2018 is almost here, which means for another great year for gaming. 2017 has had some fantastic games such as Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Horizon Zero Dawn, Cuphead, Resident Evil 7, and so much more. The line up for 2018 is looking possibly stronger. I will be looking at what I am most excited for in 2018. These are games that are confirmed or are most likely to come out for 2018, so no The Last of Us 2 and a few others will not be on this list, sadly. Hopefully, nothing here gets postponed until 2019. Get your lists ready to comment below after reading this one. Let us all get hyped for 2018!
10. Code Vein
Release date: Early 2018
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
Despite not being developed by FromSoftware, Bandai Namco’s upcoming release seems a bit similar to fans of Dark Souls. This grim vampire game will be a JRPG. We know it will be difficult, dark, weird, and everything fans should expect from the publisher of Dark Souls and the main brains behind the God Eater series.
9. Overkill’s The Walking Dead
Release date: Fall 2018
Platform(s): Xbox One, PS4, PC
This series has had a lot of attention from starting out as graphic novels, exploding on TV, becoming a hit game from Tell Tale, then the Activision game that we all need to forget about. This new cooperative game comes from Overkill, the company that made the Payday games. They are tackling the world of The Walking Dead in this new upcoming game. Not much is known, but players will team up for missions to survive in a world ravaged by zombies. Just like the other games, shows, and novels, you will have to fight off the dead and the living to survive. From their previous work and what we can see from trailers, this looks like the promising survival game that fans of The Walking Dead have been waiting for. I am a huge zombie fan, so I can not wait to dive into this with my friends.
8. God of War
Release date: Early 2018
Platform(s): PS4
Okay, this will shock a lot of you, but I have never played a God of War game before. I am just as disappointed as you are. This will be my first time in the series. As stated from E3 and interviews, this game is supposed to lend itself to old fans and bring in new fans. Being able to go in knowing nothing will be great. The new style of gameplay will be easier for new players like myself. Exploring the world of Norse mythology will be interesting and to see where Kratos ends up on this new adventure. God of War lands at #8 from my inexperience with the series but manages to be on my top 10 from the amazing trailers and gameplay demos shown from E3. I am beyond excited to experience a game in this series since I know so many people who love the God of War games. After many delays, we can all hope that this game truly does come out in 2018 as promised.
7. Detroit: Become Human
Release date: Spring 2018
Platform(s): PS4
Quantic Dream’s new game, Detroit: Become Human is an upcoming exclusive to the PS4. Quantic Dream is known for games such as Heavy Rain and Indigo Prophecy. Just like their previous games, your actions and choices are important. You will play as three different androids who have become sentient. Each character will have their own unique story that will eventually tie in with the other characters in some way. As previous games from Quantic Dream, but there are always major issues in the plot. Hopefully, after so many attempts, we can get the gripping story that has high stakes to the player’s actions as attempted before in Heavy Rain and Beyond Two Souls. This could be a promising game that can make the amazing PS4 exclusive catalog look stronger or just be a forgettable mistake. The reason it beats the other games is my love for the concept, but when the final product is out, who knows how anyone will actually feel about this game.
6. Far Cry 5
Release date: March 27, 2018
Platform(s): Xbox One, PS4, PC
I have mixed feelings about Ubisoft. I usually do not care for their games and feel disappointed in many of their projects such as The Divison, but Far Cry is a series they make that I love. Sure, the past few games blended together a little bit regarding gameplay, but they work so well. The series returns in America for the first time. This has sparked controversy, but it just makes me more interested. Like previous games, you will be fighting off a group of people who have taken over with a tyrannical leader with a religious spin. The world will be full of variety and open for the player to hunt, drive around, save people, and do so much more. 
