The holidays have at last passed. With the November rush of new AAA video games, and the rush of Game of the Year lists that follow in our rearview it’s time to look forward to 2015. The first quarter of the year is traditionally a fairly light time for games, but this may be the year to break that trend. If you got a shiny new console under the tree this year and want to burn that Christmas cash on a hot new release keep your eyes open for these games in the coming weeks.
Over the past generation, few games ignited a frenzy among my gaming friends like Dark Souls. The third-person action franchise is notorious for brutal difficulty, with tight controls and nearly infinite possibilities for play. Coming on March 24 , the true spiritual successor will come in the form of Bloodborne (PS4). As the first PS4 game from Souls Creative Director Hidetaka Miyazaki, this will surely end in at least one broken controller.
For first-person shooter fans, the coming season is bringing two highly-anticipated multiplayer games that promise to offer new takes on existing concepts. Turtle Rock Studios is best known for developing the original Left 4 Dead, which nearly perfected the co-op shooter experience. Now, the team has turned to competitive play, with Evolve (PS4, XBox ONE, PC). One player takes the form of a massive monster, fighting off a team of four “hunters.” Find your crew and start the hunt on February 10.
If you’re more interested in hunting down criminals than alien hell-beasts, perhaps Battlefield Hardline (PC, PS4, PS3, XBox ONE, XBox 360) will be more up your alley. The latest edition of EA’s shooter franchise moves the action from the battlefield to the homeland, focusing on a cops-and-robbers dynamic for the series’ iconic multiplayer. Expect it on March 17.
February has always been a time for horror, as the single among us turn to dark imagery to reflect the growing self-resentment fostered by Valentine’s Day. Cuddle up with a PS4 controller on February 20 and settle in for a steampunk adventure with The Order: 1866. This graphically stunning third-person shooter might just be the Gears of War for a new generation of consoles.
Fans of zombies should be getting ready for Dying Light (PC, XBox ONE, PS4), from the creators of Dead Island. The game holds true to the open-world parkour spirit of its previous work, but introduces a new day/night cycle — which allows other players to enter your game as super-powered undead. Survive the night on January 27.
If you prefer your frights in the retro style, this season will also bring us remasters of two horror classics — Grim Fandango (PS4, PS Vita, PC, OSX, Linux), Tim Schafer’s iconic point-and-click adventure in the land of the dead on January 27 , and the Gamecube-era remake of Resident Evil (PC, PS4, PS3, XBox ONE, XBox 360) (That’s right, an HD remaster of a remake), on January 20.
Follow Chris Berg on Twitter @Mushroomer25