From the gritty, realistic, but ultimately brilliant Kingdom Come: Deliverance, to Nintendo’s cutesy, adrenaline-pumping Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; from throwbacks to timeless classics in the form of Dragon Quest XI, to modern icons in gaming given a fresh perspective in God of War, gamers were literally spoiled with choices in 2018. 

Enter 2019 – a new beast, but a gaming beast altogether. The horizon looks promising, especially with at least one such title slated to release each month. As such, here are some of the top games you should be keeping tabs on his coming year:

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1) Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (11 January)

Developer: Namco Tales Studio

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

2019 marks the 10th year anniversary for this particular Tales game that was widely regarded as the greatest entry in the Tales series in the previous generation of console games.

Now it’s back with updated graphics not just for current-gen consoles, but for PC as well, as was the case with many of the previous Tales remasters. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition gives current-gen gamers a chance to experience the epic journey of former soldier Yuri Lowell in his quest to aid a noblewoman and confront dark pasts. Definitely not to be missed if you’re a JRPG fan.

2) Yakuza 4 (17 January)

Developer: Sega

Platform(s): PS4

Sega’s cult classic Yakuza returns with a remaster of the 4th main entry of the series, which debuted back in 2010. Aside from updated graphics and slight gameplay tweaks, the major change from the original Yakuza 4 will be the recasting of one of the main protagonists, Masayoshi Tanimura, whose original actor retired after allegations of drug use.

Otherwise, prepare for some kickass, over-the-top, character-driven beat-em-up action this January.

3) Resident Evil 2 (25 January)

Developer: Capcom

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

You called, Capcom answered. The 1998 classic is making a return to consoles later this month in style, with Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield back in Racoon City smashing and blowing off zombies’ heads in current-gen fashion. We believe Resident Evil 2 speaks for itself in terms of the awesomeness it will bring to your console should you decide to get it. And by should we actually mean absolutely must.

4) Kingdom Hearts 3 (29 January)

Developer: Square Enix

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

This is it, KH fans. The long-awaited third instalment of the chronicle of Sora and Co. is finally set to arrive at the end of this month! Initially set to release last year, Kingdom Hearts 3 is sure to deliver its most gripping tale yet.

With characters such as Elsa from Frozen, Ralph from Wreck-It-Ralph, and many more from the various Disney titles that have come out since Kingdom Hearts 2, 3 will boast a host of new areas to explore, while still delivering the nostalgic Playstation 2 experience that brought it such a huge fanbase all those years ago.

5) Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (1 February)

Developer: Bandai Namco

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

The long-running Ace Combat series finally makes its appearance on current-gen consoles and on PC. Previous titles in the series were either exclusively on PlayStation or on Xbox, so this counts as a win for all gamers (sorry, Switch users. Hopefully they’ll make a port soon?).

In any case, do keep tabs on this one because it will also be the first time Ace Combat will feature VR support, so you can literally spread your wings at home! Just be careful not to break anything. And as a cherry on top of the VR icing, this latest title features Singapore (kinda)!!!

6) Crackdown 3 (15 February)

Developer: Sumo Digital

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

The third instalment of Crackdown finally gets an official release date, and this is one underrated beast of a game that you should be keeping on your radar. Open world? Check. Single player and online multiplayer? Check. Hours of carefully (really, it’s actually quite mindless) smashing buildings to rubble, or blowing them to smithereens with an arsenal of weapons? Check.

7) Jump Force (15 February)

Developer: Bandai Namco

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

Anyone who’s a fan of Shonen Jump manga and/or anime across the years will be very pleased to hear that Bandai Namco is about to send a love letter right to their virtual doorsteps in the form of Jump Force. Even if you’re not exactly a fan, but have seen characters such as Naruto, Goku, and Luffy across your trek through the internet, be sure to keep a lookout for this title.

Now imagine all of these guys brawling it out in a tag-team-style fight against other Jump characters, darting from one edge of the screen to another, switching out to another character to continue juggling combos, and such. Talk about fan service.

8) Dead or Alive 6 (15 February)

Developer: Team Ninja

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

DoA 6 is Team Ninja’s first full DoA game to be released on current-gen platforms, not counting their port of DoA 5 from the previous gen. One cool new feature is the introduction of the newbie-friendly Fatal Rush, essentially a button mash combo that favours button mashers. But what makes this deceptively complex is the other new feature called the Fatal Reversal, which enables players to stun their opponents after successfully reversing their move.

Also, this entry will apparently be a more mature edition of the franchise, stepping away (mostly) from the fanservice-y jiggle physics and more focus on competitive gameplay. How that actually pans out is something we’ll be keen to look in on when DoA 6 releases.

