Games we expect to be epic in 2019

In the last few years, January through to March has been a quiet time in the games industry, a time to reflect and plan as the speed of releases starts to ratchet up; not this year. In the mad dash to avoid the commodious shadow of Red Dead Redemption 2 many developers have (wisely) pushed their games into the next year; this year in fact. At one point we actually had three major games coming out on the 22nd of February, however, there has since been a bit of a reshuffle. So, let me tantalise you with my games to watch for 2019 but remember, this is not an exhaustive list by any stretch and come summer there could be a few boomers bursting out of the barn.

The Last Night

Some games just grab you by the short and curlies the second you lay eyes on them. We have been going through something of a pixel-art renaissance as of late, but even in a crowded retro scene, The Last Night stands out. Listening to the lead developer, there have been so many wonderful influences that led to this game being created like Another World, Flashback, Abes Odyssey and even films like Blade Runner and Ghost in a Shell.

What I find interesting is that the developers have used Rotoscopy that was employed for the aforementioned classics where the animations are traced from real footage. The lead designer also spent some time in Hong Kong, which has certainly been a key influence on the games overall aesthetic. The cityscape we see this game set in is awash with flickering neon, rain-soaked streets cluttered with neglect and a visual feast of cyberpunk minutiae. There are some incredible ideas being used in the development of this game, even concepts like the colour pallet on the screen reflecting how much danger the main character is currently in. Instead of linking the trailer below I’m going to link a longer video where the developer takes us through how the game was conceived and worked on up until present day.

Trailer

Dying Light 2

So if you’ve seen a few winters as a gamer you will know, like teenagers, the games industry goes through phases. World War 2 shooters, open world RPGs and of course we had a run of Zombie titles. Like a zombie, it never really feels like this fad fully died and instead has been shuffling around in the basement ever since the early 2000s. In 2015 Dying Light was released and it quickly became one of my favourite games of that year with fantastic first-person parkour and my opinion the best zombies we had seen in a game to this day. It is also worth noting that Techland has supported their game (and fans) with an extraordinary amount of updates and content.

So when Dying Light 2 was unveiled you better believe it got my attention. We are now cast a number of years into the future and civilisation has been limping on since the fall. The city and how we traverse it looks more beautiful than ever, but it’s the new features that have me really excited. Now cause and effect have become a key mechanic in the narrative of the story. Not only does this change how the city looks but also how it works. This is one of my most anticipated games for 2019.

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Astroneer

Playing Astroneer for the first time is like a cool breeze on a warm summers day. After playing so many games where the objective is to kill (or be killed), some hearty exploration and intuitive base building is just the ticket. The truth be told, I’ll be a little bit sad to see Astroneer leave its early access phase. Mostly because this signifies a line after which we may not see the game grow anymore (and I want this gem to grow forever). However, a little bit of me is also panicking that I’m going to have to find a few more early access projects to fill the Oven!

As you burst forth into a new game, the freedom you have can be quite liberating. Your galavanting will be initially curbed by the need to breathe and thus, you must cultivate a good network of oxygen pipes. Power and shelter will also be high on your list of objectives because the list of things that can nobble your bouncy avatar is growing. One thing I love about Astroneer is how modular everything is and once you’ve mastered the basics, the question ‘what if’ becomes a common one. The team at System Era really have poured their hearts and souls into this beautiful and ambitious title, I would strongly urge you to check it out. Astroneer leaves early access on February 6th.

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Metro Exodus

I have recently started playing Metro 2033 again and even after years, the game still astounds me with its attention to detail. It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since the original release and four years since 4A Games overhauled Metro 2033 and it’s sequel Last Light into one cohesive package called Redux. I still rate these two games as the most atmospheric that I have ever played and it is for this reason that I have been watching Metro Exodus with a very close eye (my review can be found here).

This third game in Artyom’s story sees our intrepid hero leave his home with his now wife Anna and head east in search of a new life. The Aurora is a modified steam engine that he and his allies must use to cross this deadly expanse of a poisoned Russian wasteland. This more open level design is certainly the biggest change in the formula and one which could either be an exciting new direction or a flawed misstep. I have a great degree of faith in 4A Games and Deep Silver and believe this will be a worthy successor to the incredible Metro series. The February 15th release date is just around the corner so watch this space for a full review.

Trailer

Sea of Solitude

One game that grabbed my attention at Gamescom 2018 was Sea of Solitude which is being developed by Jo-Mei games. I don’t ever remember seeing such an emotionally honest presentation from a developer on stage, you could can really see this game means so much its creators. Letting monsters represent parts of a player's emotional makeup is not a new idea but the way Jo-Mei are bringing this concept into a game certainly is.

You play the game as a lonely woman called Kay, who has become a monster as a result of deep loneliness. As you make your way through this desolate city-scape (based on Berlin I believe) you will encounter huge and dark beings which can pose a threat to you. What I love is that finding the key to what made these beasts lonely, is inextricably linked to finding the answers to your own emotional turmoil. Just from the visuals alone, it is clear this is a game with something special.

