While 2015 proved to be a decent year for video game releases, 2016 is already shaping up to be both the biggest and best year for gamers everywhere. With so many blockbuster titles scheduled to hits stores over the next 12 months, we decided now was the perfect time to put together a list of some games that we are looking forward to playing.
So without further ado, here’s an overview of our most anticipated games of 2016.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Richard Bailey Jr. – Editor-In-Chief
When Square Enix and Eidos Montreal revealed Deus Ex: Mankind Divided last April, my excitement level rose to new heights fueled by thoughts of what the developers could achieve on new hardware. Gary Swaby said it best when he described Deus Ex: Human Revolution as one of last gen’s most underrated games, a sentiment shared by many who weren’t expecting the game to release when it did.
Mankind Divided has already received its fair share of controversy in the form of a pre-order program that has since been cancelled. Now that the studio has proven that they are willing to listen to the fans, my personal hope is that they can focus on bringing us an even better game than before. With a protagonist as cool as Adam Jensen and an immersive cyberpunk-themed world, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided definitely has what it takes to be an instant classic.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Tatjana Vejnovic – Contributing Editor
Maybe I’m a little biased, you know, with the Uncharted 2 tattoo on my back and all – but you can’t deny the fact that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End looks breathtaking and almost impossible. In the game’s first trailer, you’re shown a close-up shot of Nate’s face in the lake and the details are nothing like what we’ve seen before. You can tell he’s aged by the wrinkles in his forehead, the stray grays in his iconic hair, and the layers of the wound he has on his forehead. It’s evident that Naughty Dog is pushing the limits of the GPU on the PlayStation 4. I can still hear the sound of my OG 60GB PS3 struggling with The Last of Us. Naughty Dog doesn’t play when it comes to the environments they place us into, and I don’t think that expectation is fading anytime soon.
With Amy Hennig leaving, and Neil Druckmann (along with Bruce Straley) taking over Uncharted 4 and giving the story and gameplay their own flavor, it is hard to say what exactly we will get come this April. Amy and Neil have very different styles, both which I respect, and to see the final chapter of the epic saga conclude with different directors is going to be interesting, to say the least. With the plot twist of Sam Drake’s existence already revealed, who knows what else Uncharted 4 has in store.
Tom Clancy’s The Division
Brian Munjoma – Content Writer
First announced at E3 2013, The Division has had its fair share of ups and downs. From being a poster child for “next-generation” gaming with breathtaking trailers, to the numerous delays, I’ve kept a close eye on the progress. During its development I’ve realized how ambitious it is. At its heart it is a traditional RPG with tiered loot, levels and attributed equipment. It is used as a foundation for which a modern day, third person shooter is built on.
The biggest hook for me has to be the dynamic time based weather system, which includes rain, snow, and sunshine. Connecting all this together is a narrative focused on building order after a virus spread on Black Friday has devastated New York City.
This combination has the potential to make The Division a stand out title this year and even for many years to come. However, similar points could have been said about Watch Dogs before it released. I guess only time will tell.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Stephanie Burdo – Editor and Website Administrator
I’m sure that almost every die-hard Mass Effect fan recalls that moment during E3 2015, when they heard the famous tune fill their ears and they realized that what was being teased — Mass Effect: Andromeda. If you’re anything like me, you jumped in joy and screamed in excitement at the possibility of revisiting your favorite universe. When this game finally comes out, I will have my arms raised to the sky, thanking the Bioware gods for blessing us once again.
Considering that we have yet to receive an official plotline tease or a more believable release window, it is likely that this game will be pushed back. If it does make it to us by this year, we can only pray that it is worth the rather short wait.
Final Fantasy XV
Gary Swaby – Co-founder & Managing Editor
I love that the name Final Fantasy overall has been the cause of so much excitement lately. Not only do they have the MMO Final Fantasy XIV that is still being supported, and HD versions of the previous games dropping on PS4 and PC left and right, and the highly requested Final Fantasy VII Remake in the works, but they also have the next official iteration of the series Final Fantasy XV dropping this year.
Some may have forgot about this game, or perhaps their enthusiasm dissolved after the Final Fantasy VII Remake reveals, but I haven’t forgot how well put together that 2015 demo was that came with Type-0. The battle system wasn’t perfected at the time, but the developers have been so committed to making this a quality experience that they’ve been working hard at fine tuning all of the criticisms that were brought forward after the demo, and I have full confidence that we’re in for an incredible next-gen Final Fantasy experience this year.
Unravel
Dana Abercrombie – Content Writer
Every once in a while a game comes along that’s more than just a game. It captivates you, takes over your emotions, and leaves you wanting more. For me, Unravel is my most anticipated game of 2016 and it should be everyone’s as well.
At first glance it doesn’t look like anything special. You guide a creature made of yarn through an odd landscape. But once you start navigating Yarny, you’ll discover the game is so much more. The yarn represents how we connect with people, places, and things. Experiencing life through Yarny is similar to that of a young child taking everything in for the first time. You’ll have a better appreciation of the connections you make, the journeys you take, life’s little problems to solve, the environment that surrounds you, and more importantly, how you affect others. Shrouded in curiosity, Unravel touches the heart and childlike spirit in all of us.
