Mass Effect: Andromeda
Release Date: March 21, 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
I’ve put myself on a Mass Effect marketing blackout until the game releases, because the more I see of it, the less excited I get. I still enjoyed Dragon Age: Inquisition, but I don’t think many would argue that Bioware games have been improving since Mass Effect 2 released. Mass Effect is one of my favorite series, and I’m totally on board for a new cast of characters and worlds to explore. My biggest hope is that they keep the massively addictive multiplayer from Mass Effect 3 intact. I lost hundreds of hours to that, and I loved every minute of it.
Prey
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
I have no nostalgia for the original Prey, so this is purely based on the strength of the trailers I’ve seen so far and the pedigree of the developer, Arkane. I haven’t loved the Dishonored series, but I can certainly respect the aesthetic and what they’re trying to accomplish gameplay-wise. The new Prey looks like Bioshock in space, and that’s about all you need to get me to sign up. I really hope this one hits this year, because I’m totally down for that kind of creepy, ambient experience.
Rime
Release Date: May 2017
Platforms: PS4
Rime was announced a few years ago, and seemingly went into development hell for all of 2016 before re-emerging recently with a new trailer. I think this game might take some people by surprise because they’ve forgotten about it, but I have very high hopes. The gameplay, world, and story seem like an amalgamation of Zelda, Ico, The Witness, and Journey. If that doesn’t sound amazing to you, I just don’t think we can be friends anymore.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
After seeing the insane development of South Park: The Stick of Truth, I was completely stunned to see that Matt and Trey wanted to make another South Park game. Granted, this one will be with Ubisoft instead of Obsidian, but it’s still looking to hit the same high notes of the original. I seriously can’t even tell you how excited I am to be back in South Park with a new story and even deeper gameplay mechanics. The Stick of Truth was my game of the year in 2014, after all.
Spider-Man
Release Date: TBD
Platforms: PS4
Another game I highly doubt will ship in 2017, I’m nevertheless extremely hyped for Insomniac’s Spider-Man game. I was especially curious to see that it was a PS4 exclusive, but I suppose that makes sense considering Sony still owns the Spider-Man movie rights. I don’t think this game will be tying into the new movie in any way, but that doesn’t make me any less excited. Insomniac does a great job with humor in games, which is a very hard thing to get right, so hopefully they can also nail the open world New York City.
Star Wars Battlefront 2
Release Date: TBD
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
It’s easy to assume that the new Battlefront will come out holiday 2017 to coincide with the release of Star Wars Episode VIII, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it slip into 2018 if DICE needs the additional development time. The game definitely sold well at launch, and I’m sure the player count is still pretty decent, but there was an overwhelmingly tepid response by the hardcore gaming community towards Battlefront, due to the lack of a single player campaign, shallow progression, and few maps at launch. Hopefully, EA and DICE learn from their mistakes.
Super Mario Odyssey
Release Date: Holiday 2017
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Details are sparse on the new Mario game for Nintendo Switch, but as of now, they’re aiming for a holiday 2017 release time frame. The game is sure to have functionality specific to the Switch, which doesn’t exactly excite me, but the reveal trailer showed a bunch of awesome stuff. The “real world” setting seems a bit bizarre, but the rest of the trailer makes the game look like a new Super Mario 64. If that doesn’t excite you, I don’t know what will.
Tacoma
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PC, Xbox One
Tacoma is another game that was announced a while ago and just seems to be taking forever to release, so hopefully it comes out this year. It’s the new game from Fullbright, makers of the fantastic Gone Home, which was one of my favorite games from 2013. The game seems like the same kind of open-ended exploration game with ambient storytelling, only now set on a deserted space station. Fullbright is a very small team and can afford to take their time, but I just want to play Tacoma already.
The Last of Us: Part 2
Release Date: TBD
Platforms: PS4
If it’s cheating to put any game on this list, it’s The Last of Us: Part 2. I don’t think this one will come out until 2019, but I’m still incredibly excited for it. The Last of Us is one of the greatest games ever made, and was my game of the year in 2013. I was one of those hipsters that didn’t actually want a sequel to the original because I thought the ending was so perfect that I didn’t want the story to continue. That said, I have tons of faith in Naughty Dog to craft something excellent, and my mind is already brimming with theories on the new game.
Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
If you’re sick of Telltale games, I certainly can’t blame you. I’m definitely reaching that line, myself. I haven’t yet played their Batman game, but supposedly it’s pretty decent. But for me moving forwards, it’ll take the right property for me to get excited for another one of their games. Fortunately, Guardians of the Galaxy fits that bill. I love that cast of characters so much, and Telltale did a great job with the humor in Tales from the Borderlands. I just hope there isn’t any shooting reminiscent of The Walking Dead season one. That was atrocious.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Release Date: TBD
Platforms: PS4
I would assume this one will come out in 2017, but no date has been announced as of the time of this writing. The Lost Legacy is actually technically story DLC for Uncharted 4, but will be sold as standalone content, both physically and digitally. I’m glad Drake has hung up his long sleeve Henley, and Chloe is a perfect character to take over the franchise. She’s got that accent and that dark hair, Mmmm… But in all seriousness, I’m totally down for some more Uncharted action, just with a new protagonist and story. I’d also be fine if Sam becomes a recurring character.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4
The problem with anticipating release dates on indie games is that because they’re small studios, things can easily happen the result in game delays. As with plenty others on this list, that’s exactly what happened with What Remains of Edith Finch, another game that made my most anticipated list for 2016. This seems like a really weird game, but I loved Giant Sparrow’s last effort, The Unfinished Swan. It made my game of the year list for 2012. Marketing for their new game has gone fairly dark, but hopefully we’ll hear more soon, including a 2017 release date.
Yooka-Laylee
Release Date: April 11, 2017
Platforms: PC, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One
This guy made both my most anticipated list for 2016 and my E3 2016 list, which shows just how hyped I am for Yooka-Laylee. There have been some solid 3D platformers in recent years, like Grow Home, but they haven’t captured my nostalgia for games like Spyro and Banjo Kazooie. I have really high hopes for Yooka-Laylee, but the fact that it was a Kickstarter game makes me nervous. It’s been very easy for those projects to become bloated after surpassing their original financial goals.
So there you have it, 23 games that I can’t wait to play in 2017 and beyond! What games did I forget? Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to check out my other video game content!