Biggest Upcoming New Games of 2018 & Beyond

Want a particular period of the year for best new games of 2018? Jump through these links below: 

– Best New Games of 2018 Out Now
– Best New Games of Q2 2018
– Best New Games of Q3 2018
– Best New Games of Q4 2018
– Best New Games of TBA 2018 & Beyond

Biggest Games of TBC 2018 & Beyond

Agony

Developer: Madmind Studio
Publisher: PlayWay
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1
Release date: March 30th 2018

Agony looks like serious grossness and I am here for it. A first-person action horror game, you must stumble through the festering halls of Hell while trying not to puke over its many utterly gruesome spectacles. One of its more interesting quirks is the ability to control the minds of humans and simple demons, hopefully to help them see episodes of Care Bears rather than the living nightmare they are in. Agony is going to completely fuck me up and I can’t wait. As a bonus, nipples are everywhere. – JD

 

Days Gone

Developer: SIE Bend Studio
Publisher: SIE
Platform: PS4
Release date: 2019

Don’t let its appearance deceive you: this isn’t just any old zombie game. It also has a motorcycle. And a crafting system. Also a day/night cycle and dynamic weather. And the main character’s name is Deacon St. John. Best of all, however? Infected bears. Details on the release date for this not-actually-zombies zombie game for the PS4 have been scarce, but look towards the latter half of 2018 if you’re a gambler. – JD

 

Crackdown 3

Developer(s): Reagent Games, Sumo Digital
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platform(s): XB1, PC
Release Date: 2018, maybe.

Fans of the original Crackdown, such as myself, have been waiting for Crackdown 3 for what seems like forever. It was announced back in 2014, but in the time between then and now, Microsoft have been quite stingy with news about the game. Most of the time it’s been a delay or nothing. Crackdown 3 was touted to include a massive environmental destruction system, but we’ve seen very little of that either. We have seen Terry Crews in one of the trailers though, so there’s that. I’m still excited for it, because Crackdown was one of the Xbox 360’s defining games, but I’m cautious too. We’ll have to wait and see. – AB

 

The Last Night

Developer: Odd Tales
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platform(s): XB1, PC, Mac
Release date: 2018

I’m a sucker for any side-scroller with a gorgeous aesthetic, a bill which The Last Night fits like a glove. Set in a dystopian city and featuring more cyberpunk stylings than Roger Deakins could shake his tripod at, The Last Night’s themes included classism, automation, and just how pretty a game can be before you screencap every single frame and plaster them on your wall. – JD

 

Witchfire

Developer(s): The Astronauts
Publisher: The Astronauts
Platform(s): PC
Release Date: TBC

Announced at The Game Awards 2017, Witchfire is being made by The Astronauts, the team behind The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. The Witchfire trailer looked like more of the same narrative adventure stuff, until the demons started to rise and bullets started flying. This couldn’t be further from Ethan Carter. Whilst the dev team note on their blog that Witchfire is a long way from completion, the early footage is enough to excite. The game looks very reminiscent of some of The Astronauts’ previous work, specifically Painkiller and Bulletstorm. Think big guns, bigger enemies and, hopefully, huge amounts of fun. – AB

 

Darksiders III

Developer(s): Gunfire Games
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: 2018

When THQ went tits up back in 2013, the fate of many franchises were left up in the air. The WWE games and the Saints Row series found new homes relatively quickly, but Darksiders had to be auctioned off. The property was acquired by Nordic Games, who have now renamed themselves THQ Nordic, and in May of 2017 they announced that Darksiders III was on the way. Development duties have been passed to Gunfire Games, whose dev team largely consists of Vigil Games employees, and have already worked on the Darksiders series. Safe to say, the series is in good hands. We certainly can’t wait to see how Fury’s journey compares to her fellow Horsemen of the Apocalypse War and Death. – AB

 

 

The Wolf Among Us: Season 2

Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1, iOS, Android
Release date: 2018

We never thought we would see the day, but Telltale’s cult hit is finally getting a follow-up after years of fan campaigning. Almost nothing is known about the second season of The Wolf Among Us with details being hard to come across since its reveal, but if we know Bigby, expect detached appendages and a lot of drinking. Now, if we could just get Telltale to make a second season of Tales From the Borderlands… – JD

 

Metro: Exodus

Developer(s): 4A Games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: 2018

The third game in the first-person shooter series based on the books written by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro: Exodus will once again place you in the well-worn shoes of Artyom as he tries to survive post-nuclear apocalypse Russia. Previous games confined you to Moscow, both on the surface and the underground train system, but this game will see Artyom travel further afield. With new characters, new locations and probably some new enemies, Exodus should be an interesting addition to the series. – AB

 

Psychonauts 2

Developer(s): Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Starbreeze Studios
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: Not 2018, unfortunately.

