1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: This open world looks unreal. Gerald is such a strong protagonist, and what CD Projekt Red managed to do with Sapkowski’s lore in the first two games was incredible. I think the combat is going to feel a lot smoother, and the prospect of playing as Ciri makes it that much more grand.
2. Yakuza 5: Nagoshi is God. To finally have this game arrive in the West is a dream some of us never gave up on. Kazuma, Saejima, and Akiyama all together again feels like bliss. It’s been years, and the Summer awaits. Digital release or not, the prospect of having this title translated is ineffable.
3. Bloodborne: Demon’s Souls changed my perception about what it meant to struggle and persevere in a game; that challenge was worth it, and that every mistake would be punished. Dark Souls added so much more risk involved with death before the Lord Vessel, and it’ll always hold a special place in my heart. And here we are with Miyazaki again- guns, Victorian ambiance and a new journey that awaits.
4. Arkham Knight: Rocksteady turned the idea of playing Batman in a great video game into a reality. The traversal, the flight mechanics, and the combat system added a lot of depth to a game world that felt familiar and fundamentally right in it’s portrayal of Arkham. The new focus on the Batmobile has me excited, and the villain unveils will definitely be epic!
5. Rise of the Tomb Raider: I love Tomb Raider. I felt like the last game was hampered by a heavy focus on combat, but the open hub design and manageable collectible hunting left me more than satisfied. I want traversal puzzles to return, and Lara to continue to evolve in the writing. I thought Pratchett’s work was less than stellar, but here’s hoping Simone collaborates with her. I will be buying an XBO for this title- fingers crossed, there’s a Lara stencil or Special edition design on the console.
6. Quantum Break: Oh Sam Lake, you sly devil. Remedy’s work resonates with me in ways that few other studios manage to do, and the new blend of time shifting and gunplay looks so polished. I think this will be Bullet time 2.0, and the idea of bridging a Television series with the game to build narrative could be really neat. I love the time shifting mechanic to dart in and out of combat, and I have high hopes for it!
7. Zelda U: Aonuma and every single blade of that grass, swaying in the wind. The map looks absolutely huge, and I really am hoping for some incredible dungeon design. It’s a big part of why I bought a Wii U, and even from that initial render reveal, the prospect of a gorgeous Zelda game on new tech is something to be excited about!
8. Uncharted 4: Drake is older and looking weary. Naughty Dog has done nothing but impress with their games, and Uncharted 2 I still load up every now and then to marvel at. Troy Baker is coming along for the ride, and it’s going to be one hell of a dynamic duo. Also, new Uncharted multiplayer on the PS4 would be a god send.
9. Metal Gear Solid V: Kojima! Always hinting at something, The Phantom Pain- real life or CG?! I’m excited to see the Ground Zeroes updated tactical stealth gameplay in a vast open world. Quiet, torture, Boss, Kiefer- it’s been rife with controversy, but every MGS game I’ve played over the years holds a special place in my library. I also love the extended cutscenes, and insane cinematography.
10. Resident Evil Revelations 2: Claire has returned! The first Revelations title I swear by- Raid mode was so wildly addictive, and Jessica was hilarious. I’m ready for Barry to resurface, for Moira to have a different gameplay role and for a creepy and wonderful return to survival horror.
Honorable Mentions
a. Dead or Alive 5: Last Round (PC): My god, it’s happening. All these years wishing for this, and here we are with Shimbori’s latest take on the franchise. I really love DOA5- it’s going to be hilarious spending all that money again on DLC costumes, but imagining the mods alongside a healthy online community gets me hyped! I brought out the old Arcade sticks, ready for February training. TINA 4EVA!
b. Xenoblade Chronicles X: This would be in the proper list, but truthfully I don’t think it’s coming out next year. I put nearly 80 hours into the original, and I never finished it- but I go back to dabble and just feel the serenity. It still is an incredible game, and the combat system I truly loved. I hope that the Quest design feels more imaginative, but I’m all for a glorious new Xenoblade title. Mechs, and beautiful vistas!
c. The Devil’s Third: Itagaki, I miss you. I mean I really do. The unveil was less than impressive visually, but I think there’s a chance this can be great. Seeing the multiplayer footage, it looked wonderfully goofy- here’s hoping we get multiple playable protagonists. I got fatih, I never lost it. Hoping for the best!