Make no mistake, 2015 is the year when the next generation of gaming truly begins. Yes, Nintendo did fire the opening salvo of the new console wars with the launch of the Wii-U in winter 2012. Yes, the Playstation 4 and Xbox One were both released in 2013. But, as any longtime gamer will tell you, a generation doesn’t truly begin until the steady stream of Triple-A game releases turn into a tidal wave. While 2014 had some notable games, 2015 is when the big boys come out to play. Here are our top six reasons why this might just be the best year of gaming yet.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
PS4, XB1, PS3, 360
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG_8ZMtQ58Y
Kept us waiting, huh Snake? Set nine years after the events of the prologue chapter Ground Zeroes, players take on the role of Venom Snake (aka Big Boss) who travels to Afghanistan to track down the men responsible for putting him in a coma. Series creator Hideo Kojima has promised a vast open world where players will be able to tackle missions in whatever way they want to and in whatever order they like, giving gamers unprecedented control over how Big Boss’s story unfolds. MGS V aims to evolve the series while keeping what fans love about it intact. Yes, this probably means a 90-minute cutscene or two as well.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
PS4
Nathan Drake is back! In this PS4 exclusive adventure, everyone’s favorite gun-toting, sarcastic, fortune-seeking rogue reunites with his brother Sam to search for lost pirate treasure. Fresh off the critically acclaimed The Last of Us, developers Naughty Dog will no doubt be bringing their A-game for the latest instalment of their flagship Uncharted series. An improved traversal system will enable Nate to reach areas he could previously only grasp at while streamlined combat mechanics will make taking down anonymous henchmen faster and more fun than ever before.
Mortal Kombat X
PS4, XB1, PC, PS3, 360
Fatalities have never looked so good! Ed Boon and his fellow sociopaths at Netherrealm Studios are ready to bring Mortal Kombat into the next generation in the landmark tenth instalment of their popular fighting game franchise. Old favourites like Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Raiden are pitted against new “kombatants” such as the insect queen D’Vorah, the sun-god Kotal Kahn and bubble-gum popping, gun-wielding Cassie Cage. New additions include three new fighting styles per character, the ability to use parts of the stage as weapons and the most disturbingly creative Fatalities in series history. Finish him!
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
PS4, XB1
If we had to name just one game that has our fingers itching to pick up a controller, it’s this one. CD Projekt RED’s Witcher III may just be the most anticipated game of the year and we’re eagerly counting the days till its release. This ambitious title, based on a cult hit dark fantasy novel series, will end series protagonist Geralt of Rivia’s story as the mysterious group known only as the Wild Hunt wreaks havoc across the land. A revamped combat system, new platforming mechanics, a deeper item creation suite, dozens of sidequests and branching paths for completing the main story all ensure that Geralt of Rivia goes out with a bang.
The Legend of Zelda
Wii-U
Not since Walt Whitman has there been this much hullaballoo over blades of grass. But take one look at the trailer for the new Zelda on Wii-U and you’ll realize why gamers were slack-jawed at the gorgeous and impressively detailed open world setting of Link’s next adventure. This promises to be a Zelda game like no other, with every nook and cranny of the new high-definition Hyrule open for curious players to explore. If that hasn’t sold you, then the rush of being able to jump from your faithful steed Epona and fire arrows in midair probably will.
Batman: Arkham Knight
PS4, XB1
If you’ve ever wished you were Batman (and who hasn’t, right?), developer Rocksteady’s Arkham games have been the go-to source for your Dark Knight fix. Billed as the last entry in the series, players take on the role of the Caped Crusader as he attempts to stop Scarecrow from releasing his fear toxin all over the city, while battling a ruthless new vigilante known only as the Arkham Knight. For the first time, Batman will not only have the entirety of the iconic Gotham City to explore but will be able to do so in the Batmobile. This is the Batman game we deserve and the one we need RIGHT NOW!
And that’s not all. We haven’t even mentioned From Software’s Bloodborne, which promises to take gaming masochism to new heights or Tom Clancy’s The Division which looks to be the first truly dynamic multiplayer shooter, Destiny be damned. Then there’s Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider or Star Wars: Battlefront, which we know excruciatingly little about but are due out sometime this year. And there’s more, so much more to be found in gaming in 2015. So change your New Year’s resolution to ‘Play More Games’ because this year, you’d be silly not to.