective thriller. Taking place in L.A. in the 1940’s, L.A. Noire features realistic graphics, an enormous script over 22,000 pages long, and a revolutionary new interrogation system.

Rage– PC, 360, PS3

Besides the cutting edge graphics, Rage is more than just your average fps. It features an open world design reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto with plenty of side quests to do along with the main campaign, and car combat similar to Twisted Metal.

Project Draco– 360

Like Child of Eden, Project Draco offers a controller-free gaming experience. The emphasis of the game is on flight and exploration. Little else is known, but the game may incorporate aerial combat similar to the Sega Saturn cult classic Panzer Dragoon.

The Last Guardian– PS3

The Last Guardian explores the relationship between a young boy and a gigantic griffin as they work together to escape from an enormous castle. Gameplay looks like it will be a mix between the platform and puzzles segments of Ico, and the massive scale of Shadow of the Colossus.

Shadow of the Dammed– PS3, 360

Shadow of the Dammed is what you get when you combined the over the top gun play of Resident Evil 4 with the stylish art design, and humor of No More Heroes. The game puts you in the role of Garcia Hotspur who undertakes a journey to hell to find his lost long love.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron– PS3, 360

This game is all about the art style. El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a third-person action game that looks like a water brush painting come to life. Don’t let this game pass you by if you’re a fan of Okami and Devil May Cry.

This article originally appeared in the UWM Post.