2017 was a great year for gaming, offering everything from unexpected smashes such as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds to superb shooters like Wolfenstein II and returning favourites, including Super Mario Odyssey. Thankfully, 2018 is looking to be even better and here we take a look at the games that have us excited for the new year to begin.
Dragon Ball FighterZ (January 26 – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
While Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite didn't live up to the 3v3 battles of yesteryear, it looks like the fast 'n' frantic tag-team battling baton has been passed to Akira Toriyama's esteemed anime franchise, Dragon Ball Z – and all for the better.
BlazBlue and Guilty Gear developers, Arc System Works, are behind the incredible-looking fighter that seems like it's been ripped straight out of the anime. With an ever-growing cast of fan favourites and familiar characters, Goku and Co.'s upcoming brawler looks set to leave Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite in the dust. Expect lightning-quick action, ridiculous combos and an eclectic roster that'll make fans of both Dragon Ball and fighting games smile when it fires a Kamehameha at your console in late January.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (February 13 – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
To the untrained eye, this Kickstarter-funded, open world RPG may look like another Skyrim-aping pretender. Yet there’s good reason to be excited about this swords-and-shields epic. The game is dedicated to realism, with developers Warhorse Studios building a detailed, immersive, and beautiful representation of medieval Europe. You won’t stumble upon dragons in the world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but its unique first-person-only combat system should help you cut a swathe through the Kingdom of Bohemia. For those who love RPGs and historical epics, Kingdom Come: Deliverance could be the big hit of early 2018.
A Way Out (March 23, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
A Way Out is that rare beast – a modern, co-op only title. Tasked with busting two prisoners (named Vincent and Leo) out of, well, prison, you and your online or couch-based friend will need ingenuity, guts, and teamwork if you’re going to breathe free air again. EA have promised something beyond a simple prison-break actioner, instead aiming to deliver a story with real emotional heft. The game requires real coordination from players, whether it’s distracting a guard while the other sneaks past, or busting down doors together. Co-op games are all-too-rare these days, and A Way Out looks like it’ll be an absolute blast to play with your pals.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Spring 2018, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Surely the title on this list that needs no introduction. Red Dead Redemption 2 has been at the top of many gamers’ wishlists since they finally hung up their spurs after many hours with its magnificent 2010 predecessor. Rockstar have done a great job of keeping the ebb and flow of news coming, with the GTA V/Red Dead Redemption 2 tie-in mission another reason for fans to get excited. Undoubtedly offering the same horse-breaking, gun-shooting joy of the first along with some fresh thrills, including an all-new multiplayer experience, Red Dead Redemption 2 will soon be galloping over the horizon, and we can’t wait.
Spider-Man (PlayStation 4)
Marvel’s iconic web-slinger has had a myriad of video game adaptations, but none have ever lived up to 2004’s Spider-Man 2 in terms of actual web swinging. That looks to change with the upcoming PS4-exclusive Spider-Man game, painstakingly crafted by the folks behind the wacky Sunset Overdrive, Insomniac Games – and it looks as close to the comics as we’re ever going to get. While the game only has a 2018 date at present, when it does touch down, you’ll be thrust into the spandex suit of Peter Parker as you take on New York City and the evil Mr. Negative, as well as Parker’s dual life and all the great powers and great responsibility that comes with being Spider-Man. Insomniac’s superhero romp should deliver the definitive wall-crawling experience when it dangles onto your console next year.
Sea of Thieves (Xbox One, PC)
Being a pirate sounds awesome. Being a pirate legend? Even better. This is the goal in Rare’s seafaring multiplayer experience. It’s up to you to navigate the seas, explore tropical islands and locate hidden treasure, while either working with or fighting off your fellow pirates. Rare have also promised that this is the very beginning for Sea of Thieves, with the developers looking to continue to grow and evolve the world as you go. Eventually, players will be able to become part of the Golden Age of Piracy, and while details are sparse for now, this sounds very much like something we’d like to get involved with.
