As the dust settles after the impressive stampede of games that was E3 2018, we’re taking a look at what we think will make up some of the best games hitting PlayStation 4 in the near future. Here’s our list of ten of the most exciting titles you should definitely be looking out for, and looking forward to, that were showcased at E3 this year.
1. Fallout 76 – [amazon_link asins=’B07DD9571S|B07D7BNPPY|B07DJ3SKT4|B07DCN5RPQ’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4home-20|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|CA|DE’ link_id=’ab5b6320-7bb5-11e8-b461-bd73faa4b676′]
First up, we have the latest instalment in the Fallout series; Fallout 76. Bethesda really threw us for a loop with this announcement, introducing a vast, stunning game-world set in West Virginia (mountain momma) that’s four times bigger than Fallout 4’s map, and then telling us that it’s all online. Now, of course, this had some fans worried, and rightly so, when reflecting on the not-so-successful Elder Scrolls Online which boasted a similar concept that ultimately wasn’t a hit. But Fallout 76 offers a smaller, more compact online experience, pitching you against, or teaming you up with, only a dozen or so other players. This truly is a smaller scale, more thought-out apocalypse simulator as opposed to another lazy MMORPG with a nice IP’s skin, and we’re so ready to start exploring the diverse landscape of West Virginia.
2. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – [amazon_link asins=’B07DKYN13M|B07DJ1PVJG|B07DP2ZZDB|B07DMBYTNG’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4home-20|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|CA|DE’ link_id=’c9beedac-7bb5-11e8-9a6b-edbddb1cefe1′]
What seems like the most logical place to take the Assassin’s Creed franchise after Ancient Egypt? Ancient Greece, obviously. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has come around very quickly after the success of Origins, a title that revamped and refreshed the franchise. That speed is a little worrying when you look at what happened to Assassin’s Creed Unity back in 2014, but aside from the few concerns we have, the deep historical and cultural well that is the era of ancient Greece has us doubting our doubts and expecting Odyssey to follow in Origins’ magnificent footsteps. If Odyssey sticks fairly close to the formula, this could be another win for Ubisoft. The chance to have a chat with Socrates doesn’t go amiss either.
3. Control
From the creators of the Alan Wake and Quantum Break comes a mind-bending experience in the shape of a first-person action RPG called Control. This dark horse of E3 definitely falls into the more ‘indescribable and slightly weird’ genre, seeing the player battling an insidious entity known as the Hiss. The Hiss has infected the government’s Bureau of Control, corrupting many of its agents and infecting the Bureau’s main buildings. The ever-shifting walls of the ‘Old House’ will make for a baffling and spooky setting which, alongside transforming weaponry, freaky fridges, and formidable enemies to face off against, will make Control a creepy, mind-boggling experience for those who dare to take it on.
4. Ghost of Tsushima – [amazon_link asins=’B07DK1FC9M|B072QN7FWN|B07DPJWRX8′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|DE’ link_id=’f43f34fe-7bb5-11e8-a5a3-2d3598ce334e’]
Set against a classic Samurai movie inspired background, Ghost of Tsushima is a game that follows the story of the last Samurai during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. The gameplay trailer demonstrated some fairly heavy, dynamic blood-spilling combat and the beginning of what looks to be an epic story in a beautifully designed world. It makes perfect sense for the developers to have focused on design, having been heavily inspired by classic Samurai movies, and that attention to detail certainly pays off. Ghost of Tsushima is exceptionally stylish with a muted, sophisticated colour scheme that perfectly complements the setting and gameplay. Ghost of Tsushima seems like a slick Samurai experience that could well be a hidden gem of E3.
5. Resident Evil 2 – [amazon_link asins=’B07DJWBYQL’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’09b2d87b-7bb6-11e8-9df9-d98a2a47d4a9′]
Twenty years after the undead-laden streets of Raccoon City first gave us nightmares, Capcom is finally releasing a shiny HD remake with more than a few changes and improvements. Re-living those haunting Resi 2 memories is sure to be a significantly more unsettling experience with developers having used Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s RE engine. From what we’ve seen, the whole game seems gloomier and darker. Zombies are also harder to dodge and kill, surviving multiple headshots before they go down and let’s not forget that, more often than not, they’ll get back up again later. This is one that fans of the series and newcomers alike will enjoy. If they want to have more nightmares, that is.