9) Metro Exodus (15 February)

Developer: 4A Games

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

4A Games’ post-apocalyptic survival shooter returns in February, featuring more of that cautious, close-quarter, claustrophobic, low-light gameplay style that gave this series its unique identity among the myriad shooters that exist these days.

The crafting system returns alongside scavenging parts from piles of trash or bodies with which to upgrade your weapons. Not forgetting the varied ways to approach different scenarios and multiple story choices that will most certainly keep gamers wanting to play months after its release.

10) Far Cry New Dawn (15 February)

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

More Far Cry? Yes, please.

A spin-off sequel to last year’s Far Cry 5, New Dawn takes place 17 years after the events of that story. You will play as one of the survivors (you will create one at the start of the game – a first in the series!) aiming to rebuild Hope County, but of course, your efforts will be impeded upon by the Highwaymen, a group of roving bandits led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou.

While a lot of the game will be set in fictional Montana, there will be expeditions to different parts of the United States, where you will be joined by other players online in an attempt to do supply runs and the like.

11) Anthem (22 February)

Developer: Electronic Arts

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

EA has received a lot of flak for its recent business practices over the past two years, but something that it has been keeping rather busy about is their new flagship title, even delaying their projected 2018 release to this year, in fact. Anthem is their response to Bungie’s Destiny, promising an MMO-style shared-world shooter that allows for drop-in, drop-out co-op gameplay.

What sets the two apart, though, are two things: Anthem will focus more on third-person gameplay, much akin to its spiritual predecessor, the Mass Effect trilogy; second, its story and world will be written by the writers of Knights of the Old Republic and the first two Mass Effect games. What’s not to be excited about?

12) Total War: Three Kingdoms (7 March)

Developer: Creative Assembly

Platform(s): PC

This entry was certainly an eyebrow-raiser, but definitely in good ways. Total War: Three Kingdoms brings the focus to one of the most iconic periods in China, letting us get a closeup on the drama and tension that the Three Kingdoms saga was so famously known for. Players control one of China’s eleven factions, each controlled by an iconic commander such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Sun Jian.

To make things all the sweeter, there are two main game modes that cater to two main types of players; “Romance” mode (based on the novels), which essentially beefs up all the generals to nigh-musou levels, and “Classic” mode, which presents a more historically accurate setting. That alone makes Total War: Three Kingdoms a must-have for RTS fans who want something fresh.

13) Devil May Cry 5 (8 March)

Developer: Capcom

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

The fifth instalment of the acclaimed Devil May Cry series is one that will make you action junkies jump through bloody hoops. Back with a meaner and leaner bite, the iconic Dante is joined by Nero as they take to the streets once more to fill demons’ faces with lead, demonic chainsaws, and rockets-turned-surfboards.

Also, this game marks the debut of a new playable character called “V”, whose schtick is apparently the control of demons. If that’s not “Stylish!!!” enough, then we don’t know what else is.

14) Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (15 March)

Developer: Ubisoft

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

Ubisoft’s second go at The Division is their hope at building on the solid foundation in the original, whose origins were a little shaky. Taking place 7 months after the events of the first game, The Division 2 will feature Washington D.C. again, this time with a more fleshed out map, and looking much more post-apocalyptic.

Gameplay features have yet to be fully revealed, although the new 8-player raids will certainly add some much-needed PvE challenge to Ubisoft’s flagship shooter.

15) Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (22 March)

Developer: FromSoftware

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

The fact that we’ve discussed this game many times over gives credence as to how you should be excited about it. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is FromSoftware’s latest entry, and instead of continuing the Western European/Victorian formulae in Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne respectively, FromSoftware brings it back to Feudal Japan and puts a mystical spin on it, adding demons to the fray.

And a grappling hook, which adds some cool verticality to the tried-and-tested hack-and-slash gameplay FromSoftware has been notorious for over the years. Prepare to die again this March.

16) Mortal Kombat 11 (23 April)

Developer: NetherRealm

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

Mortal Kombat returns this year with its 11th main entry in the franchise. Never mind the questionable choice of music in the trailer (“Immortal” by 21 Savage), this one looks promising. Following the success of its 2015 successor, X, can Mortal Kombat 11 build on that and take the iconic fighting series to the next level? We’re most certainly hopeful of that.

17) Days Gone (26 April)

Developer: SIE Bend Studio

Platform(s): PS4

PS4 exclusives have been something of the revelation in recent years. This year they’re taking us to something closer to home, in a sense: the zombie apocalypse. How is Days Gone different from other zombie apocalypse games, you say?

As the delinquent-turned-drifter Deacon, you get to approach scenarios in a multitude of ways; you can go stealth on an enemy camp, do a smash-and-grab, use the Freakers’ reaction to sounds as your means of destroying the camp, and so on. And that’s just in the day when the Freakers aren’t as active.

