Hideo Kojima’s next chapter in the landmark espionage series is stylish, confusing, and tactical–everything we want in a MGS game.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Kojima Productions
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Tactical Espionage, Stealth, Action
The Phantom Pain is the bigger half of Ground Zeroes, and represents a dual entry within Hideo Kojima’s renown winding stealth action series.
Chronicling the bloody (and rather confusing) story arc of Venom Snake (aka Big Boss), MGSV continues the traditional stealth-based gameplay the series is best known for and adds in open-world environments.
With these environments, the game takes a truly epic scale that adds new depth to the missions, including real-time weather interactions and a stunning real-time day-to-night cycle that changes gameplay quite a bit.
During his missions Snake will have the advantage of traversing on horseback as well as in vehicles, and he can call upon the aid of DD, a specially trained wolf. It’s been revealed that companions like DD will be more effective on the field the stronger the bond the player forms with them.
A new tactical Seiko watch adds even more depth to the strategic gameplay, allowing gamers to track enemy positions, and provides a welcomed addition to the standard weapons and tools of Snake’s trade.
Enemies are also much more dynamic while on field missions. Additionally enemies will learn from player strategies and adapt to their styles; repeated headshot kills will lead to enemies adapting by wearing protective helmets to reduce headshot efficiency.
Also Metal Gear Solid V does away with linear missions. Hideo Kojima affirms that players can tackle the game’s levels in any order and “still understand the encompassing mission at the end”.
Despite the recent fallout between publisher Konami and MGS creator Hideo Kojima, gamers are still eagerly anticipating trying out The Phantom Pain for themselves.
Arkham Knight is the conclusion of Rocksteady’s original Batman saga, and the studio is looking to go out with a bang.
6. Batman: Arkham Knight
Release Date: June 23, 2015
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Genre: Open-World Action, Brawler
Batman: Arkham Knight is the final chapter of Rocksteady’s definitive “Arkham” saga that chronicles the caped crusader’s rise and fall.
This time around the dark knight is at the pinnacle of his crime-destroying prowess, and players will enjoy major benefits from this peak performance. Major staple gadgets like the batarang and grapnel gun return, and Batman can now glide across the open-world cityscape using his cape.
Blending action-oriented beat-em-up mechanics with RPG-style progression, Arkham Knight expands upon the combo-style setup from the previous games while streamlining and tightening various mechanics along the way.
Combat has been refined to reflect Batman’s upgraded state, and gamers can now counter-attack and disarm baddies wielding powerful weapons and guns.
One of the biggest additions is the Batmobile, which makes an appearance as a fully-operable vehicle. The infamous car can drive up buildings, perform stunt jumps, high-speed boosts and even rotate for maximum maneuverability within the streets of Gotham.
The storyline is your standard fare that sees Batman tackle a horde of baddies who have unleashed total chaos on Gotham. This time around the Scarecrow is orchestrating things, with nefarious villains like Poison Ivy, The Riddler, and Two-Face wreaking havoc and seeking Bruce Wayne’s demise.
All in all Batman: Arkham Knight looks like a strong finisher for the series, providing a cinematic-like style with the beat-em-up mechanics that players known and love.
7. Tekken 7
Release Date: TBA
Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
Developer: Bandai Namco Games
Platform: PS4
Genre: Arcade Fighter
Tekken sees its triumphant return to the ring this year with Tekken 7, the stylish new arcade fighter that leaves its mark on the genre.
Tekken 7 will have a proper storyline too, and promises to once and for all end the blood feud father-and-son rivalry between Heihachi and Kazuya. The two will square off in an epic conclusive battle of destructive forces, but not before a new Tekken tournament is held and we get to delve deep into Kazuya’s origin story.
The game introduces several new characters including Lucky Chloe, Claudio, Shaheen, Katarina and Kazuya’s Oni-infused mother Kazumi, who will be the game’s end-level boss.
As a longtime Tekken fan I can’t wait to jump in and see the new moves added to my favorite characters and take part in some destructive button-mashing mayhem.
8. Mortal Kombat X
Release Date: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: NetherRealm Studios
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Genre: Fighter
Mortal Kombat X is the true definitive MK fighter that’s built around the fidelity and performance of current-gen consoles.
The sheer level of responsiveness and fluidity that goes into each and every animation attests to the near-master level of understanding Netherrealm has of the genre itself. It’s been one of the most anticipated and talked about games, and since it releases very soon, the hype is only compounding.
The real magic of MKX isn’t just the dynamic arcade-style fighting mechanics, but sheer volume of characters the game offers. The developers have been very supportive in their addition of hotly requested characters, and we’ve seen many alterations to the roster over the recent months.
Apart from a number of new game modes, one of the major additions is that every character now has three variations that provide different movesets and looks. The variations not only change how the fighter appears but also mixes up their attacks, creating unique tactical advantage.
Assassin’s Creed: Victory will take place in 19th century Victorian London, which offers a slew of possibilities.
9. Assassin’s Creed: Victory
Release Date: TBA (late 2015)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Action, Stealth
Not much is yet known about Assassin’s Creed: Victory other than it’ll take place in Victorian London, it’s Ubisoft’s next Assassin’s Creed game, and that it’s slated to release sometime this year.
Off the heels of the disastrous AC: Unity launch, Ubisoft will once again get an opportunity to redeem itself and show it’s learned from its mistakes with a brand new release.
The 19th century is rife with historical possibilities, with the city of London becoming the center of the civilized world as an established political influence that spread across the globe.
We’ll likely get to see major events like the Great Exhibition of 1851 showcased in game form, as well as key figures as Queen Victoria herself–along with nefarious baddies like Jack the Ripper and the legendary Spring-Heeled Jack.
Details are less than scarce right now, and Ubisoft has kept tight-lipped on the game so far, but we know that Assassin’s Creed: Victory is coming, and gamers are hyped for the chance to explore 19th century Victorian London in an open-world game.
Dead Island 2 is all gruesome chaos in the sun, mixing the distinct open-world exploration with survival elements.
10. Dead Island 2
Release Date: Q2 2015
Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: Yager Development
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre: Survival Horror
Yager’s Dead Island 2 looks to be a delightfully fun macabre splatterfest set in the sunny Hollywood hills, putting emphasis on shameless gore rather than survival-style drama.
With a massive open world that encompasses three different areas–San Franscisco, Los Angeles, and another area on the California coastline–gamers will have a much bigger playing field to explore.
Combat is pretty much as it was, but from what we’ve seen of the alpha footage Dead Island 2 looks much more ferocious in terms of bloody chaos, avoiding the facade that it’s anything but a gruesome zombie bloodbath.
The classes are varying, with a ex-fireman and an assassin-like female leading the pack, and like the other Dead Island games, players can craft a huge arsenal of creative weapons. Mixing and matching key components to make wacky death-dealing tools of destruction has always been a hallmark of the series, and this time around things get truly outrageous.
Yager hasn’t pinpointed a release date for their colorful and vibrant zombie survival sim, and it’s believed Dead Island 2 could come as soon as Q2 2015.
