Every year, we seem to be bombarded with more and more videogame releases. No surprise that many of us struggle to keep up with this stacked calendar of digital offerings, opting instead to load up the latest FIFA or Call of Duty offerings. (Don’t get us wrong, both still serve up some of the best gaming experiences available.)
But there’s so much more to explore. Don’t worry—we’re here to steer you right. We checked the releases, scrutinised the footage and read the previews to help identify the best games coming out this year. Pick your favourite, or play them all—we won’t judge.
1. Resident Evil 4: Remake
There’s no doubt RE:4 is one of the greatest games ever made, and not just in the genre of run-and-gun zombie capers. This entry in the series redefined action games forever leaving an unmistakable impact on every title to follow. But can you build on perfection? Well, the original was starting to show its age: dodgy controls, sloppy visuals and some audio glitches. Bottom line: the time was right to breathe new life into this classic.
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The remake doesn’t disappoint, upgrading every part of this genre-defining title while leaving its atmosphere and charm intact. The biggest gamechanger is the freeform camera that lets you move and aim down the sights at the same time, giving you a wealth of options when it comes to figuring out how to mow down the undead hordes.
2. Diablo IV
The fourth iteration of the action RPG recently gave everyone a taste of what it has to offer as part of an open beta. And the verdict is in: number fourth is setting up to be a massive release. With an expansive endgame, mind-boggling skill tree and near-endless treasure trove of loot to collect, this one will keep you busy for weeks.
3. Starfield
From the team that created the Elder Scrolls games and Fallout, their trademark open-world adventures are heading for new horizons with this space traveling shooter. Not only will you have full control over customising your character—right down to their background, skills and traits—but you’ll be given a giant open world (universe) to explore, picking up quests or just kicking it planet-side at your own leisure.
4. Alan Wake 2
If you’re a horror fan and haven’t played the original Alan Wake, it’s time to dig into your wallet. With heavy Stephen King-esque overtones, you’ll step deep into a psychological horror-filled action game that will scare, thrill and inspire you in equal parts. Little is known about the follow-up game as the developers remain tight-lipped, but you can expect it to build on everything that made the original great.
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5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The original title was a breath of fresh air, letting you swing through an expansive digital version of New York. The next game will reportedly feature symbiote (read: Venom) versions of the suits that gave you bonus powers. It’ll be fun to see what kind of mayhem you can achieve with these chaotic powers at your disposal.
6. Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Previous Lord of the Rings games have let you fill the shoes of the series’ cast of heroes. This one, however, puts you in control of Gollum as you hunt for your “precious” across Middle-Earth. While it might seem like a strange choice, early gameplay footage has given us a taste of the next-gen engine, intuitive controls and dynamic events. You’ll have to climb mountains, sneak around and be smart as you navigate the hostile world of Middle-Earth.
7. Dead Island 2
The long-awaited sequel to Dead Island is finally arriving this year, giving you a new opportunity to battle the undead in a tropical location. From what we’ve heard, all the mainstays of the series are back AKA a plethora of loot, destruction and everything you could want from a zombie-slaying title.
8. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
The Justice League has been brainwashed by an uber villain and it’s down to you, a group of eclectic criminals, to bring them down. This open world caper in the DC universe is already looking like it will help you kill time for more than just a few weekends.
