Being an early adopter with a new gaming console is always a fun, if pricey endeavor, but the first year is typically slow on essential games.
Yes, you get the odd exclusive launch classic but that's often about all, with developers instead learning the hardware and working on enhancing their top franchises. Which means right about now is the best time to jump on board the next-gen express, because 2015 looks to be absolutely stocked with must-play experiences for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. PC players will reap most of the rewards too - and don't worry, Wii U owners, we've got a few games in the mix here for you. |
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Whether you're looking for the latest AAA sequels or prefer something with an original hook, we've got it all here in our list of the 30 most intriguing games on the horizon for the rest of 2015. Start saving your loose change and clearing your backlog.
10. CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 3
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, PS3
No huge surprise here: we all knew a new Call Of Duty was coming, and it was Treyarch's turn in the rotation, so Black Ops 3 it is!
Due: 6 November
No huge surprise here: we all knew a new Call Of Duty was coming, and it was Treyarch's turn in the rotation, so Black Ops 3 it is!
Due: 6 November
9. BLOODBORNE: THE OLD HUNTERS
Platform: PlayStation 4
A downloadable expansion pack on our anticipated games list? When it's the first huge new chunk of content for one of the best games of the first half of the year, then yes, absolutely.
Bloodborne is a smashing PlayStation 4 exclusive, and The Old Hunters promises to deliver new areas, enemies, outfits, weapons, magic, and more to the brutally tough battler. If the main game is any indication, it should be £12 very well spent.
Due: 24 November
A downloadable expansion pack on our anticipated games list? When it's the first huge new chunk of content for one of the best games of the first half of the year, then yes, absolutely.
Bloodborne is a smashing PlayStation 4 exclusive, and The Old Hunters promises to deliver new areas, enemies, outfits, weapons, magic, and more to the brutally tough battler. If the main game is any indication, it should be £12 very well spent.
Due: 24 November
8. ASSASSIN'S CREED SYNDICATE
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Ubisoft's historical open-world favourite continues its annual stride with Assassin's Creed Syndicate, which shifts the action to Victorian-era London.
As dual leads Jacob and Evie Frye, you'll grow your underground gang as you attempt to take down the powerful Templar leaders that run the city. Syndicate primarily maintains the third-person action of earlier entries, but also implements new elements such as the rope launcher and battles atop carriages, as seen in the trailer.
Due: 23 October
Ubisoft's historical open-world favourite continues its annual stride with Assassin's Creed Syndicate, which shifts the action to Victorian-era London.
As dual leads Jacob and Evie Frye, you'll grow your underground gang as you attempt to take down the powerful Templar leaders that run the city. Syndicate primarily maintains the third-person action of earlier entries, but also implements new elements such as the rope launcher and battles atop carriages, as seen in the trailer.
Due: 23 October
7. RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360
Lara Croft experienced some rather unsettling things in last year's excellent series reboot, and it's all changed her as a person. But while she might dabble in therapy (see the teaser above), it's clear that her thirst for adventure isn't nearly sated.
Despite the hokey title, we can't help but await seeing how Rise Of The Tomb Raider evolves the formula – although note that it's an Xbox exclusive in 2015, at least.
Due: 10 November
Lara Croft experienced some rather unsettling things in last year's excellent series reboot, and it's all changed her as a person. But while she might dabble in therapy (see the teaser above), it's clear that her thirst for adventure isn't nearly sated.
Despite the hokey title, we can't help but await seeing how Rise Of The Tomb Raider evolves the formula – although note that it's an Xbox exclusive in 2015, at least.
Due: 10 November
6. STARCRAFT II: LEGACY OF THE VOID
Platform: PC
More than five years after it began, the StarCraft II saga will come to a close with Legacy of the Void, the third and final part in the real-time strategy sequel storyline. With the Terran and Zerg campaigns down, Legacy of the Void focuses on the Protoss – and it's a standalone expansion this time around, although we're sure fans already have the earlier entries. Blizzard's calling card is impeccably refined and gripping RTS action, and we're sure to get it here as well.
Due: 10 November
More than five years after it began, the StarCraft II saga will come to a close with Legacy of the Void, the third and final part in the real-time strategy sequel storyline. With the Terran and Zerg campaigns down, Legacy of the Void focuses on the Protoss – and it's a standalone expansion this time around, although we're sure fans already have the earlier entries. Blizzard's calling card is impeccably refined and gripping RTS action, and we're sure to get it here as well.
