2018 has been a massive year for video game fans. God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Marvel’s Spider-Man are just three of a dozen amazing games released across a variety of platforms both critics and gamers have enjoyed. It really feels like there’s something for everyone, but if you think things are going to taper off in 2019, you’re in for a rude awakening.
It might be hard to believe but next year is shaping up as an even better year for gamers. Along with much hyped original games such as Days Gone and Anthem, new titles from successful franchises like Devil May Cry and Crackdown are also headed our way.
There’s also a number of titles rumoured to appear that I’d rather not see. A remake of Final Fantasy VII is being touted while Hot Lava, based on the children’s game, is also set to see the light of day. These are just two titles that don’t need to be released.
With so many game on offer it’s hard to know which ones deserve your attention, so to help I’ve picked 15 games coming in 2019 you don’t want to miss, along with 15 I hope never get made for various reasons. Do you agree with my choices or have I got these wrong?
30 Games That Are Coming: Gears 5
Despite the title Gears 5 is the actually the sixth release in the addictive Gears Of War franchise and is shaping up as the best yet. A sequel to the excellent fourth game, Gears 5 changes things up with a new protagonist, Kait Diaz. Diaz is an Outsider of Locust descent who is trying to save her mother while uncovering the origins of the Locust and her family.
Early reports are comparing it to a video game version of Mad Max: Fury Road, so expect an easy to follow plot, over-the-top action, and awesome cut scenes. A multiplayer option is also being included to add longevity to what should be an awesome release.
29 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Star Fox: Gran Prix
Star Fox is a fantastic science fiction-themed series of games that’s come out on a variety of consoles over the years, with Star Fox 64 my pick of the bunch. While fans would love another chance to take to the sky’s as Fox McCloud and tackle all manner of crazy missions, the latest rumors are the next game will be a stock standard racer.
Why you would want to turn an engaging single player sci-fi adventure shooter into a boring racer is anybody’s guess, but that’s what Nintendo has in mind with the next Star Fox game. I suggest they stick to what works and release another great space adventure rather than a MarioKart in space ripoff.
28 Games That Are Coming: Anthem
This online multiplayer RPG is set in an open world where players take the guise of a Freelancer, the name given to a group of people who leave the relative safety of civilization to explore surrounding areas.
The Freelancer’s don special suits known as Javelins that give them special abilities, with players spending the game searching unknown worlds and encountering all manner of creatures. There’s not a lot of information in regards to what’s at the heart of the gameplay but many are touting Anthem as a cross between Destiny and Mass Effect, which is enough to get me excited.
27 Games That Are Hopefully Never Coming: Justice League
Rumors continue to swirl Rocksteady Studios are working on a new Justice League game but is this something we really want? A recent Reddit post discussed an open world game set in a variety of different locations (Metropolis, Gotham, Keystone) and featuring playable characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Cyborg, and Aquaman.
It might sound great, especially as Rocksteady usually produce the goods, but we’ve never really had an exceptional Justice League game, and if it’s anything like the film then it’s going to be a disaster. Maybe just worry about creating a decent Superman game before worrying about the rest of the DC universe.
26 Games That Are Coming: Kingdom Hearts 3
This long-running Disney themed RPG is coming back bigger and better in 2019 with Kingdom Hearts 3. Featuring characters and worlds from Disney, Pixar, and the Final Fantasy franchise, Kingdom Hearts 3 is destined to be another epic adventure from Square Enix.
Sora is once again the main protagonist, although this time he’s joined by Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey, and Riku, enabling five-player parties.
In addition to new players, there will be another intriguing plot involving all manner of famous characters along with an updated game engine and top-notch voice over talent. This is going to be on many people’s must play lists for 2019.
25 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Dead Island 2
Unlike the name implies, Dead Island 2 is planned to be set in a variety of locations around California. The plans are for players to battle zombies in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and an unnamed city, with the action similar to that of the first game.
While Dead Island was a decent zombie game it never lived up to the blood pumping action of Dying Light or contained the emotional impact of The Last Of Us.
With so many new and inventive zombie games on the market and in development, there is no reason for a Dead Island sequel anytime soon.
24 Games That Are Coming: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Ever wanted to play a one-armed shinobi left for dead on a mission for revenge in 16th century Japan? If the answer’s yes then your prayers have been answered in the form of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Inspired by the classic stealth title Tenchu, this upcoming action adventure game looks to be the surprise packet of 2019. Players take control of Sekiro and hack and slash their way across feudal Japan while attempting to rescue his taken lord. Did I also mention he has a prosthetic arm that can be used as a weapon? Sign me up now!
23 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Payday 3
The co-operative first-person shooter series Payday has received mixed reviews and I for one aren’t too excited about a third installment. This is another game where the premise, about a gang of crooks pulling off a bunch of heists, sounds great, but the execution is lacking.
The multiplayer option is a great addition but the first two Payday games suffer from glitchy graphics, a poor stealth mode, and some uninspiring missions.
While there’s certainly room for improvement, this one is best left on the shelf for the foreseeable future, especially considering how well Grand Theft Auto V’s online multiplayer option works.
22 Games That Are Coming: Wolfenstein: Youngblood
I’m a big fan of the Wolfenstein series, going all the way back to the original 1981 game Castle Wolfenstein. The most recent games in the franchise have been excellent and Wolfenstein: Youngblood looks to follow in that path.
