Spider-Man (Sept. 7)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
Superhero movies are all the rage right now, and with Spider-Man making his way back to the big screen, now’s the perfect time to release a new Spider-Man video game as well. Developed by Insomniac (who worked on Sunset Overdrive), Spider-Man is a PS4 exclusive title with an open world setting in New York City. Players will get to sling their way around Manhattan as the iconic webhead, all while taking on side quests and hunting down criminals in the area.
The new Spider-Man game also promises to feature a whole array of characters from the universe as well, including Miles Morales, MJ, Mister Negative, and the Green Goblin.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Sept. 14)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
Lara Croft saw a resurgence in popularity after Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics launched the Tomb Raider reboot back in 2013. We really like the new Lara Croft, and with Shadow of the Tomb Raider promising to finally finish up her transformation into the titular tomb raider we all know and love, we can’t wait to see how her character develops from there.
From what we played during E3 2018, the gameplay looks to be more of the same, but that’s not necessarily a terrible thing. We enjoyed the crafting and stealth gameplay from Rise of the Tomb Raider, along with the openness of the world, and Shadow seems to be expanding upon that even further. In this third entry, Lara will continue her fight with Trinity, and we’re excited to see the end of this story arc.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 (Sept. 25)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
After the disappointment that was Valkyria Revolution, fans should be pleased to see the series returning to its strategic, turn-based roots with Valkyria Chronicles 4. The turn-based combat system makes a return, and players will get to move their characters on the battlefield, while also planning ahead to make sure their units aren’t overwhelmed by the enemies. The lovely storybook art style makes a return, and the game looks better than ever.
Valkyria Chronicles 4’s story follows a whole new cast of characters, with a plot that takes place at the same time as the events of the first game.
Life Is Strange 2 (Sept. 27)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
Life Is Strange is so hot right now. Deck Nine provided us with some closure to the first season with last year’s Before the Storm, giving us more insight into Chloe’s relationship with Rachel. Just a few months after that, Dontnod revealed The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, stating that it was a spin-off of the Life Is Strange series, and that it would lead into the second season. And just a few days after that reveal, Dontnod released the teaser trailer for season 2, and we could not be more excited about it.
We still have no idea what Life Is Strange 2 is going to be about, but we do have a few theories after finishing Captain Spirit.
Code Vein (Sept. 28)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
Developed by Bandai Namco and the team that made the God Eater games, Code Vein is a third-person action RPG that definitely takes a lot of inspiration from the Souls games, and that’s a great thing. We got to play the game at TGS last year and at E3 just last month, and we’re loving what we’ve seen so far. Code Vein’s combat is fast-paced, and players have to manage their stamina properly to avoid being overwhelmed by enemies. The demos we played also gave us a glimpse of the game’s looping level design, as well as some of the early bosses.
The world of Code Vein is a post-apocalyptic one, where humans are forced to resort to using monstrous powers in order to stay alive. And yes, that involves the consumption of blood. If you’re looking for an action game to dive into, and you don’t mind the anime aesthetic and art style, this is one to look out for.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Oct. 5)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
We’re not really sure how to feel about the Assassin’s Creed series going back to an annual release cycle, but we’re definitely hyped about the RPG direction Odyssey seems to be heading towards. For the first time in the series, players will get to choose between a male and female protagonist for the whole adventure. Not only that, there are dialogue options to choose from when interacting with NPCs, and you can even have romantic relationships. Yup. Sign us up.
Odyssey takes place in Ancient Greece, and it’s way before the events of Origins, when the Brotherhood actually formed. Because of that, we’re not exactly sure how Odyssey will fit into the timeline, but hey, at least the virtual tourism will be great.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Oct. 26)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive were pretty chill at this year’s E3 and they didn’t exactly bring anything to the show. But, honestly, with a behemoth like Red Dead 2 in their pocket, they can be as chill as they want to be. Red Dead Redemption 2 will be a prequel, which means that we’ll get to see protagonist John Marston yet again, along with characters that were referenced in the original game.
For those who might be new to the series, Red Dead Redemption 2 is set to be a western open-world game, where players will get to engage in all sorts of cool cowboy activities like horse-riding and engaging in pistol duels. The game also has a heavy focus on its story and narrative, along with side quests that you can check out along the way.
Fallout 76 (Nov. 14)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
While it’s not the single-player epic adventure some fans might have been hoping for, it’s certainly very exciting to see the Fallout series move in a slightly different direction. Releasing in November, Fallout 76 will mark the first time the series has ever incorporated online multiplayer into its gameplay. Fallout 76 will be an online survival RPG, where players can either work together or kill each other. There are base-building elements as well, though it’s worth noting that there’s always the risk of getting your stuff blown up while you’re not paying attention.
Interestingly, players will also be able to form factions with each other, and work together to take over the wasteland. If you want to play the game alone, that’s possible as well, but we imagine it’d be a lot more enjoyable to play with friends.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee (Nov. 16)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
It’s clear that the Pokemon Let’s Go games are targeted towards a much more casual audience than the regular Pokemon fans, but even so, we can’t wait to see what a Pokemon game is going to look like on the Switch. It’s definitely a bummer that we won’t be able to battle wild Pokemon, but it’s still exciting to see the Kanto region get remade for Nintendo’s new hybrid console. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for new series fans to experience the classic game that kicked off the Pokemon craze.
Nintendo is also releasing a new device called the Pokeball Plus, which is sort of like a motion controller that offers players new ways to interact with the game. If you’re still playing Pokemon GO, you can link both games together for extra rewards as well.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Dec. 7)
Most Anticipated Game Releases for the Rest of 2018
Quite possibly the biggest Switch release of 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate promises to bring back (almost) every single character and stage we’ve ever seen in the Smash series. On top of that, we’re also getting new stages and character designs from Breath of the Wild and Splatoon. And let’s not forget the inclusion of Metroid’s Ridley as a playable character as well. Fans have been asking for Ridley for ages, and Nintendo is finally going to deliver.
Of course, we’re still hoping to see Nintendo support the game with even more characters and stages in the future, but for now, we’re pretty happy with what we’re getting at launch.
Published: Jul 6, 2018 09:42 am