Ten of the Hottest Games Coming in 2019

It’s the beginning of a new year, and with it comes a shed load of massively anticipated titles. I think it’s safe to say that 2018 is going to be a tough year to top, at least where third party games are concerned. Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 took the year out with a compelling bang, but there’s plenty of games that came before it that shone brightly too. With that being said, we look ahead to the games that are releasing later this year and have selected ten that you should most certainly have both of your eyes on. Let’s dive right in.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Trailer

Oftentimes compared to FromSoftware’s Souls series, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes place in a re-imagined late 16th century Sengoku period Japan. Players take on the role of a Shinobi that was mutilated and left for dead following the kidnapping of his lord. The kicker? This Shinobi awakens to find his severed arm has been replaced with a sophisticated prosthetic, and so sets off on a journey of revenge and rescue. Yes, it all sounds cliche on paper, but in practice, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice looks stunning, robust, and sensational.

Resident Evil 2 – Trailer

For me, it all started here. I recall playing the original Resident Evil 2 nonstop in my childhood. In fact, it was Resident Evil 2 that really pulled me into the series, having not been a massive fan of the first game. Now, several years later (and a long history of miss and hit installations) Capcom are taking us back to the roots, and I can hardly wait. Everything that we’ve seen so far points to a promising, yet frightening, outing; one that will hopefully restore many a fan’s faith in Capcom’s ability to create outstanding horror.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – Trailer

Despite the freakin’ Dark Zone and every selfish bastard that populated it, Tom Clancy’s The Division stood out as one of Ubisoft’s finest games of the gen. I lost count of how many hours I plugged into this game, constantly scrapping to survive in the game’s gorgeous creation of a torn Manhattan. The sequel trades its locale for Washington D.C., and promises to bring with it features and refinements that would have made its predecessor damn near perfect. It’s safe to say that Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is one to watch out for.

Skull & Bones – Trailer

From the bits and pieces that we’ve seen so far, Ubisoft’s take on the pirate life looks pretty damn impressive. Skull & Bones is a third-person tactical action game that’s set within the Indian Ocean. Players take on the role of a fully customizable pirate captain, before setting sail on a single-player adventure or pulling in up to five other players to ally or duel across disputed waters. The game draws a lot of inspiration from Ubisoft’s hit Black Flag, which believe me, is only a good thing. Watch this space people. Skull & Bones looks to hit big.

Kingdom Hearts III – Trailer

Kingdom Hearts III marks the first Kingdom Hearts game to release on an Xbox console. Much like its predecessors, the game combines the properties of Final Fantasy and Disney, uniting under the umbrella of a deep hack-and-slash adventure that’s set to conclude the long running Dark Seeker saga. Out of all the games listed here, Kingdom Hearts III is the first to drop. If you’re a fan of either franchise, this is an absolute must have. I can only hope that the game comes with one hell of an intro to get Xbox players all caught up to speed.

DOOM Eternal – Trailer

Ask me what my favorite shooter of the gen is, and I’ll gleefully tell you that the answer is DOOM. I’ve played all of the canon entries, from the early nineties, right up to 2016’s bloody (yet brilliant) installation. DOOM Eternal follows in the footsteps of its immediate predecessor, pushing forward an FPS that’s nonstop, action-packed and utterly brutal. If there’s one FPS that you need to pick up this year, it’s this. The game appears to be shaping up beautifully, cutting away things that didn’t work in DOOM, and building upon what did.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Trailer

Ori and the Blind Forest stands as one of the most beautiful platformers on Xbox One. What worked so well was the combination of a heart warming plot, deep, yet challenging gameplay, and a gorgeous presentation. Ori and the Will of the Wisps aims to capture that same vibe, and going from the snippets if intel that we have, it’s set to achieve the greatness that its predecessor did a number of years back. The question on everyone’s mind is whether or not it can live up to its expectations. We don’t have long to wait and see.

World War Z – Trailer

OVERKILL’s The Walking Dead is ironically already dead in the water. With that in mind, all eyes are on World War Z. First announced in 2017 as a four player co-op shooter, World War Z sees players moving from New York, Jerusalem, and Moscow, as they battle against the vast zombie threat. If this game manages to capture the excitement and the pace of its source material, we could be looking at a surprise hit. Intel is relatively thin on the ground at the moment, but the trailers and info released so far certainly showcases a lot of promise.

Team Sonic Racing – Trailer

Kart racers are ten a penny these days. I think we can safely say that nothing will ever dethrone Mario as the king of the gauntlet. Though, that’s not to say that other franchises do not come close. This isn’t Sonic’s first run at the concept, in fact, our favorite blue hedgehog has enjoyed two mainline kart racing games so far – both of which are massively fun in their own way. Team Sonic Racing is set to follow suit, though brings with it a new twist in the form of team play, alongside several modes, a campaign, and much more. I can hardly wait.

Devil May Cry 5 – Trailer

Say what you will about DmC, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure, it was no Devil May Cry 5, but it hit the spot and caught that signature vibe all the same. Now however, Devil May Cry 5 is finally almost upon us, and it certainly looks like it means business. The game’s story is based after the events of Devil May Cry 2, and sees players taking on the role of Dante, Nero, and V (a new character) as they battle a series of devastating demon attacks. Will this live up to the hype? With series veteran Hideaki Itsuno on board, it’s got every chance to.

So, there they are. It wasn’t an easy list to come up with. Simply due to the fact that there’s no shortage of big hitters creeping in, not to mention some hot indies that wracked up quite a lot of chatter over the past year. Honorable mentions go to the likes of Metro Exodus, Rage 2, Code Vein, Control, and Biomutant – all of which would have easily made the cut. Would you have swapped any of these ten games out for something different? Is there a particular game you’re looking forward to? Hit the comment section below to be heard.