1. The Legend of Zelda Wii U :
It was my most anticipated game for 2014, it was my most anticipated game for 2015, and now, it is my most anticipated game for 2016. I'm starting to feel a little ridiculous, but I'm optimistic that this will finally be the year we see a release. We have yet to see what the exact launch situation will be like, and if we are indeed looking at a Twilight Princess 2.0 situation, this'll likely be my first NX game. I have to be completely honest - nothing could make me not want to buy this game. Also, I cannot wait to finally get the actual title.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End :
I've said it time and time again: I'm finally rejoining the Playstation nation this spring, and Uncharted is the reason. I more or less bought the PS3 for Among Thieves, and if this fourth (and potentially final) installment in the franchise can even remotely come close to the experience of my first playthrough, it is an absolute must-have for me.
3. Mass Effect: Andromeda :
I love Bioware games. It's really that simple. I've been a fan of their work ever since the original KotOR, and not much has changed about that (I don't even feel as negatively about recent entries like ME3 and DAI as most). To add to that, I thoroughly enjoy the Mass Effect lore, and the core mechanics of the franchise. The prospect of walking around the not-Normandy and chatting up my crew members (who, for some strange reason, represent many of the same races as the original trilogy, despite the fact that the game takes place in a different galaxy that nobody would have any real ability to get to) is putting a smile on my face even as I'm typing this. It's been some time since the initial tease, so I'm glad that this'll be the year we'll finally get to see it all in action.
4. Yooka-Laylee :
I would feel strange not including Playtonic's first outing on my list, due to the simple fact that to this day, it is the only game I have ever supported via crowdfunding. Many people like to sneer at the N64-era 'collectathons', but I've always liked the sense of exploration and completion they bring. Knowing that much of the former Rare talent is working on a 3D platformer / action-adventure heavily influenced by what are easily some of the most impactful games I have ever played almost makes me boil over with anticipation. The implications of this one are staggering - it could be the revival of one of my favourite video game genres, and, even better, if it's successful, it holds the potential for reimaginings of many other titles I hold dear, and a lot of new original, exciting ideas.
5. Fire Emblem Fates :
This would have been much higher, had it not been for two things. First, the multiple edition thing - it's not a big deal for me, personally, but I'm just generally opposed to split content (I might feel better about this once I manage to pre-order the complete version of the game somewhere). Second, and this is the big issue for me, it's a handheld game. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my 3DS, but I've always preferred playing on a big screen, and I just really wish there was a mainline Fire Emblem on Wii U (who knows, maybe there'll be one on NX -.-). Yet, with all that said, we're still talking about Fire Emblem, and that's enough reason for me to look forward to playing it.
6. Rise of the Romb Raider :
It may be a late port of a 2015 game, but I've always held that I'd buy Rise of the Tomb Raider when the PC version is released, and I'm planing to stick by that decision. To say that I was positively surprised by 2013's reboot would be an enormous understatement, and the sequel looks like essentially more of the same, so count me in!
7. Horizon: Zero Dawn :
I almost forgot about this one. Since I'll be back in the business of buying PS exclusives in a few months, I've been paying a bit more attention to release schedules. I am honestly not very familiar with GG's prior work, and I've only seen a few bits of demos so far, but what little that was has made me rather keen on finding out more about this peculiar title.
8. Mafia III :
This reveal really took me a bit by surprise. I wasn't overly fond of the second game, but it was still a lot of fun. What excites me then is simply the possibilities for this third game in a series I have a lot of love for (mostly because of the original). I'm hoping it will be a little darker, more rooted, and character-focused. And above all, I'm hoping it'll manage to make the city of New Orleans feel alive and interesting. I want something to do in-between missions. I want there to be side content, or even just dumb mini-games. I'm cautiously optimistic about this one, but I cannot deny the sheer potential of a genuinely great Mafia game.
9. Overwatch :
I won't deny that I'm a big fan of Blizzard games, but that alone is not enough to make me want a game. I've never really been able to get into Hearthstone (although I liked what I've played), and I haven't played a single game of Heroes of the Storm. For me, it's almost always an issue of genre. At the outset, that doesn't bode particularly well for Overwatch. I'm not big on FPSes in the first place, and the MOBA / arena shooter mix doesn't help, either. Still, for some reason, I've caught myself following updates over the course of the past year, and I definitely like the overall vibe and atmosphere of the game. After Blizzcon this year, I finally decided to just go for it. Who knows, maybe I'll find some more love for the genre.
10. Star Fox Zero :
Out of all the games on my list, Star Fox is the one that worries me the most. I want it to be good, but the initial reveal was underwhelming, to say the least. What information we've obtained since has made me more optimistic, especially the delay (which makes me think that it's not being treated as a filler title like amiibo Festival and Ultra Smash). Still, the release date is fast approaching, and I'm almost hoping they'll delay it again. I'd rather wait a little longer for a good Star Fox, especially when so much is riding on this game doing well (strictly talking about the franchise here). At the very least, I want to support the effort, if only to signal that there's still room in today's world for other Nintendo franchises (looking at you, F-Zero).
Honorable Mentions:
x. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD :
Not numbered because it is a remake / remaster. I can't say that Twilight Princess was my favourite console Zelda, and I don't think this remake will be able to address most of the issues I have with the original game, but I think it'll still be fun enough. I would be more excited to play this game, were it not for the simple fact that I played through every single console Zelda the week before the announcement. However, I'm sure I'll find plenty of excuses to dive back in come Spring.
x. World of Warcraft: Legion :
I wasn't sure whether an MMO-expansion counts as a new game, so a non-numbered spot, it is. I tend to play WoW for a few months every now and again, and next year will be no exception. I'm getting the Collector's Edition, I'll play the game, I'll have a lot of fun, get fed up eventually because it requires a bigger time investment than I'm ready to give, and stop playing again after a while, only for the cycle to repeat until either this game is put to rest or I am, whichever happens first. Or, (and this seems like the most likely scenario in my opinion), subscriber numbers eventually go down enough for them to drop the subscription altogether.