Even the weather affects how you’re able to approach each scenario. Talk about Horizon: Zero Dawn levels of immersion. And did we forget to mention that Freakers move like Olympic sprinters? Yeah, that.

18) Team Sonic Racing (21 May)

Developer: Sumo Digital

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Sega’s iconic mercurial blue, non-furry hedgehog enters the stage once more in Sumo Digital’s latest racing title, Team Sonic Racing. While it doesn’t feature other Sega franchises, it boasts everything and anything Sonic, from its twenty-one or so levels, characters, and packages it all nicely into one racing delight.

Another interesting thing to note is the game’s departure from traditional arcade racing, and, instead, going for a focus on cooperative gameplay, where you win only if your team accumulates the most amount of points, as opposed to whoever finishes first.

Look out for this one especially if you’re a racing or Sonic junkie, or both.

19) Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (21 June)

Developer: Beenox

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch

The other iconic racing game spearheaded by another anthropomorphic character in the form of Crash Bandicoot releases about a month after the above and instead is a remaster of the original CTR classic, aiming to bring back that 90’s nostalgia to gamers old and new alike.

What keeps this fresh aside from the current-gen makeover is the addition of online play, and the addition of Nitros Oxide – the original game’s final boss – as a playable character! Definitely keep your eyes peeled for this one.

20) Shenmue 3 (27 August)

Developer: Ys Net, Neilo

Platform(s): PS4, PC

A series nearly forgotten by the sands of time makes a comeback this year, Shenmue 3 aims to reconnect fans who lovingly played the first two instalments on the Sega Dreamcast nearly 17 years ago.

At the helm of this Kickstarter project is none other than the mastermind of the original Shenmue games, Yu Suzuki, under his company Ys Net. Main character Ryo will once again be voiced by the original actor, Masaya Matsukaze. So if you’ve been a fan of the action-adventure brawler series, or have been keen on trying it out, keep tabs on Shenmue 3 when it releases.

21) CODE VEIN (TBA)

Developer: Bandai Namco

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

Jokingly branded as “Anime Dark Souls” by many, CODE VEIN actually has quite a bit of promise in keeping the Soulsborne genre fresh. We’ve seen snippets of it at E3 last year, and we’re still only getting snippets of it this time. Set in a dystopian future, you will play as a vampire who uses blood consumption to fuel and enhance your supernatural abilities.

What makes it different from the Souls franchise, aside from the anime-influenced art direction, is the introduction of the Companion system, where you’ll have a sidekick-like character accompanying your main one across areas, complete with their own progression system.

22) Cyberpunk 2077 (TBA)

Developer: CD Projekt Red

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

This list currently contains lots of reboots, remakes, sequels of existing IPs, but the few who dare to venture to new worlds via new IPs this year show tons of promise, especially CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077. Set in the futuristic neo-noir dystopia of Night City, you take on the role of “V“, a mercenary whose gender, appearance, behaviour, background and more are fully customizable.

Each of your character creation choices affects V’s relationships with NPCs, and what kind of dialogue/story choices are available to them throughout the game. If that kind of customization wasn’t enough, you are able to outfit V with an array of bionic upgrades to suit your preferred playstyle.

Granted, Cyberpunk 2077 ‘s first-person shooter gameplay is a departure away from the third-person role-playing masterpiece that is The Witcher 3, but it is ultimately an RPG first, FPS second, and that doesn’t make us any less excited about it. You should be, too.

23) Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (TBA)

Developer: ArtPlay, DICO, WayForward Technologies

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

Touted as a spiritual successor to the critically-acclaimed Castlevania series, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night aims to continue refining the classic side-scrolling, hack-and-slash Metroidvania genre of games. Spearheaded by Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi and crowdfunded by Kickstarter, this is one to look out for if you’re a Metroidvania fan.

24) Gears 5 (TBA)

Developer: The Coalition

Platform(s): Xbox One, PC

The sequel to 2016’s Gears of War 4 might make an appearance this year. 4’s main protagonist J.D. Fenix returns to the fray, but this time as a supporting character to new protagonist Kait Diaz, as she strives to unearth the origins of Locust and her family.

Not much else has been revealed about the game, except for the fact that the “of War” portion had been removed from the title, as an attempt to make the title look cleaner. Keep this on your radar.

25) Minecraft: Dungeons (TBA)

Developer: Mojang

Platform(s): PC

Mojang’s new instalment in the Minecraft franchise pits players against dungeons, caverns, and, of course, mines, in an all-new dungeon crawler set in the Minecraft universe. Dungeon crawlers are by no means new, but to have one set in Minecraft? Sign us up.