Trailer

The Outer Worlds

We all love a sequel to our favourite game but sometimes you just need to see something fresh and new. At the Gaming awards last year this brand new title came hurtling out of the starting blocks and has immediately become one of the most sought after games for 2019. Maybe it was just fortuitous timing, but Fallout fans were still smarting from the heap of molten shit that Fallout 76 was and needed a win. The Outer Worlds is being made by none other than Obsidian Entertainment and directed by Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky who created the Fallout series. Obsidian has also worked on a few little games you might have heard of, like Fallout New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity and Knights of the Old Republic 2 no less.

The Outer Worlds looks like an evolution of everything we love about the best Fallout games with more than enough of its own sass to set itself from the crowd. I will link the trailer below for your viewing pleasure but given who is developing this game we already know it’s going to be good, the real question is how good? I also love the fact Obsidian has stated, in no uncertain terms, that this game will not have any microtransactions. Are you paying attention Bethesda?

Trailer

Children of Morta

So this intriguing pixel art game was originally scheduled for a 2018 release date but that has now come and gone with no update from the developers Dead Mage. I can see that some tiers of the Kickstarter backers do have access to an early build of the game and impressions seem to be good. As you know guys, I am firmly in the camp of ‘get it done and take as much time as you need’ as opposed to rushing games out half baked. Just check out the trailer below and see why I’m really looking forward to hearing more about Children of Morta.

Trailer

Biomutant

I will always have far more time for developers who are trying to make something different and Biomutant can certainly make that claim. From developers Experiment 101 this action role-playing game has a very experimental feel to it both in terms of visual design and in-game mechanics. Watching the gameplay videos, Biomutant actually reminds me of Blade and Soul in terms of how fast you traverse the environments. While I’m doing comparisons I also got more than a hint of Monster Hunter World. So it’s clear this game is brimming with clever ideas, I think what I want to see next is how the overall gameplay loop brings them all together into a satisfying experience. There is no release date other than a tentative 2019 tag so let’s hope we see more about this fascinating game soon.

Trailer

My Friend Pedro

Sometimes you see a game for the first time and just know, this is going to be good. Imagine if Max Payne got tricked into making a side-scrolling action game this could be what we got. I guess the real proof will be in the pudding as they say, both in terms of how creative the game gets with level design and also it’s size relative to price. This is one game I will certainly be covering when we get closer to launch but for now, just check out the trailer and see what I’m talking about.

Trailer

Ape Out

This is another wonderfully original game idea that just exudes fun and could legitimately be part of a government-funded stress refilled program. Smashing guards into walls, ripping doors off their hinges and just generally knocking the hell out of everything is the name of the game here. There is also a wonderfully rhythmic connection between the action and music which fires off various drum and bass effects as you pummel your foes into a paste-like consistency. There is a free demo on Steam if you fancy a quick poke but the February 7th release date is not too far away. I cannot wait to review this title so watch this space.

Trailer

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

There are many game genres of out there and platforming games are one of the oldest. So when you have been around as long as I have and consider a game to be the best platform game ever made, well that’s no small thing. Ori and the Blind Forest had it all from stupidly beautiful visuals and animation to ultra tight platforming shenanigans. It also has a bite to match it’s bark when you consider the high skill cap for many of its later sections. So, of course, we are getting a sequel to this masterpiece, titled Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

You can expect the same flawless presentation as the previous game but this time around Ori has new moves, weapons and techniques for facing the challenges in your path. There is even an integrated competitive racing mode that allows you to see the ghosts of other players. I have no doubt that this will be another stunning game that really takes your breath away. Will it also be causing a few tears to be shed no doubt.

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DOOM eternal

Way back in the mid 90’s you could walk into any shop that sold computers and expect to see Doom blazing away on every screen. Over the years we saw many sequels which tried to tap into the originals magic but for me, none managed to nail it. Then in 2016, DOOM landed at our feet and finally, we had a contender. DOOM 2016 was an absolute stonker of a game that recaptured the very essence of what I saw in the original game, with a good helping of modern-day umph for good measure.

This year we are set to receive a sequel to that game in the form of DOOM Eternal. From what I can see the adventure of our virtually indestructible Marine continues in the same fashion: ultra-fast, ultra-gory and ultra fun. There is also a new mode that allows other players to assail your single player game as the demons. I have enjoyed these invasion ideas in the past and they worked wonderfully well in games like Watchdogs. I believe there is a way to tun this invasion mode off, so those who want a purely single-player experience won't be left feeling violated. Still set for a 2019 release window, DOOM Eternal is going to be one to watch.