Due: 10 November
5. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
It's the year of Star Wars, and alongside The Force Awakens in cinemas comes Star Wars Battlefront from DICE, the celebrated maker of the Battlefield series.
It promises 40-player skirmishes on massive levels, with a look that aims to mirror the films, plenty of iconic vehicles to take control of, and some classic villains to play as. Battlefront lacks a campaign, but will have single-player and co-op challenge missions to play beyond the huge, chaotic online showdowns.
Due: 17 November
It's the year of Star Wars, and alongside The Force Awakens in cinemas comes Star Wars Battlefront from DICE, the celebrated maker of the Battlefield series.
It promises 40-player skirmishes on massive levels, with a look that aims to mirror the films, plenty of iconic vehicles to take control of, and some classic villains to play as. Battlefront lacks a campaign, but will have single-player and co-op challenge missions to play beyond the huge, chaotic online showdowns.
Due: 17 November
4. LEGO DIMENSIONS
Platforms: Wii U, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3
Long rumoured and finally brought to life, Lego Dimensions is the plastic brick company's response to Disney Infinity and Nintendo's Amiibo: a game that interacts with chip-equipped Lego minifigures and vehicles. And like Disney's game, it pulls together characters and environments from all sorts of properties: The Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, The Lego Movie, Back to the Future, The Wizard of Oz, and more. Sounds fun — and expensive, of course.
Due: 29 September
Long rumoured and finally brought to life, Lego Dimensions is the plastic brick company's response to Disney Infinity and Nintendo's Amiibo: a game that interacts with chip-equipped Lego minifigures and vehicles. And like Disney's game, it pulls together characters and environments from all sorts of properties: The Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, The Lego Movie, Back to the Future, The Wizard of Oz, and more. Sounds fun — and expensive, of course.
Due: 29 September
3. NEED FOR SPEED
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4
Need For Speed entries have varied in tone and quality for a long time, but EA is finally giving the venerable racing series a proper reboot – and it looks impressive.
The focus on night-time driving recalls the past Underground entries, but we've never seen lighting this realistic in a racer, and the new chase camera gives the open-city action the jarring tone it deserves.
We're not sold on the full-motion video narrative stuff, but the actual game seems very promising. (A PC version will follow in Spring 2016.)
Due: 5 November
Need For Speed entries have varied in tone and quality for a long time, but EA is finally giving the venerable racing series a proper reboot – and it looks impressive.
The focus on night-time driving recalls the past Underground entries, but we've never seen lighting this realistic in a racer, and the new chase camera gives the open-city action the jarring tone it deserves.
We're not sold on the full-motion video narrative stuff, but the actual game seems very promising. (A PC version will follow in Spring 2016.)
Due: 5 November
2. FIFA 16
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, PS3
FIFA returns to soak up loads more hours of our time this September, building upon the momentum of recent entries while focusing more on defensive skills and making a better effort to teach newcomers as they play.
And perhaps most importantly of all, FIFA 16 will be the first entry to include women's national teams, a long-overdue addition that deserves praise. FIFA's led the football genre for some time now, so we're only expecting great things again.
Due: 25 September
FIFA returns to soak up loads more hours of our time this September, building upon the momentum of recent entries while focusing more on defensive skills and making a better effort to teach newcomers as they play.
And perhaps most importantly of all, FIFA 16 will be the first entry to include women's national teams, a long-overdue addition that deserves praise. FIFA's led the football genre for some time now, so we're only expecting great things again.
Due: 25 September
1. HITMAN
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
As slick and cinematic as Hitman: Absolution was, it lost the script somewhat when it came to open-ended gameplay and sandbox satisfaction. Fortunately, the Hitman reboot seems intent on fixing that, with stages that promise to be several times larger than in Absolution and the freedom to carry out assassinations as you see fit. It'll release first on digital, with a physical collection due out in early 2016 if anyone truly needs it.
Due: 8 December
As slick and cinematic as Hitman: Absolution was, it lost the script somewhat when it came to open-ended gameplay and sandbox satisfaction. Fortunately, the Hitman reboot seems intent on fixing that, with stages that promise to be several times larger than in Absolution and the freedom to carry out assassinations as you see fit. It'll release first on digital, with a physical collection due out in early 2016 if anyone truly needs it.
Due: 8 December
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