By: Max Cannon
2017 was a big deal in the world of video games. A new Nintendo console launched with some amazing games, PlayStation VR began to really take shape, and the Xbox One X gave consoles more power than they know what to do with. And while last year gave us a lot to love, 2018 seems poised to keep the hype train rolling by letting some big releases finally see the light of day. Here are our 3 most anticipated games of 2018.
Can anything that 2018 offers top our 2017 game of the year?Courtesy of Nintendo
3. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Though it doesn't have the brand recognition of a game like Halo or Gears of War, I'd argue that Ori and the Blind Forest could be the best exclusive on the Xbox One. A beautiful side-scrolling platformer with a story that tugs at the heart-strings, Ori's first outing was a welcome surprise that could make the most die-hard of PlayStation fans jealous. So when a sequel was announced during 2017's E3 conference, it definitely caught our attention.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps - E3 2017 - Teaser Trailer
Before you get as excited as we are, Ori 2 isn't confirmed for a 2018 release, but taking a look at the above trailer shows a good chunk of work has been done on the new game and I'd be willing to wager that we'd see the title release later in the year. There's not a ton of story details to take from this video but it's clear that the emotional tone is still very much intact. And if the game doesn't come out, there's nothing wrong with revisiting the original game which is one of our favorite 2D platformers.
This new Ori game looks to recapture the emotion of the original.Courtesy of Microsoft
2. Marvel's Spider-Man
While there have a been dozens of Spider-Man games throughout the years, this is the first time that Marvel has shown a clear commitment to doing things right. Developed by Insomniac Games, the team behind Ratchet and Clank and Sunset Overdrive, Spider-Man tells a story of the wall-crawler that's totally separate from any sort of cinematic universe. Giving emphasis to Spider-Man as well as Peter Parker, this PlayStation 4 exclusive seems to be hitting all the right notes based on the minimal footage we've seen from the new game.
Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4) 2017 E3 Gameplay
Since the days of Spider-Man 2 back in the early 2000's, fans have come to expect the best Spider-Man games to nail traversal. Like the best games starring the wall-crawler, Marvel's Spider-Man offers up some web-swinging with webbing that actually attaches to nearby buildings. If this game can match Spider-Man's moveset with the mobility of Insomniac's Xbox exclusive Sunset Overdrive, we may have a new addition to our list of best superhero games. And come on, just take a look above at this beauty in action.
Hopefully Spider-Man plays as well as it looks.Courtesy of Insomniac Games
1. Metroid Prime 4
Alright, like Ori, this game isn't confirmed for a 2018 release date but Nintendo's insistence that they'll have as many first party games in 2018 as they did in 2017 suggests some pretty heavy hitters. What we saw during E3 2017's Nintendo Spotlight gave gamers little more than some confirmation that the game existed but the pedigree of the Metroid series is enough to get people excited. In fact, other than some musical cues in the announcement video, the image below is literally the only thing we've seen of the upcoming game.
Few games could generate such hype with just a title.Courtesy of Nintendo
The original Metroid Prime trilogy is widely considered to be one of the greatest first-person shooters of all time, and while the trilogy's original creators over a Retro Studios aren't behind the new game, Smash Bros 4 developer Bandai Namco is rumored to be the team making the new game -- though that isn't confirmed. If Nintendo ensures the same quality of Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild will carry over to Metroid Prime 4 then we'll have another solid game of the year contender, fingers crossed it actually does release in 2018.
2017's remake of Metroid 2 was just to whet our appetite for Prime's return. Courtesy of Nintendo
Have Your Say!
These are just some of 2018's most exciting (potential) releases but which games are you excited for? Hop into the comments and share your thoughts on what's to come this year!
