With most of the major releases of Quarter 1 already released, or close to hitting their launch date; 2016 has been a promising start to the new year of gaming. With releases such as Resident Evil Origins, or Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth we have yet to even scratch the surface of what is to come this year! Here are 15 video games that make 2016 look like a promising year in Gaming Culture!

15. Mighty Number 9 – (Multi-Platforms)

With gaming culture reaching an age of spiritual successors to many older gamers nostalgic classics, this game is surely going to be a promising spiritual successor. Mighty Number Nine is a platforming, shooter and is considered the spiritual successor to Capcom’s Mega Man franchise. With a heavy emphasis on 2D platforming, combined with 2D & 3D artwork and animation. Players control a robot named Beck, who is able to run, jump, and shoot projectiles at enemies he encounters. Furthermore, the player will be able to acquire both weapons and abilities from enemies they defeat. The game will feature an intro level followed by the eight main stages, which are freely chosen in any order by the player.

14. Dead Island 2 – (Multi-Platforms)

A sequel to the 2011 eighth generation video game, Dead Island and the third major installment in the Dead Island series. Dead Island 2‘s game’s main storyline is set several months after the events of Dead Island and Escape Dead Island. Unlike its predecessors, which took place on islands as the titles state, Dead Island 2 takes place in locations in California and will feature new mechanics and new features to the gameplay.

13. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands – (Multi-Platforms)

The tenth installment in the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon franchise will be the first Ghost Recon game to feature an open world environment. Players play as a member of the Ghosts, a fictional elite team in the United States Army. The game will not be set in a futuristic setting unlike its predecessors like Advanced Warfighter or Future Soldier. Instead, the game is set in modern day, similar to the original Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon

12. Gears of War IV – (Xbox One) 

While not much is known on this third-person Xbox One exclusive shooter, what is certain is that rights of the franchise now belong to Epic Games, and that the newest installment in the game will be developed by The Coalition as a strict Xbox One launch, (sorry Xbox 360 fans.) Rod Fergusson, former Director of Production at Epic Games on the Gears of War franchise, joined Microsoft and plays a key studio leadership role at The Coalition on the development of the franchise going forward. Hopefully within the next few months more light shall be shed on this game!

11. Kingdom Hearts II.8 Final Chapter Prologue – (PS4)

Fan of the Kingdom Hearts series have been patiently waiting for Kingdom Hearts 3. With no main entries being released on the PlayStation 3, and Kingdom Hearts 3 not expected to come out until 2017 at the earliest; fans can expect something this year from Square Enix that isn’t a Final Fantasy game. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue includes a high-definition remake of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, which was first released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2012, as well as two new additions of content to the Kingdom Hearts series. The first, Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, which tells a new tale of the Foretellers in HD cinema, while Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep–A Fragmentary Passage, is an all new game that takes place after the events of Birth by Sleep from the perspective of Aqua.

10. Mass Effect Andromeda – (Multi-Platforms)

Mass Effect Andromeda is the next main installment in the Mass Effect franchise and will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One owners. Announced at E3 this year, this fourth installment will allow players to play as either a female or male human character; with little other information being released at this point in time. Mass Effect Andromeda is rumored to quadruple the size of the Galaxy map from its predecessor as well as be set years after the original Mass Effect trilogy. While no set release date is yet confirmed, the game is to be released at some point during Q4 of 2016.
9. Ratchet and Clank – (PS4)

A reboot to the popular platformer series of the same name, the upcoming platformer reboot is set to be a re-imagining of the original game, and will also be based on the upcoming film adaption. It will have a variety of gameplay elements from different entries in the series, with features like strafing and the inclusion of weapons that came after the first game. It also features brand new weapons! Players who pre-order the game will receive access to an additional weapon, that made its debut in the second installment, the Bouncer. Hopefully, more Sony exclusive platformers like Jak and Daxter, or Crash Bandicoot will also see a reboot in the near future as well.

