17 Most Anticipated Games of 2016

2015 has been an incredible year for gaming, but as we try and wrap-up our gaming backlogs for the year, we’re already taking a look at what 2016 has in store for us, because there’s just so many damn exciting games heading our way:

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Release date: 23 August 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Deus Ex: Human Revolution was a breakout hit in 2011, mixing up the monotony of first-person shooters and introducing some clever gameplay mechanics to the world of Deus Ex. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided sees the same team of creators emboldened by their success and working on an even grander scale, continuing the role-playing story of the consequences of human augmentation with technology.

Far Cry Primal

Release date: 23 February 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Most could have predicted a new Far Cry would be released in 2016, but nobody could have seen the game’s concept or its imminent release date coming. Primal takes the series back to the Stone Age – stripping away the automatic weapons and focusing on the player’s relationship with the world around them. Sabre-tooth tigers, woolly mammoths, and other frightening Jurassic creatures will be hunting you down, but, there’s a twist: you’ll be able to control them too.

Tom Clancy’s The Division

Release date: 8 March 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Ubisoft Massive’s ambitious, persistent online shooter is an enormous undertaking. We’ve seen developer walkthroughs, but now we want to get our hands on the game to see its post-apocalyptic open-world New York, which has been ravaged by a deadly outbreak.

The Division’s massive world will also be greatly utilised, as you can team up with other Division players across the map via online play. Players can customise their character, backpack and level up weapons, gear, and skills. The game also features a dynamic, time based weather system in the winter-swept NY, which players can use for strategic advantage.

Hitman

Release date: 11 March 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

It was somewhat known that another Hitman game was in the works, and it’s finally getting a release in 2016. Of course, the bald-headed barcoded assassin is back, and we’re sure he’s going to be thrown into some pretty complex murderous conundrums, with massive open environments filled with possibilities and the ability for players to choose their approach. It looks absolutely gorgeous too, as is par for the course with this franchise.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Release date: 10 May 2016 (PS4)

The Uncharted series needs little to no introduction at this point. After three best-selling games and numerous Game of the Year awards, the franchise is set to get its fourth long-awaited instalment. There’s not too many details at this point, but our favourite treasure hunter looks to be embarking on his most ambitious and dangerous adventure yet, full of steep cliffs to climb, epic shootouts to partake in and a lot of massive explosions to survive. The gameplay demos have already given us a glimpse of the incredible level of detail and action we’ve come to expect from the series.

Quantum Break

Release date: 5 April 2016 (Xbox One)

Quantum Break, which comes from the makers of Max Payne and Alan Wake, is a third-person shooter that’s being made alongside a live-action television series.

The game follows a time travel experiment that has gone wrong. The event not only causes time to start breaking down, but also grants the three main characters – Jack Joyce, Beth Wilder, and Paul Serene – the ability to manipulate time. For example, Serene, the main antagonist, can see into the future to decide which choices to make in the present; while Joyce, one of the two protagonists, can stop time. The two are pursued by Monarch Solutions, a corporation founded by Serene. It’s one of the most interesting-looking games and we can’t wait to see more.

Dark Souls III

Release date: 12 April 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

One year on from critically-adored PS4 exclusive Bloodborne – which owed a great deal to the Souls series of course – the epitome of controller-smashing RPGs returns for a third time, and for the first time developed specifically for current gen technology. Having learned a few things from Bloodborne, director Hidetaka Miyazaki may be about to drop the best Souls game to date.

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst

Release date: 9 June 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

It’s always nice to see a cult classic get a second chance in the spotlight. The original Mirror’s Edge delivered the critically-praised and novel concept of a first-person parkour game, and those who played it generally loved it. Simply known as Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, the new game sees the return of the heroine Faith and her free-running antics. In the pre-alpha gameplay footage we’ve seen so far, the Catalyst is looking fluid, fast, and absolutely gorgeous, running on the Frostbite 3 engine (Battlefield 4).

Ratchet & Clank

Release date: Q1/Q2 2016 (PS4)

Hilariously described as “the game based on the movie based on the game”, the upcoming Ratchet & Clank game is not a remake, but rather a re-imagining of the original game’s story, which will also be showcased in the upcoming animated feature film of the same name.

