2015 was a great year for video games. Fallout 4, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Bloodborne, and the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were all met with critical acclaim. Immersive game play, fantastic graphics, and rich stories wowed gamers from around the world. This new year is looking to be just as good, if not a better year for gaming. It's time to get hyped for these new releases!
1. Mass Effect: Andromeda (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Bioware's much beloved Mass Effect series is getting a new release in December 2016. It is a date that cannot come soon enough for many of the series' fans. Mass Effect: Andromeda promises an adventure as grand as Shepard's, but with a brand new galaxy to explore and a new cast of characters to love. The plot remains relatively unknown, but the developers promise "exciting new worlds to discover, great characters, and intense action." The cinematic trailer looks to be just as exciting and heart-pounding as Shepard's battle with the Reapers. With more alien planets to explore, weaponry to experiment with, and a new and improved Mako to drive, Mass Effect: Andromeda is looking like a winner for 2016.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)
The Uncharted Series, starring Nathan Drake, is a favorite among gamers who love action and adventure alongside cinematic storytelling. In the final installment for the series, Drake is pulled out of retirement for one last job in search of a fabled pirate treasure. The search will have him travelling the globe and battling it out with South African mercenary group, Shoreline, along with their tough as nails leader, Nadine Ross. Slated to be released on April 26, Uncharted 4 will hopefully end this renowned series on a high note.
3.Mirror's Edge: Catalyst (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Mirror's Edge: Catalyst is the origin story for one of the coolest female video game protagonists. Faith Connors first made her appearance in the 2008 Mirror's Edge as an off the grid runner charged with transporting messages in a futuristic city while evading an authoritarian government. The prequel will employ the same innovative parkour style game play and vividly colored platforms that made its predecessor popular. Mirror's Edge: Catalyst will reveal how Faith became the heroine living on the edge that gamers have come to know and love. The game will be available on May 24, 2016.
4. Firewatch (PS4, PC, Mac)
From the relatively unknown developer, Camp Santo, comes an atmospheric game called Firewatch. Set in the isolated Wyoming wilderness, Firewatch puts players in control of Henry, a man who has left behind a busy world in exchange for scanning the woods for any signs of fire.When two women go missing in the Wyoming forest, it is up to Henry, and his supervisor, Delilah, to solve the mystery in the secluded wilderness. Firewatch employs beautiful visuals as well as choice based game play to weave a rich and original story. As an added bonus, Camp Santo is the product of Jake Rodkin and Sean Vanaman, overseers of Telltale's famous Walking Dead game. Look for Firewatch on February 9, 2016.
5. Unravel (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Unravel stars an anthropomorphic yarn creature named Yarny, who must use his own yarn to solve puzzles and progress through the many game levels. This physic based game is developed by Swedish indie developer Coldwood Interactive and will be released on February 9, 2016. Martin Sahlin, the director of Unravel, informed gamers that, "the yarn represents love." Unravel is not just an aesthetically pleasing game, it looks to be a heartfelt adventure as well.
6. Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)
Horizon Zero Dawn places players in the role of Aloy, a hunter gatherer in a post-apocalyptic future populated by mechanized creatures. Aloy must hunt down these creatures in order to salvage their electrical parts for resources while also avoiding the more predatory creatures roaming this futuristic world. The game mixes crafting mechanics with stealth kills and an open world environment .Guerrilla Games, the developer for Horizon Zero Dawn, has promised that there will be no loading screens. This adventure game will be released in 2016 as a PlayStation 4 exclusive.
7. Hellblade (PS4, PC)
Hellblade, the newest creation by developer and publisher Ninja Theory, follows the story of Senua, a Celtic warrior who suffers from psychosis, depression and anxiety. She must undergo a personal journey through hell and battle nightmarish creatures that are a product of her own mind. Dominic Matthews, a developer from Ninja Theory, says that the goal of the game is "to see the world through Senua's eyes, and in doing so, address a subject that is still considered taboo." There is no definite release date for the game as of now, but Hellblade is supposed to be released sometime in 2016.
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