2018 was a pretty solid year for video games. Even if gaming content wasn't super consistent in terms of quality or even regularity of release dates, leading to understandable frustration from general consumers, and streamers and pros alike, this calendar year gave us some incredible memories. From Subnautica to Spider-Man, God of War to Red Dead Redemption 2, and Dragon Ball FighterZ to Dragon Ball Legends (okay, I may be Dragon Biased), we've had a good run over the last 12 months ... but a new gaming season is almost upon us! So as the clock is set to strike midnight on January 1, 2019 in just a few short days, we wanted to get a head start on the new year's gaming season.

There are a lot of promising new games coming out next year, both original entries that could launch their own sequels and spinoffs, and franchise installments that offer gamers more of what they know and love. We only have roughly the first half of the year locked down as far as announced release dates for certain titles; you can check out the dates we know so far with our regularly updated video game release date calendar here. (If Fall of 2019 is anything like Fall of 2018 was, we're going to be in for a real treat.) But there are also some epic titles that have been teased, just not officially announced just yet. We've factored all of this into our list of the Most Anticipated New Video Games of 2019 below!

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Image via Capcom

As for the officially announced release dates, here's our list:

  • Pikuniku – 1/3
  • A Fisherman’s Tale – 1/22
  • At the Gates – 1/23
  • Resident Evil 2 Remake – 1/25
  • Kingdom Hearts 3 - 1/29
  • Arcade Spirits – 2/12
  • Far Cry New Dawn – 2/15
  • Jump Force – 2/15
  • Metro: Exodus – 2/15
  • Anthem – 2/22
  • Devil May Cry 5 – 3/8
  • The Division 2 – 3/15
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Image via Obsidian

And for everything else:

  • The Outer Worlds
  • Psychonauts 2
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Subnautica: Below Zero
  • The Elder Scrolls: Blades
  • Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
  • Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order – Holiday 2019
  • Death Stranding
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • The Last of Us Part 2

Pikuniku

Why We're Excited: Any time publisher Devolver Digital's name pops up, they have our attention. Back in 2016, they published Dodge Roll's bullet-hell roguelike Enter the Gungeon, and once gamers successfully "killed their past", they had the publisher's 2017 first-person puzzle-solving VR game The Talos Principle to look forward to. This year, Sabotage Studio's actioner/platformer The Messenger was a standout title from DD as well. So 2019's promising puzzler/exploration game Pikuniku, Sectordub's first title, is obviously going to be on our list because we trust Devolver Digital's taste that much. And from the quirky, offbeat, and unexpected humor seen in the trailer above, you can see why we're excited.

Oh, and hype of equal but a very different variety is also on the rise for the publisher's Western port of Metal Wolf Chaos XD, the "most American game ever made" and the subject of a growing cult following; fingers crossed that President of the United States Michael Wilson will pilot his mech into battle sometime this year.

A Fisherman’s Tale

Bend and twist reality in A Fisherman's Tale, the mind-bending VR puzzle adventure game in which being turned upside down and inside out is not merely a play on words.

Why We're Excited: Though VR has yet to reach the level of success that gaming consoles and PCs have, the medium offers some incredibly fertile ground for game designers out there. One such example of a VR title that doesn't seek to simply (as if there's anything simple about VR ports) remake an existing game in virtual reality but rather reinvent the idea of gaming itself is A Fisherman's Tale. If it wasn't super clear from the trailer, the player takes on the role of Bob the fisherman puppet, living in bliss in your tiny cabin. The premise of the game--get to the top of a nearby lighthouse before an approaching storm arrives--sounds simple, but a series of mind-bending and reality-warping puzzles stand in the way. We're excited for A Fisherman's Tale to deliver us something other than run-and-gun actioners or run-of-the-mill VR experiences, so let's hope this one's a keeper.

At the Gates

At the Gates is an indie strategy game from Jon Shafer, designer of Civilization 5. AtG will be released on January 23rd, 2019.

