Must-have games and gear for fall 2015

Fall begins gaming's busy season. Check out what our experts think every gamer should have their eye on.

Jeff Bakalar

Jeff is CNET Editor at Large and a host for CNET video. He's regularly featured on CBS and CBSN. He founded the site's longest-running podcast, The 404 Show, which ran for 10 years. He's currently featured on Giant Bomb's Giant Beastcast podcast and has an unhealthy obsession with ice hockey and pinball.

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Jeff Bakalar

Sept. 2, 2015 11:30 a.m. PT

1 of 8 Treyarch

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Price: $60

Availability: Nov. 6

The outlook: The venerable military shooter continues the Black Ops narrative with a compelling storyline, campaign and legendary zombies mode. Oh, right, and the most addictive multiplayer around.

2 of 8 Bethesda

Fallout 4

Price: $60

Availability: Nov. 10

The outlook: We can't wait to scour the wasteland once again in the next iteration one of the most beloved RPG franchises around.

3 of 8 Microsoft

Halo 5: Guardians

Price: Halo 5, $60. Halo 5 Xbox One bundle (1TB), $500

Availability: Game, Oct. 27. Bundle, Oct. 20

The outlook: Halo 5: Guardians will feature more first-person-shooter action fans have come to love including a new epic campaign and multiplayer modes. A special 1TB Xbox One bundle will hit the week before the game.

4 of 8 Avalanche Studios

Just Cause 3

Price: $60

Availability: Dec. 1

The outlook: The open-world chaos simulator will feature a fully realized world where anything can be driven, flown or blown up.

5 of 8 Konami

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Price: $60

Availability: Sept. 1

The outlook: Seven years after Metal Gear Solid 4, the saga continues once again in what's already being called the best Metal Gear game ever made.

6 of 8 Nintendo

Super Mario Maker

Price: $60

Availability: Sept. 11

The outlook: You likely grew up playing Super Mario Bros. games and now you can build, play and share custom levels with this powerful sandbox game.

7 of 8 Sony

Star Wars Battlefront

Price: Game, $60. Bundle, TBD

Availability: Nov. 17

The outlook: Take part in some of the most epic battles in Star Wars lore in Star Wars Battlefield. An exclusive PS4 bundle will also launch along side the game.

8 of 8 Crystal Dynamics

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Price: $60

Availability: Nov. 10

The outlook: The sequel to the fantastic Tomb Raider reboot will hit Xbox One first in 2015. The latest Lara adventure seems even grittier and brutal than ever before.