The Most Hotly Anticipated Games of 2019

Can this year really top 2018 when it comes to gaming milestones?

14:23 16 January 2019

Between Red Dead Redemption 2 and Fornite mania, 2018 going to be a difficult year to match in terms of memorable releases and community hype. Then again, new technologies and an ever-growing video game consumer base seems to have put gaming on a steady and positive incline - with no signs of slowing down in 2019. Here’s a list of some titles we can already look forwards this year.

The Last of Us 2

We may be impatient, but we should be no means want Naughty Dog to rush the development of The Last of Us 2. Fortunately, the general stance from fans seems to be “take all the time you need”. The Last of Us was a work of art, not just in the world of video games but as a stand-alone piece of storytelling, a visual feat, and as an experience so immersive we remember it with vivid details years later. Zombie fan or not, anyone who can appreciate a video game developed with nothing but pure talent and love should look forwards to the sequel of this hit game. While nothing official has yet been confirmed by the developers, it is widely believed that the release date will fall at the end of March this year.

Alien: Blackout

Reviews have been mixed for Alien: Blackout, mainly due to PC and console gamers feeling cheated over not getting a full-length and more elaborate game. While the choice of mobile may be disappointing and does pose some limitations, this recent game still manages to do the franchise justice by providing the same great ambience of the popular Alien: Isolation from 2014. More forgiving game critics have pointed out precisely that, while praising the mobile game’s seamless playthrough and the absence of sneaky microtransactions. Whether you’re a die-hard Alien fan or simply enjoy a good mobile game, at just five dollars, Alien: Blackout is well worth your time.

Cyberpunk 2077

Scheduled for release sometime this year, everybody is getting the feeling that the cinematic Cyberpunk 2077 will be well worth the painfully long wait that CD Projekt Red have had us enduring since 2012. The fact that this open-world RPG is named after the very genre it seeks to emulate tells us how style-centric and atmospheric this game will be. The Witcher 3 is widely regarded to be one of the best video games of all time - so the developers are no doubt feeling the pressure of such a raised bar. However if you watch the game trailer, you’ll see what is getting everyone so hyped, and so certain that Cyberpunk 2077 will live up to its developers’ legacy.

Golden Grimoire

The second mobile game on this list is unique in that it’s from the increasingly popular genre of online slots. Developed by casino giants NetEnt, the game is based on the concept of a ‘grimoire’; the French word for an ancient book of spells. As with most slot games, players progress by having certain symbol combinations appear on the reels. In this case, the game’s symbols are related to alchemy, magic and wizardry. Highly atmospheric and filled with bonus features; Golden Grimoire is released February but already expected to become one of the top UK slots in 2019. The game will be available to play for free or for real money.

Halo Infinite

For almost two decades now, the Halo franchise has continued to wow fans of first-shooter sci fi games. The game series is iconic, and expectations are understandably high when it comes to the upcoming Halo Infinite. This title will center on the Master Chief and his continued journey following the events in Halo 5, with developers 343 Industries teasing a highly sophisticated multiplayer mode. However 343 Industries are reluctant to share other details, and we still don’t have a confirmed release date. Rumours are that the Halo Infinite might even be postponed until 2020, so we’re crossing our fingers that the game will end up on Xbox or PC a lot sooner than that.

Animal Crossing

It doesn’t matter whether you’re seven years old or seventy years old, the wholesome cuteness of Animal Crossing is lost on no one. The last game in the series, New Leaf, was met with rave reviews and this upcoming installment (yet to be given an official title) will continue the adventures and sweetness in Nintendo’s life simulation land, filled with animal friends and quests.

One things we can say for sure is that 2019 seems to be all about franchise revamps, with few original titles but lots of follow-up games. Notably, a new Mario Kart and a new Dead or Alive game will be appearing this year. Though this is great news, it looks like we’re going to have to turn to the indie games industry for a fresher set of innovative concepts in gaming. In any case, taking the above titles into account, it seems like 2019 is already shaping out to be every bit as epic as 2018 when it comes to great gaming.