(CNN) -- Notice anything familiar about 2010's wish list of most anticipated video games? Apart from a higher number or a snappier catchphrase in the title, many look disturbingly similar to games from last year or the year before.
Credit video game publishers' growing reliance on sequels, spin-offs and series retreads, which draws disturbing parallels to what's happening on radio and at the movies.
On the bright side, ardent gaming fans will see more innovation and experimentation within the field than ever before. Thank the rise of indie game offerings, digital downloads, social games and free-to-play online outings, whose lack of constraints leave designers room for ample experimentation and creative expression.
From thought-provoking parodies like "Cow Clicker" to pioneering works of fiction including "Blue Lacuna" or gonzo outings such as psychedelic fighter "Zeno Clash," developers' imaginations continue to run rampant.
Still, you'd be hard-pressed to tell after previewing the games that will be lining store shelves this holiday season. From "Call of Duty: Black Ops" to "NBA Elite 11" and "Rock Band 3," many of late-2010's biggest debuts appear disturbingly formulaic.
The good news is that first impressions can sometimes be deceiving. New historical settings, revamped play systems and numerous game additions often hide behind a simple change in a name's digits or subtitle.
Familiarity isn't always a bad thing either, as long as you're getting more of what you know and love. Being well into the third or even 10th installment of a popular series often gives developers an edge in terms of polishing and refining features to a glistening shine.
Bookmarks