Games
These are the essential triple A hits you need to play this year.
2016 might not have been the best year on record, but it was a top year for video games, with plenty of stellar hits and incredible titles. 2017 already looks to be even better though.
For starters, Nintendo's brand new Switch console is launching in March, and Microsoft's Project Scorpio is on the cards too. But forget about the hardware, you want to know about the killer games you'll be playing all year. No need to fret, as we've done the hard work for you and compiled the biggest, baddest upcoming video games you'll be playing over the next 12 months. Are you ready?
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Mass Effect, EA and Bioware's epic space opera series, returns after five years for its fourth outing – and its first on current-gen consoles. The latest galactic action RPG, dubbed Mass Effect: Andromeda, is set 600 years after the original series, and will have you exploring the Andromeda galaxy with a new ship, a new protagonist and all-new frontiers to investigate.
You're tasked with discovering habitable planets for humans to colonize, which all sounds a bit Star Trek-esque to us, but that's definitely not a bad thing. Expect this to be totally out of this world when it launches in just a couple of months.
When's it out? March 21, on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC
For Honor
Ubisoft's next-gen hack-and-slash action title looks like a breath of fresh air, trading guns and rifles for axes and katanas. It's called For Honor, and there's a healthy dose of close quarters combat included here, and a lot of variety too. You can choose whether you want to be a Knight, Samurai or a Viking, and then duke it out in the game's single-player campaign, which can be played co-operatively with a mate, or you can fling your blade against players around the world – and that PvP portion looks to be the meatier of the two.
We haven't seen many games take on this kind of medieval-fantasy setting and make a multiplayer frenzy out of it, but after Ubisoft Montreal's stellar Rainbow Six Siege, we reckon this will be one to keep your eye on.
When's it out? February 14, on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
Halo Wars 2
Fans of long-running sci-fi shooter series Halo were in for a treat back in 2009, when the franchise was adapted as a real-time strategy title in the form of Halo Wars, and it's back with a sequel this year from 343 Industries and Creative Assembly.
The original was lauded for its ability to bring what's usually a keyboard-and-mouse-heavy genre to consoles, and it looks like the sequel will be doing much more of the same – and as it's crafted by RTS stalwarts, Creative Assembly, known for their dedication to the genre, you can bet Halo Wars 2 will be an even better blast than its predecessor. Expect even better game mechanics, more intricate systems to master and the kind of gorgeous visuals we've come to expect from a 343 Industries game.
When's it out? February 21, on Xbox One and PC.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Guerilla Games is branching out from its Killzone series of FPS titles with Horizon Zero Dawn, a gorgeous third-person action RPG that looks nothing like the studio has ever made before. The PS4 exclusive is set on a post-apocalyptic world run by robots, and it's down to you as Aloy, a skilled archer, to take down enemies, craft weapons and explore the game's vast environment all while solving quests and unravelling the mysteries of of the unknown world. It sounds ambitious, and we're looking forward to diving straight into this brand new setting.
When's it out? February 28, on PlayStation 4.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
It's been a long time coming, but Nintendo's next Zelda is nearly here. After numerous delays, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set to hit stores this year, on both the upcoming Nintendo Switch and Wii U.
The game itself looks to be a massive departure for the series, giving you a huge, sprawling open world to explore to your heart's content. You'll have to cook food to restore health, you can now jump without the aid of any items – a first for the series – and you can use a shield as a snowboard. While the gameplay is rather different this time around, the story looks to be classic Zelda fare, with series antagonist Ganon back in some form, and it's down to you to save the day. Frankly, we can't wait.
When's it out? March 3, on Wii U and Nintendo Switch.
Sea of Thieves
If there's anything that Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag proved, it's that pirates, plundering and sailing the seven seas is a treasure chest full of fun. Seasoned developer Rare is taking much of that formula for its upcoming Xbox One and PC title, Sea of Thieves, an action-adventure romp set away from land that lets you be the pirate you want to be. With a focus on online play with your mates, you can expect to be pulling off all sorts of hijinks when the game launches later this year – although there's no firm date set just yet.
When's it out? This year, on Xbox One and PC.
Gran Turismo Sport
We've been waiting since 2013 for a new entry in Polyphony Digital's long running Gran Turismo series, and it looks like we won't have much longer to wait. Gran Turismo Sport, the latest game in the highly regarded racing series, is set to release later this year, bringing new cars and new tracks, and according to series creator Kazunori Yamauchi, it's the start of a new era for the franchise.
As we've seen in previous games, there'll be a hefty offline, single-player element, but GT Sport looks to push further into competitive, online racing, with the Gran Turismo Online Championship set to be regulated by the FIA. That's huge for a racing game, and it's unlike anything we've ever seen before. Expect big things from Gran Turismo Sport later this year.
When's it out? This year, on PlayStation 4.
Red Dead Redemption 2
It's been four years since Rockstar Games have released a brand-new title, but Red Dead Redemption 2 looks like it's been worth the wait. The sequel to 2010's Western action title, RDR2 is set to launch later this year, taking us back to the Old West and giving us a gorgeous world to explore. Rockstar's been tight lipped on any specific details, only dropping the name and a brief trailer for the game, but if it's like anything the studio has delivered before, you can rest easy knowing it's going to be fantastic.
When's it out? Autumn, on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Detroit: Become Human
Quantic Dream, the developers behind the incredibly cinematic Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls games, are back again with another film-inspired title, only this time they're crafting a neo-noir themed thriller dubbed Detroit: Become Human.
As the name implies, the game's set in Detroit in an almost Blade Runner-esque future, where humans and androids co-exist, and it'll feature multiple protagonists for you to play, where your in-game choices affect everything that happens. With thousands of pages in its script, and hundreds of actors cast and digitally scanned into the game, Quantic Dream's latest title looks to be their most ambitious yet.
When's it out? This year, hopefully, on PlayStation 4.
Shenmue 3
It's actually happening. Dreamcast cult classic RPG Shenmue is back this year, and Yu Suzuki's Kickstarter-backed sequel will hopefull give us closure after that infamous cliffhanger at the end of Shenmue 2, 16 years ago. Will there be more sailors to ask around for? Will Ryo finally avenge his father? And will he ever get a new jacket? All these questions, and more, will surely be answered when the game launches in December. Fingers crossed there won't be any set backs.
When's it out? December, on PlayStation 4 and PC.
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