The 30 most anticipated video games of 2018

Well, 2017 truly lived up to our expectations: it was one of the best years that gaming has ever seen. But we’re an optimistic bunch, and we think 2018 can be even better. It’s true! Why? Well for starters, developers are flocking to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo itself has been delivering knockout experiences. Meanwhile, both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One should be well-stocked with greatness from first-party and third-party studios. Oh, and the PC remains the destination for the widest selection of games large and small. Here are all of the most exciting new releases we’re following so far…

1) RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2

It’s really no surprise that Red Dead Redemption 2 is our most anticipated game of 2018: it’s not only the successor to one of Rockstar’s absolute best games of all time, but it’s also the studio’s next project following the world-dominating Grand Theft Auto V. And in fact, it’s a prequel rather than a sequel, making it a pretty ideal starting point even if you didn’t play the brilliant Red Dead (which you should fix ASAP). As the trailers show, RDR2 is shaping up to be absolutely gorgeous, and an open-world Western with the ambition and capabilities of Grand Theft Auto V could be truly mind-blowing. We want it bad. But now we’ll have to wait ’til October.

2) FAR CRY 5

It’s been a few years since the last mainline Far Cry game, so we’re itching to get our hands on Far Cry 5. And Ubisoft seems unafraid to wade into some potential controversy with the plot, which centres on a cult of violent, religious fundamentalists in rural Montana in the United States. You’ll take the role of a sheriff’s deputy sent out to arrest the leader, and as you might expect, that’s not going to be an easy or straightforward task. Expect another wild open-world romp that lets you approach missions however you see fit, this time with the ability to commandeer planes and drop in from above. Amazing.

3) GOD OF WAR

Eight years after the last core God of War game, Sony is ready to revisit Kratos’ quest – this time with a shift from Greek to Norse mythology. And that’s not the only change in what looks like a soft reboot for the series, continuing his saga but shaking up a lot of what we’ve seen before. For instance, God of War now uses an over-the-shoulder perspective, Kratos’ twin chained blades are swapped out for an elemental axe, and… oh, he’s got a son with him. That’s right: you’ll be both protecting and mentoring young Atreus along the way, which might even inspire Kratos to quell his legendary anger.

4) SUPER SMASH BROS.

We expected a new Smash Bros. game for Switch at some point, sure – but this year? And announced already? We must be dreaming. But we’re not: Super Smash Bros. is officially coming to Switch, and as far as we can tell, it’ll be a new entry. Splatoon’s squid kid Inklings are joining the roster, and we can see Mario, Link, and other familiar faces in the fold. We’ll probably get a full reveal around E3 this June, but then it won’t be much longer before the fan-service brawler is ready for us.

5) SPIDER-MAN

Superhero games usually suck, and the wall-crawler hasn’t had a great starring role in ages – but we have high hopes for the Sony-exclusive Spider-Man. Why? Well, it hails from Insomniac Games, the studio behind the brilliant Ratchet & Clank and ultra-entertaining Sunset Overdrive. Also, it looks pretty phenomenal in motion, although we still need to be convinced about how much you’ll actually be controlling the webhead during these frantic, spectacular action scenes. The fact that it’s not tied into a movie seems like a plus, but we’re anxious to get hands-on and see how it feels before we can be sure of anything.

6) A WAY OUT

We rarely see big publishers push games that feel truly unique and original anymore, but that’s exactly what’s coming with A Way Out. EA’s surprise E3 reveal is a prison escape game that must be played in split-screen co-op, whether your ally is online or next to you on the couch. That’s right: there’s no single-player version with an A.I. partner, unless EA is just keeping that bit under wraps for now. That adds a compelling twist to this slick-looking action game, which has sort of an Uncharted-meets-The Shawshank Redemption feel to it.

7) DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN

Quantic Dream’s next game has been on the horizon for a couple of years now, but we’re hoping that this heavily cinematic adventure – about societally oppressed androids that begin acting more like humans – will really deliver on its lofty ambitions. It’s the latest from director David Cage, who has been hit (Heavy Rain) and miss (Beyond: Two Souls) with his last couple of narrative games, and it appears to be a decision-centric, choose-your-own-adventure type game in which each perilous scenario has multiple possible paths to varying finales. It looks super intense, not to mention totally dazzling.

8) KINGDOM HEARTS III

Will Kingdom Hearts III really release in 2018 following years of teases, not to mention a 13-year span of inane spinoffs? We don’t know. But that is Square Enix’s current promise, and we seriously hope that the fans’ agonising wait is finally over. And wow does this game look marvellous, with Toy Story leading the charge of amazing new Disney locations that we can’t wait to fight through. Other worlds include those from Big Hero 6 and Tangled, and the combat looks dramatically more dynamic and exciting than in the past entries.

9) NINTENDO LABO

Nintendo is always keen on innovation in gaming, and Nintendo Labo certainly embodies that approach: it’s a series of cardboard accessories that you can build and then use with the Switch console for an array of unique experiences. For example, you can build a functional Switch-powered cardboard piano, or build an RC car that actually moves thanks to the rumble of the tucked-in Joy-Cons – and there’s even a cardboard robot costume you can don as you punch in-game robots. It’s wild, imaginative stuff, and it puts as much emphasis on the play as it does creation and STEM-like learning.

10) SEA OF THIEVES

The most exciting Xbox exclusive on the near horizon isn’t a big-budget shooter or or a lavish action game – it’s a pirate game. And, as you might surmise, it’s a very silly one at that. Effectively, it’s a freeform, open-world pirate simulation that lets you set sail alongside a crew of online companions, blast the hell out of rival ships, drink grog, and have a damn fun time doing all of it. The cartoonish look and open-ended design ensure ample entertainment every time, especially when no two games will end up the same way.

11) CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 4

What is Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 all about? Uhh… honestly, we don’t know yet. With mixed reactions to last year’s World War II, not unlike the mixed reactions to the last few Call of Duty games, Activision decided to confirm this year’s release of Black Ops 4 with a very early teaser trailer – with a full reveal to follow in May. But we do know this: it’s coming from Treyarch, arguably the best series developer in recent years, and rumours suggest it won’t be as far-flung in the future and it’ll stick to on-foot action rather than jetpack shenanigans.

12) DARK SOULS REMASTERED

Dark Souls wherever you want? Sold! While the other console and PC versions might pack a bit more visual pop, we’re admittedly most excited about Dark Souls Remastered on Switch, as the tough-as-nails 2011 action role-player goes portable with a bit more polish in tow. Every version includes the complete original game with the Artorias of the Abyss DLC bundled in, with a better frame rate and higher resolution – going up to 4K on the non-Switch platforms. It’s the same game, of course, but this hardcore time sink should still be plenty appealing.

13) DETECTIVE PIKACHU

Why is Pikachu a detective? And more importantly, why does he sound like a grizzled human detective? We don’t have answers for these questions just yet, but we know that we cannot deny this irresistibly nonsensical premise. Detective Pikachu might be a good reason to dust off your Nintendo 3DS, as the lovable Pokémon helps a young boy solve the case of his missing father. Plus, Detective Pikachu will be a live-action movie next year, with Ryan Reynolds as his voice, so… really, what is this?

14) YOSHI (WORKING TITLE)

Nintendo still hasn’t officially announced a lot of 2018 games, but we’re already absolutely smitten with their new Yoshi platformer. Hailing from Good-Feel, the studio behind Yoshi’s Wooly World and the fabulous Kirby’s Epic Yarn, this side-scroller blends the fabric worlds of those games with a bit of LittleBigPlanet charm. The levels have that same kind of LBP diorama feel, as if they’re built from common objects, but the twist in Yoshi is that you can flip the world around to solve puzzles and discover hidden delights.

