A couple weeks back, I took a look at some games I thought were cool in 2017, which, in retrospect, was a pretty great year for gaming. Despite some bad optics in the industry due to some monetization scandals and controversies, we had a surge of great single-player games, nostalgia revivals, and indie sleeper hits. This time, however, we’re taking a look forward at some upcoming games that I’ve got my fingers crossed for.

This list will be a bit shorter than the last one, because there are always a few surprises along the way that I don’t see coming, and because this year I’ve got to be a bit less… stupid with my money, but there are still a few games that I’m very excited for. We’re gonna go through them chronologically and sort them into two levels of anticipation: “Maybe” and “Hell Yes.”

Maybe: Monster Hunter World

I’m gonna be honest, I have no clue what to make of this game. I’m unfamiliar with the franchise, and have no idea whether I’d like it or not, but I’ll be damned if Monster Hunter World doesn’t look like a fun time.

Maybe: Shadow of The Colossus Remake

Shadow of the Colossus is a classic that I’ve missed out on for a long time. Depending on the price and the reception of the remake, this might be the perfect opportunity to finally see what all the fuss is about.

Maybe: A Way Out

This game fascinated me when it was shown off at E3 last year, and only more so when I saw its creative director go off the rails at the Game Awards. A co-op exclusive game, A Way Out is a cinematic prison break adventure unlike anything I’ve ever seen or played before. If I can find a partner in crime, this may be a prime opportunity for a fun Let’s Play.

Maybe: Dark Souls Remastered

Bloodborne and Dark Souls III are two of my favorite games in recent memory. I love the punishing challenge, the rich lore, and the amazing level and enemy design. Some friends have told me the first is the best in the series, but getting on the train this late makes me hesitant to go back to it. A remaster may give me the perfect opportunity to do so. And the idea of playing a Souls game on the Nintendo Switch is undeniably alluring.

Hell Yes: God of War

I never used to be interested in God of War, and it took me a while to finally get around to playing the main series titles. As I write this, I’m currently neck deep in God of War II, and am thoroughly enjoying myself. The creators of this game somehow manage to weave together intense violence, buckets upon buckets of blood, and the inhuman rage of a man consumed by vengeance into a work of art; not to mention a damn good videogame. I can’t wait to continue on with God of War 3, and hopefully this new take on the series lives up to the legacy set by the first three.

The rest of these games don’t have release dates, so I’m going to have to guess which ones are going to come out first. I’m probably wrong. Fingers crossed they all actually release in 2018.

Maybe: Crackdown 3

The first Crackdown is, from my perspective, an underrated gem of a game. It took the concept of a GTA-style sandbox and took it to another level. I thought the second game was a bit of a letdown, so I was both excited and apprehensive when a third game was revealed. It looks to be taking destructible environments to a whole new level. Maybe this is just a hyperbolized selling point, but you can’t go wrong with Terry Crews in the lead role, and if the gameplay is still fun, Crackdown 3 ought to be a good time.

Hell Yes: Red Dead Redemption 2

I’m a sucker for Rockstar. From my perspective they made some questionable decisions with GTA Online, but the story mode in GTA 5 is still a laugh, and GTA 4 is one of my favorite games ever made. However, Red Dead Redemption is arguably one of Rockstar's best. Some had lost hope for a sequel, but in hindsight, it was inevitable. There’s not much else to say. As far as Red Dead Redemption goes, it looks to be more of the same, which isn’t a bad thing. I’m more than willing to throw myself back into another beautifully detailed world painstakingly constructed by the mad geniuses over at Rockstar.

Hell Yes: Ghost of Tsushima

We need more games about Ninja and Samurai. And Sucker Punch looks willing to oblige. It’s strange to think that the minds behind Sly Cooper are now making a stealth action game about the Mongolian invasion of feudal Japan, but hey, that honestly sounds like a match made in heaven to me. Hopefully their storytelling has improved since the Infamous games, but even if it hasn’t, they certainly have my attention with the concept and the visual style of Ghost of Tsushima, and if the gameplay is as fun as Sucker Punch's previous project, this ought to be a damn good game.

Hell Yes: Spider-Man

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better pairing between a pre-established property and a game developer to adapt it. A Spider-Man game by Insomniac seems too good to be true. But, we know from Sunset Overdrive that these guys know how to make traversal in a game fun as well as functional. And Spider-Man has been ripe for another faithful, well-developed game adaptation ever since Spider-Man 2. If I’m right, and I’m really hoping I am, this might just fill the Arkham-shaped hole in all of our hearts.

And there we have some games I’m anticipating this year… that is, hopefully they all end up releasing sometime this year. Feel free to let me know what you’re anticipating, and check back soon for more content!

Some Games I Hope are Cool in 2018

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