One of the last great platformers of the PS2/Original Xbox era, Psychonauts was an unforgettable journey of psychic abilities, summer camps and brains. It was eccentric, absurd, and quite frankly brilliant. Fans have demanded a sequel for years, and in 2015 Double Fine Studios delivered, announced they were working on Psychonauts 2. Though we’ve had a Psychonauts VR experience between then and now, we haven’t seen or heard much about Psychonauts 2. The sequel has some big shoes to fill, but if anyone can deliver, Double Fine can. – AB

 

Biomutant

Developer(s): Experiment 101
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: 2018

Another entry from publishers THQ Nordic, Biomutant is an action RPG where you control a raccoon like creature that you can customise, and then use to beat the shit out of other animals. Early videos of the gameplay suggest that developers Experiment 101 are combining the best parts of character action games like Devil May Cry with RPGs like The Witcher and with exploration elements found in classic Metroidvania games. Biomutant is definitely one to keep an eye on. – AB

 

A Plague Tale: Innocence

Developer: Asobo Studio
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1
Release date: TBC

Little is known about Asobo’s A Plague Tale, apart from the fact that it centers around the plague and that there will be lots of rats. Lots and lots of rats. Elsewhere, we will have a strong dynamic between its two lead characters, brother and sister Hugo and Amicia. As you’re playing as kids, don’t expect flamethrowers to be at your disposal. Instead, depend on your wits and make your way through puzzles while also trying not to get noshed on by vermin. – JD

 

Soul Calibur VI

Developer(s): Project Soul
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: 2018

Here it is, the game that essentially ruined my Best Fighting Games of 2018 list by being announced a couple of days later: Soul Calibur VI. Announced at The Game Awards 2017, Soul Calibur appears to be a much needed reboot for the series, with the debut trailer showcasing a youthful Mitsurugi and Sophitia doing battle. The gameplay appears similar to Soul Calibur V, with Critical Edges making a comeback, but new mechanics such as Reversal Edges should help keep the gameplay fresh. Now we just wait for more character announcements. Here’s hoping for Maxi and Astaroth. – AB

 

Code: Vein

Developer(s): Bandai Namco Entertainment
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: 2018

The vampiric slash ‘em up from Bandai Namco has fallen victim of the Dark Souls comparison ever since its announcement (hell, I think I was even guilty of it during my tenure at a previous website), though in fairness Code Vein does share a lot of the same hallmarks. The emphasis is on using big swords to twat bigger monsters, but there are some key differences too. The art style for starters draws inspirations from the darker, more mature side of anime, and it’ll be interesting to see how being a vampire and using blood will factor into the gameplay when it launches. – AB

 

Ghost of Tsushima

Developer: Sucker Punch
Publisher: SIE
Platform: PS4
Release date: TBA

Revealed at PGW 2017, Ghost of Tsushima is what the inFamous guys have been up to since we parted pays with Delsin Rowe in Second Son. Taking place in feudal Japan on the island of Tsushima itself, little is known about the game so far, so don’t expect it to make 2018. What we do know, however, is that we can’t wait to dash around the open, luscious landscapes of the time period with a great big bastard katana. – JD

 

Bayonetta 3

Developer(s): Platinum Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Release Date: TBC

The current Queen of the Character Action genre, Bayonetta is currently enjoying the perks of an exclusive deal with Nintendo. It was announced that Bayonetta 3 will launch on the Nintendo Switch, along with re-releases of the first two games. Not much is currently known about the third game, other than Bayonetta will return (obviously, not like I’m winning a Pulitzer Prize for that one), and her main opponent in the announcement trailer was a purple ghost that bodied her in no time at all. Bayonetta 3 might just be the toughest instalment yet. – AB