Why We're Excited: Consider us "cautiously optimistic" for this one. As the description above says, At the Gates is an upcoming strategy game in the vein of the Civilization series, though this one is an indie that hails from Jon Shafer. Development on the game originally started roughly seven years ago with Shafer and the very small Conifer Games team working on it in their spare time. A Kickstarter project injected over $100 grand into the game, but it's been more of a waiting game ever since. The first question to be answered is: Will At the Gates make its January 23rd release date? And the more important question is: If and when it does arrive, will At the Gates be able to give gamers and backers what they've been waiting for after all this time? We'll find out soon, one way or another, Civvies!

Resident Evil 2 Remake

Resident Evil 2 is coming to PS4, and it looks absolutely incredible. Get a look at the game running on PS4 in our live gameplay demo, recorded at E3 2018.

Why We're Excited: While I'm trying to forget the fact that the original PlayStation game came out over 20 years ago, I'm excited to see what Capcom has in store for fans with this new take on Resident Evil 2. A remake in earnest, fans will get to reunite with Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield for a new take on a classic action-horror title. This version will also feature all the visual improvements that modern-gen hardware can provide, so say goodbye to Leon Kennedy's big ol' shoulder pads and hello to over-the-shoulder camerawork as you try to survive the T-virus zombie epidemic. And while Resident Evil 2 reportedly won't be featuring the fantastic VR option of 2017's spine-tingling Resident EVII. release, it will run on that same engine. Expect some gnarly horror action this January!

Kingdom Hearts 3

Why We're Excited: We promised a mix of indies and franchise installments here, so even if you haven't heard of the first few, we feel pretty safe in assuming you've heard of Resident Evil and Kingdom Hearts. Originally launched in 2002 on the PlayStation 2, this crossover franchise features characters from Disney Interactive in a Final Fantasy style game, courtesy of Square Enix. It was a pretty bonkers idea back then and it's only gotten crazier in the 15+ years since. Kingdom Hearts III, the first core title in the popular franchise since 2005, reunites players with Sora, Donald, and Goofy (and a ton of other characters) in what's certain to be a critical and commercial darline once it arrives this January.

Arcade Spirits

Why We're Excited: Okay, here's a curveball. If you've always wanted to relive the 80s in the modern era, but can't because we exist in a timeline where the video game crash wiped out arcades and everything else good in the world, then Arcade Spirits might be for you. This narrative adventure/romance game from Fiction Factory Games and published by PQube Limited gives players tons of options and choices when it comes to their character and the decisions they make in their daily lives. It looks like a fun distraction from our own world and a welcome palate cleanser to some titles that take themselves oh so seriously.

Far Cry New Dawn

Introducing Far Cry New Dawn, the standalone sequel to Far Cry 5. Watch the World Premiere trailer and discover how Hope County, Montana has changed seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe. Far Cry New Dawn releases February 15, 2019 for $39.99 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Why We're Excited: It feels like only yesterday that Far Cry 5 came out ... but it was more like March of 2018. And yet Ubisoft is about to unveil a brand new installment in the franchise with Far Cry New Dawn, featuring a story that takes place 17 years after nuclear bombs have drastically altered the landscape. This story picks up after the events of Far Cry 5 but will finally take the franchise into the post-apocalyptic era, something that's been the playground of games like Wasteland, Metro, and Fallout for decades. Something tells me Far Cry could gain some ground over the Bethesda franchise in the months ahead.

Jump Force

Universes collide as legendary manga heroes and villains are transported to our reality. Massive battles fill epic locales as good and evil clashes, while humankind hangs in the balance. Look for more details on JUMP FORCE soon and UNITE TO FIGHT in 2019!

