It is the start of a new year and that means new games. While there is usually a dry spell of releases after December, this year is a bit different. Plenty of games have been pushed back just enough to enter into 2017. So here is a list of 10 anticipated games coming out in the next three months.
Night in the Woods (Jan 10)
Night in the Woods is made for gamers who prefer a smaller and more story focused game. The game’s protagonist, Mae, is a 20-something year old cat that is returning home after dropping out of college. Mae begins reconnecting with old friends and settling into a now crumbling small mining town. Along the way Mae discovers that something strange and perhaps supernatural is happening in the woods.
If any of that sounds interesting download the companion game Lost Constellation for any price you want. Night in the Woods will be available on PS4, Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Gravity Rush 2 (Jan 20)
Gravity Rush may have started on the PlayStation Vita, but the sequel is being made the ground up for the PS4. Players will reprise their role as Kat, a young hobo that fell from the sky with no memories and the power to control gravity. After the events shown in the Gravity Rush animation, Kat and friends are transported to a new unknown city. Now they must fight a new threat that will (hopefully) explain Kat’s origins.
Currently there is a free Gravity Rush 2 demo on PS4 and the first game is available for PS4 and PS Vita.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Jan 24)
After years of ever growing over the top action, Resident Evil is finally going back to its survival horror roots. Little is known about the story other than it will be on a much smaller scale than the past few games. What is known comes mostly from the demo that hints at a much larger story and shows off the new gameplay. This also marks the first major AAA title that will be playable completely in Virtual Reality. If done well Resident Evil 7 could prove that VR is here to stay.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC and will be VR compatible. A demo is also available on the mentioned platforms and has been updated with more content since its initial release.
Yakuzu 0 (Jan 24)
Not many games do what Yakuza does. It will sometimes seem a bit serious to outsiders looking at promotional images, but it is one of the most ridiculous games out there. Punching tigers, boss battles on top of skyscrapers and a underwear thief are just a few of the crazy things in the series. The series is also similar to Shenmue in that there is a lot of attention put into the details and there is a lot to do that is not related to the main story. Some are little things such as reading manga, going to the arcade or eating out. Other things are more substantial like side quest with side characters that can lead to especially interesting situations.
Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the first Yakuza and will be the first one on PS4, making it good place to start for newcomers. The game will release also release on PS3.
Nioh (Feb 9)
Nioh is one of the few attempts from a large developer to make Dark Souls like game. Unlike other games in the same genre, Nioh makes serious and mostly successful effort to build on the combat of the Souls series. Nioh has three stances that each have different properties and combos. There are also various weapon types that also have different properties and combos. Stances, Weapon moves, magic and more can be upgrade to be better or provide new abilities. There is also stamina recovery system that rewards well timed buttons presses with instant recovery. I could go on, but let’s just say there is a lot of choice and well thought out systems.
There was a limited beta however it is longer available. Nioh will launch exclusively for PS4.
For Honor (Feb 14)
For Honor is a pretty straight forward game. You play as one of three badass warrior factions: samurais, vikings, or knights. Each of these have three types of warriors or class types. Ultimately players will stab things with their friends, stab strangers online or stab AI in the singleplayer campaign. There are of course various game modes and a story, but the most exciting part is the new combat system.
For Honor launches on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. A beta will be held before the game’s launch. Sign up for the beta at the official website.
Halo Wars 2 (Feb 21)
One of the few Microsoft exclusives confirmed for early 2017 is the real time strategy spin off, Halo Wars 2. The game is of course building on top of surprisingly good original Halo Wars. That means more content such as five online modes, new units, bigger maps and of course a new story. This is undoubtedly reaching a smaller audience than many games on the list, but it does fill a specific niche that will make some gamers very happy.
Halo Wars 2 launches for Xbox One and PC.
Horizon Zero Dawn (Feb 28)
It would be difficult to forget about Horizon Zero Dawn. Although the game seems like another open world game, it undeniably has a unique setting. Sometime in the distant future robot dinosaurs have reclaimed the Earth. Humans now live in small tribes similar to life before large countries were established. Players take on the role of the young machine hunter Aloy as she discovers the mystery of the world and her own destiny.
Horizon Zero Dawn launches exclusively for PS4.
Ghost Recon Wildlands (March 7)
Ghost Recon Wildlands is one of the few AAA games that have a heavy focus on four person co-op. The entirety of the game can be played with four people online and each person can drop in or out at anytime. There also plenty of tools and different ways to complete missions which provides some replayability. As for the story it involves a small elite team trying to take down the Santa Blanca Cartel in Bolivia. More than likely this will be the game to turn towards when you want to play with a few close friends.
A beta will be released which you can sign up for at the official website. Ghost Recon Wildlands launches on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
NieR: Automata (Mar 7)
Nier: Automata is the sequel to the cult hit Nier and expands on the universe of the Drakengard series. Although the setting is fairly unique, the real star is the game’s combat. Platinum Games, the creators of Bayonetta, have struck balance between their signature style and the combat established in the original game. This creates a solid combat system that encourages player driven discovery and experimentation.
Currently there is a free demo available on PS4. Nier: Automata launches for PS4 and at a later date for PC.