2019 is going to be a huge year for video games, with a large number of series getting new installments, including some that have been dormant for years. Brand new franchises are also being created. These are our most anticipated games of 2019 across several different game systems.
With the arrival of a new year comes a lineup of new games to anticipate. Despite the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 nearing the end of their lifespans, there are still a ton of great titles coming out for both consoles. The PC is no slouch when it comes to new releases, either, and the Nintendo Switch continues to truck along with a library of fantastic first-party and third-party games. Whatever system you happen to own, you’re in for a great year. These are our most-anticipated games for 2019.
A launch game for the Wii U back in 2012, New Super Mario Bros. U was a well-designed and accessible platformer that built on the simplicity of its predecessors, while also offering younger players the chance to experience Mario for the first time in cooperative mode.
On the Switch, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe includes the original game, its New Super Luigi U expansion, new game modes, the new Toadette character, and help features for less-experienced gamers. All you need is one Joy-Con to play, so two people can enjoy it together without purchasing any extra controllers.
The original Resident Evil 2 is one of the most acclaimed horror games of all time, and it helped introduce fans to their favorite characters like Leon and Claire.
Rather than simply remaster the original PlayStation game, Capcom remade it from the ground-up with a camera angle similar to Resident Evil 4 or the recent Revelations games. The result is a gorgeous and gory action-horror title, and one that should still give older players a nice dose of nostalgia.
There have been countless Kingdom Hearts games released since Kingdom Hearts II launched over a decade ago, but fans have been waiting for Sora’s story to reach a true climax. That will finally happen with the launch of Kingdom Hearts III, a game that keeps the series’ tried-and-true action-role-playing while mixing in plenty of over-the-top set-piece moments.
Disney heroes like Goofy and Donald Duck return, and newcomers like Elsa from Frozen arrive to help Sora on his quest against dark forces.
It has gone through numerous delays and development changes, but the long-awaited Crackdown 3 will finally release on February 15. Starring a bio-enhanced Agent capable of leaping across buildings and causing unprecedented destruction, Crackdown 3 aims to recapture the magic of the original game while still playing as a modern-day third-person action game. In the cloud-powered multiplayer mode, nearly anything can be destroyed, as well, making it the ultimate sandbox for explosion fanatics.
Have you ever wanted to see Goku, Blackbeard, Kenshiro, and Yugi Moto all battle it out in a fight to the death for little discernible reason? Then Jump Force is a game to watch out for. The tag-team fighting game mixes together several different Shonen series like Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Bleach together in a world-colliding tale that will pit heroes against villains.
It sounds absolutely bonkers, and knowing how different some of the series are from each other, there’s no telling what awaits once you jump into battle.
Mass Effect Andromeda was a pretty colossal failure for BioWare, disappointing in both combat and its science-fiction narrative, but the studio has a chance to right its past wrongs with Anthem. A social action-role-playing game similar in structure to Destiny 2 or The Division, Anthem gives players incredible freedom thanks to their “Javelin” suits, which offer the ability to fly, launch storms of rockets, and deal damage to targets up close.
More Star Wars than Star Trek, it’s a departure from the nitty-gritty storytelling of BioWare’s past, but it points to a bright and different future for the company.
The third entry in 4A Games’ post-apocalyptic shooter series, Metro Exodus moves the action out of Russia’s extensive subway system and onto the irradiated surface, giving players more choice over how they proceed with their objectives.
Once again starring survivor Artyom, Metro Exodus forces you to always keep track of your supplies like air filters and ammunition, even while you’re attempting to avoid being ripped apart by mutants.