 

Anthem

Developer(s): Bioware
Publisher: EA
Platform(s): PS4, XB1, PC
Release date: Delayed to 2019

You know how we were afraid that Red Dead Redemption 2 might become a microtransaction riddled mess? Here’s our other worry. It’s already been suggested that Anthem could be the start of a 10 year journey for BioWare, which might force the looming spectre of loot boxes and microtransactions to rear their ugly heads. From the debut trailer during Microsoft’s presentation at E3, Anthem looked stunning. Players will have access to a fully customisable exosuit, and a huge open world with which to dick about in with up to 3 friends. We’ve just got our fingers crossed that we can enjoy the game without having to fork out extra money just for a chance at some loot. – AB

 

Praey for the Gods

Developer: No Matter
Publisher: No Matter
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1
Release date: 2018

Remember this? Well, it’s probably more to do with the copyright kerfuffle with Zenimax more than anything else, but in a year which sees Shadow of the Colossus rising up again, it will be interesting to see a how game with clear inspirations from Team ICO’s stone cold classic stack up. Most impressive of all, however, is the scale of the game considering the small development. The jury’s still out on Praey for the Gods, but I’m going to say that it’s nothing if not impressive so far. – JD

 

Fighting EX Layer

Developer(s): ARIKA
Publisher: ARIKA
Platform(s): PS4
Release Date: 2018

It’s still somewhat hard to believe that this is real, but it is. We played the beta, it was actually a lot of fun. Fighting EX Layer is the latest fighting game from ARIKA, most notably responsible for the Street Fighter EX series and the arcade only release Fighting Layer. Fighting EX Layer is the just natural fusion of the two. Gameplay wise, the game very similar to Street Fighter EX, as combos and super moves are fairly easy to perform. The time it takes to cancel a move into a super is very generous, which should lower the barrier for entry that affects other fighting games. During the beta though, the netcode led to a variety of gameplay issues, mainly that the game would stutter every five seconds in particularly rough patches. Here’s hoping that ARIKA can work on those before release. – AB

 

The Last of Us: Part II

Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: SIE
Platform: PS4
Release date: TBC

I realise that this is not going to be out for a long time, but a man can dream. As with most games these days, The Last of Us: Part II is shrouded in mystery, even with two trailers to its name. We know that we’ll be playing as Ellie this time out, but what of Joel? Could the theories be correct? Just when we were getting acclimated to the possibility that gaming’s best dad may not be around anymore, a second trailer came out featuring a hammer-wielding badass. Who knows what’s going on anymore, but I am along for the ride. – JD

 

Blood and Truth

Developer(s): SIE London Studios
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PSVR
Release Date: TBC

Anyone got the money to buy me a PSVR headset? Anyone? I’m going to need my fix of Blood and Truth when it eventually launches. London Studio’s first person shooter/revenge thriller appears to be the result of casting Ross Kemp as John Wick: lots of cockney accents and lots more dead bodies. Unlike other VR FPS games, you move from cover to cover instead freely moving or teleporting around a level, which allows to focus more on the action at hand, making for a more absorbing and heart-pounding experience. The more we see of this game, the more excited we get. – AB

 

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Developer: Moon Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platform(s): PC, XB1
Release date: TBC

If the Blind Forest made gamers feel feelings, who knows what Will of the Wisps, which already looks like a more sombre affair, will do. Little has been revealed about the game since its tease at E3 2017, but the safe money is on it being a Metroidvania with its heart in all the right places. Bring tissues and some earplugs to drown out the beautiful, haunting music and you should make it out alive. – JD

 

Death Stranding

Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: SIE
Platform: PS4
Release date: TBC

Kojima’s Death Stranding is an enigma wrapped up in a box of silly string filled with interrobangs and spiders. What I’m trying to say here is that it’s utterly mystifying so far, offering more questions than answers with every new trailer. It could be a convoluted mess, but this is Kojima we are talking about – it will definitely be convoluted, but the man does not release messes. Look for resolutions over all of the baby stuff next year. – JD

 

Kingdom Hearts III

Developer(s): Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform(s): PS4, XB1
Release date: 2018, maybe.

