Sea of Thieves (March 20th)

Studio: Rare (Kinect Sports, Rare Replay, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts)

A game that just looks like pure fun and a bit less of an Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag simulator than other 2018 title Skull and Bones, Sea of Thieves looks like it might take to Destiny model of gameplay to more colourful and laid back heights.

A Way Out (March 23rd)

Studio: Hazelight (Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons)

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons wove a wordless engaging drama around its cooperative gameplay hook of controlling two characters simultaneously with one controller. For game director Josef Fares follow-up he expands the simultaneous cooperative element further from one controller to split screen co-op. We can’t wait to try it out on the couch or online.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (May 18th)

Studio: Rockstar Studios [NYC] (Grand Theft Auto V, Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption)

I was right about predicting the delay not that anyone really cares. I’m sure the whole industry is ready to lie down for Rockstar as they always due when it comes to competition and similarly to what the movie industry has done for Disney because release date woes aside, they seem to be one of the only major developers taking calculating and ambitious promises and ready to back them up. I am predicting this release date myself because it’s the exact same day and date as the previous game eight years ago. We’ll see then if anyone still really doesn’t care.

Spider-Man (June 26th)

Studio: Insomniac Games (Sunset Overdrive, Ratchet & Clank)

This wasn’t ever exactly confirmed for 2017, I just figured Sony might want to schedule it to fit in with their fancy new Spider-Man movie, turns out it could be the wrong movie. There isn’t much new to say from last year when this was on the list, only that we’re still looking forward to it.

Days Gone (October 30th)

Studio: Sony Bend (Syphon Filter series, Uncharted: Golden Abyss)

The former proven handheld studio gets a crack at the big-time console making with yet another zombie survival game that looks similar to The Last of Us but with zombies that move like a horde that came out of World War Z. Going by the footage we’ve seen so far it looks to make for an intense experience.

Metro Exodus (November 20th)

Studio: 4A Games (Metro: Last Light/ 2033 Redux)

The first game in this series Metro 2033 released in the great gaming year of 2010 is definitely what I would call a hidden gem. A rare Xbox 360 console exclusive from mid-range publisher THQ the game was met with reviews that could have been kinder. The game was released in a crowded March schedule: on the same day as God of War III (whose follow-up I left off this list because it strangely looked like a Last of Us clone) a week after Final Fantasy XIII, two weeks after Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and a week before Just Cause 2. Ukranian developer 4A Games puts in brilliant touches throughout the series like using a lighter to illuminate your objective marker clipboard. Those atmospheric touches are enough to make one fall in love with the game.

The follow-up: Metro Last Light was the first game I reviewed on this site. Looking back, I wish I had spent more time explaining the wonderful gameplay improvements the game made from 2033. The grand stealth and overall improved smoothness of the game as an asset that had me playing levels over and over again raking in the INVSIBLE stealth achievements: SOLDIER/SAVIOR/ INTRUDER.

This new one may be more of the same or not. The first game’s odyssey narrative was a surprise with a brilliant twist ending. It was based on a book by Dmitri Glukhovsky, the second game was not. For this installment the author has come onboard directly as a writer, so there’s a reason to be positive.

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*Games scheduled to be released post Q1 have been pushed to their latest likely release date, that way when there’s a solid date it’ll come sooner rather than later. I hate it when publishers are wishy washy on releases, especially this decade which has seen a record number of delays.

Unconfirmed: 

• Anthem – Bioware (Mass Effect) Q4 2018 [Delay Likely]
• The Last of Us Part II – Naughty Dog (Uncharted)
• Ghost of Tsushima – Sucker Punch (inFAMOUS)

In every year there are surprises. Last year, Hellblade got a full release date only a few months before and Bethesda and Nintendo frequently announce games and release them in the same year. This’ll be an exciting year for me as a PC Gamer as well. I can’t wait to jump in.