It goes without saying that 2017 was a remarkable year for games. In fact, some argue that it may even be one the greatest years of gaming, period. Although last year was jam-packed with hits, 2018 may have the potential to be even better. Here are some games you can look forward to in 2018.
Crackdown 3
After a few delays, Crackdown 3 was scheduled to be the must-have exclusive Microsoft needed to help sell its Xbox One X at launch, but all of that changed when its release window was pushed back into 2018. The game is said to be extremely ambitious and “pushes the technological envelope with immersive true 4K gameplay.” Will Crackdown 3’s open-world, action adventure gameplay be enough to get people interested in the Xbox One again? Only time will tell.
Yoshi
Mario’s hungry dinosaur buddy, Yoshi, is making a comeback in 2018. In this new adventure for the Nintendo Switch, you’ll be guiding Yoshi through a cardboard cutout diorama-like world – a new art style for the franchise – that can switch between foreground and background perspectives. Nintendo believes this perspective shifting feature will add a brand new twist to traditional side-scrolling gameplay. The game has yet to be given an official name, but for right now, Nintendo is simply calling the game “Yoshi.”
God of War
After a long successful career of killing Greek gods, Kratos has decided to take his god killing talents to the realm of Norse mythology. This time around, however, Kratos is no longer the rage-filled murder machine he once was. In a departure from the previous games in the franchise, this new entry will introduce us to a more mature, fatherly Kratos who possesses a greater degree of emotional depth. In addition to location and personality changes, the tone of the story is expected to be darker while combat will be more intimate but just as brutal.
Spider-Man
There have been plenty of Spider-Man games, but sadly, not near enough good ones. Hopefully, Insomniac Games will be able to buck that trend with their new Spider-Man game, which will be an exclusive for the PlayStation 4. Each trailer since its reveal at E3 2016 has looked promising, placing an emphasis on improvisation, unique environmental interactions, and other intriguing mechanics. It’s probably safe to say that many Spidey fans are eagerly waiting for this new web-slinging adventure.
Blood & Truth
Blood & Truth is an exciting new action first-person shooter for the PSVR. From the same team that brought us The London Heist, Blood & Truth is a game that’s inspired by action movies like John Wick. Complete with a full story, big set pieces, and realistic movement, London Studio wants this to be the must-have VR game people have been waiting for.
Vampyr
Dontnod Entertainment is best known for its narrative-driven Life is Strange series. However, many people forget that the studio’s first game was a sci-fi action adventure game called Remember Me. So it’s unsurprising that many people were surprised when Dontnod announced that its next game would be an action role-playing game called Vampyr. In Vampyr, you step into the shoes of Dr. Jonathan Reid, a Victorian-era surgeon and researcher, who has recently been turned into a vampire. By picking and choosing your victims, you’ll help shape the fate of London’s future.
Red Dead Redemption 2
At this point, it seems like Rockstar Games has mastered the Spaghetti Western genre. Red Dead Redemption 2 welcomes us back to the Wild West as players take on the role of an outlaw by the name of Arthur Morgan. Arthur Morgan is a part of the Dutch van der Linde gang, the gang John Marston (protagonist from Red Dead Redemption) tried to escape from. Despite its title, RDR2 will be a prequel to the previous game in the series.
Cyberpunk 2077
Announced back in 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 is an open world RPG under development by CD Projekt Red. The game temporarily took a back seat to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but now has the studio’s full focus as they go full steam ahead with its development. Aside from a few developer diaries and various statements, CD Projekt Red has kept mum on the project for the most part. What we do know, however, is that this title will supposedly be the studio’s most ambitious game to date. That’s pretty impressive considering CD Projekt Red’s pedigree.
Firewall Zero Hour
If you took the strategic and quick-thinking gameplay of Rainbow Six Siege, then put it in virtual reality, you’d essentially have Firewall Zero Hour. Although details about the game were scarce after its reveal at PlayStation Experience last December, this 4v4 VR tactical FPS looks like it could be a promising addition to the PSVR line up.
Detroit: Become Human
Any game with David Cage at the helm is going to garner attention, and Detroit: Become Human has been no exception. Developed by Quantic Dream, Detroit: Become Human has stirred up early excitement with its compelling choose-your-own narrative gameplay set in the city of Detroit in the near future. Through the divergent lives of three androids, you’ll discover what it means to be human from the outside perspective of a machine.
Anthem
Bioware’s A-team has been hard at work on their next big hit, an online action RPG that has drawn comparisons to the likes of Destiny. Not much is known about the title yet, but there was a lot of excitement surrounding the reveal trailer last year. After the whole loot box fiasco with Star Wars Battlefront 2, hype for Anthem has cooled down a bit to a cautious optimism as many gamers have some lost trust in Electronic Arts. This game looks promising, so hopefully, it won’t be bogged down with the same microtransaction problems that plagued Battlefront 2.
Transference
If you’re into psychological thrillers and own – or plan to own – a VR headset, this may be just the experience you’ve been waiting for. Made by Ubisoft and SpectreVision (founded by Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah, and Josh C. Waller), Transference lets players dive into the corrupted memories of a fractured family in order to discover a concealed truth. The game is described as a dark, thrilling mystery that contains multiple branching narrative paths which are determined by the choices you make.
Octopath Traveler
Nintendo has been on a roll lately with titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Snipperclips, and more. They’ll look to continue that success with a new game called Project Octopath Traveler. This unique looking JRPG will feature eight different playable characters that will each have their own branching paths and distinct stories. To achieve the game’s striking art style, the developers used a mix of CG, pixel art, and what they call “HD-2D” visuals. Like many of the games on this list, we’re still waiting on a firm release date.
VoxelByte 