Not every big title intended for 2016 has been released yet (Where are you, No Man’s Sky?!), but there’s been plenty of great video games coming out this year, topping the charts, competing with strong titles going well from the not too distant past.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Genre: Third-person shooter,action-adventure,platform
If this is the last game in the Uncharted series, it’s a great one, getting perfect, or close to perfect scores from almost every ranking reviewer or aggregator. Nathan Drake comes out of retirement for one last job, and finds out it’s a lot bigger and darker than he was initially told. The game is only available on the PlayStation 4
Tom Clancy’s The Division
Genre: Third-person shooter
An online-only game, The Division is set in a pretty messed up New York City following a smallpox pandemic, and your job is to help rebuild the city, investigate where the disease came from, and fight the rampaging criminal activity, in a game that combines RPG and PVP elements. It’s available on the PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Ratchet & Clank
Genre: Platform, shooter
The lovable, ongoing series is still strong among kids and adults, with the 2016 version doing very well in both sales and reviews. The game is basically a re-imagining of the original (2002), but borrowing different elements from other games in the series. It’s only available on the PS4.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Genre: First person shooter
The hugely successful series by Activision keeps popping out titles, with this one taking place in 2065, fighting the war of the future, instead that of the past or present. It’s available on the Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4.
Pokken Tournament
Genre: Fighting
Basically, a Pokemon fighting game, in which two fighters battle against each other using various Pokémon, with gameplay shifting between “Field Phase” where the Pokémon move freely around the arena, and “Duel Phase” where they move relative each other similar to the Tekken games. The game initially came out in an arcade version, and is only available on the Nintendo Wii U.
Dark Souls III
Genre: Action role-playing
The next installment in the game that loves to frustrate you, with more badass enemies who change their tactics and battle style during combat. It’s been a huge hit among gamers and critics, and probably brings a fitting conclusion to the series. It’s available on the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
GTA V
Genre: Third-Person shooter, action adventure
GTA games are a genre of their own, and long after being released, they remain very successful, in the standard version, or the online version everyone loves to complain about, but keep playing it. This time, it’s back to Los Santos, or Los Angeles, this time playing three different characters. It’s available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Overwatch
Genre: First person shooter
Another way for Blizzard to take over the world, bringing this game out in May and doing very well since. It’s a multiplayer game, featuring a squad-based combat with two opposing teams of six players each. Most of the game’s maps are inspired by real-world locations: “King’s Row”, “Hanamura”, “Temple of Anubis” are inspired by London, Tokyo and Egypt. It’s available on the PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
For a different style of video games, check out the best Telltale has to offer, or check out the incredible Banner Saga, which is special in its own way.
