The 11 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2016
The next title in Eidos & Square Enix’s wildly popular cyberpunk series, “Mankind Divided” follows protagonist Adam Jensen as he battles through a black-and-orange world where cybernetic enhancements are de rigeur and shadowy corporations control the populace.
The Mass Effect trilogy ended on a bittersweet note in 2012, with fans of the series widely criticizing the cop-out conclusion to the third game. Now, EA Games and BioWare are bringing back the rich Mass Effect universe in “Andromeda.” Not much has been revealed about the plot, and no word is out as to whether we’ll see any sign of Captain Shepard, but we can dream.
People have been clamoring for a sequel to the first-person parkour game from 2007 for a long time, and this year they might finally get their wish. Playing a “courier,” the player runs, jumps and climbs across a dystopian cityscape. With advancements in virtual reality technologies like the Oculus Rift, this new iteration could be really, really interesting.
This sci-fi exploration game made a huge splash at E3 in 2014 as critics and gamers alike were stunned by the game’s sheer scope. The universe is procedurally generated, with over 18 quintillion different unique planets for players to discover and explore.
The guys behind “World of Warcraft,” “Diablo,” and “Starcraft” are at it again, this time with what they hope is an all new multiplayer sensation. A squad-based first-person-shooter set in a near-future version of Earth, “Overwatch” will require teams to work together to win in a manner that is similar to games like “League of Legends” or “Dota 2.”
A third-person sci-fi adventure about a man unstuck in time, “Quantum Break” comes from Remedy Entertainment, the Finnish company behind lauded narrative-based games like “Max Payne” and “Alan Wake.” And they’ve pulled out all the stops on narrative this time — the game is split into segments, and each segment is accompanied by an episode of a digital TV show. In addition, the cast list boasts a significant amount of notable film and TV stars.
Hadouken! Capcom’s perennial series and pro-gaming favorite is back with its first new iteration (that isn’t an expansion or enhancement on “Street Fighter IV”) since 2008. “Street Fighter V” boasts several new characters and new mechanics, which are sure to shake up the competitive scene.
Post-apocalypse America is a hot topic these days. “Tom Clancy’s The Division” has been rumored and teased since before the release of the PS4, and it looks like it’s finally going to see a release this year. The game uses Ubisoft’s new, high-tech Snowdrop graphics engine, and also comes with a companion app for tablet users.
Indie superstar developer Jonathan Blow gets a lot of stick, most of it centered around his presumed ego, but his 2008 game “Braid” really was one of the main catalysts that reignited the indie gaming industry. In “The Witness,” a PS4 exclusive, the player explores a deserted island, solving a non-linear series of mazes and puzzles.
Not too much has been revealed on the plot yet. Thankfully, much like “Assassin’s Creed” or the “Call of Duty” games, “Uncharted” is one of those franchises where you just know what you’re getting. Playing as the brash, wisecracking treasure hunter Nathan Drake, you’ll presumably evade traps, solve puzzles in tombs and escape from explosions in deserted exotic locales. They’re always a fun, slickly produced romp.
I’m a sucker for side-scrolling games with gimmicks, and “Cuphead” fits that bill. Styled after 1930’s cartoons like Betty Boop and pre-war Disney animations, the artwork of the game is stunning, even if the gameplay looks a little generic.