My Top 10 Most Anticipated Games from E3 2018

E3 has always been an event that I look forward to. I had the chance to go twice so far. Once when I was working at a small video game company, and more recently two years ago when the event was first open to the public. It's an event I encourage every fan of video games to go and attend at least once, but since all the showcases are still for media and people in the industry, I prefer watching the streams from home. You will get a chance to play the game demos if you're there, but I'm too impatient to wait an hour or more for my chance to play.

So taken into account that I didn't get any hands on time with any of the games on this list, these are just my impressions from official trailers, dev or other hands on demos. I'll keep my comments minimal so If you want to learn more about any of these titles, check out the trailers and watch/read the developer interviews that have been coming out since E3.

Entertainment Software Association - Image hosted by e3expo.com

1. The Last of Us: Part 2 (Release date TBA 2019)

I was most looking forward to any news related to The Last of Us: Part 2, after the game's director Neil Druckmann posted on twitter leading up to E3 that there was going to be big news about Part 2. The over 10 minute trailer didn't disappoint. It included game play that looked so fluid and action packed, that I couldn't believe that the whole section was someone playing the game. This could have been an in game cut scene from another triple A game company, and it still would have been amazing. At first I thought that a sequel to the first game would never be able to live up to the expectations set by the first game, but after seeing this trailer I take that all back. I can't wait to get my hands on this game!

2. Cyberpunk 2077 (Release date TBA 2019)

Cyberpunk 2077 is what I wanted the new Deus Ex games to be. Even though the game play was shown behind closed doors to the press, it's looking like CD Projekt Red's biggest game. That saying a lot when their last game was the highly acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The style is like nothing before it, and the Sci-fi theme is more to my taste then their last games. I still need to beat The Witcher 3, and the other games in the series, so those should keep me busy until more information is revealed about this game.

3. Metro Exodus (February 22, 2019)

Even though the Metro series, and the novels it is based on, have been around for a while now, this is the first game I'm really hyped to play. I need to go back to play the other games for the story/lore, but this game has a unique setting and style that separates it from other post-apocalyptic type games. The weapon customization, beautiful environments, and choice in how to achieve your objective has me looking forward to this title.

4. Spider-man (September 7, 2018)

When this game was first revealed, I thought that it was just being used to promote the new Spider-man: Homecoming reboot hitting the theaters. But after learning that it was produced by Insomniac Games and after seeing its game play showing at E3, this game definitely jumped up my most anticipated list. Insomniac Games, especially with its work on the Ratchet and Clank series, is a perfect fit for Spider-man. Focusing on characters and dialogue, while being able to quickly move around the city makes this the first superhero game I'm excited to play since I was a kid. Looking at the combat, it reminds me of how Rocksteady Studios was able to take the Batman license and make it a highly acclaimed series.

5. Kingdom Hearts 3 (January 25, 2019)

A couple of years ago, KH3 would have been on the top of my list, but after the long wait and playing numerous spin-offs on different consoles, my anticipation for the game started to wane. I've been a fan since the first game, and have grown more apprehensive after the long wait and disappointment of FF15. However, after seeing the gameplay trailer of KH3 this year, the game looks better than ever, putting my fears at ease. I was hoping for more new worlds to be revealed, and still have my fingers crossed they incorporate Marvel or Star Wars in some way. Some concerns I have is the frantic camera that has always plagued the series and some returning worlds like The Pirates of the Caribbean that I didn't like from the previous game. KH2 was leaps and bounds ahead of all the other games, so I'm optimistic that KH3 will add more to make it even better.

6. Death Stranding (TBA 2019?)

From producer and director Hideo Kojima, this game probably has been hyped up more than any other game on this list. For the first time, some gameplay footage has been shown off, but the story and game mechanics still remain a mystery. It looks to share the same 3rd person perspective and open world environments from MGSV, but I'm curious to see what the combat is like. The reason that this isn't higher on my list is because Hideo Kojima's projects have always been overly ambitious, and even though MGSV was critically acclaimed as the pinnacle of the MGS franchise, I didn't enjoy it as much as the story focused MGS3 Snake Eater.

7. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (TBA 2019)

This game took me by surprise and the only one other than Metro, that I didn't know was going to be shown off at this year's E3. From developer FromSoftware, known for their work on Bloodbourne and the Dark Souls series, this game is set in what looks to be feudal Japan, that seems to incorporate the art, mythos and culture from that time period. Taking this unique setting, dark tone and brutal combat the previous titles have been known for, this looks to be a exciting new take on the formula of FromSoftware.

8.Beyond Good and Evil 2 (TBA 2019?)

A game that many people until recently did not think was ever going to come out due to the early announcement and many subsequent delays, Beyond Good and Evil 2, looks to be taking its time to refine its mechanics and gameplay to make sure it lives up to their fan's expectations. Even though they're still not ready to show off gameplay footage, the trailers have shown that this title will have unique, fleshed out characters that focus on a narrative driven experience. I haven't played the original, but this prequel will have its own unique story that I'm sure will enhance the experience if you played the first.

9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (December 7, 2018)

I was a big fan of the original and GameCube version, but wasn't able to spend much time on the Wii and WiiU version of Super Smash Bros. Even though the game doesn't look any different then the previous iteration, I like how the new game seems to be refining the combat and making an emphasis that all previous fighters will be returning. I'm looking forward to hearing more about the online features of the game, as that will determine the popularity and longevity of the game. With the Nintendo Switch selling really well, and being a portable console, I expect this game will thrive and have an active player base, similar to what Splatoon did for the WiiU.

10. Anthem (February 22, 2019)

Anthem, developed by Mass Effect creators Bioware, is in a strange spot. Many are already hating on this game for a couple of reasons. First off, it looks like a Destiny clone, and MMO types of games always struggle their first year or two. I loved the Mass Effect games, but online games in the past have always sacrificed story for multiplayer components or worse yet for monetary structure. I would have been more psyched for this game if it came out a couple years earlier. The latest installment of Mass Effect, Andromeda, was panned for its story and technical issues and recent games, such as Star Wars Battlefront 2, from publisher EA has come under heavy criticism for its loot boxes and micro-transactions. I still included this in my list because the style and the combat of the game look great, and hope they can deliver on a satisfying story that Destiny could not.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this helpful. If you have any titles that you would include that I didn't mention, let me know in the comments below. Especially if you have any good Indie titles I should check out. I've been burned out on indie 2d platformers lately, but I know there are a lot of great ones out there that don't get enough coverage.