2016 may not have been a great year for some people, but it’s time to make it up in 2017. This year is looking to be fantastic for the gaming industry, and there’s a whole slew of games out there in development.
However, there’s plenty that release this year, and we’ve ranked our 9 (because 10 is too mainstream) most anticipate titles that are coming to the PlayStation 4.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
Five years after the release of Mass Effect III, BioWare Studios returns to their beloved franchise with Mass Effect: Andromeda. While this latest instalment is actually a midquel (taking place between Mass Effect II and Mass Effect III) and fans don’t play as Commander Sheppard, the game allows players to see what was going on in the Andromeda galaxy. The player takes the role of Sara or Scott Ryder, and instead of only choosing between six character classes, they will now be able develop their own skills. Mass Effect: Andromeda also removes the morality scaling which allows the player more free reign in their conversations. Despite the mixed opinions of Mass Effect III, Mass Effect: Andromeda looks like it will inject new life into the franchise. Mass Effect: Andromeda launches on March 21, 2017.
Crash Bandicoot Remastered
The first three Crash Bandicoot games are finally getting the remaster treatment for the PlayStation 4 with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. The initial Crash Bandicoot game came out for the PlayStation in 1996, and was about a mutated Bandicoot named Crash as he explores Australia’s Wumpa Islands to stop the evil Doctor Neo Cortex from taking over the world. The insanely popular franchise spawned seven main games, three racing, two party, four spin-offs and a slew of mobile games. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is sure to revive nostalgia for adults, and bring new fans into the fold. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy launches in 2017.
God of War
The God of War franchise is getting a soft reboot with this eighth instalment. The newest God of War game will now take place in the land of Norse Gods with Kratos and his son Arteus as they struggle to survive in this new world. God of War is a massive overhaul from its predecessors as the game will now take a more RPG approach. Some elements of the new game include archery and crafting and that the story will not be branching or have a morality system. With God of War getting this reboot, it will be interesting to see if the game will revive the series while enticing curious fans. Despite not having an official release date, it’s highly possible that God of War launches in 2017.
Prey
Originally developed as a sequel to the 2006 hit, Prey, this version of Prey is now a complete reboot. Set in the year 2032, players takes the role of Morgan Yu, a human aboard a space station called Talos I which orbits the moon. Yu is a key test subject in an experiment that will change humanity forever, but things go terribly haywire. As the space station becomes overrun with hostile aliens, Yu has no choice but to fight for their life and find a way to stop the alien threat. Yu must uncover the dark secrets of the Talos I and their own past, all while trying to survive by using the station’s tools, weapons, their own wits and new-found abilities. Prey has an official launch date of May 1, 2017, and here’s hoping the success of this game prompts the sequel fans have waited for.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Square Enix is completely remastering its ground-breaking, fan-favourite of the Final Fantasy Franchise, Final Fantasy VII. The remaster has been a long time coming since the early 2000’s but to be fair to Square Enix, Final Fantasy VII Remake isn’t just an updated port but a game completely built from the ground up. The game will follow the story exactly the same way as the original; Cloud Strife is a formal Shinra soldier who joins an eco-terrorist group to fight the Shinra Corporation who are draining the planet’s energy. It’s been 20 years since Final Fantasy VII initially released, and despite not hearing much on the remake, it’s a belief (and maybe hope) among retailers that Final Fantasy VII Remake will launch sometime in 2017.
Detroit: Become Human
Whether you’re a fan of David Cage games (Indigo Prophecy, Beyond Two Souls, Heavy Rain) or not, the man, at the very least, has some interesting concepts that attract curiosity. Cage is back at it again with his newest game, Detroit: Become Human. The game is about an android named Kara who escapes the factory she was made in to explore her new sentience. There will be several other playable characters in the game (all of them androids) and in David Cage fashion, the story changes depending on your choices. A Dev trailer came out in 2012 for Detroit: Become Human followed by an actual trailer in October of 2015. The game’s mysterious nature makes it highly anticipated and it appears that it will debut sometime in 2017.
South Park: The fractured but Whole
After the astonishing success of South Park: The Stick of Truth in 2014, Ubisoft created a sequel which parodies superheroes. South Park: The Fractured but Whole, takes place after the first game and pits two groups of children superheroes against each other Captain America: Civil War style. The player will once again be tossed into a South Park episode and play a new kid who helps out the group. This time, the player can choose the new kid’s gender. South Park: The Fractured but Whole has been delayed twice now, but the general consensus is that the new game will still debut in 2017 (albeit, later than fans hoped).
Outlast 2
The sequel to the terrifying, first-person, survival horror game, Outlast is definitely one fans have been dying for (get it? Because it’s a horror game!). Outlast 2 follows a journalist named Blake as he follows the mystery of a murdered pregnant woman. Blake and his wife Lynn, crash in the Sonoran Desert, and now have to go through a remote village that hosts a cult that believes the end of days is upon them. Like this first game, the player won’t be able to fight, but unlike the first game, the player will have a better camera. The player can zoom, have clearer vision and audio detection. The player will even wear glasses that will inhibit Blake’s vision if they fall off. Outlast 2 was initially supposed to release in fall of 2016, and even though it doesn’t have an official date, developer Red Barrels said the game will release in Q1 2017. If you can’t wait, the demo is currently available.
Horizon Zero Dawn
One of the few games on this list that’s launching this month, Horizon Zero Dawn is an ambitious title that focuses on the contrast between nature and technology. Horizon Zero Dawn is about a hunter and archer named Aloy as she struggles in a world overrun with robots. The player can craft items, explore an open world without loading times, and complete a great deal of side stories along with the main plot. Another new concept to the game is trial and error based play, meaning that there will be no tutorials. Horizon Zero Dawn won Best Original Game at the Game Critics’ Awards in 2015 and 2016 and with those honours, Horizon Zero Dawn is looking to be one of the better games released this year. Horizon Zero Dawn releases on Feb. 28, 2017.
With even more titles slated for a 2017 launch, it’s always useful to check out the year’s full release schedule.
