A little while ago the TGC crew published their top 10 games of 2015, you can check them out here, but this time they’re back to tell you what they’re looking forward to the most in 2016. There’s a diverse list of games to go around, so there’s a little bit of everything for everyone. It’s a splendid year for games, and we’re more than happy to spend out time covering it. Let’s waste no time here, first up is Jack Palmer and what he can’t wait to throw his hard-earned (and sometimes stolen) money at.
Jack Palmer – Persona 5
Atlus almost had me going for a while with Persona 4 and its endless spinoffs, but Persona 5 looks stylish as hell and captures that amazing imaginative offbeat genius that seems to only be produced by them. The whole game just looks so stylish. The combat, the characters, the designs, even the menus are stylish as hell, and I know Atlus can deliver on the combat. The Persona franchise is steeped in history thanks to its origins in the Shin Megami Tensei series and, even though Persona 4 tip toed into just a tad too much happy-go-lucky anime shenanigans, Atlus’ other work like Catherine, Shin Megami Tensei and Persona 1 to 3 proves they know how to deliver a compelling and interesting narrative. Not to mention there’s a talking cat. Please don’t make her use the same density of cat puns that Teddie did with bear puns, Atlus.
Stefan Mancevski – Mass Effect: Andromeda
I think the Mass Effect trilogy is the best thing that came out of the last console generation. I’m a narrative-driven gamer, and Mass Effect’s story stuck in my mind as a brilliant example of storytelling done right in video games. The gameplay was not too shabby, either. Considering the above, I obviously have ridiculously high expectations of Mass Effect: Andromeda. But I’m also well aware that a lot of game design choices of this generation that I simply don’t like (open-world fetch quest simulators) will likely make their way into the fourth game in the series. Either way, however, I’m excited for it – even if I know it won’t meet my expectations. Not much has been said about the game thus far, but I’ll squeal happily whenever a new trailer hits the web.
Conor Hutton – Ratchet and Clank
While my 2015 was full of sprawling RPGs, like The Wither 3: Wild Hunt and Divinity: Original Sin – Enhanced Edition, my 2016 is looking a little more linier. Sure Horizon: Zero Dawn will probably take a robo-dinosaur (robosaur?) sized bite of time out of my year, but its Uncharted 4 and Ratchet and Clank that I’m really looking forward to spending a few hours with. Most of you are probably thinking ‘Ratchet over Uncharted? Why?’ Well even as I write this I’m pretty much thinking the same thing, but the answer is I know I’m going to love Uncharted 4, even if it’s bad I’ll probably just develop a Stockholm Syndrome towards it, but Ratchet on the other hand intrigues me. It’s a reboot of an already tired series, yet it looks bloody amazing! Nathan Drake might just have to wait in my back catalogue while I check out if Ratchet is all it’s shaping up to be.
Lloyd Hawker – Pokken Tournament
Nothing amps me up more than a new Pokémon game. Especially when its core concept is to beat the ever living poffins out of each other – thus, bring on Pokken Tournament! Based on the fighting structure of the Tekken series, Pokken is a 1 v 1 fighter with attitude. It’s a game Pokefans have dreamt about, a game that fighting fans have imaginatively considered and a game that I can without a doubt say is my most electrifyingly-anticipated game of 2016. Pokken Tournament, I cannot wait to take a peek-at-you. Luckily, March 18th isn’t too Farfetch’d (not-sorry).
Sam Soares – Overwatch
Featuring a diverse cast of cartoonish characters with awesome abilities and lovely environments, this is Blizzard’s take on the shooter genre. I’m excited for this game because it’ll be absolutely distinctive from the other shooters in the market and overall a unique experience. Visually intense, overall pure fun, Overwatch is everything I want in a shooter. The game will not be alone, though, with its competition being Battleborn from Gearbox Software and Battlecry from Battlecry Studios. The three games have all different structure and style, though.
Dominic Kwaczynski – Uncharted 4
Billed as Nathan Drake’s final adventure and his first appearance in a game made from the ground up for PS4 (which doesn’t include the Remastered games), Uncharted 4 is promising to be something truly special. A long time staple for the PlayStation, the Uncharted series has time and time again proven developers Naughty Dog as master storytellers on the forefront of videogame development, and Uncharted 4 looks to be no exception. This time, with everything hanging in balance for Nate, Naughty Dog will likely be pulling out all the stops to ensure that the series goes out with a bang. And there’s no way I’m missing out on that!
Chris Harding – Crackdown 3
My most anticipated game of the year is Crackdown 3. I thoroughly enjoyed the first instalment, but I’m always quick to forget how rubbish Crackdown 2 was. I’ve had an itching for orbs ever since I collected every last one of the blighters all those years ago. Here’s hoping it’s not delayed, again…
There you go, those are our most anticipated games for 2016. Let us know what you’re looking forward to the most this year down in the comments.