The Legend of Zelda Wii U
There is no surprise that Nintendo has a game on this list. After an absolutely stunning 2014, they are ready to turn heads with their newest entry in one of their most beloved games series. Only glimpses of The Legend of Zelda Wii U have been shown, this hasn’t stopped it being more than enough to generate enormous amounts of hype. Of course hype is nothing new to a Nintendo game, especially when it’s coming from their super loyal fan-base.
That being said, this is a case where a game may actually deserve all the pre-release excitement. For starters, the new art direction and graphical fidelity are absolutely stunning. Then they went and finally created a truly open-world Legend of Zelda game that fans have been clamoring for. With the ability to approach everything in the game at your own leisure, you can lose even more hours of your life to your adventures with a newly drawn Link.
Nintendo has many games in the pipeline but if there is one that is already making a claim to the crown The Legend of Zelda Wii U is sure winner. You can catch a glimpse of what they’ve shown thus far here.
Halo 5: Guardians
The Halo series is one of the biggest exclusive franchises out there in the world of video games. It’s only increased in popularity over the years and there is always demand for another entry. Now that Microsoft’s Xbox is on its third generation, it’s only right that it receives its very own Halo title. This year it comes in the form of Halo 5: Guardians.
Kicking off the hype is the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta that is available right now as you read this. Just the little taste has been enough to get many excited for the upcoming release. Faith has been renewed as everything looks to be more like the classic Halo that fans fell in love many years ago.
No matter what you are fan, of there is no denying that the Halo games deliver great experiences more often than not. Halo 5: Guardians will definitely be sitting pretty on its throne when it launches later this year. Check out the official site for more info on this upcoming game.
Grand Theft Auto V (PC)
Okay, so this is Grand Theft Auto V‘s third time around the block. It was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One back in November of last year with tons of new bells and whistles. Now it’s ready to hit your PC and show you the true potential of the king of open world games. Not only will it include all the upgrades that the newest generation of consoles were treated to along with a few new treats.
Grand Theft Auto V will take full advantage of PCs to provide smoother graphical enhancements and all the resolutions you can imagine. On top of that, you will have access to a video editor to create outrageous clips or hilarious videos. If that isn’t enough then there is one word that just might pique your interest -mods. If you’ve played GTA IV on PC then you already know how amazing the modding community is.
It may be a game that is well known already, but with everything that’s been added there is no doubt that it will be one of the biggest games of the year. For more information check out their website.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
When discussing great PlayStation developers the conversation almost always shifts to Naughty Dog, and for good reason. They are responsible for the top rated PlayStation games and recently provided the world with The Last of Us, arguably one of the top games of the last generation. With that being said, it should be no surprise that Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is lined up to take the crown this year.
If you haven’t had a chance check out the gameplay video they unveiled back in December. Just from those few minutes it’s easy to see that Naughty Dog has been hard at work improving their award-winning formula. From graphics to new gameplay mechanics, it is obvious that the next Uncharted is being built from the ground up for the PlayStation 4 console and plans to show off a lot of the potential of Sony’s newest hardware.
If only one PlayStation 4 game can sit at the top this year it will definitely be Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. For more information on this be sure to check out the game’s page.
Overwatch
Back at Blizzcon, Blizzard unveiled their latest project that just so happens to be a new take on the first person shooter. This team-based  shooter is set in a very distant future where heroes are still needed in a world falling apart. You will have to choose one of several completely unique combatants as you team up with your friends to claim victory.
Blizzard has been on a roll lately so it is a safe bet that Overwatch will be a highly polished, engaging experience. After seeing what they managed to do with a card game last year, it’s easy to see why so many are excited for their first foray into the FPS space has in store. If the gameplay trailer that was released is any indication, you can be sure that this game is one that you don’t want to miss.
Blizzard has a long-standing reputation as a company that creates engaging worlds and lasting memories. Their studio is built on a solid reputation so there is no denying the potential for Overwatch to reign this year. For more info on this game check out their official site.
Batman: Arkham Knight
When it was revealed that Rocksteady wasn’t working on Batman: Arkham Origins many were left disappointed. The studio that hand-crafted the first two games in the series would have no part in the third entry. After it was released, it seemed as if the disappointment was justified, although Arkham Origins was by no means a bad game. It just didn’t stand up to the previous titles. That was soon swept under the rug once Rocksteady announced that they were busy working on the closing chapter to the Batman: Arkham games.
In a stunning reveal trailer, you got to see Batman’s rogues gallery get together to once and for all bring the fight to him. Once again they are underprepared as a new character, one that fans had been waiting on for some time, came along with Batman for the fight. That character of course is the Batmobile. With all new gadgets, his iconic vehicle, and a newly designed Arkham City there are tons of new reasons to be excited for Bruce Wayne’s final Rocksteady adventure.
With this final game being built solely for the newest consoles and PCs it is no wonder that every single screen has been nothing short of beautiful. Rocksteady is a studio that has shown and proved that a licensed game can not only be good, but also be one of the best games to ever be made and help to further define a genre. If their previous installments are any indication then you can guarantee that when the dust settles Batman: Arkham Knight will still be standing with crown on head. For more info on this highly anticipated title be sure to check out the official site.
Are there any games that you think will stand head and shoulders over the rest in 2015? If so, feel free to share your picks and reasons.
Published: Jan 6, 2015 12:22 pm