Mark your calendars, as E3 2018 is happening on 12th June. The annual event is host to many new, long-awaited, or unexpected games and hardware. To help you stay grounded for when the eventual time arrives, here are some games for you to look out for at the expo.
Anthem
Anthem is a new franchise by BioWare, of Dragon Age and Mass Effect fame. It takes place in a foreign world where ‘Freelancers’ wear exosuits called ‘Javelins’ and explore dangerous and untamed lands. One of the biggest draws of the game is that it will be an open-world cooperative game in a broader vein than Destiny. High budget co-op games set in an open-world are surprisingly rare, which places Anthem with unique expectations.
FIFA 19 (and many more sports games)
EA Sports is always around during E3. It remains as one of EA’s biggest gaming assets. The company has made a business out of releasing new editions of these games on a yearly basis. Even so, with EA putting more emphasis on single-player campaigns, there may be something here to catch even a sceptic’s eye.
Crackdown 3
This Xbox One exclusive was announced in E3 2014 and has since had news of troubled development. Even so, Microsoft hasn’t axed the game like it has with its other recent exclusives. Crackdown 3 puts players in the shoes of super-powered Agents who pit themselves against a terrorist organisation known as Terra Nova using destructible environments. The game is confirmed to make an appearance at E3 2018.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
The Division was Massive Entertainment’s Destiny-like game, of Special Agents combating crime in a ravaged New York. Players embark on missions to earn experience and collect various loot to get stronger. While publisher Ubisoft has not revealed much about the game, it promises information to share at E3 2018.
The Crew 2
Plenty of racing games have been released, but rarely have they taken place in a persistent open world. The Crew 2 improves on a flawed but clever idea, introducing better presentation and more vehicles for land, air, and sea. As the game’s release is only a couple of weeks after E3 2018, we can expect a good amount of gameplay to be shown.
Beyond Good and Evil 2
Beyond Good and Evil 2 rides on big expectations as the sequel to a cult classic. Underwhelming sales pushed talks of a trilogy back. Now, the series is back in full swing, promising an open world, customisation, and online coop. Ubisoft only announced the game at E3 2017, so while there might be a status update this year, it could also be a little too soon.
New Splinter Cell
While Sam Fisher’s last game, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist, came out in 2013, the last we actually heard from him was in April 2018. The former Third Echelon agent appeared briefly in a crossover for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands. While paying tribute to Metal Gear in light of Kojima’s departure, he also claimed himself as the only one left (within the stealth genre). This has fans excited for a possible Splinter Cell reveal at the event.
Super Smash Bros for Switch
Nintendo confirms that the Super Smash Bros. for Switch will be the star at E3 2018. The next iteration of the series will feature many characters from Nintendo’s vast IP, including the Splatoon Inklings, Mario, and more. Nintendo is also hosting an invitational at the event where eight of the series’ top players will get their hands on the game for the very first time.
Octopath Traveler
This stunning throwback to classic-style games by Square Enix comes out only a month after E3 2018. As such, fans of the 90’s era of JRPGs can expect plenty of details at E3 2018. The game features eight protagonists, a robust battle system, and an expansive story to lose oneself in. Players can also customise how they solve situations in the game, with options to fight, threaten, or persuade various NPCs.
Metroid Prime 4
E3 2017 saw Metroid fans worldwide celebrate the long-awaited return of Samus Aran with the announcement of Metroid Prime 4. Even so, Nintendo has been hush-hush on the game, which leads to questions whether the game will even be sizable enough for an E3 showing. One thing’s for sure, the Switch will be the perfect platform to integrate innovative new weapons and abilities for a new generation.
Pokemon for Switch
Perhaps the most anticipated title from Nintendo for the Switch is Pokemon. Developer GameFreak is known to have been working on a Pokemon game for the Switch since E3 2017, but that’s all we know. The kid-friendly RPG series remains one of the company’s most popular IPs on the Nintendo 3DS. With the Switch being a successor to the 3DS in many ways, fans are hoping to see a full entry soon.
Bayonetta 3
During The Game Awards 2017, Nintendo went all out in announcing Bayonetta 3 and releasing its prequels for the Switch. Developer PlatinumGames promises the hack-and-slash to be crazier, better, and tighter than the previous two entries. It’s hard to say whether the game will get a showing so soon, but there’s little doubt that it’s a Nintendo exclusive to look out for.
Fire Emblem for Switch
The Fire Emblem series was on the verge of being cancelled before it saw sudden popularity on the Nintendo 3DS. Recently, the series has become a key revenue maker in Nintendo’s mobile smartphone efforts, beating the likes of Mario and Animal Crossing. The next entry of this tactical JRPG for the Switch will mark a return to HD for the series. However, it will also be a purposeful one for a renewed fan base.