Why We're Excited: If you're a fan of fighting games or some of the most popular anime series ever created, then Bandai Namco's Jump Force is probably already on your radar. The roster right now includes ::deep breath:: Aizen Sosuke (Bleach), Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach), Renji Abarai (Bleach), Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach), Ryo (City Hunter), Cell (DBZ), Frieza (DBZ), Future Trunks (DBZ), Goku (DBZ), Piccolo (DBZ), Vegeta (DBZ), Ken (Fist of the North Star), Gon Freecss (Hunter x Hunter), Hisoka Morroh (Hunter x Hunter), Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter), Kurapika (Hunter x Hunter), Deku (My Hero Academia), Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto), Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto), Boa Hancock (One Piece), Marshall D. Teach aka Blackbeard (One Piece), Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece), Sabo (One Piece), Sanji Vinsmoke (One Piece), Zoro (One Piece), Rurouni Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin), Makoto Shishio (Rurouni Kenshin), Dragon Shiryu (Saint Seiya), Pegasus Seiya (Saint Seiya), Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh), Toguro (Yu Yu Hakusho), Yuske Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho), and new characters Galena (Evil), Glover (Good), Kane (Evil), and Navigator (Good). Phew! If even only two of those characters are familiar to you and you'd love to see them battle it out, this is the game for you.

Metro: Exodus

Thousands of kilometres from the ruins of Moscow, Artyom and his companions discover what seems like paradise – a lush, green valley, teeming with life.

Why We're Excited: 2019 has its work cut out for it if it wants to compete with 2018's list of big, expansive, and incredibly deep gaming experiences. 4A Games and Deep Silver's new release Metro: Exodus promises to be just that. Players will get to take control of Artyom once more as he attempts to travel across the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Russia. The nuclear winter that serves to complicate Artyom and his companions' survival is just the beginning of their year-long journey. We haven't seen too much from this title just yet, but if it's up to the quality of the previous Metro games, fans are in for a treat.

Anthem

Check out the new Official Anthem Trailer from the 2018 Game Awards.

Through the power of the javelins, skilled pilots called lancers were able to fight back against this perilous world. But a new enemy has emerged, seeking to harness the limitless power of the Anthem. And if they succeed, nothing will stand in their way. Subscribe and be the first to see Anthem trailers and gameplay videos: http://bit.ly/2qZN5QV.

Why We're Excited: There's some ambivalence out there where Anthem is concerned. There are folks out there who want to take EA down a peg or two for previous transgressions, and there are some who are already writing Anthem off as a Destiny wannabe or a Warframe copycat. Then there are the less vocal gamers who are just waiting to get their hands on the game itself to give it a try before passing judgement. I happen to be in the latter camp. And I also happen to be excited to step into a Javelin exosuit and go forth on whatever journey the devs have in store for us. Here's hoping that the launch is successful, the community grows strong, and the content rolls out for years and years to come.

Devil May Cry 5

This party is getting crazy! The mysterious V joins the Devil May Cry 5 gang with his own unique gameplay style to shake things up... and he's brought three little friends with him! Devil May Cry 5 is coming to Xbox One, PS4 and PC on March 8, 2019.

Why We're Excited: It's always a good time for an over-the-top smash-em-up game that lets you hack and slash at demons for hours on end. It's also a good time for the return to the Devil May Cry franchise which started way back in 2001 and was rebooted in 2013. Now, Devil May Cry 5 will let players take control of fan-favorites Dante and Nero while also introducing the mysterious Goth fighter/demon summoner V. Expect blood, expect mayhem, expect some gratuitous use of the Devil Trigger in combat when DMC5 arrives this March.

The Division 2

When everything is at stake, will you stand up as Washington D.C.’s last line of defense? Watch the official Gamescom 2018 gameplay trailer for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and pre-order now to get access to the Private Beta: www.TheDivisionGame.com/Beta

Why We're Excited: This militarized looter shooter from the world of Tom Clancy is moving the action from New York City to Washington D.C. for ... reasons? Sure, the story of The Division and the upcoming sequel The Division 2 is razor thin, but the game's relatively easy-to-learn mechanics and missions make this a decent pick up-and-play title for casual gamers. The original title was well received by critics and consumers alike though it didn't do a whole lot to push the boundaries of the genre. We'll see if the follow-up game has taken that criticism into account or if Ubisoft will settle for more of the same; after all, the first title was good enough on its own to secure a massive first-week franchise launch and best-selling title spot for the company. Don't mess with success!

