4. Pokémon Sun and Moon
via Polygon
The Pokémon Company / Game Freak | Nintendo 3DS | Scheduled release date: November 18, 2016
The Pokémon Go fever is fading fast, but that hasn’t abated the enthusiasm for Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. They’re the seventh line in the iconic series of critter training role-playing games that thrills children from seven to seventy-seven. Sun and Moon takes trainers to Alola, a tropical continent. Certain Pokémon will adapt to the region with all-new Alola forms.
3. Mafia III
via Xbox Store
2K Games, Inc. / Hangar 13 | Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4 | Scheduled release date: October 7, 2016
The open world heavyweights are sitting out this year, giving Mafia III a lot of elbow room to succeed. The series is best known for detailed recreations of famous American cities, but Mafia III promises a more robust open world. It’s set in New Bordeaux, a fictitious version of New Orleans unlike most other videogame cities. There’s also enough sixties music to make a Rolling Stone editor cry.
2. Battlefield 1
via battlefield.com
Electronic Arts / DICE | PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 | Scheduled release date: October 21, 2016
With an astonishing 2 million likes, the confusingly named Battlefield 1 has the most liked video game trailer in YouTube history. Its closest rival, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare hasn’t got nearly the same buzz. Battlefield 1 sets its sights on World War 1 rather than on hypothetical future wars. Who knew gamers longed for trench warfare and the fresh smell of mustard gas in the morning?
1. Final Fantasy XV (PC, PS4)
via Polygon
Square Enix | PC, PlayStation 4 | Scheduled release date: November 29, 2016
The next installment in the forever franchise that is Final Fantasy is a special blend between Game of Thrones-style politicking and the unapologetic teen bonding of a CW TV series. It’s also the one game that local retailers are getting asked about the most. Featuring real-time combat, refined spellcraft and of course, bad-ass summons, Final Fantasy XV seems to be the total hype.
Which of these games are you itching to own this year? Tell us about them in the comments section!
