Every year is seemingly the best game ever for gaming. But 2017 will give us a new Mass Effect, new Zelda, and new Nintendo console with the Nintendo Switch. That’s an incredible lineup, and there’s even more to come, like Super Mario Odyssey, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Horizon Zero Dawn. Indie titles continue to generate huge buzz as well, with games like Yooka-Laylee, Tacoma, and Night in the Woods coming this year.
Read on for our 30 most anticipated games of 2017.
For Everyone:
Cuphead
Cuphead has been in development for years and delayed several times. But it’s looking like 2017 will finally let us play this unique side-scrolling shooter set in a striking world of retro animation.
Mid-2017 (PC, XBO)
Deformers
Deformers looks like someone took a goofy ’90s toy line and turned it into a physics-based arena brawler. Super Smash Bros. with balls?
February 14 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Ever Oasis
Remember one of the few new games Nintendo announced during last year’s E3? Ever Oasis looks like a charming action-RPG mash-up of Zelda and Animal Crossing.
2017 (3DS)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most beloved franchises in all of gaming, and Breath of the Wild is set to shake up the standard formula in some stunning ways. The biggest new addition is a true open world for Link to explore.
March 3 (Switch, Wii U)
LEGO Worlds
It’s LEGO meets Minecraft in this multiplayer build ’em up. It’s been on Steam Early Access since June of 2015, and finally getting a proper release date this February.
February 24 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World
If you missed the excellent Wii U version, Yoshi’s Woolly World is coming to Nintendo 3DS. This edition is optimized for the 3DS, and includes new bonus levels featuring Yoshi’s new adorable sidekick Poochy.
February 3 (3DS)
Splatoon 2
A sequel to one of the Wii U’s best games was announced during the Nintendo Switch Presentation. Splatoon 2 is very a much a sequel – retaining the solid paint-shooting, team-based battles with more weapons, stages, outfits, etc.
Summer 2017 (Switch)
Super Mario Odyssey
With a new Nintendo console comes new Mario games. Super Mario Odyssey will give us a proper follow-up to the more free-form 3D Mario games of the Nintendo 64 and Gamecube eras. Mario’s hat has become a power-up that lets him reach new heights.
Holiday 2017 (Switch)
Yooka-Laylee
Billed as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, Yooka-Laylee looks to capture the friendly fun of 3D action-adventure platformers. The Wii U version was recently canceled, but now it’s coming to Nintendo Switch in addition to other platforms.
April 11 (PC, PS4, Switch, XBO)
For Older Kids and Teens:
Below
Below is another game that’s been in development for years, originally announced in 2013. It’s an adventure set on a mysterious island, and developed by the makers of Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery.
2017 (PC, XBOX)
Cosmic Star Heroine
One of my personally most anticipated games is this pixelated RPG that takes its inspiration from 16-bit classics like Chrono Trigger. Zeboyd Games has crafted some excellent indie RPGs. Cosmic Star Heroine stars a sci-fi bounty hunter on an intergalactic adventure.
2017 (PC, PS4, Vita)
Halo Wars 2
The sequel to 2009’s Halo Wars looks to recapture the rare magic of a real-time strategy game that works well on consoles. Halo Wars 2 returns to the sci-fi Halo universe, and introduces a new villainous alien faction called the Banished.
February 21 (PC, XBO)
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is a 3rd person action-RPG set in a sci-fi world filled with crazy robot dinosaurs. Heroine Aloy is a post-apocalyptic hunter who can hack these creatures to gain powerful allies as she explores the world.
February 28 (PS4)
Injustice 2
Injustice 2 continues the dark, alternate timeline from the first game that featured Superman as a tyrannical villain. New fighters include Supergirl, Gorilla Grodd, and Deadshot.
May 16 (PS4, XBO)
Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite
Fans have been begging for a new Marvel vs. Capcom title for years. The fighting game series has an incredibly large roster from two major franchises, and a signature tag-team battle system – though Infinite will feature two on two instead of three on three.
