2018 was a spectacular year for games, but could next year be even better? We break down the biggest releases coming your way.
By Jamie Stevenson
8 min readPublished on
From Red Dead Redemption 2’s roaming cowboys, to God of War’s destructive deities, to Spider-Man’s wonderful web-swinging, 2018 has treated us very well when it comes to game releases. We’ve had not one, but arguably several masterpieces arrive over the past 12 months, but call us greedy because we want more. Thankfully, 2019 looks set to deliver the goods, with these releases keeping our interests piqued as the year reaches its end. Also, while there are plenty of other games announced that we can’t wait to play, we’ve prioritised those titles we’re confident we’ll see this year (sorry, Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part II and Cyberpunk 2077)!
Survival horror fans of a certain generation still invariably cast nostalgic glances back at two game-changing sequels that still stand up as some of the greatest examples of the genre: Silent Hill 2, and Resident Evil 2. While the former had an HD remake a few years ago in the Silent Hill Collection, those eager to revisit the first foray into Raccoon City with a fresh lick of paint have had to remain patient. Thankfully, in 2019, this patience will be rewarded, with Resi 2 actually being treated to a full new remake, not just a HD spit-and-polish, aping the over-the-shoulder approach of Resi 4 rather than the (admittedly dated) fixed camera of the original. We were huge fans of Resident Evil 7 and can think of little better than jumping back into one of the series’ classic entries, especially if it means seeing Leon’s fantastic hair in even greater detail.
Trials Rising (February 12, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC)
Let’s get this out of the way: we loved Trials Fusion, the last instalment in developers’ Ubisoft and RedLynx’s bike platformer series. This means that Trials Rising isn’t exactly a hard sell – the long-running series has shown time and again that its mix of simplicity, excellent level design and sometimes-excruciating precision is a winning blend, and we have high hopes that this next release won’t disappoint.
With a host of brand-new courses, a more grounded setting than the sci-fi tinged Fusion, and an undoubtedly vast array of obstacles to navigate, Trials Rising looks like it’ll be some of the most fun you can have on two wheels. Even better, it’s the first in the series to hit Switch, and we can’t wait to test our wits, and our dexterity, with the Joy-Cons. Just remember your helmet.
Anthem (February 22, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
We can’t wait for Anthem, EA’s BioWare studio’s upcoming space-set, shared world, third-person RPG. Pitting mech-wearing freelancers against the monstrous-sounding military force The Dominion, you’re tasked with suiting up in your choice of one of the four different classes of the (very cool) exosuits, the Javelin, to do battle and save humanity.
Promising a new, multiplayer-focused style of campaign, the ability to traverse sky and sea in your endlessly customisable Javelin and a captivating alien world to explore, we’re eagerly anticipating this console-based MMORPG set to give the genre a shake-up. We’re ready to suit up.
Crackdown 3 (February, Xbox One, PC)
2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man is now the benchmark for open-world superhero games, and its brilliant mix of exploration, joyous combat and lightness of touch make it a hard act to follow. Crackdown 3, while it doesn’t have the same comic book cachet of Spidey, will almost certainly be a superhero game at heart, building on the destructive powers wielded by the superhuman characters of the previous games. New character Commander Jaxon, brilliantly captured by Terry Crews, certainly won’t be found wanting in this case, with players given the chance to wreak havoc in a sci-fi tinged cityscape, replete with the customary art that's come to define the series’ aesthetic.
If the single-player campaign is even half as much fun as the previous entries, we’ll have a heck of a game on our hands, and the promise of a new multiplayer mode has us champing at the bit to start hurling cars in this brand-new adventure. If 2018 was the year of Spidey, there’s every chance 2019 could belong to Crackdown.
The Division 2 (March 15, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Tom Clancy's The Division was a huge hit upon release in 2016. Offering a brilliantly realised open-world Manhattan, tense, cover-based shooting and enough regular updates to keep players on their toes, the game’s following is still going strong. This, however, hasn’t stopped Ubisoft from delivering a follow-up, which promises new weapons, a whole new skill system and a brand-new open world to explore – this time tasking players with pulling Washington DC back from the brink of destruction.
The follow-up again offers a sizeable campaign, though let’s be honest: it’s the co-op and PVP that most players will be eager to jump in to. This is no surprise, given that its predecessor offered some of the most memorable multiplayer thrills in years, and we have no doubt that The Division 2 can live up to these lofty standards.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (March 22, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
A new release from Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware is always going to grab our attention and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is no exception. The samurai slasher seems to mix familiar Miyazaki trappings (brutal difficulty levels, brilliant combat) with something new entirely. Gone is the endless customisation, vast array of weapons and items, with a greater emphasis on stealth and the protagonist instead wielding one sword throughout – the Mortal Blade – and Miyazaki promising something fresh and different from both Souls and Bloodborne. What we’ve seen of Sekiro thus far has blown us away, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it in 2019.
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, Days Gone is a zombie game. Yes, it’s open world. And yes, we’ve seen both open-world games, and zombie games many times before. Does that make us any less excited to play it? Absolutely not. Sony Bend’s upcoming, much-delayed title has been at the forefront of many gamers’ wish lists since that trailer dropped months ago. You know the one: where literal hordes of zombies give chase to lead character Deacon St. John, as he desperately escaped on foot as they clumsily fall over one another in a desperate bid to reach those sweet, sweet brains. The sense of scale of the threat looks to differentiate Days Gone from many of its undead brethren, and with survival mechanics and absolutely brutal combat playing a significant role, this could be way more than another half-hearted entry into the zombie cannon.
Shenmue III (August 27, PlayStation 4, PC)
Now, we know what you’re thinking: you’ll believe it when you see it. In-fact, Shenmue III appeared on our 2018 list of games we want to play, so your doubts may prove well founded. However, after the recent HD remakes of the series’ first two instalments brought back fond memories of Ryo Hazuki’s ludicrously detailed world, we remain cautiously optimistic that we’ll still get to revisit this extraordinary series.
Ghosts of Tsushima (Release date TBA, PlayStation 4)
Just like buses, you wait for an incredible-looking samurai game and two arrive at once. Not only do we get FromSoftware’s Sekiro in 2019, but inFamous developers Sucker Punch studios are delivering their open-world epic, Ghosts of Tsushima, in which you can explore feudal Japan as, you guessed it, a badass samurai.
The PS4 exclusive looks the business, with gameplay glimpses so far boasting a staggeringly beautiful setting, unlike any other open world title we’ve experienced so far. The combat looks brutal and thoughtful (it’s certainly no hack n’ slash), and Ghosts of Tsushima looks likely to deliver authenticity as well as thrills. A huge hit at E3 2018, we’re hoping that Ghosts of Tsushima lives up to its promise.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Release date TBA, Xbox One, PC)
It’s been three long years since we got Ori and the Blind Forest, the absolutely delightful Metroidvania from Microsoft, and that’s way too long. At a time where eagerly awaited sequels are actually delivering the goods, the news that Ori and the Will of the Wisps would soon be arriving was incredibly welcome, with hopes high that this beautiful platformer will have a worthy follow-up. And the footage we’ve seen so far makes us believe that we won’t be disappointed, with guardian spirit Ori and guide Sein again set to lead us on an adventure with new combat, greater customisation and a world beautiful enough to live in.
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