6 Video Games Coming In 2015 That We're Already Drooling Over

Before I start talking about all the awesome video games "coming out" in 2015 that we are all looking forward to, I need to mention one thing. And that's that though all the games I mention here may be SLATED for 2015, we all know that sometimes games get pushed back and delayed, and then pushed back some more, and then delayed some more. So, while in theory, all the games on this list are set to drop next year, I think that most avid gamers know that doesn't really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. I am still eagerly awaiting Starcraft: Ghost for Christ's sake, so let's just factor that in before I say anything else. Next up, we also know that a lot can happen in development that can change a game from the first time we see it. So while I may be speaking of a few of these games with a certain sense of how they MAY play out, please be aware that much can change by the time they reach the actual shelves. Quite a few of the games on this list are ambitious, and that can often mean many changes by the time a game reaches us, so keep that in mind. Those factors out of the way, 2015 looks to be an amazing year for gaming. From classic hack n' slash titles to games that hearken back (visually) to the those that many of us played in our youths, next year looks ready to heap on the nostalgic charm while still keeping things fresh and original. So, without any further ado, here are the 6 video games slated for 2015 that we are eagerly anticipating (with quite a few honorable mentions tagged on). Batman: Arkham Knight Let's not pretend that we don't want to play at least ONE more Batman game made by the developers who have handled Batman better than anyone before them: Rocksteady. While I can admit that I was let down by the last entry in the series, we need to remember that that was a pass off. Rocksteady had input on that game, but they had another company making it. This is the (supposed) last time that Rocksteady will develop a Batman game, and I believe for that reason alone, they intend to blow our minds. While the addition of the Batmobile is cool, it seems a little gimmicky to me, but I respect them trying to inject new elements into a formula they have stretched pretty thin (in a good way). What really has me excited about Arkham Knight is the idea that we will be introduced to a new villain and a new character (we think), and it could end up being something wicked and twisted and amazing. Let us not forget how much Arkham Asylum and Arkham City blew us away. They were superhero games that truly made us feel like the superhero we were pretending to be. Judging by the last two Batman games that Rocksteady made, they won't go out on anything but a high note. Feel free to speculate in the comments who you think the Arkham Knight may end up being, too, as I bet you all have some interesting theories. Below While you may have fooled yourself into thinking this list would be all slick, eighth generation games wrapped in a shiny next-gen veneer, you would be wrong. I truly believe indie games are where the industry is heading. Below looks insane visually and is reminiscent of old Nintendo and Super Nintendo games, yet with a modern look and style that you just would not have seen back then. The game is actually in open Beta right now, but I don't fuck with Beta versions of games I truly want to play. As cool as it is to be a part of that process and help work something into art by helping the developers master it, I would rather wait for the perfect end result. For those who aren't familiar with the title, Below is an adventure game viewed from a top down perspective most of the time, and the environments will be randomly generated, making sure everyone has a unique experience every time. It is rumored to be quite difficult as well (like great games of yore) and is said to give old-school gamers like myself a real sense of nostalgia, which has me pretty damn intrigued. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Alright, I'll admit it. I am PRAYING that this game doesn't have 23 hours of non-skippable cutscenes and nine minutes of actual gameplay. If that ends up happening, I will gladly update this article and admit I was wrong. For now, though, Phantom Pain looks pretty badass. My personal opinion from what I have seen so far is that Hideo Kojima must have played Red Dead Redemption and Far Cry 3, and said to himself, "How do I mix these two games into a new Metal Gear?" Let me delve deeper into why I feel that way. First of all, this is an open world game where you ride a horse through the desert and do what you see fit. There are sections where it literally looks JUST LIKE Red Dead. Far Cry 3, on the other hand, had a huge sense of freedom, with a big draw of the game coming from taking over enemy outposts as your own, and doing so in any way you saw fit. You could go in with guns blazing, let an animal loose, or crash a burning car into the gate. If you look at those two games, you can see where I think this next Metal Gear is going, and I REALLY hope I'm not wrong about this. Add to all that the idea that the game will be filled with typically insane Metal Gear characters and bosses, and I am SO there. No Man's Sky This seems to be the one on the list that most people are really excited about in general, but are also aware that it has the most room for misstep. No Man's Sky is essentially telling us that we can be a fucking space pirate and go wherever we want and do whatever we want. Though the devs have not told us much more than that, what they have shown us so far has been breathtaking. There is also the fact that this world is forever self generating, which means, in theory, that we may have the first real game that NEVER ends. I know of Minecraft and other games of the ilk that can technically "go on forever," but this game is claiming something different. Something more. The problem is, no one FULLY understands what they are claiming they can do, and it seems that there is little chance that they can actually meet the ambition they claim. It feels like this may be the next Fable: a good game, but not the game that was promised to us. We also know that the reality is, if this game IS as ambitious as it claims, we may not see it until 2050, and if we do see it before, it just might not be the game we are all expecting. For now, though, No Man's Sky has me drooling. Mighty No. 9 Hey, how about a Kickstarter funded game by the original creator of Mega Man that openly emulates and advances on the awesome and challenging tone set in that aforementioned series? Sound fucking awesome? Well, that's Mighty No. 9, a classic side scroller that actually used Kickstarter not just to get funding, but to talk to fans of the original series and see what they wanted and how to make sure they got the perfect game. The end result looks like an insanely beautiful side scrolling action platformer that will probably be blisteringly difficult, but also incredibly worthwhile. In other words, it's the next gen Mega Man we always dreamed of. Just look at the screenshot above, it's perfection. You could print that out and hang it up and it would look like some twisted, modern, pop art. Now just imagine a whole game like that. Awesome, right? Add in some chip tunes to really make it a throwback and you have a true knockout. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt The Witcher series might just end up being the one series that was most under appreciated when it didn't deserve to be. Though the difficulty in the games was a turn off for many people, once you got the flow of the combat and understood how you couldn't just run in and slay everything with one button, the game truly started to shine. That, mixed with the dialogue and moral choices, and some amazing graphics (check out the gorgeous screens below), make The Witcher series one that more people really NEED to play. Thankfully, they just might get their chance come early 2015 when The Witcher III: Wild Hunt drops. While it may be helpful to have played the prior two games in the series, the third entry is said to still be a decent jump off point for newbies who want to experience just how epic these games really are. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt looks tough, challenging, beautiful, and hopefully will be the first of many great games set to come out next year. Honorable Mentions Legend Of Zelda: Nintendo is making another Zelda and it will no doubt be awesome. That's all I have to say about that, which is why I didn't make it a main entry. I mean, come on, it's Zelda. How can we not be excited about it? Uncharted 4: I know I've said in the past that this series should end, but I also know that I will end up playing the fourth outing to death. Let's just hope it brings something new to the table rather than just give us the same shit all over again. Stars Wars: Battlefront: It's a fucking Star Wars game. Enough said Silent Hills: I'm still not convinced that this will drop in 2015, but the prospect of it makes me extremely excited. Especially given the fact that Guillermo del Toro is involved. Rainbow Six Siege: This one looks like it's going to change up the formula a bit and give us a fresh experience in what's already a great series, and so far, it's looking pretty dope.