This latest release sees players taking control of twin sisters Jessica and Sophia Blazkowicz as they enter occupied France to find their missing father, BJ Blazkowicz, the protagonist of the last couple of games. This one is sure to feature lots of blood and guts and a sinister plot, with both solo and co-operative modes hinted at for the main campaign.
21 Games That Hopefully Never Come: System Shock 3
I never got around the cyberpunk influenced System Shock so the threat of a third game being released doesn’t really make me excited. The original came across as a pretentious Doom without the fun so a third title isn’t doing much for me.
Despite my views both the game and its sequel were successes, but that doesn’t mean a third is needed.
There are plenty of similarly-themed games doing the rounds that are much better (plus Cyberpunk 2077 is coming) and considering it’s been almost two decades since System Shock 2, the audience for this game certainly isn’t as large as it once was. Computer says no.
20 Games That Are Coming: Resident Evil 2
After having great success with their 2002 Resident Evil remake Capcom are doing the same again with the sequel. Resident Evil 2 follows a similar plot to the second game with players taking control of rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield as they attempt to escape zombie-infested Raccoon City.
This new version will feature updated graphics and a third person view, similar to that of Resident Evil 6, and be very much submerged in the survival horror genre. If the recent trailer is anything to go by then this could be the best Resident Evil game yet.
19 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Dynasty Warriors 10
The first few Dynasty Warriors games are great examples of the hack and slash genre that provide hours of mindless fun, but with each future installment, the game has become less and less enjoyable. This year’s Dynasty Warriors 9 is a poor attempt at setting the game in an open world environment that fails in all areas
While many might think going ahead with a new and improved tenth game could restore the luster of previous releases, the best thing developer Omega Force could do is leave the franchise alone for a while. It needs a total overhaul and I think it’s best if they concentrate their efforts on a third Attack On Titan game.
18 Games That Are Coming: Skull & Bones
After Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag tried to capture pirates in game form but failed, gamers have high hopes for the forthcoming Skull & Bones. Revolving around pirates and massive navel battles this Ubisoft creation is set in an open world where you take control of a pirate captain and traverse the Indian Ocean looking for treasure and plundering all that comes before you.
While details are still pretty scarce it has been revealed you can join forces with up to five other players during the game, although the downside is micro transactions are said to be included, no doubt upsetting many fans.
17 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Six Days In Fallujha
The first person shooter was going to be set during the six-day battle with players taking control of a squad of marines as they attempt to defeat local forces. As you can probably imagine the game came under fire for attempting to normalise war and trivialising the hundreds of people ended during the conflict.
The game is believed to be complete but no publisher is willing to take a chance on it. Hopefully, it will never see the light of day as we have enough simulated war games on the market without one based on a recent and violent crisis.
16 Games That Are Coming: Devil May Cry 5
After changing things up and receiving mixed reviews from critics, Capcom are going all out with the fifth title in the Devil May Cry series. Both Dante and Neo are back as playable characters with the focus on fast paced hack and slash gameplay with multiple enemies and another mind bending plot.
The game is set to take place a few years after Devil May Cry 2 and is also rumoured to feature a new playable character.
Previews of the game so far have gone down well with critics and fans having high expectations for this one.
15 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Hot Lava
Based on the children’s game of the same name, Hot Lava is essentially a first person adventure game whereby you have to keep your character from falling into the lava floor. This requires you to jump, swing, and use any object at your disposal to stay safe.
It’s a cute idea but do we really need a game like this? Kids might get a kick out of it for a few hours but I can’t see anyone wanting to play this repeatedly. This one is closer to development than most games on this list, but hopefully never sees the light of day. Minecraft is bad enough.
14 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Night Trap (Remake)
The original Night Trap is a 1992 interactive movie video game about a group of young woman who are attacked by vampiric creatures, with players having to keep them safe during the night. It’s a pretty average game that gained notoriety for its grown-up-only content.
Over the years it’s been speculated a remake is on the cards but this is something nobody wants or needs.
Sure, the premise is interesting but the gratuitous stuff is no longer acceptable and the gameplay itself rather boring when compared to modern games. Night Trap is best left in the bargain bin.
13 Games That Are Coming: Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Set six months after the events of the first game, The Division 2 is a sprawling co-op survival action title pitting the survivors of Washington D.C. against rampaging mercenaries.
The Division 2 is set to include more downloadable content and a more intricate story, with up to eight players able to complete missions and raids together. Test footage of the game looks much sharper than the original, with critics who’ve played a beta version of the game complimenting the gameplay and visuals.
12 Games That Hopefully Never Come: Titanic: Honour And Glory
The sinking of the Titanic remains one of the worst naval disasters of all time, so basing a game on the tragedy is quite a strange choice. Titanic: Honour And Glory has been in the works for over five years and concerns protagonist Owen Robert Morgan boarding the ship and trying to prove he’s not an international criminal.
It sounds weird and most probably would be if the game could get off the crowd. Originally set to be crowdfunded this idea has been scrapped, with not much word filtering through about the game since 2016. Hopefully, it stays sunk like the actual Titanic.
11 Games That Are Coming: Metro Exodus
The third installment in the thrilling Metro franchise based upon the books by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro Exodus continues 23-year-old Artyom’s journey across a post-apocalyptic earth.
This first-person effort is set to contain survival horror elements with players relying on stealth and their environment to survive.
A dynamic weather system is being introduced that will affect players as the seasons change during the game, while you’ll also be able to handcraft a variety of weapons and tools to survive the harsh climate.