2017 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Night in the Woods
Night in the Woods is a successful Kickstarter indie game due out in early 2017. Don’t be fooled by the graphics and anthropomorphic characters. The game explores some heavier themes as you return to reconnect with small town life. It’s also really funny.
February 2017 (PC, PS4)
Pyre
After Bastion and Transistor any new release from Supergiant Games should cause you to stand up and take notice. Pyre is a party-based action-RPG set in an underworld that you try to escape. The team-based combat is reminiscent of a soccer match and features local multiplayer.
2017 (PC, PS4)
Star Wars: Battlefront 2
A sequel to 2015’s generally well-received Star Wars Battlefront is coming this Fall. It will feature content from the new Star Wars movies, and probably feature a full single-player campaign in addition to the large-scale multiplayer.
Fall 2017 (PC, PS4, XBO)
For Parents:
Detroit: Become Human
David Cage and Quantic Dream have established a fun niche of story-heavy adventure games featuring motion capture. Detroit: Become Human tackles issues of artificial intelligence in the near-future city. Characters can live or die based on your complex choices.
2017 (PS4)
For Honor
A unique medieval fantasy setting throws vikings, samurai, and knights into an all-out war. For Honor features large battles as well as one-on-one duels. It will include a single-player campaign as well as multiple multiplayer modes and maps.
February 14 (PC, PS4, XBO)
God of War
A new non-numbered God of War is the long-awaited sequel to 2010’s God of War III. Kratos returns (sans chain-swords), now accompanied by his son as they explore a new world based on Norse mythology.
2017 (PS4)
Mass Effect: Andromeda
You may have heard of sci-fi RPG series Mass Effect. Mass Effect: Andromeda is the first in the series since 2012’s Mass Effect 3, and the first to star a different protagonist. Andromeda takes place hundreds of years after the original trilogy, in an entirely new galaxy.
March 21 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Persona 5
Spinoffs from the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona games are one of the most beloved modern JRPG series. Persona 5 continues the story and gameplay of navigating an anime high school while making friends and battling monsters.
April 4 (PS3, PS4)
Prey
Prey is an all-new first-person shooter developed by the makers of the Dishonored series. It looks a bit like Dishonored in space, as you’re stuck on a space station with hostile aliens. You’ll be able to choose between a male and female version of the main hero, Morgan Yu.
2017 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Red Dead Redemption 2
The trailer above has nearly 10 million views, in case you’re wondering about Red Dead Redemption’s popularity. We know almost nothing about this long-awaited sequel. This Grand Theft Auto Western is easily one of the most anticipated games of the year. It’s also the most likely to be delayed into 2018.
2017 (PS4, XBO)
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
The long-running action-horror franchise is looking to go much more horror than action this year. Biohazard is the first main-series Resident Evil game to feature first-person gameplay. It’s aiming to return to its roots of solving puzzles and exploring a spooky house.
January 24 (PC, PS4, PSVR, XBO)
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
South Park: The Stick of Truth was a surprisingly fantastic RPG that recreated the art and characters of the long-running adult cartoon. The Fractured But Whole adds a satirical superhero theme that was introduced in later seasons of the show.
2017 (PS, PS4, XBO)
Tacoma
Gone Home stunned many with its environmental storytelling. Fulblright’s next game is called Tacoma, named after the space station the game takes place in. Players must piece together what happened to its residents by exploring the station.
2017 (PC, XBO)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
The Ghost Recon series returns to a more modern-day setting in the large open world of Bolivia. The third-person shooter will feature four-player cooperative multiplayer.
March 7 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Planescape: Torment is one of the most cherished tactical cRPGs in history. This spiritual successor enjoyed a multi-million dollar Kickstarter campaign and Steam Early Access, and is finally set to release this year. Torment takes place in the Numenera tabletop RPG setting, set on an unrecognizable Earth one billion years into the future.
February 28 (PC, PS4, XBO)
