Top Ten PS3 and Xbox 360 Games to Play Before the PS4 and Xbox 720 Release Date Arrives [Opinion]

The PlayStation 4 and the next-gen Xbox are expected to launch by the end of the year, and already people are forgoing purchases of current generation games in anticipation of new consoles. Personally, I have been doing the opposite: buying more games in an effort to give the many worthy titles for current systems a chance before looking to the future. So, here are the top ten games to play on current consoles before the next-gen consoles are released.

10. Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3)- This game was released in 2007, and still holds up today. While the franchise has gone in some odd directions lately, this game showed what the PlayStation 3 could do for many early buyers, and still holds up today.

9. Rock Band 3 (PS3, 360, Wii)- At this point, Rock Band 3 has thousands upon thousands of songs available. So, if you are a music fan, you can customize this game to fit your perfect setlist. Possibly one of the best party games out there, Rock Band 3 is worth the steep buy-in rate for wannabe rockers.

8. Heavy Rain (PS3)- Heavy Rain is a unique experience unlike any other... until Beyond: Two Souls is released by the same studio. Multiple endings for all four playable characters gives this game legs beyond finishing the story once, and entice those looking for a great story.

7. Halo: Reach (360)- Though all of the Halo games have been high quality, Reach tells a brilliant story with an emotional ending, and features some of the best campaign moments and multiplayer modes of the series. Reach is especially worthwhile for those who are unfamiliar with the series and do not know the story well, as it is fairly self-contained.

6. The Walking Dead (PS3, 230, PC, Vita, iOS)- This game will make non-zombie fans change their minds the same way the comic and television show has. The Walking Dead is high on emotion and drama, and players have to make serious choices throughout each episode. The full first season is available both on disk and as downloads for each episode.

5. XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PS3, 360, PC)- This tactical shooter game plays different every time you start a new game, leading to huge replayability. With permanent death and tension-filled gameplay, this game will leave you breathless throughout.

4. Red Dead Redemption (PS3, 360)- This open world game takes players to the Old West, and features a deep story about, you guessed it, Redemption. Truly an epic game that offers a huge world to explore and many different things to do, from poker to hunting.

3.The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (PS3, 360, PC)- One of the biggest games ever made, Skyrim allows players to do whatever they wish in this fantasy adventure. Be evil, be good, play through the story or attack random villages, it's up to the player. The Legendary Edition of the game, with all the DLC packed in, will be available June 7, and should be a must-buy for those new to the game.

2. Bioshock Infinite (PS3, 360, PC)- Telling perhaps the best story out of any game this generation, Bioshock Infinite offers players the chance to explore a floating city and explore what they believe in in this grand tale.

1. Mass Effect Trilogy Edition (PS3, 360)- This is technically cheating, since this combines all three Mass Effect games together. But really, if you have not played the series yet, you should buy all three here and enjoy the complete epic adventure of Commander Shepard and his crew. All three games could be on this list, but having them all together makes this the must-have game to own during the end of the current generation of console's life cycle.