The 10 most anticipated video games of 2018
[Photos by: Monster Hunter: World, Red Dead Redemption II/Rockstar Games, Far Cry 5/Ubisoft]
2017 was a wonderful year for gaming fans. The initially hard-to-find Nintendo Switch has given us two franchise masterpieces in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, among other new gems. We also got other platform fan favorites like Persona 5, Horizon Zero Dawn and equally incredible smaller titles like What Remains Of Edith Finch and the frustratingly challenging, yet wonderfully groundbreaking, Cuphead.
2018 is shaping up to be a similarly exciting year for video game releases. We've compiled a list of the 10 most anticipated games from all platforms that are expected to come out next year.
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Monster Hunter: World
Release date: Jan. 26
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
The fifth primary installment in a franchise that began in 2004 on PlayStation 2, Monster Hunter: World will once again give fans the opportunity to battle, slay and/or capture incredible beasts of all shapes and sizes. Within a beautifully realized, living, breathing landscape, players can even join in on four-player online co-op with gamers from all over the world to topple titanic monsters in tandem.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Release date: Jan. 26
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Fact: Dragon Ball fandom will exist until the end of time. The newest video game installment in the franchise from Arc System Works and Bandai Namco Entertainment might not, but it sure looks like a charged energy blast of fun. Akin to the style found in modern Street Fighter games and fan favorites like Marvel Vs. Capcom, Dragon Ball FighterZ looks to offer some ultra-colorful fighting chaos full of massive attacks and all your favorite characters.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Release date: March 23
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Serving as a sequel to Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch, which was originally released on PS3 in Japan in 2011, Ni No Kuni II will be the first highly anticipated video game released in 2018. Again, gorgeously rendered visuals reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's best works (which makes sense seeing as former Studio Ghibli designer, Yoshiyuki Momose, has reprised his franchise role as lead artist) invite you into an open world as you control Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum on a quest to reclaim his kingdom after being usurped from his castle.
Far Cry 5
Release date: March 27
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
After a detour that took us to the Mesolithic Age with Primal, Far Cry is headed to Montana with the newest installment of the popular first-person action-shooter franchise. Ubisoft's Far Cry 5 will serve as the eleventh overall entry into the series; and this time around, rather than controlling a lead character such as Jason Brody or Ajay Ghale from past games, the player will create his/her own character to take on Joseph Seed and his militaristic doomsday cult, the Project At Eden's Gate, in an open world full of countless wildlife, weapons and vehicle options.
God Of War
Release date: TBA, Q1
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
The eighth installment in the 12-year-old God Of War series sees the return of Kratos, looking more bearded and badass than ever before. Oh, and he has a son now, too–Atreus. With completely rebuilt gameplay and a focus on Norse mythology as opposed to Greek, which all previous games in the series revolved around, this soft reboot should offer a fresh take for fans new and old. Plus, who doesn't love fighting giant gods and monsters to the death while trying to be a mentor and father figure to a child?
Spider-Man
Release date: TBA, Q1/Q2
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Spider-Man has never really left the spotlight, but until last year's Captain America: Civil War, it had been some time since the wisecracking webslinger was truly celebrated. With Spider-Man: Homecoming being a huge hit for Marvel Studios and Avengers: Infinity War just five months away, now is the perfect time to get fans hyped for a new Spidey video game. While an official release date has yet to be announced, the gameplay we saw out of E3 this summer has us eager to experience what appears to be some impressive swinging mechanics and Batman: Arkham-style ass-kicking.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Release date: TBA, Q2
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
It will have been eight years since its predecessor was released once Red Dead Redemption 2 (which is actually a prequel to 2010's RDR) finally gets into the hands of fans who have been dying to get back to the open-world Wild West. Judging by the trailers released thus far–not to mention the publisher's track record–it looks certain that we'll have another Rockstar Games classic to explore for quite some time. That is, if fans are finally willing to take a break from causing chaos in Grand Theft Auto V to try and survive in America's heartland circa 1900.
The Last Of Us Part II
Release date: TBA
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Arguably one of the most anticipated games of the decade, The Last Of Us Part II has a lot to live up to. Naughty Dog's 2013 survival horror juggernaut, The Last Of Us, is one of the greatest games of all time, and its sequel will have the daunting task of attempting to give players the same emotionally and terrifyingly thrilling experience when it's released sometime in 2018. We'll still be following Ellie and Joel, but as we've seen in recent reveals, there will be at least a handful of new characters, too. Either way, writer-director Neil Druckmann says that we're “in for an intense, beautiful, harrowing and emotionally moving ride.”
Kingdom Hearts III
Release date: TBA
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III has seemed like a massive trolling for some time now, but to be fair, it now appears certain that it will arrive in 2018. Having been announced four years ago, and with concepts dating back to 2006 when Kingdom Hearts II saw its North American release on PS2, fans have been put through the ringer waiting for this game. Luckily, though, Disney has acquired so many properties in that time (Lucasfilm, Marvel Entertainment, Pixar, etc.) that the possibilities of which characters will be included and what areas players will be able to explore are seemingly endless.
Death Stranding
Release date: “Before the 2020 Olympics”
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
There's no guarantee that Death Stranding will be released in 2018, but it's at least somewhat expected to be and therefore earns its spot on this list–if not for the mystery surrounding the game and its premise, then for the names attached. Developed by legendary designer Hideo Kojima (the Metal Gear series), the game will star Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead) and Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) as leading characters, with director Guillermo del Toro–who's been working on the game with Kojima in some capacity–also lending his likeness to someone in the game. The vagueness in what's been revealed about Death Stranding thus far has video game fans intrigued at the very least, if not incredibly anxious to discover what it's all about. We're in the latter camp. Theories are running wild.