God of War (PlayStation 4)
The direct sequel to 2010’s absolutely magnificent God of War III, God of War looks to refresh the franchise, offering something slightly different from its PlayStation 3 predecessor. Kratos is still the hard-nut Spartan from previous instalments, but is now accompanied by his son, Atreus, as they face up against a land of Nordic monsters, rather than the already-pummelled Greek Gods of the series so far. The game, unsurprisingly, looks incredible, but what’s got us excited is the increased playing time (between 25-30 hours, according to developers Santa Monica Studio), and the promise of an emotionally involving narrative that explores the relationship between Kratos and his son. As fans of the series, we can’t wait to see what’s next.
Bayonetta 3 (Nintendo Switch)
Chances are, if you’ve played either entry in the Bayonetta series, you’re already stoked for the third instalment. With its out-there plotting, hectic action and stunning visuals, Bayonetta offers spectacle that few other titles can match. Only last month we were treated to news that after a four-year wait, we’d finally get to wreak havoc with the Umbra Witch once again. Much like its predecessor, Bayonetta 3 will be a Nintendo exclusive, arriving on the Switch at some point in 2018. For us, the sooner the better.
The Crew 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
In 2018, the second instalment in Ubisoft and Ivory Towers’ online-only racing series is set to arrive, and we can’t wait. The first was unique in that it offers an absolutely vast open world, allowing players the chance to race and interact across a scaled-down USA. The ability to drive cross-country made The Crew an absolute joy, and we’re glad to see the second game is expanding its ambitions even further. With players able to take to the sea, land and air in a variety of different, customisable vehicles, the wait for The Crew 2 looks to be worth it.
Anthem (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Destiny who? EA’s Bioware studio look to be filling in the gaps that Bungie have missed with its upcoming space-set, shared world, third-person RPG that simply looks utterly gorgeous. Customise your exosuit, leap into single player or group activities, and explore a captivating world that you can bet is filled with secrets to be found. Anthem looks to give the console-based MMORPG genre a shake-up, and we can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Shenmue III (PlayStation 4, PC)
Now, we know what you’re thinking: you’ll believe it when you see it. Shenmue III has been touted for so long that it’s started to feel like it may never arrive. That said, just last year, we saw the much-delayed The Last Guardian actually make it to our screens, so perhaps we should be hopeful. After-all, the first teaser for Shenmue III dropped only a few months ago, and a publishing deal with Deep Silver was recently announced. With this in mind, we’re starting to be cautiously optimistic that we may once more step into the shoes of Ryo Hazuki. Shenmue II was an undisputed masterpiece and, after all these years, it’s time we got to revisit this extraordinary series.
Soulcalibur VI (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
With Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ having either arrived or set to arrive soon, it seems that fighting fans are spoilt for choice. Add the long-awaited return of Soulcalibur VI to the mix, and the only things hurting worse than our opponents will be our wallets. Still, after nearly six whole years, the grand return of the weapons-based fighter is another welcome addition to the 2018 slate. Details are few and far between at the moment, though we know that PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC gamers can start getting excited about the new instalment, which takes a step back from SC V and is set in the 16th century. Promising new fighters, amazing visuals and the devastating combat we’ve come to expect from the series, Namco Bandai’s swashbuckling fighter will surely be a hit in 2018.
The Last of Us Part II (PlayStation 4)
In a year in which Red Dead Redemption, Soulcalibur and Shenmue may return to our screens, it says an awful lot about Naughty Dog’s soulful epic that its follow up may well be the most anticipated game of 2018. Set partly in Seattle, details of The Last of Us Part II have been light on the ground. Not long ago we saw a trailer which was big on mood, less so on plot, but was enough to fill us with confidence that Naughty Dog will deliver a worthy follow up to its 2013 masterpiece. Set five years after the events of the first game, we’ve been promised a return from both Ellie and Joel and, frankly, a chance to revisit these much-loved characters is enough for us to want it even more.