TBD

The Outer Worlds - This game, from Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, the original brains behind the Fallout franchise, promises to pick up where that game series lost its way somewhere along the line. The "flawed" protagonist will get to team up with companions during adventures on outer space colonies in a battle against evil corporations. We're in!

Psychonauts 2 - Fan fervor for the Psychonauts series is responsible for Double Fine Production's upcoming sequel, having successfully crowd-funded its development to the tune of nearly $4 million a couple of years ago. Backers and gamers alike will get to control the psychically gifted Raz in the third-person platformer. The highly anticipated sequel will continue to explore the world and mythology of the first fan-favorite title released back in 2005.

Cyberpunk 2077 - We don't just need this game in our systems, we need it in our veins. CD Projekt Red's latest title looks to be an incredibly rich and personal experience that allows players to control the mercenary V on adventures in the dystopian open world of Night City, California. Wonderfully customizable and absolute eye candy for fans of the cyberpunk sub-genre, this has Game of the Year potential ... if it arrives in 2019, that is.

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Image via Unknown Worlds

Subnautica: Below Zero - A chilly new chapter in Unknown Worlds' fantastic new franchise-in-the-making is due to arrive next year, in Early Access at the very least. The new game, which follows the events of the 2018 release, keeps the open world exploration and survival mechanics, but is also bringing some new ideas to the forefront. Just what those are remain to be seen, but it promises more exciting adventures on the horizon.

The Elder Scrolls: Blades - While mobile games are few and far between in this list, we have to give a shoutout to Bethesda's beloved Elder Scrolls franchise. The move to mobile is an interesting one and certainly a lucrative one for the company (looking at you, Fallout Shelter) but hopefully it proves to be a rewarding adventure for gamers.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course - Technically not a new title at all but rather the latest (and likely final) DLC for the fantastic game from Studio MDHR, this add-on will bring all sorts of "new" to the adventure: a new island, new weapons, new charms, and new abilities for Ms. Chalice. Drink up!

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order - We don't know too much about this game other than the facts that Respawn Entertainment, Lucasfilm, and EA are all in on it, and that it's due out in the 2019 holiday season. The original Star Wars story centers on a surviving Padawan shortly after the events of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. That's enough to hold our attention at the very least.

Death Stranding - Whatever this game ends up being, and whenever it arrives, fans of Hideo Kojima are sure to turn up in droves to check it out. The somewhat vague synopsis sees protagonist Sam Bridges, "besieged by death's tide at every turn ... [braving] a world utterly transformed by the Death Stranding. Carrying the stranded remnants of the future in his hands, Sam embarks on a journey to reunite the shattered world one step at a time." We don't know what that means and we're not sure if in-game talent Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Lindsay Wagner, Troy Baker, Tommie Earl Jenkins, Emily O'Brien and Guillermo del Toro do either, but we can't wait to check it out.

Ghost of Tsushima - Samurai stories have been done quite a bit in gaming over the years, but this one promises to be something unique. Players will control Jin Sakai, one of the last survivors of a noble samurai clan who defends the Japanese island of Tsushima against the fearsome Mongol Empire in the late 13th century. Gamers will have to employ novel fighting techniques--the way of The Ghost--and unconventional tactics to win the day, but don't expect to hack and slash your way through this one. Combat is intended to be strategic and lethal, meaning that one swift strike or one wrong move could mean the end of a battle. Get hyped for this one!

The Last of Us Part 2 - Naughty Dog delivered a game with some of the most emotional impact we've ever seen in the 2013 title The Last of Us. In 2019 (we hope), fans will get to see the next chapter that picks up where Joel and Ellie's story left off, only five years later. New characters--Dina (Shannon Woodward), Yara (Victoria Grace), Lev (Ian Alexander), Emily (Emily Swallow), and an unnamed character played by Laura Bailey--will play integral parts in the story, but any other details beyond that will have to wait until closer to the game's not-yet-announced release date. This one's certain to be on just about everyone's Most Anticipated lists, for good reason.

Did you most anticipated game make the cut? Let us know!

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Image via Naughty Dog