26) Wasteland 3 (TBA)

Developer: inXile Entertainment

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Linux

In wake of the disaster that was Fallout 76, post-apocalyptic RPG fans will be pleased to hear that their appetites will be sated with this promising new entry in the Wasteland series. This time, events are set in the cold northern territories of Colorado, and we’re keeping tabs for when this game gets an official release date. And speaking of satiating your post-Fallout 76 appetites…

27) The Outer Worlds (TBA)

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

This is Obsidian’s response to Fallout 76, an open-world role-playing FPS with drop-in, drop-out multiplayer. Set in a time period where megacorporations have begun colonizing alien planets, you will play as a character who will build on that by travelling between planets on your own ship. While there is no actual ship travel, it acts as your game hub and a fast travel point.

The main focus is actually on the gun combat and dialogue options, a combination of which will help you shape the relations your company has with the native aliens. It combines the role-playing aspect of Fallout: New Vegas (which was what Obsidian was made famous for), with the vibrancy and verve of the Borderlands series.

28) MediEvil (TBA)

Developer: Other Ocean Interactive

Platform(s): PS4

All you 90’s kids must be screaming for joy internally knowing that one of the classic games of that era is getting a remake, set to release possibly later this year. Sir Daniel Fortesque returns in glorious 4K resolution, hacking, slashing, puzzling, and jumping his way across the Tim Burton-esque graveyards and catacombs of the kingdom of Gallowmere. If you’re new to this franchise, then prepare for an undead treat.

29) Skull & Bones (TBA)

Developer: Ubisoft Singapore

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

We’ve been keeping an eye on this title since its announcement back in 2017. Developed right here at home in Ubisoft Singapore, Skull & Bones is what Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag would look like if it’d just focused on the ship combat it was made famous for. The best part is that it cranks that naval system to 11 in this title, putting you and your seafaring vessel as the game’s focal point.

You’ll get to create your own pirate captain, sail around battling other ships, collect upgrades from said sunken ships, rinse and repeat, either alone or with friends. What’s not to get excited about?

30) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (TBA)

Developer: Team Ninja

Platform: Switch

Once again you can build your dream team of Marvel superheroes and take down bad guys in style with this latest instalment of the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series. This time, however, it’s a Nintendo Switch exclusive, but that shouldn’t mean non-Switch owners should ignore it. Seeing how developers have the habit of releasing ports of previously-exclusive games in the past, it might be no surprise if M:UA3 gets such a port to other platforms soon enough.

32) Psychonauts 2 (TBA)

Developer: Double Fine

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Linux

The sequel to the psychic-powered adventure platformer is slated to be released later this year. Once again players can experience the trippy journeys of fresh Psychonaut grad Raz as he makes his way through other characters’ mental worlds using his array of Psi-Powers such as levitation, pyrokinesis, telekinesis, and more.

Like many old franchises in this list, Psychonauts 2 was breathed to life thanks to the efforts of its backers via crowdfunding, this time on Fig.

33) The Surge 2 (TBA)

Developer: Deck13 Interactive

Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC

The dystopian sci-fi Souls-like series is back with its second entry later this year. The Surge 2 pits you once more against wayward mechs and cyborgs, tearing into them with an arsenal of bionic weapons, while suiting up in an exoskeleton that enhances players’ physical capabilities.

This game is bigger, meaner, and grittier than the original as it moves players from the CREO complex to the city, where the virus that caused these bots to go haywire has spread quite considerably.

34) Ghost of Tsushima (TBA)

Developer: Sucker Punch

Platform(s): PS4

Not a fan of the mystical touch Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice adds to Feudal Japan, but still have a hankering to slice and dice as a hard-ass samurai? Fret not, as Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima has you covered.

This one has our eyes kept constantly peeled, as you one of the last surviving samurai slinking your way through mud-caked paddy fields, assassinating Mongol invaders, while struggling to avoid being distracted by a gorgeous backdrop of Japan, the weather affecting the environment so realistically it’s something the likes of Akira Kurosawa would be proud of.

With a surge of PS4 exclusives announced to release this year, we’re wondering if the PS4 is going through its swan song, but that’s a story for another time. For now, be excited about Ghost of Tsushima.

35) Untitled Pokémon game (TBA)

Developer: Game Freak

Platform(s): Switch

Yes, that’s right. The new (8th) generation of Pokémon will be announced later this year, and it’s something we’re super stoked about. Targeted at more seasoned Pokémon fans, this new title will feature an all-new region, with an all-new roster of Pokémon waiting to be recorded onto your Pokédexes and caught.

So keep your Pokéballs ready, this one’s a big one.

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So keep your calendars updated, your wallets full, and space on your disk drives sufficiently available, as these solid titles are sure to keep you glued to your screens all year long (not that we’d suggest you do, but that’s just how good we think these games might be).