16 of the most promising video game titles coming in 2018

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Ahh, fall. The colored leaves, the return of football season and the ubiquitous pumpkin spice. This fall is even more exciting for gamers, with a huge lineup of blockbuster games coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and the PC. There really is a game for everyone.

The yearly update to Madden is nearly here and the long-awaited sequel of Red Dead Redemption is also coming after years of waiting patiently. This fall isn’t all cowboys, either on the field or off it, however, so let’s take a look at 16 of the biggest game releases of the year.

Madden NFL 19

Just like a soap opera star, the mack-daddy of American Football games is back for its yearly facelift. The latest in the simulation series arrives later in August, with some minor changes. Let’s be honest though, just like that recurring soap opera storyline – you’re not buying this for the changes. The 25-year powerhouse of Madden is just how it should be, and the latest is the greatest.

Release Date: August 10

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

If you’ve never played a Smash Bros title, now would be a great time to start. Think Street Fighter with Nintendo’s favorite characters, with all the silliness that only Nintendo can bring. Every beloved character has their own set of moves and unique traits, such as Pikachu shooting lightning and Mario throwing fireballs.

It’s also a twist on the classic 1v1 of most fighters, with anywhere between two and eight players thrown into battle on stages inspired by Nintendo’s large well of imagination. Silly and chaotic on the surface, while surprisingly deep when you go into the meta, it’s got a serious following and pro circuit.

The ‘Ultimate’ references the fact that every playable character from previous titles is included.

Release Date: December 7

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

Nintendo has a history of releasing two Pokémon games at the same time, with changes that make them just enough to need both. Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! are in this vein, from what we know they’re the same game with different protagonists. Technically this makes this list 17 games, but they’re close enough that I’m counting them as one.

But what are they exactly? Here’s how Nintendo puts it,

“Inspired by Pokémon Yellow, which was originally released in Japan on Nintendo’s Game Boy in 1998, these two new titles feature many of the intuitive gameplay functions offered to players in the hugely popular Pokémon Go and are designed for players taking their first steps into the Pokémon video game world.”

Both games are set in the Kanto region, the location of the original Game Boy games in the series. Random encounters with previously unseen Pokémon are out, with you seeing the creatures living their lives instead. You can flick your controller to capture them instead of selecting a Pokéball and pushing a button to catch Pokémon. There’s also a Pokéball sculpted controller (sold separately) that allows you to mimic the motion of throwing a ball to capture the elusive creatures.

The game mechanics appear to be including the Pokémon Go-like motions, which made millions of people experience the world of Pokémon for the first time. The games will also connect to Pokémon Go in some way and have two-player cooperative action.

Release Date: November 16

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Spider-Man

Spider-pig, Spider-pig.. wait that’s something completely different. Let me start again, with everyone’s favorite web-head. No, not Raven Riley, it’s Peter Parker in the guise of Spider-Man back to pummel bad guys. 🤔 Come to think of it, sticky white stuff, alliterative name, spandex…

Insomniac Games is in charge of this iteration of the super-hero series, and it’s a PlayStation 4 exclusive. There’s all the New York you can sling a web into for your swinging pleasure, which is not at all the same as the real swinging of New York. Focusing on re-creating the Spider-man experience that fans haven’t had from recent games, this is the classic Spider-Man that you already know and love.

“Our Spider-Man features a 23-year-old Peter Parker who has become a masterful Spider-Man,” the game’s creative director, Bryan Intihar, said of the game. “While he may be more experienced, Peter and Spider-Man‘s worlds continue to collide as he tries to juggle them.”

Release Date: September 7

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Lara’s growing into her Tomb Raider persona nicely in the rebooted franchise, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider once again follows Lara Croft around the world doing what she does best – looting tombs and leaving a breadcrumb trail to follow, if, the breadcrumbs were replaced by corpses.

The third game in the series appears to be a more brutal Lara than we’re used to seeing, as she tries to halt the Mayan apocalypse from coming true.

Release Date: September 14

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

NBA 2K19

NBA 2K turns 20 this year, and LeBron James in his LA Lakers regalia is the star of the cover.

NBA 2K19 will be head-and-shoulders above the competition, as usual, setting the gold standard for basketball sim games. Like Madden, it doesn’t change that much each year other than some shinier graphics and a shiny reflection of the current NBA – which it does magnificently.