The Last of Us: Part 2
This PlayStation 4 exclusive is a sequel to the critically-acclaimed The Last of Us. Instead of playing as Joel, though, players will control Ellie in a zombie apocalypse as she embarks on a journey centred around hate. Developer Naughty Dog has confirmed that the game will have a presence at E3 2018. Hopefully we’ll get to see some gameplay, perhaps with some interesting twists to the zombies we’re familiar with.
Unannounced FromSoftware game
With the Dark Souls series now over, FromSoftware fans are eager to know what’s next for the developer. The studio only showed a cryptic teaser of their next game, displaying the words, “Shadows Die Twice.” Many fans are expecting a new Bloodborne game at E3 2018, but theories also point towards a revival of the company’s old Tenchu or Shadow Tower games.
Death Stranding
The controversy behind Hideo Kojima’s departure from Konami is still fresh in gamer’s minds. That, and the various trailers for Death Stranding which seem straight out from a fever dream. All eyes are on the auteur director to see what his next game is going to be like. With a stellar cast the likes of Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, the game is shaping up to be a big entry for PlayStation, despite its strange imagery.
FFVII Remake
Square Enix announced the remake of JRPG classic Final Fantasy VII back at E3 2015. The developer has since been quiet on progress, proceeding to miss E3 showings in 2016 and 2017. With recent development reported to be going smoothly, the developer might finally break the ice this year. The game is set to be a full-blown remake of the original PS One release, with modern aesthetics and a revamped battle system.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is a strong contender for show at E3 2018. Being a first-party Sony title hasn’t stopped droves of people from being excited to see the web-slinger on this generation’s consoles. Marvel’s Spider-Man will let players explore New York City and fight crime like never before. The game launches this September, so it would be strange for the game to not turn up.
Shenmue 3
Another in a long line of cult classics is Shenmue, known as the stepping stone for open-world games and quick-time events. Originally set to be a trilogy, the game only reached two titles before falling into limbo. In 2015, fans successfully gathered USD 6.3 million to Kickstart production of the third game. Ryo Hazuki poises to conclude his quest for his father’s killer in early 2019, and E3 2018 will be the best time for laying those foundations.
Days Gone
Post-apocalyptic zombie games were, and still are, a popular genre. In Days Gone, players will explore and survive as former bounty hunter Deacon using stealth and a variety of weapons. The game also features a day and night cycle, and dynamic weather system to make roaming this infested world all the more thrilling. The game only launches next year, but has been a regular attendee since E3 2016.
Ghost of Tsushima
Sony’s Sucker Punch is famously known for its Infamous series. However, the team is moving on from superheroes and instead wants to explore an open-world game in feudal Japan. Ghost of Tsushima puts players on the island of Tsushima as a samurai of 13th century Japan. If you’re tired of waiting for Assassin’s Creed to finally give Asia some love, this may be a game to look out for.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider marks Lara Croft’s third journey since the series rebooted in 2013. This game is a key story point as it wraps up the origin story of the tomb-raiding archeologist. Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes place in Latin America as Lara races to reach a Mayan relic before the evil Trinity organisation does. Square Enix has confirmed that the game will indeed make an appearance at E3 2018.
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red made a name for themselves after releasing the critically-acclaimed The Witcher 3. The developer has been working on its next RPG, Cyberpunk 2077, in silence since. Even though we know very little about the game, CD Projekt Red promises that the futuristic world will be dynamic and even bigger than The Witcher 3’s. Knowing how expansive TW3 is, that’s saying a lot.
Kingdom Hearts III
This Square Enix/Disney crossover was one of the classics of the PlayStation 2. While plenty of spin-offs elaborated on the series’ lore, the third mainline entry is now 12 years apart from the second. Kingdom Hearts III will be the first game to feature Pixar characters, hailing from beloved films like Toy Story and Monster, Inc. With the main story also concluding, it makes sense, why so many are excited for this.
Devil May Cry 5
Longtime director Hideaki Itsuno teased about an unannounced project last year. On a similar note, while Capcom has not announced Devil May Cry 5, plenty of ‘leaks’ would suggest that the game is in the making. The series famously features high-octane combat similar to Bayonetta. If rumours are to be believed, the demon hunter Dante will make a return alongside DMC4 newcomer Nero in Itsuno’s unannounced game.
The Avengers Project
Considering Avengers Infinity War has just ended, E3 2018 would be ripe moment for Square Enix to show off its Avengers game. The #reassemble tag promoted during the project’s announcement has never resonated more. The project will consist of multiple games, developed by Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics. Expect a presence, seeing as Square Enix and Marvel have promised to reveal more details this year.
E3 2018 will take place during the week of 11th June 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Centre in USA.
