2018’s new PC games have big shoes to fill after a stellar 2017. They’re off to a good start.
Below you’ll find the titles we’re most looking forward to though, with dates for those that have solid release dates planned, “release windows” for a few others, and hopes and dreams for the rest.
I’m listing this under its console release date, but it’s a bit misleading— Monster Hunter: World is coming to PC, but nobody’s said when yet. The console versions launch on January 26 with the PC release to follow.
When no Civilization VI expansion materialized this past fall I was admittedly confused–for the past few years it felt like you could set your watch by Firaxis, they were so consistent at hitting that October slot. It’s only four months “late” though, with the Rise and Fall expansion due to arrive in February instead.
Either that sounds great to you, or your eyes glazed over while reading. Personally I’m looking forward to it, though the verdict’s out whether a small team can overcome the performance issues and bugginess that generally go hand-in-hand with Bethesda-style games.
It was my most anticipated game coming out of E3 2016. It remained my most anticipated game coming out of E3 2017. And now as we head into 2018? It’s still my most anticipated game.
So after that recommendation…what is it? Well, Sea of Thieves is a pirate game as you might expect. The hook though (no pun intended) is that it’s a pseudo-MMO, meaning you’re a lone pirate in a world shared by fellow pirate-players. You can play alone, but the real draw comes from crewing up on much larger ships—at which point everyone takes on a roll. One person might occupy the crow’s nest for instance, while another steers the ship and a third fires the cannons. Maybe one person just stands on the prow drinking beer and playing accordion.
It’s a fascinating approach, and director Josef Fares (who you might remember from his legendary Oscar-bashing speech at the Game Awards) told us his goal is a game that changes mechanics every few minutes to keep the experience fresh. If it works, it could set the standard for this sort of cinematic-heavy adventure.
We’ve visited tropical islands, contracted malaria in Africa, scaled the Himalayas, and now it’s time to explore a place so exotic, so truly remote, it dazzles the mind: Montana. Yes, for Far Cry 5 we’re headed to the state known for Glacier National Park, a very small part of Yellowstone, and also (mostly) because the western border looks like a face.
