Mathew Lieb
If 2018 is anything like 2017 (and it certainly seems to be shaping up that way) than limiting this list to just five games is going to prove very difficult. In any case, there’s plenty to look forward to, but here are my top five most anticipated games of 2018. It’s worth noting that many of the games announced for 2018 don’t have firm release dates, but they are expected to release this year barring any delays.
Shadow of the Colossus (February 6, 2018)
Released back in 2005, Shadow of the Colossus is considered by many to be one of the best games on PlayStation 2. Admittedly, I never played it. An HD remastered version was released for the PS3 in 2011, and again, I didn’t play it. This time around, I will play Shadow of the Colossus when it releases for PS4 on February 6, 2018.
Part of my excitement for the remake is the fact that I recently played SIE Japan Studio’s The Last Guardian, and absolutely loved it despite its faults. I’ve been told that if I enjoyed that game, then I will undoubtedly love Shadow of the Colossus, especially with all of the game’s assets remade from the ground up for PS4.
Marvel’s Spider-Man (TBA: 2018)
If you’ve seen any trailers or gameplay for Marvel’s Spider-Man from Insomniac Games, it’s hard not to be excited for this PlayStation 4 exclusive (unless you only own an Xbox). Regardless, if you’re a fan of Spider-Man, this might be a reason to go out and buy a PS4.
Having played Insomniac Games’ Sunset Overdrive on Xbox One, I’ve seen the developer’s potential at creating an open-world environment that’s fun to explore. That game had incredible traveling mechanics, and I can only imagine they’ve improved upon them with Spider-Man. Slinging through New York City looks like a blast, and let’s not forget about the adrenaline-inducing combat - which looks to be inspired a bit from the Batman: Arkham series - that we’ve been shown thus far.
Anthem (TBA: 2018)
I’m not entirely convinced Anthem is actually releasing in 2018, but assuming it does, this is one to keep an eye on. Developed by BioWare, this open-world action-RPG features sees players take the role of a Freelancer donning fully customizable exosuits called Javelins.
Anthem definitely has a Destiny feel to it, and as someone who enjoys playing with friends, I’m drawn to cooperative aspect of the game which allows up to four squad members. Details are still pretty light, but enough was shown at Microsoft’s E3 2017 conference to get me excited for Anthem. Of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have reservations with EA publishing the game. Let’s just hope they don’t force BioWare to implement a shady lootbox system for progression.
Kingdom Hearts III (TBA: 2018)
Another game I’m not too sure will make its 2018 release window, but for now it seems to be on track. I’ve been a longtime fan of the Kingdom Hearts series, and KH3 looks to be the best yet.
From a Disney fan perspective, I’m absolutely ecstatic for the Worlds that have been revealed - Tangled, Big Hero 6, Toy Story, to name a few. Gameplay also looks to be a major improvement on its predecessors. We got our first taste of these improvements last year with Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue (particularly 0.2 Fragmentary Passage) which gave us a glimpse at KH3’s improved visual capabilities on the PS4 as well as its fast-paced combat system that is both smooth and fluid.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (TBA: 2018)
Barring any further delays, Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily my most anticipated game of 2018. Rockstar has a long history of delivering incredibly deep and immersive worlds filled with interesting, complex characters. As a fan of westerns, and the original RDR, I’m very much looking forward to returning to America’s unforgiving heartland.
Single-player story aside, RDR2 is set to introduce a brand new online multiplayer experience. It’s unclear exactly what that means in terms of gameplay (will it be similar to GTA Online?) but the thought of experiencing the game’s vast and atmospheric world with friends sounds like a blast.
Jim Malakwen
BioMutant
THQ Nordic has created a unique world that offers something fresh to the action adventure genre. The main character fits that stoic, silent hero archetype that gives gamers a chance to act on their ‘save the world’ fantasies. The Martial arts inspired gameplay is reminiscent of classic games like Devil May Cry. Combos can be strung together in dynamic and creative ways that mix shooting, melee and deadly mutant powers.
I like the progression system allows the player to build the perfect warrior that fits their play style. The modification options that enhance your character’s mutant abilities provide many opportunities for player customization. This game surprised me with its charming aesthetic and I look forward to getting my hands on it at some point this year.
Shen Mue III
Shen Mue was a game ahead of its time. When it launched on the Dreamcast years ago, it utilized new techniques like a day/night cycle, dynamic weather, and a unique combat system – these and other innovations made the game a cult classic in the sandbox genre. The sequel, Shen Mue II, left some story threads unresolved. Fans are eager to find out how the story ends. That too is my primary motivation for playing this again after so long: nostalgia and a desire for closure.
Despite the game’s record-breaking support on Kickstarter, the fact remains that Director Yu Suzuki is working with a fraction of the budget of the original game. To me, this presents an opportunity to create a lean, mean action RPG that will satisfy fans of the original games while hopefully introducing a new audience to this series.