8. Star Fox Zero – (Wii U)

Star Fox Zero is the sixth installment in the popular Star Fox franchise. After seeing no game release on the Wii (not including any re-releases of previous installments on the virtual console) with the last home console game being Star Fox Assault. Nintendo Producer Miyamoto has stated that Star Fox Zero is neither a prequel nor a direct remake to the original Star Fox game, which was released on the SNES in 1993. The game is set to return the traditional gameplay of earlier titles and the game will be controlled using the Wii U gamepad. Like the Ratchet and Clank reboot Star Fox Zero was set to be released in 2015 but was ultimately pushed back to 2016 to allow more development time and is set to be released in late April.

7. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst – (Multi-Platforms)

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is a reboot to the 2008 third-person platformer, Mirror’s Edge. Catalyst is set to tell the origins of the main protagonist, Faith as she tries to overthrow the totalitarian government in the futuristic city of Glass. This game is set to be in the first-person perspective and is set to be released on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 26, 2016.

6. The Legend of Zelda HD – (Wii U)

The Legend of Zelda HD is the nineteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series. The game is set to feature an open world with multiple ways for gamers to enjoy their own experience of the game and more freedom than in previous installments in the series. It has been rumored that this title will have the biggest gaming world out of all of its predecessors. While no firm release date has been announced, Nintendo of America president has stated the game will be released sometime next year. Until then, I will be gaming on my 3DS to the remake of Ocarina of Time and the newest installment, Tri Force Heroes.

5. Quantum Break – (Xbox One)

Quantum Break is an upcoming third-person action-adventure game being exclusively released on the Xbox One. The players are set to control Jack Joyce, one of the two main protagonists with the power to manipulate time. The game’s teaser trailer was announced in 2013 during the same time as the reveal of the Xbox One, while the game has been stuck in development hell and the release date being pushed back numerous times, fans can expect to see this game released on April 6, 2016. Hopefully this game is great and can execute time traveling perfectly because remember what happened last time a Xbox exclusive game tried to use time travel? It didn’t work out too well..

4. Pokken Tournament – (Wii U)

Do you like Pokemon? Do you like fighting games? Do you own a Wii U or are planning on purchasing one in the near future? Yes? Well, I have the perfect game to suggest to you, Pokken Tournament! This fighting game will allow you to fight with you favorite Pokemon in a Tekken inspired concept, and will implement game controller mechanics rather than the traditional arcade style fighting game mechanics. Pokken Tournament is set to be released worldwide for the Wii U during the second quarter of 2016.

3. Dragon Quest VII & VII – (3DS)

RPG fans and 3DS owners prepare yourselves for more Dragon Quest games! Two of the most popular entries in the Dragon Quest franchise Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past and Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King will set to receive enhanced remakes from their previous releases and will be available to 3DS owners at their leisure. While both games have been released on the 3DS in Japan already, North American retailers will be selling the game sometime in 2016.

2. Allison Road – (Multi-Platforms)

Any of you reading this fallen victim to the disappointment of Konami canceling Silent Hills? I feel your pain, however, there is some hope to help us glue the pieces to our broken hearts. Allison Road is a first-person survival horror game currently in development by British developer, Lilith Ltd. The gameplay to Allison Road has said to be the inspiration to the now canceled Silent Hills and has been considered a spiritual successor to the playable teaser. Originally set to be released on the PC, Allison Road has now been confirmed to be a multi-platform release available on the PS4, Xbox One, Mac and PC. No official date has been announced but keep your eyes out next year and if you haven’t already you should go check out the 13-minute video on YouTube!

1. Uncharted IV: A Theif’s End – (PS4)

A sequel to the 2011 game Uncharted III: Drake’s Deception, A Thief’s End is the fourth and final installment in the Uncharted franchise and is set to be the last game featuring the popular Sony character, Nathan Drake as well as the final game developed in the franchise by Naughty Dog. The game is set to take place 3 years after the events of Drake’s Deception. Naughty Dog outlined the game’s plot as “his (Drake’s) greatest adventure yet and will test his physical limits, his resolve, and ultimately, what he’s willing to sacrifice to save the ones he loves”. Uncharted IV was set to be released on March 18, 2016 for PlayStation 4 owners but due to a delay the game has since been pushed back a third time for a April 26th, 2016 release!

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