15) CRACKDOWN 3

It’s been eight years since the underwhelming Crackdown 2, but we still have so much love for the original Xbox 360 entry – in which you explored the futuristic city as a super-powered agent – that we’re happy to give the series another chance. And from what we’ve seen of it so far, Crackdown 3 certainly looks set to amplify the original’s approach thanks to a vast open world and massively destructible cities. The game’s been on the horizon for quite some time now, but Microsoft says it’s pegged for spring, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.

16) METRO EXODUS

Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light are cult favourites from the last console generation, but Metro Exodus looks like the game that’ll take this series to new heights. As before, the atmospheric shooter is set in a post-apocalyptic Russia, in which survivors huddle in the train tunnels below Moscow. But there’s an intriguing contrast here between the grim, confined tunnels and the vast, open environments seen in the trailer, and Exodus promises massive, non-linear levels to explore along with a blend of combat and stealth. We’ve only gotten a taste, but we’re intrigued.

17) THE LAST NIGHT

The Last Night was one of the biggest surprises from Microsoft’s E3 2017 conference, serving up a pixel-packed game amid a bevy of vast, big-budget 3D juggernauts. But it was what those pixels showed that really wowed us. The Last Night has something of a Blade Runner/cyberpunk bent, as you take command of Charlie, a “second-class citizen” who aims to rise from his meagre stature. There’s gunplay, stealth, and storytelling in the mix, plus enough visual and aural gloss to hopefully keep our attention when it debuts sometime in 2018.

18) MARIO TENNIS ACES

It doesn’t have quite the buzz or legacy or Super Smash Bros, but Mario Tennis Aces marks another reliable Nintendo franchise making the leap to Switch. Like past entries, it’s a pretty familiar formula: an accessible, cartoonish, Mario-themed version of the racquet sport. But Aces does tease potentially longer-term fun with the story mode, which recalls the classic Game Boy Advance entry by filling the gaps between matches with boss battles, mini-games, and other fun bits. And if you just want to pop friends in for a quick match, they can play with Wii Remote-like motion controls using a Joy-Con.

19) DARKSIDERS III

Darksiders seemed like it was toast after both THQ and Vigil Games fell apart, but the newly rebuilt THQ Nordic has revived the fantastical action franchise with a new Horseman of the Apocalypse as the lead: Fury. The mage heroine wields a dazzling whip and magic spells to battle her way through the large environments, with hack-and-slash action and Metroid-esque unlocks and enhancements pairing well with Legend of Zelda-like dungeons. We’re excited to see how the game imagines the Seven Deadly Sins as grotesque enemies – and even more thrilled to properly slay them.

20) SOULCALIBUR VI

Bandai Namco is back on its fighting game grind: 2017 brought us the great Tekken 7, and now 2018 will deliver SoulCalibur VI, the latest entry in its great 3D weapons-based battler. The last couple of entries saw the series grow much larger in scale and roster alike, but it’s still the first two games that fans love the most. Good news, then: Bandai Namco says that SoulCalibur VI will revisit the setting of the original game, and quite likely spotlight that original roster above all while still adding some new fighters into the mix.

21) THE CREW 2

Ubisoft’s original The Crew was a racing game with lofty ambitions and slightly iffy execution, but a large community formed around it and sustained it. Now the publisher can try to do what it did with Watch Dogs 2, and deliver a sequel that’s significantly more enjoyable. The Crew 2 looks absolutely massive, as you race across the entire United States. And this time, you’ll be doing so in more than just glossy supercars – you’ll also be able to fly planes, command motorboats, and speed along in motorbikes in a seamless open-terrain environment. It honestly sounds a bit too ambitious, but hey, we’d love to see Ubisoft pull this one off.

22) MEGA MAN 11

Capcom has more or less ignored Mega Man the past few years, so much so that the series’ co-creator jumped ship, funded a Kickstarter, and shipped a mediocre knockoff (Mighty No. 9) of it just to try and fill the void. But now the real Blue Bomber is coming back in late 2018 with Mega Man 11. This is old-school Mega Man given a fresh 3D coat of paint, much like Mighty No. 9 but hopefully with a lot more polish and success. Capcom is also bringing a Mega Man X Collection to consoles, with the previous Mega Man Collections also coming to Switch with Amiibo support.