Release Date: September 11

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch

Forza Horizon 4

The Forza series has been setting the standard for arcade racers for a while now, with their open-worlds and a great mix of event types. Forza Horizon 4 goes to the British Isles this time, with updated visuals, a whopping range of drivable real cars and a whole new seasons system that lets players experience Britain at it’s best and changeable.

Release Date: October 2

Platforms: Xbox One, PC (As Play Anywhere if bought digitally)

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

It’s all Greek to me in the next installment of the Assassin’s Creed series with new protagonists in Ancient Greece. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey drops you into the role of a descendant of a great Spartan hero, and promises you a great destiny. You can play as male or female, just as in Syndicate, and no doubt there’ll be plenty of Homeric myth and Spartan warriors to explore and probably kill.

Release Date: October 5

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Mega Man 11

Wow, a new Mega Man game. Mega Man 11 is the first new game in the series for years (we don’t speak of Mighty No. 9), and it looks amazing.

With sharp 3D visuals, moves borrowed from throughout the series and the same tight gameplay, Mega Man 11 looks to be a hit.

Release Date: October 2

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

Super Mario Party

Mario, madness, and minigames. The winning combination of alliteration is back, with Super Mario Party for the Switch. Like previous games in the series, there’s a combo of minigames set on a large board game-like structure. It’s often frantic, silly and totally won’t make your friends hate you (we hope).

The latest in the series will take advantage of the many functions and sensors built into the Switch so get ready to do silly things in the best couch multiplayer has to offer.

Release Date: October 5

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Soul Calibur VI

Another 20th anniversary here, with one of the best fighting series to date. Soul Calibur VI showed off series mainstays Mitsurugi and Sophitia in the trailer and from what we hear – the game is a bit of a throwback to classics like the second game in the series. Hopefully that will give it some needed hype, as the fighting series has slightly faded from view over time.

Release Date: October 19

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

Red Dead Redemption 2

Fans loved the original games in the Red Dead series for the vivid storytelling and massive (at the time) open-world. Just like Grand Theft Auto, you’re in control of the main character from a third-person perspective and the massive game world has missions, side missions, and all kinds of crazy characters.

Red Dead Redemption 2 has been eagerly awaited since the last episode in the series in 2010. It’s expected to be one of the biggest games of the year, if not the biggest game of the year.

The “Red Dead” series is beloved by gaming fans for its vivid storytelling and its massive open-world. Like “Grand Theft Auto,” you’re in control of a protagonist from the third-person perspective, and you navigate a massive open-world with missions, side missions, and all sorts of ridiculous characters.

Release Date: October 26

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Call of Duty Black Ops IIII

Black Ops IIII skips having a single-player campaign altogether, with multiplayer and the Zombies co-op modes only. It’s still the same tight first-person shooter as the rest of the series, and in place of a campaign, there’s now Blackout mode, the series’ version of Battle Royale.

It looks interesting, but let’s be honest, it’s Call of Duty – when was the last time anyone was excited about a new CoD game?

Release Date: October 12

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC

Battlefield V

Battlefield V is set in an alternative-history version of World War II. That backdrop sets the stage for huge-scale multiplayer combat, character customization and yes, a new Battle Royale mode. There’s a new single-player expansion, and all the eye-candy you could drop a bomb on.

Release Date: October 19

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Hitman 2

Everyone’s favorite cueball assassin is back, with Hitman 2. This time around Agent 47 will have co-op play for the numerous scenarios for you to complete, which is a first for the series.

Release Date: November 13

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Fallout 76

The latest in the Fallout series is close, with Fallout 76 going back to the wasteland in the West Virginian countryside. Developed by Bethesda’s in-house studio, the traditionally single-player Fallout is gone, replaced by an always-online model that will have actual people to come across in the wasteland. Will they be friend or foe?

The game is set earlier in the lore than the prior games, very close after the nuclear apocalypse occurred. Your task – rebuild humanity (while keeping your own humanity intact I’d imagine).

Release Date: November 14

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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Which game most interests you? Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below.

For more gaming news and reviews, check out:

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• Here is all the free games coming to PlayStation Plus in August
• Somehow, the NES Classic outsold all other consoles in June