Note: This lists consists of games that have been given a release date sometime in 2016, but it is possible they could be delayed to a later date. I've also decided to exclude "Uncharted: A Thief's End" and "No Man's Sky" from this list, since they were on my list of the "5 Games to Look for in 2015" but were delayed; and to be honest I don't feel like writing about them again.
The "Ratchet & Clank" games has become a staple franchise of the PlayStation, going back to the PlayStation 2. With 12 games over the course of 15 years, it has become a flagship series for Sony. But for years the series has been on a down slope; with lackluster installments like "All 4 One," "Full Frontal Assault," and "Into the Nexus" being far from the best games of featuring the name "Ratchet & Clank." But their newest installment looks to go back to when the series was at some of its best, the very beginning. 2016's "Ratchet & Clank" is a re-imaging and redesigned version of the 2002 game of the same name. Featuring new weapons, level design, and updated graphics, this new game seems to be a return to form for a once great series that has lost its luster, and is almost an assured slam dunk.
For the past couple years, one of the stand out open world game series has been the "Far Cry" franchise. The over-the-top game play, eccentric story, and more than a few crazy moments have made the series memorable and loved by fans. "Far Cry 3" was met with particular acclaim from critics and audiences, as well as the stand alone game "Blood Dragon." While the sequel "Far Cry 4" was also met with positive reviews, many criticized it for falling into a formulaic pattern and not acting as a huge leap forward from its predecessor. But this newest installment in the franchise, "Far Cry Primal," seems determined to differentiate itself from the rest of the series. Taking place about 12,000 BC, it does seem to be a departure from the rest of the franchise. While the gameplay I have seen hasn't blown me away, it does look promising; and considering how much I loved the previous games, I'm fairly confident that I will have fun with this one as well.
In 2009, Japanese development studio FromSoftware released "Demon's Souls;" an action-role playing game noted for its extreme difficulty. The game was met with harsh criticism in Japan, and was almost not released worldwide. By some strange events, it was met with North American release where it was met with wide critical acclaim. Two years later "Dark Souls" was released to near universal acclaim, with a sequel coming two years later titled "Dark Souls 2." While many considered the sequel to be one of the best games of the year, it was criticized by many for lacking the originality and uniqueness of its predecessors. But "Dark Souls 3" appears to be less "Dark Souls 2" and more "Dark Souls" and "Demon's Souls." As well as taking influences from the developer's most recent game "Bloodborne," a spiritual successor to the previously mentioned games. Incorporating elements from all the games that came before it, "Dark Souls 3" is looking to be exactly what the series needs.
Now this is a game that I've been looking forward to for a long time. "The Witness" is a puzzle adventure game from the mind of Jonathan Blow, the creator of 2008's indie hit "Braid." The reason I've been looking forward to this game is because of Blow himself; he might be eccentric, and as a human being is kind of pretentious at times, but he is a visionary game director. The first time I heard of this game was back at E3 2013. A small group of journalist was given a behind closed doors presentation of the game, and people came out nothing but impressed. So much so a few of them chose it as the best game of E3. And from what I've seen of this game it looks stupendous. It's been a while since I've played a truly memorable puzzle game, so I think "The Witness" is just what I needed.
If you were to ask gamers what the best video game trilogy of all time is, the "Mass Effect" series would get quite a few shout outs; at the same time though, the series left a very bittersweet taste in everyone's mouth. "Mass Effect 3" was a lightning rod for controversy in regards to its ending; the series was known for its decision based system, but at the series finale none of the choices you made seemed to make a difference. After that many were unsure of the series future; that was until E3 2015 where a new game was announced. Currently little is known about the game, other than that it takes place long after the previous titles in the Andromeda Galaxy. Despite the lack of information, I am pumped for this game. "Mass Effect 2" is my favorite game of all time, so I will always be excited for more of the series. A solid release date hasn't been set, with a tentative date in Q4 2016; so until then I will wait with quit anticipation for what I am sure will be a phenomenal game.
The phoenix has finally risen from the ashes, and it's about damn time. For those who don't know, "The Last Guardian" is one of the most infamous games to in the entire industry. Originally announced in 2009 with a release date in 2011, the developers kept pushing the date back until it fell off the map. Postponed due to technical issues and the original game director leaving, many were unsure if it was ever going to come out. But at E3 2015, a new trailer was shown and everyone lost their minds. "The Last Guardian" is meant to be the final chapter in a trilogy, with the two previous titles being "Ico" and "Shadow of the Colossus." Both of which aren't just considered to be some of the best and most influential games of all time, and are often cited as the prime examples for video games as art. A lot of people have been waiting a long time for this game, myself included. And to be honest, there is almost no way it can live up to the hype. That being said, I still cannot wait to get my hands on this game.
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