With so many amazing games released as of late, it is getting harder to make something original or unique. Whether it’s following gaming trends or simply not wanting to stray from the norm, even some of the most anticipated upcoming games look rather generic.
That isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of potential blockbusters on the horizon though, as 2019 and onward could continue the upward trend of quality releases. Here are five upcoming blockbuster games that don’t look generic.
Unique Upcoming AAA Games
Death Stranding
Ever since the first trailer for Death Stranding released, it was apparent that this wasn’t a normal game. A naked Norman Reedus, weird floating jar babies, and colossal invisible creatures are just a few of the things that have been teased for this title.
Despite knowing all of this about the game, its premise is still almost entirely a mystery. While there have been stealth and traversal aspects displayed, there has yet to be any detailed gameplay footage shown.
This air of mystery in and of itself is pretty revolutionary for a game, as many developers go out of their way to promote every aspect of new title years out in order to build hype. Death Stranding’s choice to do the opposite may go a long way in altering the player’s actual experience with the game, allowing for more surprising and genuine reactions thanks to the secrecy.
If anyone could get away with this idea and still profit, it’s Hideo Kojima. As the mind behind the insane Metal Gear storyline and the creator of a horror demo, P.T., that reinvigorated the psychological thriller genre, it’s no wonder that Death Stranding looks as distinct and confusing as it does.
Unique Upcoming AAA Games
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red took the world by storm in 2015, as its action RPG, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, broke storytelling boundaries, crafting an expansive fantasy world all the way. Now, everyone wants to see what they can create using a sci-fi landscape in Cyberpunk 2077.
What we have seen so far from the game points to a huge, diverse world similar to The Witcher 3. That doesn’t mean Cyberpunk is a reskin though, as it looks to have an even more immersive and interactive world than The Witcher.
NPC cycles, unique side stories, and the sheer scope of Night City make the world feel like its own living organism. While plenty of games have boasted that their setting itself was a character in the past, Cyberpunk 2077 could be the first title that actually delivers on that idea.
The game’s pen and paper system also has the possibility to redefine how RPGs craft experience systems, as it takes its ideas directly from the board game that inspired it, Cyberpunk 2020.
Worst case scenario with all of this is that the elements of the game are just vast improvements on preexisting mechanics and methods, and that is okay with me.
Unique Upcoming AAA Games
Dreams
On the surface, Dreams sounds like just another sandbox, as its main premise revolves around solving puzzles by using abilities to retrieve items. Doing this modifies the state of the world though, and that is where the real fun begins.
With these modified worlds, players can create their own levels using custom and pre-built objects. These items are considerably varied, meaning this game has little in the ways of limitations in regards to what can be created.
Even with the beta only having been out for a little bit, we’ve already seen the wonders that can be made using this game. So far, full games like Dead Space and P.T. have been recreated in Dreams, making it seem more like a full-grown engine as opposed to just a game.
Media Molecule’s continued dedication to the “play, create, share” philosophy is what will set the game apart though. Since Dreams is going to allow its players to share and download their creations with each other, the community will not only thrive but will self-sustain itself.
As a result, owning this title could give players access to thousands of unique games, all created by the community and available to download essentially for the base price of Dreams.
Unique Upcoming AAA Games
Gears 5
The Gears of War series knows all about innovation, as it stood out among the crowd for its gritty look and feel when it launched as a debut title for the Xbox 360. Fresh features to help the series grow have been lacking with each installment though, something its new developer, the Coalition, promises to be fixing for Gears 5.
Alongside cleaning up the name – getting rid of the “of War” part – Gears 5 will introduce new level designs, enemies, and mechanics that build upon the foundation that’s been laid out throughout the series. Each of those will create an environment that is reminiscent of Gears, but plays like something different, quite literally.
According to Coalition studio head Rod Ferguson, the next installment in the series will open up the world in a dramatic way. Instead of cramped spaces, Gears 5 will have large open spaces, a far cry from the usual.
While other games have certainly implemented those changes too, moving Gears’ style to that type of landscape could prove to be an experience unlike any other.
A new team looking to prove itself, a new name, and a new focus sounds like just what the Gears series need to get its chainsaw roaring again.
Unique Upcoming AAA Games
Ghosts of Tsushima
As games evolve graphically, so does the ability to make gameplay feel as fluid and realistic as whatever it is trying to emulate. Unsurprisingly, the more difficult the subject matter, the harder it is to make the action feel like it would in its real-life counterpart.
That won’t stop Sucker Punch from trying though, as Ghost of Tsushima looks to be the most realistic sword-fighting game ever created.
Alongside stealth elements, the game features a one-versus-one dueling system akin to games like Red Dead Redemption. Instead of simply firing a bullet, Ghost of Tsushima requires much more focused and precision, just like a real sword duel would.
To make the movements feel as real as possible, the developers even consulted historical sword-fighting expert David Ishimaru. His knowledge is also set to help From tackle the lesser explored time period of Feudal Japan, creating an accurate foundation that will strengthen Tsushima’s experience.
If nothing else, you can be sure that the game’s traditional flute theme will be anything but generic, especially when overlaid with samurai fighting.
Published: Feb 12, 2019 09:29 am