Ahhh, yes. Kingdom Hearts III. At this point, fans are probably more concerned with whether or not the game is coming out at all. Announced back in 2013, Square Enix have said that the game will launch at some point in 2018, but concepts for the game have been around since 2006. Clearly, they’re in no rush. Perhaps the dev team are stalling so Disney can acquire the rights to the properties of worlds they want to create. We’re calling it now: Sora in The Simpsons. Square Enix better deliver. – AB

 

Medievil

Developer: SCE Cambridge Studio (original game)
Publisher: SIE
Platform: PS4
Release date: 2018

Listen, a remake of a PS1 cult classic might not necessarily be one of the “biggest” new games of 2018, but I’m putting it in here. Why? Because I will finally be able to finish a game that scarred me as a child – it was a lot darker than a lot of its peers on the console, but it also had a silly side. Hopefully my big boy pants will allow me to appreciate Sir Daniel Fortesque for the dashing dynamo that he is. – JD

 

Concrete Genie

Developer(s): Pixelopus
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PS4
Release Date: 2018

If there was ever a game that could personify the feeling of leaving 2017 and heading into 2018, it would be Concrete Genie. You control the child Ash who uses a magical brush to bring colour to the town of Denska, and in doing so you rid the town of its nasty pollution problem. Meanwhile, we’re all trying to think positive in 2018 to wash away the stench of 2017. And 2016. Anyway, Concrete Genie looks absolutely delightful and exactly the type of game that 2018 needs. Colour us excited. – AB

 

Beyond Good and Evil 2

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform(s): TBC
Release date: TBC

File this one under “maybe too ambitious for its own good“. A gigantic sequel to the Ubisoft cult favourite, Beyond Good and Evil 2 is going to have living, breathing worlds, ship customisation, and an procedurally generated star system. There’s a lot riding on Michel Ancel’s follow-up and it’s certainly a risk to make a long-delayed game a AAA tentpole. Still, if it comes out, it’s more than likely going to be pretty damn great. See also: Ancel’s WiLD – JD

 

Dreams

Developer: Media Molecule
Publisher: SIE
Platform: PS4
Release date: TBC 2018

We used to dream that we would ever see Dreams, Media Molecule’s aspiring playground where the only limit is your imagination. It was all silent on the Dreams front for a long time, but it was “resurrected” just prior to PSX 2017, and it looked just as weird and wonderful as ever. Open-ended, grandiose, and positively cute as a button, we will finally get a chance to see if the experiment works out later in 2018. – JD

 

Kirby Star Allies

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch
Release date: Spring 2018

And now for something completely different. A lot of games you will find on this list feature guns, guts, and maybe a few swears. Not with Kirby: he just eats stuff whole like the savage marshmallow he is. You’ll want to find some friends with this one, as you copy the abilities of your foes and have a whale of a time while doing so. If you’re looking the antithesis to the ultraviolence of many modern gaming experiences, this wholesome slice of the Nintendo pie could be just what you need. – JD

 

Yoshi

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch
Release date: 2018

Mario’s whipping boy makes his debut on the Switch later in 2018, bringing with him the some lovely new visuals and the same endless licking he’s made a name out of. Simple titled Yoshi, the side-scrolling game will take place in a diorama-esque world with an interesting twist: levels have two sides, so you can “flip” them and discover new secrets. Co-op might make this one of the better games to play with the youngsters this year.

 

Cyberpunk 2077

Developer: CD Projekt Red
Publisher: CD Projekt
Platform(s): TBC
Release date: ha

When we say “2018 and beyond”, we really mean beyond our sun burning out and us evolving to live in sewers and becoming monkey-spider-humans with a penchant for eating tin cans.

So that was our list for the biggest new games of 2018 and beyond! We hope you enjoyed the read and found something to your liking or a reminder of a game you had forgotten about. While we have you here, we’ve got more 2018 stuff for your eyes. Why not check out our choices for the biggest new horror games of 2018? Or how about the PS4 exclusives still to come (warning: there are lots)? If you’re after something a bit more retrospective, we spent a long time reeling off the best games of 2017, so please read it. Please.