5. Days Gone
Release date: Early 2018
Platform(s): PS4
Imagine a biker oriented story in a zombie apocalypse. That is Days Gone. The game calls their zombies a creature called Freakers. Like many modern zombie games, there will be different types of zombies. These types will behave in certain ways and have different abilities that will distinguish them from one another. Of course, humans are a threat also. Going through this beautiful landscape in the Pacific Northwest where the danger lies all around whether it is a human or a Freaker. This unique spin on the zombie genre is what we need and I believe this should be an excellent PS4 exclusive.
4. A Way Out
Release date: March 23, 2018
Platform(s): Xbox One, PS4, PC
I love cooperative games, especially with unique twists like A Way Out brings to the table. Developed by Hazelight, the creators of Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons, this is their new gripping game. A Way Out is about two people breaking out of prison together and making it beyond the walls. You and a friend must manage different scenarios inside and out of the prison. The entire game is split-screen, even if you are playing online. A variety of ways to play the game will give unique experiences and ways to tackle a problem. This project has come out of nowhere and has caught everyone’s attention. Nothing is better than playing with a friend through a game and this could be one of the best cooperative experiences in years.
3. Red Dead Redemption 2
Release date: Spring 2018
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
The long await sequel to Red Dead Redemption is almost here. The open world experience of the first game was amazing. Knowing Rockstar, they will raise the bar a lot higher than the already high bar set from the first game. There is a lot to expect from an open world game from Rockstar. The writing will be phenomenal. Characters will be fleshed out with interesting personalities with tremendous voice acting and dialog. The story will be gripping all the way through with amazing missions. The online is what I am worried about. Despite the success they have found in Grand Theft Auto V, I am afraid that their same model will be the same for Red Dead Redemption 2. I felt burned out of GTA V by the way that game was handled. Hopefully, a lot has been learned and can be improved upon in Red Dead Redemption 2. One thing is for certain, I will love the single player.
2. Metro: Exodus
Release date: Fall 2018
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
When I first saw the trailer for Metro: Exodus, I was freaking out. This was a complete surprise that a third entry was being delivered. These games are some of the best in the FPS genre for single player experiences. The first game, Metro 2033 is good despite its flaws. The following game, Metro: Last Light is a wonderful improvement that is fantastic. The game expands itself in the third upcoming entry. The story continues and you are continuing to survive in the bleak and horrifying conditions of Russia surrounded by dangerous people and even more dangerous creatures. Gameplay will be improved and expanded upon. The biggest aspect shown so far is that levels will be much bigger. Relatively a linear experience like the previous game, except with enough open moments to lend the player a way to explore and have more to do. With this current track record in the series, it should be safe to say that Metro: Exodus will take the great qualities from the previous games and raise the bar to an even better game.
1. Spider-Man
Release date: 2018
Platform(s): PS4
Finally, a promising Spider-Man game. I loved the first couple of games from the early 2000s. There is nothing better when this game got announced and the developer was going to be Insomniac. From the titles such as Ratchet and Clank and Sunset Overdrive, have given them a catalog that proves they can create a beautifully stylized game with excellent writing and fluid gameplay. You need people who can deliver the right story with the proper humor that can truly bring Peter Parker’s story to life. Having the right gameplay that Insomniac is more than qualified for to bring a fluid experience for gameplay and traversal will be perfect for this open world game. Some concerns are there in terms of the number of quick time events and the progression since the player will start out with all of Spidey’s abilities are there, but with my experiences playing games from Insomniac, I am sure I will fall in love with this game. Hopefully, we can get a solid release date in 2018.
That is my list of games I am excited about. 2018 looks like it can be a solid year for gaming. Give me your list of anticipated games, I would love to read what you are all looking forward to.
Images via Sony Interactive Entertainment, Insomniac Games, Deep Silver, 4A Games, Rockstar Games, 2K Games, Hazelight Studios, Electronic Arts, SIE Bend Studio, Ubisoft, Quantic Dream, SIE Santa Monica Studio, Overkill Software, and Bandai Namco Entertainment, Pixabay
Tristan Zelden 