Last week was a whirlwind for all of us here at Game Informer. Many anticipated games were in playable form, new hardware was announced, and we walked from appointment to appointment until our legs turned to jelly. After E3 came and went, it was time for us to decide on our picks for the best of the show. Read on to see who received our top honors at E3 2011.

BioShock Infinite

What does it take for one game to stand out above all others in the chaos of E3? This year, it took great dialogue, high-flying aerial maneuvers, and a hulking mechanical beast named Songbird. BioShock Infinite soared above the competition on the show floor with its character development and combat. When combined with a handful of jaw-dropping story moments, it's easy to see why Irrational Games' latest project wins our unanimous vote for the best game of E3.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Naughty Dog proved that it's still on the top of its game with two blockbuster demos at E3. At the Sony press conference, the developer showcased its impressive physics technology in a segment of the game where Drake struggles to work his way out of the flooding cargo hold of a capsizing freighter ship. Behind closed doors, we witnessed a completely different demo where Drake dodges gunfire on his way to a cargo plane, stows away, and eventually fights for his life at 30,000 feet as a monstrous man tries to chuck him out of the back of the plane. The cherry on top proved to be the multiplayer demo on the show floor that always had a line of gamers eager to get their hands on the November release.

Gears of War 3

With two and a half years of development under its belt, Gears 3 looks ready for prime time. Epic Games is branching out from its conservative narrative approach by placing gamers in the roles of Gears soldiers other than Marcus and Dom during the four-player co-op campaign, giving us a glimpse into the lives of the secondary characters. Campaign isn't the only mode that's beefing up, however, as Horde mode looks better than ever and Beast mode promises a brand-new experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Nintendo’s booth was dominated by Wii U and 3DS, but the Wii managed to have at least one strong showing thanks to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. In a demo that featured a mounted bird race, a dungeon section, and a boss fight, we saw many clever and interesting uses of the MotionPlus tech. Featuring an art style that falls somewhere between Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword looked great and played even better. We were still collecting keys, solving puzzles, and fighting bosses, but the well-done motion controls made the experience feel fresher than any Zelda game in the last ten years.