9) Skyrim (Fall 2017)
Yeah, I know: it’s a six-year-old game, yadda yadda yadda – but it’s one of the most awe-inspiring, gargantuan open-worlds Bethesda has crafted yet. And compared to most open-world games around at the moment, it’s actually got a ton of really interesting and meaningful stuff to do in it, too. Plus, it’s coming to a handheld. If you showed my younger, childlike self a game like Skyrim running on a portable, I would’ve personally burnt you at the stake for being a witch. No, seriously.
Even though I’ve completed the game about half-a-dozen times before, I’m itching to jump back in, not only to rid the lands of those pesky dragons, but to just get lost in its living, breathing world that is both rewarding and beautiful, in equal measure. With the ability to take your epic adventure with you on the go, this could well be the ultimate version of Bethesda’s fondly remembered RPG.
Skyrim on a handheld; what a world we live in.
8) Yoshi — Working Title (Early 2018)
Everybody’s favourite dino is getting a sequel to his Wii U and 3DS outing Yoshi’s Wooly World. This time round, Yoshi will be able to switch between two viewpoints, allowing the camera to swing around and see behind objects, a mechanic reminiscent of indie puzzler Fez’s perspective-shifting gameplay. In general, it mechanically looks pretty similar to previous side-scrolling platformer Yoshi titles.
Using cutting edge Unreal Engine 4 tech to bring its world to life, Good-Feel’s newest Yoshi instalment focuses on a gorgeous cardboard cut-out art-style over the wooly themed world of his preceding adventure. The game will also feature a drop-in two-player co-op mode, where players work together to maneuver their way through the game’s bright and colourful cardboard landscapes.
Oh, and I kinda hope Birdo makes an appearance, too. Is it just me, or should the two of them totally get together? Maybe it’s just me…