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The Jury is Still Out

The Division 2

As the saying goes ‘Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me’. Well as the media hype train spun up to full speed we all got pretty duped when The Division was released early 2016. I will admit, that despite being hoodwinked by Ubisoft before on Watchdogs, I did buy into the hype for The Division and the ‘gameplay’ trailer that we saw. Not only were there a significant visual downgrade in the actual game (even on PC) but large pieces of gameplay being shown never even appeared in the final game. Like the player controlled drone, the way the loot was retrieved from the gun case and enough fake gameplay chatter make any amateur dramatics club blush. All this coupled with a woefully lacking endgame and it was clear, we had been sold a pipe dream with this ambitious title.

As the Divisions 2 draws closer to its March 8th Release date I once again feel pangs of disappointment from the first game and yet I’m a gamer, deep down I want it to be good. There is a chance, of course, that lessons were learned and this new game will be all the developers say it is. The biggest warning sign I’ve seen so far is that bag extra bag space is being dangled in front from players as a way to sell more expensive preorder bundles. In addition, The Division 2 is forsaking Steam and instead going to be launching an Epic’s new digital store (and Uplay of course). This is a discussion for another time, but if PC gaming starts getting carved up into exclusivity wars it will be the gamers who lose out. In my book, The Division 2 has a lot to prove before I am willing to get even remotely excited, but when you consider how much post-launch support The Division did get, this gives me hope. Let’s us pray this game is everything it could be but in the meantime for the love of Pete, please do not pre-order this game and instead make Ubisoft earn our hard earned money.

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Anthem

I don’t trust EA as far as I can throw them and considering their headquarters is built from gold bullion, that’s not far at all. In recent years they have gone full ACME evil cooperation, perfecting the process of squeezing money from customers who buy the same game each year and don’t ask questions. The most recent examples of this are the Battlefront 2 debacle and the assassination of the Mass Effect series. The latter especially was heartbreaking for me because I absolutely adored Mass Effect and to see it being treated with such disdain was tough. So enough history, where does Anthem stand today?

Well, the initial reveal was met with plenty of positive impressions but over time Anthem has been fending off allegations of development issues. The game certainly looks pretty enough, sporting huge open areas for players to jet around Ironman style. The combat also looks meaty and fun, so why the scepticism then you ask? Well, firstly we are all kinda just waiting to see where monetisation will fit into the gameplay loop, which even by itself could piss the punch. Then you have the fact that if Anthem doesn’t perform well, they will likely pull the plug on the entire project (essentially doing a Mass Effect Andromeda). So I’ll just finish by saying that I really want Anthem to be amazing, but truthfully I’m just waiting for the bottom to fall out. I’ll be doing a full review in February and it won’t be a quick one to get clicks. I’m going to be looking at the games entire content package which is available on day one and I’m not even going to think about publishing a review until I’m sure the monetisation isn’t waiting for the review cycle to finish before pouncing.

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Beyond Good and Evil 2

I often think I’m too easy on Ubisoft because after some of the hooters this company has pulled on me and I still go back for more. While I’m kind of over The Division and maybe even Watchdogs, I still approach most Ubisoft games with a healthy dose of scepticism. My bullshit meter has also been slightly spiked in recent months when Ubisoft is clearly going back on avoiding this game being online only. With all this considered, Beyond Good and Evil 2 looks wildly ambitious and has many features which look incredible.

The thing that stands out the most is the sheer scale of the world they are building and also how it is traversed by your character. There are also some interesting ideas that allow fans to populate the world with their own art and music, though again, this could be a clever way of getting fans to make the game they are paying for. So it’s big, it’s beautiful but will it be fun? I am hoping we will see some more gameplay demos nearer launch that show us a bit (lot) more of that all-important gameplay loop.

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Closing Comments

You could be wondering why Rage 2 isn't on my list and the answer is simple, I have lost confidence in Avalanche Studios. I still cannot believe that the same developers who made the exquisite car combat in Mad Max also worked on the limp biscuit that was Just Cause 4. Of course, everyone and their mums are waiting for Cyberpunk 2077 but I cannot see this game launching in 2019 and if I’m honest I don't want it to. There are also a few other games I have omitted from my list, simply because we don’t know a great deal about them yet. These include Little Devil Inside, Among the Trees and the Last Campfire: all of these titles look very promising. The one game I would really stamp as one to watch is the new, stand-alone game from the creators of Subnautica. Below Zero is due to release into early access this year and I cannot wait to see more on this.

So that is a lot to take in for sure, but rest assured if you are feeling a little overwhelmed we still have a few weeks before the madness begins. If you don’t remember any other of my witterings remember that you don’t have to get every game on launch day and in fact you would be bobbins to try. Don’t feed those greedy publishers that ask stupid amounts of your hard earned cash for a few extra bits of tat in the box. Also, don’t line the pockets of their investors by preordering months in advance and giving lazy developers an easy ride. If a game is worth your money, it will still be worth it a few weeks after launch. Let reviewers do the hard work for you and see if a game is up to snuff. As always, I am limited by funding and time, but I will certainly be reviewing every game on the main list above. One thing is for certain, we are in for one hell of a ride in 2019 and I cannot wait to bring you more PC gaming content. Happy new year guys!