2019 looks set to be a great year for video games. So far, there promises to be a wide variety of smaller and bigger companies offering both new titles and franchise expansions across a range of genres (provided that the dates aren’t changed). which should bring something for everyone. While there does seem to be an emphasis on shooter and slasher games, there are a few strategy and cute games on the horizon as well, so we have tried to keep this list as varied as possible.
1. Total War: The Three Kingdoms (March 7, 2019)
In this title, Games Workshop pays homage to the ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ by Luo Guanzhong as well as the actual events that occurred during the period of the Three Kingdoms in 199 CE China. Players will get to choose from one of 11 historic figures, 2 modes and around 22 divergent campaign tracts to either relive or rewrite history as one of the famous warlords from that period. In order to achieve their goals, players will need to practice diplomacy, plot betrayals, manage resources, forge allegiances and of course, go to war in the hopes of slowly conquering and becoming the next emperor of China. Further details can be viewed here.
2. Devil May Cry 5 (March 8, 2019 )
This is definitely one of the bigger titles coming out this year, with many die-hard fans hoping that it will fair better than the previous entry. It seems promising as it will be bringing back both Dante and Nero, as well as introducing a new character to the franchise. The general story introduces us to the mysterious playable stranger, ‘V’, who hires Dante to assist him in a major job, as he himself lacks fighting capabilities and strength for combat. The request seems simple: to assist him in preventing the resurrection of a powerful demon.
However, it is possible that this job is connected to the individual who stole Nero’s arm, as well as the giant demonic tree that has suddenly sprouted in the middle of Red Grave City and is draining all the blood from its inhabitants. The player will be switching between these three as the campaign unfurls, with Trish, Lady and possibly Kyrie returning as supporting cast members. Another newcomer, Nico, will also be added to the mix. Read more.
3. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (March 15, 2019)
The Division 2 continues seven months after the events of the previous installment, with a new outbreak having occurred in Washington D.C. The stakes are high, as aside from the civil war between the True Sons and the remaining civilians for dominance of the city, it is also the seat of power for both the US and the Division itself. Players will therefore need to either join together in teams or play solo to protect the emblem of the first world form falling into anarchy. Discover further details here.
4. The Sinking City (March 21, 2019)*
The Sinking City is a new open-world offering from the relatively small company, Frogwares and looks as though it might provide an interesting interpretation of the Lovecraftian universe, provided that players can be forgiving if it doesn’t always match up to the production quality of the big-budget companies.
In this entry, players will be exploring the fictional city of Oakmont, MA as private investigator Mr. Charles W. Reed. Reed is running from a past that is driving hi insane, while still driving to uncover the dark truth behind why Oakmont is slowly sinking, and its inhabitants are being transformed into something other, before it is too late to save them from whatever horror is trying to take over their city. However, while their will be monsters from the deep to contend with, Reed will also need to be wary of those around him, as not everyone necessarily wants to be saved. *The date has since changed to June 27, 2019. Read more.
5. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (March 22, 2019)
FromSoftware, best known for their Dark Souls, franchise is branching out from their usual dark fantasy offerings and into an adventure/slasher, supernatural take on a ninja-and-lord bond set in a reimagined Sekogu period. This is a P2P campaign that focuses on the ninja Sekiro seeking to bring home his kidnapped lord and defeat the clan that dared to do so before they make use of the young lord’s ‘special’ bloodline.
Fortunately, as Sekiro lost his arm during his battle with the Ashina samurai who took the young lord, the Buushi has constructed a new supernatural prosthetic arm for him that can transform into many useful tools, including a fire vent, grappling hook, axe, umbrella-shaped shield, and possibly other offensive weapons. This will definitely prove useful given that Sekiro will be infiltrating the bases and battling the bosses of an entire clan entirely on his own. To find out more, click here.
6. Yoshi’s Crafted World (March 29, 2019)
Yoshi’s Crafted World is definitely the cutest entry on this list. This is a side-scrolling 2.5D entry for 1 – 2 players, where every character, item and landscape is designed to look as though it were crafted from kids’ art-supplies with corrugated cardboard grass and building cut-outs, stars and clouds being paper cut-outs sellotaped to straws and even the Yoshis themselves being made of felt with plastic shoes. The basic premise is that the Yoshis’ precious Sundream Stone as broken and scattered across the crafted world when Babay Bowser and Kamek failed to steal it from Yoshi Island. The Yoshis are now setting out on a journey to retrieve the missing pieces, fix the Sundream Stone and return it to its place at the topmost part of their island. More details can be found here.
7. Tropico 6 (March 29, 2019)
Tropico 6 is the latest rendition of the city construction and political rulership simulation strategy franchise by Kalypso Media. Players take on the role of El Presidente as he rules his developing island nation of Tropico and directs its economic and political standing in general and towards the two neighboring superpowers. As to whether he will be a brutal war-mongering dictator, or a benevolent ruler is up to the player. Before they start, players will be able to choose from fifteen mission maps, each of which features its own story mode campaign. Maps also feature different climate themes and layouts, with some structured as an archipelago and others as a single island.
Aside from political considerations, players will also have to contend with map-specific objectives as their country develops from the colonial era through to the future. The style of gameplay is up to the players, so whether El Presidente will succeed in maintaining his rule and whether he will be remembered as a benevolent ruler or tyrannical dictator is up to them. Find out more here.
8. Days Gone (April 26, 2019)
Days Gone offers a solo-adventure with a more traditional post-apocalyptic open-world, two years after the vast majority of humanity was wiped out by a virus that only a few were seemingly immune, while still millions of others were altered into living mentally-devolved zombie-like cannibalistic creatures with strong swarm and hunting instincts. However, this virus has also spread to other mammals that are just as thirsty for human blood as their human counterparts.
Players will be exploring the world as Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter who with a fluid moral compass who is trying to survive as best he can in a world filled with horrors, those still traumatized by loss and distrust as well as opportunistic groups that are trying to take advantage of weaker groups. See more details here.
9. Rage 2 (May 14, 2019)
Rage 2 is a continuation of the post-apocalyptic story that was introduced to us in the first installment. Players will now take on the role of Walker thirty years after Lieutenant Raine’s endeavors occurred. Walker is still in a chaotic, lawless open-world where they need to contend with the various factions that are vying for autonomy over the limited resources in the slowly recovering world. However, Walker’s main focus is exacting revenge against the militaristic Authority who slaughtered the rest of Walker’s family when he was a child, and to free the rest of humanity from their control. Find out more.
10. Team Sonic Racing (May 21, 2019 )
This entry sees Sonic and his friends (and enemies) once again taking to the race track in a new adventure. Here, Sonic is invited to attend a race by an unknown host. All of them enjoy the race, but are highly suspicious of his motivations, especially when it seems that he is somehow connected with Dr. Eggman. Nevertheless, they all decide to continue participating in the tournament, and so the story begins.
Unlike Sega’s pervious Sonic racing games, this will be a largely team-based game, with three classes and many ways for players to assist their team-mates. There will also be AI-assisted solo-modes for those who prefer to play alone. Discover more.