2015 was a hell of a year for games. It’s almost unbelievable that Fallout 4, The Witcher 3 and Metal Gear Solid 5 all graced our consoles and computer screens within a few months of each other. Well the good news is, 2016 has just as much potential to be an awesome year thanks in no small part to these little buggers all heading our way in the next 12 months.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands – 2016
This free-roaming shooter is a special forces fantasist’s wet dream. Taking control of an elite squad of Ghosts, it’s up to you (and your mates if they don’t suck) to roam the open-world map and take down all the drug dealin’, terroristin’ wrong’uns. The game is designed for four people, and allows your friends to drop in at any time to help you kick ass. Being a Ubisoft title, you can expect heaps of side-quests and hidden collectibles, strewn across the vast landscape. Doesn’t hurt that it looks pretty gorgeous either.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – March 18, 2016
All-American wise-ass Nathan Drake is back for his fourth and final adventure in Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Exclusive to the Playstation 4, the epic action/adventure saga looks set to wind up in March 2016. There’s been a lot of speculation about what the title might mean, and Naughty Dog haven’t made it clear how Drake’s story will end, only that it will end. Cryptic. We do know Nathan’s light-fingered brother Sam is making an appearance, and Sully is along for the ride to make sure the title hits the old-man joke quota. That’s not a bad thing by the way, Sully is awesome.
Dark Souls 3 – March 24, 2016
From Software’s hard-as-balls Dark Souls series is officially coming to an end, but the return of masterful director Hidetaka Miyazaki has many fans believing shit is about to get real. After taking a hiatus from Dark Souls 2 to concentrate on Bloodborne, Miyazaki-san was secretly heard saying that he wanted to torture players mentally, just to let them know he’s back. Okay he didn’t say that, but he probably implied it somewhere. Well known for its spectacular difficulty, jaw-dropping bosses and breathtaking imagery, Dark Souls 3 will probably be the hardest game of 2016.
DOOM – 2016
The classics are always the best. Except for when they get remastered to pack in as much gore and shotguns as possible. Then they’re better than the best. First shown off at E3 2015, DOOM has been getting first-person-shooter fans hot under the collar for some time, with its promise of anarchic violence and alien executions. The game will also come with its legendary mutliplayer, so you’ll be able to take your frustration out on your mates by stamping on their heads and ripping their arms off. Better than a bust-up down the park.
Dishonored 2 – 2016
Bethesda’s often overlooked stealth game Dishonored is making a return in 2016 with the cunningly titled Dishonored 2. Set 10 years after the 2012 original, you’re tasked with sneaking around, assassinating baddies and basically making a right nuisance of yourself until the job’s done. Master assassin Corvo returns alongside Emily Kaldwin as playable characters with parallel story lines, each commanding their own set of deadly abilities. This one is going to be ruthless.
The Division – March 8, 2016
A deadly virus strikes the world, causing society to collapse in under a week. Luckily for all us plebs, there are people trained for this kind of thing, and who are more than happy to step up and stop the world from disappearing up its own arsehole. They are The Division. Set in New York City in the midst of the crisis, The Division is an online multiplayer that pits you and your mates against groups of other people in a bid to secure vital resources, sweet loot and basically have us all back up and running before bed time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xXOMr6wWzc
Gears of War 4 – December, 2016
After a couple of years of being balls-to-the-wall and bullets-to-the-face, the Gears of War franchise is set to turn back towards the gritty, horror-tinged hell-fest of the game’s original outing. There’s not a great deal to go on at the minute, but we do know this one is going to be super dark, and an Xbox One exclusive.
Mass Effect: Andromeda – December, 2016
Commander Shepard may be gone – and let’s face it, that’s probably a good thing the way Mass Effect 3 ended – but that doesn’t mean the Universe is safe. BioWare’s brand new look at Mass Effect is a mystery wrapped in an enigma at the minute, though some people think they may have found some clues as to what it’s all about. We do know that players will be exploring the Andromeda galaxy, there will be Mako customisation, and Omni-blades are back in. Knowing BioWare as we do, there’s probably going to be plenty of freaky alien sex too. We’ll bang, okay?
Ratchet & Clank – April 16, 2016
Ratchet & Clank is getting a long overdue reboot in 2016, that will coincide with a legitimately awesome looking movie. Well known for its platforming prowess and tongue-in-cheek humour, Ratchet & Clank was one of the best loved titles on the Playstation 2, kick-starting an entire generation of gaming fans. The way this one is shaping up, we could be set to fall in love with the little Lombax and his robotic pal all over again. Oh, and the movie looks fucking awesome too.
No Man’s Sky – June, 2016
No Man’s Sky was announced around the time Queen Victoria came to the throne, and has been slowly marching towards release ever since. Players will be able to explore a vast, procedurally generated universe in their space ship and on foot, fighting, discovering and trading as they go. Packed with a near infinite amount of planets and possibilities, No Man’s Sky has been around for time immemorial, but was finally given a release date at Paris Game Week 2015. Made by Hello Games, No Man’s Sky is already being tipped as a lot of people’s Game of the Year 2016, which is daft really, considering not many people have actually played it.
Mark is the Gaming Editor for UNILAD. Having grown up a gaming addict, he’s been deeply entrenched in culture and spends time away from work playing as much as possible. Mark studied music at University and found a love for journalism through going to local gigs and writing about them for local and national publications.