23) NI NO KUNI II: REVENANT KINGDOM

Studio Ghibli can basically do no wrong – and that applies to games as well. The original Ni No Kuni was a dazzling Japanese role-player brimming with charm and creativity, and the sequel looks to build upon that foundation after five years away. From what we can tell, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom doesn’t make any dramatic changes to the formula: it’s still a stunning, cel-shaded RPG epic with plenty of Ghibli appeal, but now developer Level-5 promises more depth to the storylines and new gameplay twists all the while.

24) ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS

2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest may have brought us to the brink of emotional trauma a few times, but it remains one of our absolute favourite Xbox One games. And for that reason alone, we can’t help but be excited about Ori and the Will of the Wisps – despite the fact that it’ll probably leave us sobbing into our controller. We don’t know much about it yet, but the teaser trailer shows plenty of what we loved about the original: gorgeous, hand-drawn visuals and stirring music that generate loads of feelings in an instant, not to mention the sudden desire to destroy who or whatever hurt that sad owl’s family.

25) SKULL AND BONES

What’s this? Another pirate game on the horizon? It’s true: Ubisoft will also tread into unsavoury waters in 2018 with Skull and Bones, and as you might recall, the publisher did this a few years back with the excellent Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Truth be told, Skull and Bones is something of a spiritual successor to that game, albeit with the on-foot, open-world historical action scrapped and the focus put entirely on high-seas action. It’ll have both a single-player campaign and six-player online naval battles, and it seems to be a more serious and structured alternative to Sea of Thieves.

26) ONRUSH

Sony’s wonderful MotorStorm series is unfortunately done for now, but Codemasters’ Onrush will arrive in the summer to pick up the mantle and speed through muddy forests and grab huge air with it. And it even hails from the old MotorStorm development team, now under the wing of the Dirt and GRID publisher. Like those previous racers, Onrush is all about frantic, abrasive off-road racing on large, wilderness tracks, this time letting you choose between different kinds of buggies and bikes as you battle your way into the pole position.

27) DONKEY KONG COUNTRY: TROPICAL FREEZE

Every overlooked Wii U gem will probably hit Switch before too long, and here’s another worth your time this May: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, the second in Retro Studios’ revival series that started on Wii. Tropical Freeze builds upon the familiar formula with new frozen terrain, while bringing back old friends like Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong and packing in plenty of challenge. This Switch port also adds Funky Kong as a new playable character, in case that’s a thing you wanted…

28) GTFO

The Payday heist games provided one of the essential co-op experiences of the last few years, and now their lead designer is back with a new studio and something similar in its four-player approach… but tonally very, very different. GTFO is a horror-centric shooter in which your team must attempt to extract priceless artifacts from monster-infested tunnels without being massacred in the process. It looks like Left 4 Dead with more of an Alien sensibility, and while this one’s only pegged for PC at the moment, hopefully it’ll do well and eventually hit consoles too.

29) ASSASSINS CREED ROGUE REMASTERED

You’ll be forgiven if you missed out on Assassin’s Creed Rogue a few years back: it only hit last-gen consoles, and it released at the same time as the slightly-botched Assassin’s Creed Unity. But now you’ll be able to play it on PS4 and Xbox One in this newly-updated edition. Rogue builds upon the naval combat of the great Black Flag entry, but now you play as a former Assassin who now hunts his former brethren as a Templar during the Seven Years’ War.

30) STATE OF DECAY 2

We really dug the original State of Decay on Xbox 360 despite some issues with polish and repetition, and five years later, Undead Labs is about to deliver a much-enhanced zombie survival simulation experience with some big new feature additions. As before, you’ll take control of a human settlement amid the undead apocalypse, swapping between characters on the fly to seek out resources and fight the freaky shamblers. But now, you’ll be able to do it in co-op with a buddy. The game also offers improved graphics and is hopefully a little less rough around the edges.