While there are plenty of action adventure shoot em’ ups to look forward to, don’t you think one should also take advantage of the simple things in life? At the end of the day, it’s what should matter the most.
Street Fighter V
Tony Polanco – Executive Editor
I’m going to say it right now: 2016 is going to be a great year for gaming. 2015 was pretty badass too, but it’s looking like 2016 will be the year we’ve all been waiting for since the start of this generation.
While there are a ton of titles hitting next year, I had to toss Street Fighter V into this list. It may not be my personal most anticipated game (that goes to Mass Effect: Andromeda) but this is a title that will be monumental in a lot of ways.
Having played the beta, I’m pleased with how Street Fighter V is shaping up. The game is stripping back a lot of fluff in order to provide a true Street Fighter experience. At the same time, it is also adding in new elements to keep things fresh. What’s particularly refreshing is how the game will be updated throughout the year. Don’t expect an Ultra Super Street Fighter V Turbo in the future. The disk you buy will be the only one you ever need.
This is going to be the premiere fighting game of 2016 and I’m super excited to finally get my hands on it. I’m ready to hit dudes in the face with hadoukens!
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Jakejames Lugo – Senior Editor
When I played Mirror’s Edge Catalyst at New York Comic Con 2015, I was amazed at how much had changed since the first game on PlayStation 3. Don’t get me wrong, all of the vertigo and free-flowing parkour from the first Mirror’s Edge is still there, but the power of the next-gen consoles has really done wonders for Faith and her stylized urban world. I was amazed at the detailed city that bustled below me as I gazed from atop one of the game’s tall skyscrapers. The demo didn’t give me much of the story, but I didn’t want to know anything at the time. I wanted to soak in images of being high above a city, running across rooftops and jumping across large gaps between buildings.
But good looks aside, what makes me excited for Mirror’s Edge Catalyst are the changes to the gameplay of its predecessor. The straightforward levels are gone and replaced by open areas for players to explore and complete various missions as a runner among the city rooftops. The combat has also changed, allowing for a more fluid fighting system that blends smoothly with the parkour of the game. It’s about keeping your momentum going as you complete objectives towards your goal, rather than shooting enemies with a gun.
Most of what I’ve seen from Mirror’s Edge Catalyst has me feeling very positive about it’s release. DICE is doing some great work to provide a solid reboot to Mirror’s Edge for fans who own current generation consoles. Despite a delay until May 2016, I’m willing to wait for DICE to have Faith at her absolute best.
EVE: Valkyrie
David Jagneaux – Senior Editor
Back when I previewed EVE: Valkyrie at E3 on the PlayStation VR (then known as the Project Morpheus) I instantly knew it was going to be the biggest game for VR systems once they start rolling out this year. That’s why I called it “VR’s Killer App” in my preview, after all. Now the news that every consumer version of the Oculus Rift will come bundled with the game proves that a huge amount of hype and pressure is being placed squarely on the shoulders of this game.
I’ve played a lot of VR games in the past year and experienced a lot of technology, and all that I can say is that EVE: Valkyrie is the smoothest, most immersive, and most impressive thing I’ve seen for the new platform thus far. It’s exciting, the controls are intuitive, it’s blazing fast, and I can’t wait to play the entire game. Everything released so far on the Rift and Gear VR are nothing but primers for the real VR renaissance and that begins with EVE: Valkyrie.
Persona 5
Callum May – Video Editor
After multiple delays ever since 2014, Persona 5 is (probably) actually going to come out this year! As a part of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, Persona has gained a strong worldwide fanbase, all looking forward to the next entry in this stylistic JRPG series. With Persona 4 being one of my favorite games, introducing a fantastic combination of visual novel-esque character building and progressive dungeon crawling, Persona 5 is a game that I can’t stop thinking about.
Introducing new mechanics to make dungeon crawling more interesting and a standalone story with a completely different spin from previous entries, there’s more on offer than ever before. According to Director Katsura Hoshino, Persona 5 will explore the characters being chained down by the rules of a modern world and trying to break out of that with a supernatural twist. High school students by day and phantom thieves by night, I can’t wait to jump back into a brand new Persona game and follow these characters through a brand new story. Just please don’t delay it again.
Firewatch
Charles Singletary Jr. – Contributing Editor / Music Content Manager
When I received an excited phone call from my friend Matt that Olly Moss teamed with two ex Telltale developers to create his own game studio, I nearly leapt from my own skin. Moss is known for his incredible re-imagined film posters (I’ve yet to be fortunate enough to purchase one) so I just knew that whatever the team crafted would be a sight to behold.
Enter Firewatch.
The debut game from Campo Studios follows the fire warden Henry as he watches over Wyoming National Park. Henry is soon drawn from his tower with only a radio linked to his supervisor for company, and eerie happenings begin to unfold. I’ve been enamored with Firewatch since the first trailer arrived and can’t wait to see what mysteries are revealed. While the intrigue alone would draw me in, Firewatch looks to be one of the most beautifully crafted games this generation to boot. February can’t get here soon enough.
This concludes our list on most anticipated games of 2016. Did any of the games we have listed above make your own personal list? Please feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
