Last week was the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in LA, and many of the biggest game companies in the world announced their upcoming titles. Here’s a list of the (non-M-rated) games that we’re most excited about.
Splatoon
In this nonviolent shooter, teams of kids battle for territory by spraying colored ink over a shared arena. At the end of a time limit, the team with the most ink-soaked space wins. To make things more interesting, players can transform into squid and swim through their own colored ink to travel quickly or to replenish their supplies. This game looks incredible.
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: 2015
LittleBigPlanet 3
We love LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2, so it stands to reason that LittleBigPlanet 3 will be just as awesome. The new game will have more adorable characters and a greater focus on co-op play, which, you know, is kind of our thing.
Platforms: PS4, PS3
Release Date: November 2014
Entwined
Entwined is a totally new idea—you play a fish and a bird, controlling one with your right hand and one with your left, and get them to work together to hit moving targets in a sort of vortex. It sounds confusing, but it’s a beautiful-looking game, and we can’t wait to try it out.
Platforms: PS4, PS3, PS Vita
Release Date: Now!
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Toad from the Mario universe finally has his own game, and it looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. The trailer showed off clean and satisfying puzzles similar to the Super Mario games, but with a fresh new twist.
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: December 2014
Mario Maker
Perhaps Nintendo’s answer to Minecraft, Mario Maker will allow players to design and play their very own levels for the 1985 classic Super Mario Bros. Perfect for creative kids or nostalgic parents.
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: 2015
The Crew
The main draw of The Crew is its expansive map. This driving game doesn’t use the typical Nascar tracks, and instead opts for a network of every major road in the United States. It’s like a road trip in your living room, complete with golden waves of grain and purple mountain majesties.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Hohokum
I’m really excited for Hohokum. Its makers describe it as not quite a game, more an experience—no time limits, no lives to worry about losing. Instead, players explore and engage with the world as a kite shaped like a snake. It’s cute and has fantastic music to boot.
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita
Release Date: August 12, 2014
ABZÛ
We don’t know much about this game yet, except that it comes from the art director of Journey and will feature music from Grammy-winner Austin Wintory. ABZÛ takes place underwater, and the trailer reveals a humanoid figure swimming peacefully with some gorgeous sea creatures.
Platforms: PS4, PC
Release Date: 2016
Yoshi’s Wooly World
This new installment to the Yoshi series from Nintendo is set in a world made of yarn. Tiny Yoshis can unravel and re-knit anything from walls to each other, jumping across platforms and using special abilities to solve puzzles. This one looks especially good for a younger audience.
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: 2015
Batman: Arkham Knight
Batman: Arkham Knight is, if nothing else, visually incredible. This version of Gotham City is glittering, rainy, and full of the neon-noir aesthetic that made The Arkham series so cool. It also looks like it’ll be pretty fun to play, if the previous installments in the series are anything to go by.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 2015
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Much like Yoshi’s Wooly World, this Kirby title will be set in a universe of craft supplies. Instead of yarn, Kirby will be adventuring through brightly colored modeling clay. This game looks like it’s going to make great use of the Wii U gamepad and stylus, which is a welcome addition.
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: 2015
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Prepare tissues for this one (even the trailer made us cry), because this game about World War I looks rough. Valiant Hearts is based on real WWI letters, and its characters and the connections they build with each other are the focus. It’s told from the perspective of the dog, which…you know. Rough.
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One and PS4
Release Date: June 25, 2014
Super Smash Bros. Wii U & 3DS
The big reveal about these games came in the form of ambiio: tiny plastic figurines with computer chips. When they’re placed on a Wii U gamepad (or coming 3DS accessory), a digital version of that character will come to life inside your game. Your figurine will remember all of its data, so that as you pit it against other fighters and level it up, it will remember everything you’ve done, and be transferable across platforms. It’s a lot like Skylanders. I can see this technology being big in future Pokémon games.
Platforms: Wii U, 3DS
Release Date: Fall 2014
Just Dance 2015
All the Just Dance games are pretty self-explanatory—just dance. But the newest installment features some cool innovations, like everybody being able to join in with their mobile devices. Imagine having all 25 people at your birthday party Just Dancing!
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, and Wii U
Release Date: October 2014
The Legend of Zelda
Finally! The Legend of Zelda series is coming to Wii U. As of now, we know very little. The graphics look amazing, the character design is pretty similar to Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and did I mention those graphics? One big focus of this world is going to be wide, open spaces, so you can expect to have a bit more roaming power than in previous Zelda games.
Platforms: Wii U
Release Date: 2015