Days Gone
We live in a time when there are so many zombie games. How does one stand out in a market that includes the revitalized Resident Evil franchise, Telltale’s The Walking Dead and Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us? Well, you start by making the zombies into a seemingly unstoppable force. These creatures move around in herds and can easily overwhelm you with their speed and numbers. They’re a lot like the zombies in the movie World War Z. In Days Gone, direct confrontation, while an option, is just one of many. Stealth and other tools are at your disposal in order to survive in this unforgiving world. This gives players multiple playthrough opportunities using different play styles.
The protagonist is also very charismatic and someone I’m eager to play as. He reminds me of charming heroes like Nathan Drake from Uncharted. Such a character with wisecracks and vulnerabilities is a great contrast to the environment that has hostile survivors and zombified wildlife out to get you.
God Of War
The God of War series is one of my favorites ever. The combination of a well-crafted narrative, outstanding voice acting, a complicated protagonist, and an innovative combat system led to some of Sony’s best action games. This new entry presents an opportunity for the formula to be tweaked slightly after the somewhat disappointing fourth installment of the saga. By switching from Greek to Norse Mythology, new characters will be introduced. While I’ll miss the likes of Gaia, Athena and Zeus, I look forward to encountering the cast from Norse Mythology such as Odin and Thor. I can only imagine what cool abilities they will give Kratos in the game. Furthermore, by doing away with the Blades of Chaos, the Axe he uses in combat will allow players to come up with exciting combos as they chain together attacks.
The act of giving Kratos a son is also interesting. The character has been defiantly solitary ever since his inception. His son Atreus shows that Kratos has moved on following the tragedy of his family’s demise in the first games. Atreus’ assistance in combat situations is also useful. It reminds me very much of Booker and Elizabeth from Bioshock. With Director Corey Barlog making his return since helming God of War 2, I’m eager to see how he approaches the story and what innovations he’ll bring to the series.
Ghost Of Tsushima
Developer Sucker Punch has come a long way since the Infamous games. I like the idea of making a game that’s set in the real world at a time long past. Most people are unfamiliar with the conquest of Tsushima by the Mongols and the fight against the invaders. Whenever historical events are portrayed in video games, it’s usually studios like Ubisoft who pull real life characters and events into their Assassin’s Creed games. I’m excited to learn more of the game’s mechanics in the days to come. The map also looks gorgeous. The game will be open world and what we’ve seen of the island and its inhabitants is very impressive. Sucker Punch has shown that they can create great combat mechanics and I’m excited to play as a Samurai. The possibilities for stealth infiltration of castles and assassinations are immense. Also, the antagonist, revealed in the trailer is suitably menacing and someone I can’t wait to go up against at some point this year.
Bartosz Sobczak
THE CREW 2
Ivory Tower’s first attempt on recreating the entire US was an ambitious concept, but the execution didn’t match the developer’s plans. Most of the (huge) map felt lifeless, the driving model was awkward and the game looked ugly, revealing its Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 roots. Ubisoft has a chance to fix these mistakes and deliver a truly mesmerizing experience in a sequel.
I’ve had a chance to check out an early build of The Crew 2 and I couldn’t believe how much Ivory Tower learned from the previous faults. The game finally looks like it belongs to this generation, driving is pure fun and I can’t wait to check out the boats again. And there are planes, too!
DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN
I love Blade Runner (2049), I love the Deus Ex series, I love Asimov's I, Robot. It’s pretty safe to say that I like reflections about the concept of artificial intelligence. Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human has a chance to join this amazing bunch, but there’s a catch. He’s called David Cage.
After “Wasted Potential: The Video-Game”, also known as Beyond: Two Souls, I’m not sure if I should have faith in this project and its director, but the trailers really made me feel like Mr. Cage is preparing something special. The acting looks solid and maybe this time the game won’t change into a soap opera after the first 30 minutes.
DARKSIDERS II
If I had to choose only one franchise after THQ’s bankruptcy, I would save the Darksiders series. The universe created by Vigil Games and Joe Madureira is breathtaking till this day. The adventures of War and Death were just a joy to play, so imagine my surprise when I’ve heard that the former Vigil Games employees are making a new game.
The newest gameplay trailer made me sure that Gunfire Games won’t disappoint, as the studio clearly didn’t forget about the series’ roots. Fury, a new addition to the apocalyptic family, seems like an interesting character and her fighting style reminds me a lot of Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, one of my all-time favorite gaming experiences.
METRO: EXODUS
The first gameplay trailer from the third Metro blew me away. Głuchowski’s universe is fascinating and the game adaptation made me realize how much I miss the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. These three games did a better job in creating an atmosphere of fear and being hunted down better long ago, than most of the Hi-Zis, Rusts and Battlegrounds today.
I can’t wait to see what the developers from 4A Games have prepared, considering that the game will give players more freedom to explore the open world. The fallen mother Russia never looked better before.
SPIDER-MAN
As a long-time fan of Spidey, I always looked envy at the fans of Batman when it comes to video-gaming. Rocksteady’s series made me question my sanity, I couldn’t understand how Marvel have missed a chance to compete with the Arkham games. Hopefully, Spidey will enter the game with a bang with this year’s Spider-Man.
This game has every right to be successful. Insomniac is a skilled studio and let’s hope they figured out how to make swinging through New York enjoyable. If this project doesn’t live up to Spider-Man 2’s legacy, I don’t know what possibly can.