ELDEN RING

Made with story inputs from A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin, From Software’s legendary studio set a hype train loose that’s only picked up speed since the game’s 2019 E3 reveal. Elden Ring builds upon the same rock-solid RPG fundamentals that Dark Souls introduced to us, giving us a world of challenging enemies, extreme freedom of play, and a deep, twisted lore to lose ourselves in. 

Release date: This February

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC

GOD OF WAR RAGNARÖK

A much-awaited sequel to Santa Monica Studio’s 2018 Game of the Year, God of War Ragnarök takes us deeper into a father- son tale told in blood, iron, and sheer badassery. Expect to take on more mythical Nordic figures as the world plunges into an apocalyptic war, with Kratos going head-to-head with none other than Thor, God of Thunder.

Release date: Expected in 2022, date yet to be revealed

Platforms: Expected on PS4, PS5, PC

POKEMON LEGENDS: ARCEUS

Nintendo’s first big-name game for the year, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is, in a nutshell, the Pokemon game we’ve always dreamed of ever since we saw Pikachu and Ash’s adventures in the early 2000s. Set in an ancient Japanese theme with a focus on Pokemon’s in-world mythos, this is the first Pokemon game to encourage true open-  world exploration, giving us a living, breathing world to explore and ‘Catch ‘em All’ in.

Release date: This January

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

SIFU

It’s a classic kung-fu story — a young, inexperienced student sets off to avenge his slain family and faces hundreds of cannon fodder enemies along the way. What makes Sifu unique is the sheer depth of its combat system — a satisfying, organic flow that offers thousands of move combinations, and punishes you as much as it rewards your skill and patience. Add in a fascinating mechanic that ages your character with each death, and you’re in for a challenging experience that anyone can learn, but only a few can master.

Release date: This February

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

FINAL FANTASY XVI

The 16th mainline Final Fantasy game might be recycling old tropes, but with its dark, gritty tone and story of political intrigue, there’s much more than what meets the eye here as the developers take a sharp turn from XV’s bright, saccharine themes. Fluid, brutal, stylish combat, gorgeous character designs, and a breathtakingly beautiful orchestral score wrap up what might be Square Enix’s most promising title in years.

Release date: 2022, date yet to be revealed

Platforms: PS5

STARFIELD

Finally, the endless series of Skyrim re-releases comes to an end. Bethesda’s upcoming space-faring RPG takes players 50 light-years away from home and nearly three centuries into the future — a spacetime jump into a truly immersive new world. With a deep sci-fi-political storyline, breathtaking graphics, and immersive roleplaying systems, Starfield is the legendary studio’s most ambitious project yet, and the first brand new IP they’ve created in over 25 years.

Release date: November 11

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC

HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST

Horizon Forbidden West continues the story of Aloy, as she explores a post-apocalyptic US West Coast, which is teeming with more synthetic beasts to tame and deadly bosses to slay. Slash, shoot, and stalk your robotic prey through a truly massive open world with revamped environmental, movement, and combat systems, Horizon’s latest adventure throws us further into a bleak yet beautiful rendition of humanity’s lost future.

Release date: This February

Platforms: PS5, PS4