A reader explains why there’s at least 20 other games this year that he cares about more than Rockstar Games’ blockbuster-in-waiting GTA 6.
If it doesn’t get delayed again, GTA 6 is going to be out on November 19 and as lots of people are pointing out at the moment, it is going to be everywhere. It’s going to be all anyone talks about for months and I literally don’t know if the world is ever going to be the same again. Which is a real shame because I don’t care about it, and I feel I’m missing out.
I haven’t got anything against GTA. I’ve played most of them, and Red Dead Redemption, but I find them very overhyped and with poor gameplay. The open worlds are impressive, no doubt, but I find them a bit aimless and overdone.
I know that as far as the majority are concerned I’m wrong but since I’m not trying to spoil anyone else’s fun I hope you’ll let me be. I’m not here to attack GTA 6 and instead I will list all the games coming out this year that I’m more interested in. Obviously, I won’t be able to get them all, or at least not straight away, but I will before I ever get GTA 6.
1. Forza Horizon 6
OK, I’m probably going to get some details wrong with this lot, because obviously I’ve not played any of them, but you can’t go wrong with a new Forza Horizon. The Japanese setting sounds great, the only problem is I can’t play it till it comes out on PlayStation 5, which is after the Xbox.
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2. Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight
I always find Lego games to be something fun I can play with my wife and this one has the benefit of apparently being quite a bit like the Arkham games, so that’s a definite bonus.
3. 007 First Light
Will still be waiting for the reviews for this one but all the positive previews have made very interested. I always like Bond and I also like the fact that this is obviously not a cash-in or a copy of GoldenEye 007.
4. Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
I admit, I’d rather this was Marvel Vs. Capcom 4 but I’ll take it anyway. I like that they’ve used a Japanese developer and the designs actually show that, especially in the Gundam style Iron Man.
5. Phantom Blade 0
I’m not sure how much this is on other people’s radar, but I really like the look of this and the previews have all been very positive. Apparently it’s more like Devil May Cry than a Soulslike, despite what it looks like, but I’m still interested in it.
6. Star Wars: Galactic Racer
A new sequel to Star Wars Episode I: Racer is not something I expected to see this year, but I am absolutely here for it, especially as it’s by a bunch of UK developers that worked on Need For Speed and Burnout.
7. Marvel’s Wolverine
One of the big no-brainers of the year. The Spider-Man games have been pretty much perfect in my view and I have no doubt they’ll do just as good a job with Wolvie, who is a character I already like a lot more anyway.
8. Beast Of Reincarnation
Another not-so-obvious choice but this is the action role-player by Pokémon developer Game Freak and I really like the look of it. I’m a sucker for a good Soulslike, which I assume is what it basically is, and I like the Princess Mononoke vibe too.
9. Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve
Get the soundtrack of the year award ready because there’s a new Ace Combat out this year! I’m slightly surprised, because I never get the impression these sell all that well, but I love the games and their crazy plots.
10. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
So this isn’t the big budget Castlevania revamp that everyone wants, and I really don’t know why Konami doesn’t make one, but I’ll take it anyway because it’s a 2D game by the team that did Dead Cells.
11. Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival
Perhaps I’m being a bit optimistic here, because it’s a Saber Interactive game and they’re a bit hit and miss. But I like how hardcore this seems to be in terms of both sex and violence, which will hopefully give Silent Hill a run for its money.
12. Silent Hill: Townfall
Speaking of which, Hellraiser may have its work cut out because the last two Silent Hill games have been fantastic, if you ask me, and this looks like it could continue the streak. Plus, it’s set in Scotland!
13. The Duskbloods
I’m cheating a bit with this one because I don’t have a Switch 2 (so there may be other Nintendo games on the way that I don’t know about) but if this is as good as From’s other stuff it could be the game that makes me buy one.
14. Fable
I don’t have an Xbox either but thanks to everything being multiformat nowadays I’ll be able to get this on the PlayStation 5. It depends on the reviews, but I still maintain I’m more interested in this than GTA 6.
15. Halo: Campaign Evolved
Although I’ve been a PlayStation owner most of my life, like most people I know I did have an Xbox 360 back in the day so I’m curious to see this and Gears Of War come back and be on Sony’s console. Even if I think it’s probably the wrong decision for Microsoft.
16. Gears Of War: E-Day
Personally, I always preferred Gears Of War to Halo but I understand this is a prequel, which suits me because I didn’t play the last two games. I hope it manages to have the same over-the-top feel as the old games, because the co-op in that was great.
17. Metro 2039
I was a big fan of Metro Exodus so it’s nice to see a new game. I have no idea if and when I’m going to have the time to play any of these games, because I’m sure this’ll be another massive one, but it’s definitely on my radar.
18. Mina The Hollower
This is the only indie game on my list, not because I don’t like them but because you never seem to hear about them until they’re out. This is the new one from the makers of Shovel Knight, so I’m very much looking forward to it.
19. Onimusha: Way Of The Sword
Capcom has been red hot all year and I don’t see any reason to expect this won’t be good too. Yes, we’d all prefer Dino Crisis but supernatural samurai horror is still very welcome in my book.
20. Star Wars Zero Company
As a big fan of XCOM I’m looking forward to this, even though I’ve never really liked the whole Clone Wars era. Anything that promotes big budget strategy games is fine by me though, especially turn-based.
By reader Futterman
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