Far Cry 5 – The next instalment in the Far Cry series may be leaving the exotic paradise settings behind and moving closer to home but that doesn’t mean the insane action and charismatic characters are too. This time, you’ll be involved in the story of a radical cult in Montana who seem to invoke violence wherever they go. Of course, you’ll have a hand in that violence as you blow things up and fire guns till your heart’s content. 2018
Monster Hunter World – Monster Hunter: World is the first instalment of the popular action series to come to Western current-gen consoles. While the huge creatures are of course the focus, World puts a huge emphasis on the beautiful open-world and integrated online play. If you’re not sure about it, you’ll be able to take part in beta testing before its release in January 2018.
Anthem – After the underwhelming reaction to Mass Effect: Andromeda, Bioware are turning their attention to something more ambitious. Following in the footsteps of Destiny and its sequel, Anthem will have an online focus and a huge world. We haven’t seen much from it other than some Iron Man like characters, and delay to 2019 wouldn’t be a surprise, but it is exciting nonetheless.
Red Dead Redemption 2 – Rockstar’s long awaited Red Dead Redemption sequel was originally scheduled for a release in 2017 but has been pushed back to early 2018. We haven’t seen much from the game but if anyone can be trusted to make a quality open-world game, it is Rockstar. The question that remains, however, is how they plan to transfer the success of GTA Online to their next game.
Sea of Thieves – One of the main threats to pirates is other pirates and, in Sea of Thieves, another player controller pirate could be around any corner or over any wave. Whether you and your crew plan to plunder unexplored islands or fight for loot on the high seas, other players will be an obstacle in the game’s shared world. Created by Rare, Sea of Thieves is beautiful and could be one of Xbox’s best console exclusives.
Days Gone – Sony Bend hasn’t released a game since Uncharted: Golden Abyss on PlayStation Vita but they are finally returning with Days Gone, an open world survival game. The trailers have shown protagonist Deacon St. John taking on impressively huge hoards of zombies. Hopefully it’ll stand out in the mass of PlayStation 4 exclusive open-world games, especially considering the obvious similarities to The Last of Us Part II.
Spider-Man – The idea of a high quality open-world Spider-Man game has always been an exciting one. The movement and combat style that embody the iconic character will undoubtedly be a joy to interact with. The PlayStation 2 games were fun but, due to the complicated rights issues, we’ve had nothing to shout about since. Considering Insomniac’s pedigree, Spider-Man PS4 should be a huge swing forward.
State of Decay 2 – Another game that was delayed to 2018 is State of Decay 2. As was the case with the first game, the aim is to do what you can to survive in a world overrun by zombies alongside some companions. It has been promised that the sequel will be bigger, deeper, and more beautiful than the original.
God of War – God of War has always been an action packed series starring a generally unlikable protagonist. With 2018’s reboot, the developers have taken on board what gamers disliked and are producing a far more thoughtful title. Kratos cares for his son and attempts to teach his in a scaled back, yet far more detailed, world, all with significantly less shouting. It is due for release in the first half of 2018.
A Way Out – The next game in the EA Originals program, A Way Out, has a novel concept. It is an action-adventure game with a detailed story but it is entirely designed to be played co-operatively. With you and a friend each taking control of one of the protagonists, you work your way through the entire game, helping each other along the way. The best part is that only one player has to own the game if you want to play online. It will release on March 23, 2018.
Detroit: Become Human – David Cage and Quantic Dream are known for their complex, narrative driven experiences and Detroit seems to be no different. Playing as a selection of characters over the course of the game, you’re plunged into tricky situations, each with a variety of choices and consequences. Every moment is intense, the world is interesting, and it looks beautiful. It should release in the first half of 2018.
Kingdom Hearts 3 – Kingdom Hearts 3 is one of the most anticipated games of 2018, but it is also the one we’ve been waiting the longest for. Exploring the worlds of Disney classics, including Toy Story, Kingdom Hearts 3 will undoubtedly fill players with a sense of child-like wonder. The famous settings, paired with the Final Fantasy gameplay with surely make for a wonderful adventure. Let’s just hope that it does actually release in 2018.
Dragon Ball FighterZ = Highly anticipated by both fighting game fans and Dragon Ball Z fans, Dragon Ball FighterZ looks to be one of the most lovingly crafted games in the series. Revealed at E3 earlier this year, it will follow a new story and the visuals are stunning. It will undoubtedly be huge when it released on Jan. 26.
Crackdown 3 – Crackdown 3 has been delayed many times and it was due to be a launch title for the Xbox One X in November of this year before another delay. As a super-powered agent, you can wreak havoc in the game’s destructible sandbox world. The art-style is unique and the multiplayer options are intriguing. Hopefully we’ll be able to cause some mayhem on later in 2018.
Ni No Kuni 2 – It may have recently been delayed till March. 23 but Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is still hotly anticipated. It promises to offer even more than the lovable original, featuring the interesting cast, beautiful world and engaging combat system that made it so great.
Far Cry 5
Monster Hunter: World
Anthem
Red Dead Redemption 2
Sea of Thieves
Days Gone
Spider-Man
State of Decay 2
God of War
A Way Out
Detroit: Become Human
Kingdom Hearts III
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Crackdown 3
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
About the author
Tom Hopkins
A Film and English graduate from London who plays far too much FIFA. Playing Games since 1999. Favorite Genres: Third-Person Action, Racing, and Narrative-Driven.