Honorable Mentions:
Kingdom Hearts III
Being a person with childhood nostalgia regarding Disney movies, and Final Fantasy as my favorite gaming franchise, this entry should be higher on my list. It’s not, because I have to play 1 and 2 first; I don’t want to be disappointed with 3 for not having the Disney scenarios of my favorite films.
The Wolf Among Us: Season 2
The first game was a nice surprise, like Tales from the Borderlands. And I’m also surprised to see myself hyped about a Telltale game. Maybe, despite all the jank, they end up having a nice portfolio.
Banner Saga 3
I really liked 1 and 2. It’s not higher on the list because it will probably be a known quantity. Still, these are very strong games. Good turn-base combat and greater story.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Late 2018
Contrary to Shenmue III, a project I backed on Kickstarter, Igarashi’s team seems to be working really well and what they’ve shown so far looks promising, bearing in mind the legacy it has to carry.
Lost Sphear
January 23
Tokyo RPG Factory should be supported because they are proving that some genres and artstyles are timeless. When we see studios shutting down due to the burden of asset-costing and AAA-demand, let us look at this bet by Square Enix and communicate with our wallets that gaming should not be focused on a bells-and-whistles race.
ONRUSH
June 5
Speaking of racing, it’s my least favorite genre. Still, it doesn’t mean I can’t find a space for it when games look as cool as this one.
Spider-Man & Dragon Ball FighterZ
I decided to label these two together because they are in that tricky category where you don’t really care for what they are showing, but your eyes aren’t able to not respect the show.
Code Vein
To be honest, I’m not really digging what I’m seeing here. At the same time, Souls games have become one of my favorite genres, and Nioh proved the homage can be done right. I will maintain the optimism.
Skull & Bones
Another one based on wishful thinking. So, Black Flag is the best Assassin’s Creed game since Brotherhood, and that boat tech was a delight. Why can’t they make another interesting story-driven campaign with it? Why does it have to be multiplayer? Sigh…
Shenmue III
Late 2018
Well, I pre-ordered this ugly-looking game.
Top 10 Most Anticipated:
10. Soulcalibur VI
Bandai Namco has been diluting this brand so hard it is difficult to trust them again. Then, Tekken 7 happened.
9. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
This series would be awesome on its own if it only had the amazingly recreated planes chasing each other. Add to it a completely bonkers story and layered lore, and you will be smiling from beginning to end.
8. Dynasty Warriors 9
February 13
Since we should all give up on a new entry of this series going back to the fighting game roots of DW1, at least let us be happy for seeing some meaningful revamps on a formula that, despite its commercial success, clearly needed some changes.
Open-world has been the evident route for some years and, finally, they are implementing it.
Hopefully it gives a new energy this badly harnessed franchise needs. Wuxia and Ancient China are immensely interesting settings, and I have been very disappointed that movies do them more justice than games.
I have high hopes for DW9 but, if it sucks, there is a new generation of Chinese developers that might pick up the mantle and deliver.
7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
February 13
A simulation of Medieval Times where, by being a son of a blacksmith, it’s expected that you don’t know how to read and, alongside fighting, political intrigue and other staples of the genre, you have to learn how to read?! I’m in. Well, I’ve been in since the first pitch. But, I’M IN.
One note: I feel for the people working on this game, because it will be heavily compared to The Witcher 3, for several reasons.
6. Valkyria Chronicles 4
October 16
My only question here is if I should play the original’s remaster beforehand. I am completely sold on the premise and gameplay loop.
The praises I’ve heard, throughout the years, about how the original dealt with the complex theme of War, always left me very intrigued.
Also, I have a soft spot for Tactical games.
5. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
March 23
Did not own a PS3 last generation, but I noticed the original. How could I not: JRPG + Studio Ghibli!
I know I am already late because Ghibli is not involved directly in the sequel. Still, some important names remain and, more importantly, I also noticed that some doubts I had with the gameplay of the first have been addressed.
4. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
September 4
Yup, another JRPG with a notorious artstyle oozing from it – Akira Toriyama’s.
I don’t know why this series remains in my bucket list. Those words are right up my alley. Can’t wait.
3. Monster Hunter: World
January 26
Another series I never touched.
It seemed cool in its first iteration on PS2, but for one reason or another I ended up not playing it.
Years have passed, and it has become one of the biggest gaming franchises off all-time, particularly in Japan.
I need to know. Also, it seems like this entry was made having in mind new-comers like me, without losing the secret sauce that made it so successful.
I hope it’s a rewarding series for single-player gamers like me, even though I know it has some focus on co-op play. I am the type that plays Souls games offline.
2. God of War
April 20
I really don’t know why I never played a God of War game.
I love 3rd person action games. I love Greek Mythology. And those games were critically acclaimed.
Well, I have a chance now. I know the setting and style of this “reboot” are slightly different, but I’m in. I happen to also really like Norse Mythology, and the design inspiration from Naughty Dog games is, on paper, never a negative.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
October 26
RDR is my personal Game Of The 360/PS3 Generation and, still, in my personal Top 5 of All-Time.
Its sequel was my #1 Most Anticipated of 2017 for those reasons, then it got delayed.
The material they’ve shown since didn’t move the needle, up or down, in terms of hype. I was happy to see a trailer very focused on 1 character, because their marketing language about “online focus” had me worried.
Even so, we will always have this shot:
Opinion Seed 