Developer Insomniac is behind the scenes once again, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The iconic furry lombax and his robot pal’s intergalactic adventure will see a massive graphical overhaul, new locations, new story twists and, of course, some insane new weapons.

No Man’s Sky

Release date: June 2016 (PS4, PC)

What we haven’t had in a while is an intriguing-looking space exploration title. In No Man’s Sky, you can explore near-infinite worlds on your journey to the center of the universe, mapping out planets as you go. The game is massively multiplayer in a sense, and any world you discover will proudly display your tag. No Man’s Sky is making us curious, as there’s still a lot to be discovered.

Dead Island 2

Release date: 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Deep Silver and Spec-Ops: The Line developer Yager are teaming up for a brand new take on the Dead Island series. We do know it’s set in Los Angeles this time around, and besides eight-player cooperative zombie killing action, that’s all we know. We need to see more of this shambling survival adventure.

Doom

Release date: Q1/Q2 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Bethesda got things off with a bang with their initial reveal of Doom, giving us a look at id Software’s highly-anticipated reboot, which is gory, loud, brutal and gorgeous – exactly what we’ve been hoping for. Doom maintains so much of what we know and love about the franchise: grimy metal corridors, all manner of hellish demons eager to hasten your demise, and an arsenal of firearms and other fun weapons to let you make quick work of them. The game also features execution moves known as Glory Kills, such as ripping demons’ jaws off, breaking limbs and sawing them in half. It’s all pretty spectacular in motion.

Gears of War 4

Release date: Q4 2016 (Xbox One)

It was an inevitability that another Gears of War would hit the market, and 2016 will see Gears 4 arrive on Xbox One. The new entry is in development at Black Tusk Studios (who now go as The Coalition) following Microsoft’s purchase of the third-person franchise from Epic Games. The game appears to be taking a darker, more sombre tone with a heavy influence on horror, and will once again be a co-op affair, allowing players to take control of two new soldiers, JD and an unnamed female soldier, as they battle against a new foe unlike anything seen before. Thankfully, there’s a lot of firepower, chainsaws and attiude to go around.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Release date: 2016 (PS4)

Killzone studio Guerrilla Games didn’t unveil a new entry into its gritty shooter franchise at E3 2015, but instead showcased a new game, Horizon: Zero Dawn. The game is a third-person action adventure game that is gorgeous to look at and features great hunting, stealth and combat mechanics. However, there are really only two words you need to know: Robot dinosaurs.

Mafia III

Release date: 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

The first two Mafia games played up to what people expect of that word. Italian families, fedoras, tommy guns, the lot. Mafia 3 is a stark contrast – set in the Big Easy in 1968 with a black protagonist looking for somewhere to belong following a stint in the Vietnam War. When Lincoln Clay arrives in New Orleans he falls in with ‘The Black Mob’ who are soon wiped out by the Italian Mob – pushing Clay to set up his own crime organisation and eventually take his revenge. Expect some intense third-person shootouts, glorious car chases, and more double-crossing than a Spanish soap-opera.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Release date: Q4 2016 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

Mass Effect was the best new IP of last generation. The first trilogy concluded in an unsatisfactory way (for many that will be an understatement), but that shouldn’t take away from the many unforgettable moments it provided across each instalment and the relationships players built for lead character Shepherd.

Andromeda will focus on a new protagonist, believed to be called Ryder, created and shaped by the player. Fans believe the game will focus on the exploration of the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Wild West theme of the trailers certainly supports this theory. A more exploration based Mass Effect sounds perfect for us. We can’t wait to return to Bioware’s universe again.

The Legend of Zelda

Release date: 2016 (Wii U)

We’ve barely seen a thing from the new Legend of Zelda despite it first being revealed more than a year ago. A reveal trailer, a little bit of gameplay and a few seconds of Link atop his faithful steed Epona – that’s it. What we know is that Nintendo is putting together a truly massive open world, one bigger than in any previous Zelda title – and that it will offer players a certain level of freedom.

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