PC gaming technology has come a long way since its humble beginnings on systems like the Commodore 64. In 2019, elements like procedurally-generated environments, AI opponents who learn from your strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to seamlessly link up with friends in a virtual world while head down in your own solo quest are all within the realm of possibility. These are not only the games we’re most excited to play, but also the games we believe will drive the medium forward in the next year.
Release date: January 29, 2019
Genesis Alpha One is at once a roguelite, an FPS, and a ship-building and -customizing game. It’s an ambitious crossover of genres that involves traversing a randomly-generated universe, gathering resources, placing ship facilities, cloning creatures, and defending yourself from alien attack in FPS combat all in one sitting. Genesis Alpha One feels like a new kind of game, sitting in its own category, and we’re excited to join them in charting unnavigated territory.
Release date: February 15, 2019
Metro Exodus is the third in a series of first-person, survival horror games inspired by novels written by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky. Players must navigate an irradiated, post-nuclear war Russia while fending off mutant wildlife and people. The game will feature highly customizable weaponry and a dynamic, seasonal weather system, making it a must-play solo adventure for 2019.
Release date: February 22, 2019
Anthem is the upcoming multiplayer action-RPG from BioWare (Mass Effect, Dragon Age, etc.). It promises to combine a deep, robust solo campaign with drop-in, drop-out multiplayer functionality. If they pull this dynamic off successfully, Anthem could very well herald a new era for gaming, allowing us to seamlessly transition between playing alone and with friends in a shared, virtual world. It’s an exciting time to play games.
Release date: March 8, 2019
Capcom’s hack-and-slash hit series, Devil May Cry, is back, and it looks just as abundant with demons and gaudy combat maneuvers as ever. Take the “Cavaliere,” for instance, which is a demon-fused motorcycle that Dante can either ride or split into two chainsaw weapons. If that image alone isn’t enough to sell you on this game, then we don’t know what else would.
Release date: March 22, 2019
Set in 16th-century Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice looks as beautiful as it does brutal. It’s the latest game from studio FromSoftware, who developed the Dark Souls series and Bloodborne, so expect punishing combat sequences and gorgeously detailed monstrosities at every turn (and to die every five minutes or so). Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, however, also looks like a different animal entirely, equipping players with a grappling hook arm and depending more on vertical combat than the studio’s previous entries.
Release date: June 2019
If you love turn-based, tactical games, then it’s likely that you already love Julian Gollop, even if you don’t know him by name. He created the classic XCOM series, and Phoenix Point is the upcoming game from his current studio, Snapshot Games. Phoenix Point will feature procedural generation and AI that learn from player behavior — or, in other words, the stuff of which the future of game technology is made.
Release date: 2019
If you’ve seen this little mutant raccoon-like creature around the internet and wondered where it was from, we’re here to set the record straight: it’s the protagonist of Biomutant. Biomutant is an upcoming action-RPG developed by Experiment 101, a studio comprised of former Avalanche Studios (Just Cause) employees, and is set in a world filled with mutant animals. Not only will you be able to fully customize your furry warrior, but also you’ll influence the narrative of the game through moral decisions.
Release date: 2019
Skull and Bones is more than just a pirate ship PVP game (though even just that, if done well, would certainly suffice). What makes the game so intriguing is its fluidity; for instance, in the game’s “Hunting Grounds”, open waters available for pursuing quests or hunting merchant ships, players will find that they can either attack other players’ ships at will or set up alliances with them — only to double-cross them once treasure is in sight. Just like a true pirate would.
Release date: 2019
Ooblets is definitely the most adorable game on this list. Drawing inspiration from the pleasant, small-town escapism of games like Stardew Valley, Pokémon, and Harvest Moon, Ooblets is a simulation game that involves farming while catching, growing, and dance-battling “ooblets,” globular little creatures who come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Did we mention that these ooblets also happen to be heart-meltingly cute?
Release date: 2019
In the Valley of Gods is the upcoming game from Valve, the developers of 2016’s breakout hit, Firewatch. Little is known about the game aside from that fact that it’s set in the 1920s and follows a pair of explorers who travel to a valley in ancient Egypt in the hopes of making an ambitious film. But if the masterful storytelling exhibited in Firewatch is any indication, we know that Valve knows how to craft a good narrative, and it’s safe to assume that In the Valley of Gods should reserve a slot on your wishlist.