6. Marvel’s Spider-Man – [amazon_link asins=’B01GW8YDLK|B01GVS0R4I|B01GW9HE88|B01H1QQIGU’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4home-20|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|CA|DE’ link_id=’20315c43-7bb6-11e8-9407-6b1d8b8b2b71′]
This is a game that should have Marvel fans’ Spidey senses tingling. There’s a plethora of classic Spidey villains, combat that isn’t just QTEs, delicious wall-running, and we haven’t seen web-swinging like this since fan favourite Spider-Man 2 in 2004. Marvel’s Spider-Man is a game that simply feels great to play. Showfloor demos almost always had the same response from players; that swinging around New York is more fun than ever. Even just watching the gameplay you get a sense of how it feels to swing through the city, the momentum, the speed and the weight of Spider-Man himself. It’s a mechanic that Insomniac Games have absolutely nailed and one that could cement Marvel’s Spider-Man for PS4 as the Spider-Man game.
7. Death Stranding – [amazon_link asins=’B01GW8Y3O2|B01GVS0O0A|B01GW9HA4G|B01H1QQG6W’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4home-20|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|CA|DE’ link_id=’390d099b-7bb6-11e8-98bd-b554e6f6c129′]
The first of a couple of titles you almost definitely expected to see on this list, Death Stranding is looking ever more enticing the more we see of it. We’ve talked up the ground-breaking graphics, the outstanding actors involved, and the intriguing concepts Kojima has sprinkled throughout, but Sony’s E3 presentation brought with it a shiny new gameplay trailer for us to pick apart and mull over. We’ve got people eating maggots, time manipulation, Norman Reedus as a hunky delivery man…
There’s so much to unpack and the intricate mysteries just keep getting juicier. How much longer can we wait!?
8. Kingdom Hearts 3 – [amazon_link asins=’B07DJZB39M|B07DPW42SH|B07DPJH6JN|B07DQ9LRMJ’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4home-20|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|CA|DE’ link_id=’b580791e-7bb6-11e8-820b-fd44da232549′]
The wait is finally over! Sound the alarm, bring out the brass band and roll out the red carpet because Square Enix is finally granting us another main series Kingdom Hearts game a mere THIRTEEN YEARS since Kingdom Hearts II in 2005! As you can imagine, thirteen years has brought with it many new Disney films to be woven into the already vast, convoluted and utterly baffling tapestry that is the Kingdom Hearts storyline. With the inclusion of Tangled, Big Hero 6 and Frozen having been confirmed in trailers, this is a release that will have Kingdom Hearts veterans, Disney fans, and probably more than a few seasoned RPG players getting all excited. Keep that excitement bubbling for KH3 in January 2019.
9. The Last of Us Part II – [amazon_link asins=’B07DNJ6MWZ|B01LTI9IEU|B01MTX8L70′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|DE’ link_id=’d7d82185-7bb6-11e8-ae00-bd8ef8434808′]
Here’s another one you probably, almost definitely expected. Much like Death Stranding’s E3 showcase, The Last of Us Part II’s showcase gave us a sublime new trailer with some pretty impressive gameplay as well. Naughty Dog has done an incredible job at getting everyone emotionally invested already, giving us glimpses of Ellie’s relationships, friendships and hardships alike. It’s nothing shy of what we expected from a sequel to The Last of Us, but the trailers so far are promising a fantastic, beautiful and bittersweet narrative. We’re all going to cry again, aren’t we?
10. Cyberpunk 2077 – [amazon_link asins=’B07DJWBYKP|B07DM6JTVZ|B00CQGYHQY’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’ps4playstation-20|ps4072-21|ps4homecom-21′ marketplace=’US|UK|DE’ link_id=’0834596c-7bb7-11e8-b290-5dc9be272827′]
And last but certainly not least is a game that pretty much everyone can agree stole the show at E3 this year. This rich world of deep cyberpunk sci-fi, all wrapped up in what will more than likely be another polished and wholly immersive RPG, comes from the creators of the Witcher series of games, CD Projekt Red. CD Projekt Red are well versed in RPGs with the Witcher III: Wild Hunt arguably being one of the greatest RPGs of all time. Cyberpunk 2077’s finely tuned neon nuances certainly appear to follow in those footsteps, boasting a beautifully detailed open world for players to explore, alongside probably countless hours of gameplay in the form of main quests, side quests and just generally mucking about enjoying the sci-fi scenery. If their previous success is anything to go by, we should all be getting extremely hyped for Cyberpunk 2077.
That’s our picks for the top ten PlayStation 4 games of E3 2018! Which games are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
Rosalind Griffiths is a full time gamer, geek and Creative Writing student. Raised on Nintendo, when she’s not earning gold trophies in Mariokart 8 or freshening up in Inkopolis, she’s writing songs/poems/short stories, or watching cartoons and Lets Play videos.