September is almost upon us, and means it’s time for the end-of-year parade of game release to begin. As usual, there’s a huge list of games still to come this year, so we thought you’d appreciate a little help narrowing the focus. This isn’t to suggest that any game is guaranteed to be good, but these eight are definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Don’t see your most anticipated game? Tell us what it is in the comments!
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Release Date: November 6
Remember when Treyarch was the little studio that put out a Call of Duty game to tide you over until their big brother Infinity Ward got the next Modern Warfare title together? Those days are long gone now, and Black Ops 3 is one of the most anticipated games of late 2015. Apart from the single-player campaign and inevitable hectic multiplayer, Zombies mode is returning with two confirmed storylines. It’ll be a must-play for series fans, and likely pretty popular among everyone else as well.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Release Date: September 1
All of the drama surrounding Konami and Hideo Kojima is only serving to elevate the interest in the final Metal Gear Solid game – not that it needed any help. Playing as Big Boss (Venom Snake), you’ll head into Afghanistan to take revenge on the people who almost killed you in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. You can expect lots of stealth gameplay, horseback riding, base-building, and of course, a convoluted storyline. Also, don’t be surprised if the whole Kojima – Konami drama ends up just being a publicity stunt for MGS V. I know I wouldn’t be shocked.
Super Mario Maker
Release Date: September 11
One thing 2015 has been notable for is finally making gamers look forward to Wii-U titles. First it was Splatoon, and now it’s Super Mario Maker. This title is half game, half creation tool. You’ll be able to create your own Super Mario levels based on a number of styles from past games, and then share them with other players around the world. You can’t get too carried away, as you have to be able to complete your own level before you can share it.
Rock Band 4
Release Date: October 6
Get ready to bang on your plastic drums and guitars again, because Rock Band 4 is on its way. The king of the rhythm genre is doing a lot of things to get people interested, not the least of which is support for most of the fake instruments you already own and support for much of the DLC you bought for the last game. The streamlined fourth installment will eschew the “Pro Mode” of its predecessor to focus on the core experience of playing with your friends. If you’re into these games, October can’t get here soon enough.
Sword Coast Legends
Release Date: September 29
Dungeons & Dragons fans are licking their chops over Sword Coast Legends. The new RPG from Digital Extremes and N-Space will not only let you play through an extensive single-player campaign, it will also feature a cooperative multiplayer mode that lets players team up against another player who acts as the Dungeon Master. An isometric RPG where we can kill off our friends with horrific monsters? Sign me up!
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Release Date: November 10
The 2013 reboot of the Tomb Raider series took us back in time to see how Lara Croft became the globe-trotting, tomb scavenging hero we all know her as. It was so successful that Microsoft has invested in Rise of the Tomb Raider as a timed exclusive for Xbox One. Picking up where the first game left off, it shows Lara as trying to prove her sanity after a cover-up hides the evidence of her supernatural encounters. She’ll travel the world seeking the truth behind myths and legends as the shadowy organization Trinity tries to stop her.
Fallout 4
Release Date: November 10
Easily one of the biggest announcements of E3 2015 was the long-awaited reveal of Fallout 4. Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic RPG created a ton of buzz at the June conference, and now people are getting progressively more excited as the chance to return to the Wasteland approaches. New additions abound, like the ability to raze and rebuild structures, run your own power lines, and more. With 275 perks to choose from and 12 companions to bring along, Fallout 4 will definitely keep players busy for quite some time this November.
Star Wars: Battlefront
Release Date: November 17
Yeah, I know. It’s the game we all want to love, but we won’t until it comes out and doesn’t suck. For whatever reason, I’ve found my enthusiasm for Star Wars: Battlefront increasing in recent months, and Escapist Editor-in-Chief Josh Vanderwall’s (Encaen) glowing reports haven’t slowed that down at all. Between the gameplay videos and the reveal of the Fighter Squadron Mode, many people have overcome their skepticism. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, you can’t deny that gamers everywhere are keeping a close eye on Battlefront.
