Hmmx I feel like this timing is a little unfortunate, so close before the Switch event, but eh, what can you do.
1. Persona 5
AkihikoIvebeenwaitingforthis.jpg Really though, I've been waiting for this ever since I've finished Persona 4 Golden in 2013, and the wait already feels like an eternity (I know a lot of people have been waiting even longer, some since 2008 even, crazy). It has been my most anticipated game for quite a while now and at this point, I just want to get my hands on it. The delay stung a bit, but eh, what can you do.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breathof the Wild
Another game I've been hotly anticipating for years, this one also suffered a few delays. Zelda is a franchise very near and dear to my heart and this is shaping up to be a great entry in the series. And I will be able to take this game, Nintendo's biggest game to date with me on the go. That's kinda insane to me but amazing nonetheless. Can't wait.
3. For Honor
Never would I have thought I'd be listing an Ubisoft game here and up this high but here we are. For Honor is a rather unique take on the fighting game genre basically and judging from the Alpha it is amazing. Got everything you'd want in a fighting game, footsies, pressure, mindgames, spacing, baiting and punishing...and every encounter with an opponent feels really intense. I've loved what I played of the Alpha and I implore every Fighting game fan to check this one out. I can already say it's great.
4. Tekken 7
After a long time, the wait finally seems to be over as Tekken 7 comes to consoles in 2017. This one is shaping up to be a great entry in the franchise judging from all the hours of arcade footage I've watched.
As a fighting game fan I am really excited for this one and to finally get back into some good old Tekken. And though we've had to wait a long while for this, at least this game seems to be fully featured from the get go with plenty of stuff to enjoy for all kinds of players. I'm definitelly getting ready for the next battle.
5. Nioh
Speaking of Alphas, this game also had a great one and put this game on my radar. It definitely shares some of its DNA with the Souls series but puts its own spin on things. Love the setting, love the enemy designs, love the combat that seems to be really deep and combines Souls with a more string based system from character action games like Ninja Gaiden. I already know this is gonna be one of the greats and that feels good to know.
6. Nier Automata
So, I haven't played the first Nier but from what I've heard around the interwebs it was praised for the story and panned for its gameplay.
Well, this one definitely seems to fix the latter as Platinum games, one of my favorite developers, is handling the bulk of development.
Trailers make it look like what you've come to expect from P*, a crazy ride full of fast-paced action. So even if the story should somehow suck (which, judging by the predecessor story's reception, it shouldn't) there's still a nice good ol' Platinum game to be enjoyed here and I'm always up for those.
7. Yakuza 0
Probably the game I'll be starting this year off with, Yakuza is just a really great franchise and I'm always up for more. Loved 4 and 5 with their crazy drama and over the top cheesy cutscenes and countless "it was actually me, Dio!" sort of moments. Yakuza stories are always crazy and entertaining rides and I'm personally always up for those. Not to mention the brawler style gameplay is simple yet really satisfying. Always feels good to literally wipe the floor with some schmuck's face. Definitely ready for more action with my man Kiryu.
(Side note: Crazy and amazing that we are getting Y6 AND Kiwami. Thanks to whoever made that happen)
8. Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
I enjoyed the first NnK. Not my favorite game, but it was still really enjoyable. So I'm definitely in for the second one. Love the artstyle and it seems like they refined the combat which wasn't the first game's strongest suit. That makes me optimistic. Hopefully NnK 2 manages to eclipse its predecessor to truly become one of the greats.
Visually it definitely will be. Here's hoping the rest matches up to that.
9. Dragon Quest XI
Love Dragon Quest and I'm excited to see more of this next big mainline entry. The reason this is so low is, well, we haven't seen much of this yet. Hoping we'll get to see more of this soon.
10. Yooka-Laylee
Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie are some of my favorite games of all time so to see a spiritual successor pop up made by a lot of the original talent responsible for the Banjo games is really the stuff of dreams. All I've seen of it looks really nice and I have utmost confidence the team will deliver something great. Can't wait to hop around in colorful worlds to some fantastic Kirkhope tunes again.
This list might look a little (a lot?) different after January 12th/13th.