Most Anticipated Video and Board Games of 2017

2017 is just around the corner. While we celebrate some of the amazing games of 2016, there are quite a few exciting titles in tabletop and video gaming that we’d like to call out. Here are our most anticipated video and board games of 2017.  Hang on to your hat..it’s a long list of amazing games!

Yooka-Laylee
Developer: Playtonic Games
Release Date: April 17th 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC, Switch

The golden age of video game platforming has long since come and gone, but Yooka-Laylee seems like the perfect shot in the arm to bring the genre back to life. Developed by the same core team that gave us the beloved Banjo-Kazooie series, Yooka-Laylee proudly boasts the life blood of the classic bear-and-bird adventures of years past. Colorful environments, tons of collectibles, a catchy soundtrack, and plenty of googly eyes are just a few of the charming and familiar elements that await in Playtonic Games’ first outing. It’s been a long time since this industry has been this excited for a non-Mario 3D platformer, but Yooka-Laylee is shaping up to be the platforming revival we’re all hoping for.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: March 3rd 2017
Platforms: Wii U, Switch

Nintendo has something amazing on their hands by all accounts, including our own hands-on accounts. Breaking entirely new ground, the open world gameplay promises a less linear approach to the typical formula that has powered all Zelda games before it. Not unlike an MMO or a game like Skyrim, once you are past a short tutorial section, you are free to explore the world as you see fit. Even the typical boomerang and bomb type weapons get a facelift, granting new strategies when combined with new physics-based mechanics. Want to take out a group of enemies with fire? You can shoot it at them, or you can set the grass ablaze and let the gentle breeze spread the destruction on your behalf. Nintendo is taking a huge risk with one of their most prized franchises, but it looks to be exactly what the company needs to launch their new flagship hardware.  (Our Review)

Mass Effect Andromeda
Developer: Bioware
Release Date: March 21, 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Light years away from the Reapers and the adventures of Commander Shepard, Mass Effect Andromeda will hopefully bring back the sense of wonder and discovery that came with the original game a decade ago. With a new protagonist, a new crew, and a new mission, Mass Effect will take us beyond the Milky Way and to the Andromeda Galaxy, where we’ll meet new species, discover new conflicts, and try to establish a new home for humanity. Distanced from the original trilogy, Mass Effect Andromeda has a chance to create another decade’s worth of stories and characters for us to follow, and we’ll know if Bioware manages to pull it off when the game launches in March.

God of War
Developer: Sony Santa Monica
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4

Betrayed by Zeus, Kratos went on a vicious revenge-motivated spree and just about wiped out the entire pantheon of Greek gods. Seeking a quieter life, Kratos has settled into the unfamiliar Norse lands and has started a new family. Now a father, Kratos struggles to teach his young son the survival skills he’ll need to survive in a harsh and unforgiving land, while balancing it against his newfound tranquility. It’s tonally different than any of the previous God of War games, allowing Sony’s Santa Monica Studios to explore the character in an entirely new light. At its heart, God of War will be a high-speed action title in the same vein as its predecessors, so we can expect gorgeous vistas, frenetic fighting, and scale that no other game has managed to match. This could be the holiday title to watch.

For Honor
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Release Date: February 14th, 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

More than just multiplayer mayhem, For Honor is shaping up to be an incredibly complex and rewarding swordfighting battler. Sporting 1v1, 3v3, 4v4, and faction war battles, as well as a fully-realized single player experience, For Honor surprised all of us. Rei had incredible things to say about her experience when she went hands-on with the game, including some great detail around some of the lesser-known modes like Elimination. The team has taken a lot of feedback from the closed alpha, and the best lessons learned from the ever-improving Rainbow Six Siege and the newest expansions to The Division, to make For Honor something amazing. It’s right around the corner, and there’s a beta testing round coming soon, so you’ll be able to try it for yourself ahead of the February launch.  (Our review)

Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerilla Games
Release Date: February 28th, 2017
Platforms: PS4

The world as we know it has ended, and the future is not as we expected. Massive robotic creatures roam the post-apocalyptic lands while humans huddle in nomadic tribes hunting for scraps to stay alive. You step into the fur-lined boots of Aloy, an archer in one such tribe as she looks to uncover her destiny and place in the world. Sony and Guerilla have used this game as a showcase of the power of the PlayStation 4, and one look at the gorgeous open world and it’s easy to see why. With 4K and HDR the game will be gorgeous on a PS4 Pro, but the team has done a wonderful job for those of us at 1080p. February 28th is right around the corner, so we won’t have to wait long to see if that Collector’s Edition version with the 9” tall Aloy statuette I ordered is worth the extra cheddar.  (Our Review)

Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Developer: Level 5
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4

This is the cutest game coming in 2017 thanks to the art style of Studio Ghibli’s work, but don’t let that fool you. If the first Ni No Kuni is any indication, Level 5 has an incredible JRPG hidden under all that gorgeous artwork. The story focuses on young King Evan Pettiiwhisker Tildrum, the ruler of Ding Dong Dell. Having been usurped from his castle, he sets out on an adventure to reclaim his kingdom. It’s still speculation that this is a 2017 title, but we can hope! Protip: As soon as the CE guide is available from whichever vendor gets the rights, snap it up — the guide for White Witch sold out almost instantly and was scalped to high heaven afterwards.

Lawbreakers
Developer: Boss Key Productions
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PC

Cliff Bleszinski’s new studio Boss Key Productions have created a gorgeous shooter. Using Unreal Engine 4, the team was creating a free-to-play shooter with zero gravity combat invoking equal parts Unreal Tournament, Quake Arena, and even a dash of Tribes. After a wildly successful alpha test in April of 2016, the team went dark again, preparing for a 2017 launch. The game has switched to a one-time traditional payment launch (thank you!), but if the alpha was any indication it bears all the hallmarks of the high speed gameplay we’ve come to expect from CliffyB, but with a whole lot of physics bending. If you are a shooter fan, keep your eyes out — this is one to watch.

Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4, XB1, PC

Announced at the PlayStation Experience, this fighter looks to bring two of the hottest properties together once again to duke it out. Ryu vs. Iron Man, Captain Marvel vs. Mega Man, and many more unannounced rivalries will take center stage in this 2v2 battler. Unreal Engine 4 makes this one look gorgeous, and the Capcom pedigree ensures it’ll deliver gameplay to match. Look for this one in late 2017.

Sea of Thieves
Developer: Rare
Release Date: February 2017
Platforms: XB1, PC

All hands on deck for this cooperative cross-play seafaring multiplayer game. Taking to the high seas with friends has never looked more cool, but boarding other ships, grappling hooks, puckle guns, sword fighting and perhaps a parrot or two makes this game look like a completely unique experience. There’s no better way to check this one out (at least until the upcoming beta is launched) than to check out the extensive video content on Rare’s Youtube page. Rumor has it that the game will launch in February, so this is a title you’ll get to experience for yourself very soon.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Release Date: April 27, 2017
Platforms: PC

There are few teams better at delivering amazing stories wrapped inside incredible real time strategy games than Relic Entertainment. Homeworld, Company of Heroes, and their Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series are legendary in the RTS community, and after a long wait, we finally get our hands on a sequel. The game will bring Eldar, Orks, and the Blood Ravens to the fray, alongside larger scale walkers including Imperial Knights, Wraithknights, and Gorkanauts. If you have no idea who or what those creatures are, then simply know that this game looks to bring amazing base building and massive diverse balanced armies, and a compelling storyline. Time to upgrade that graphics card, though, the game looks to bring real armies to bear, and it couldn’t be more exciting.

Halo Wars 2
Developer: Microsoft Game Studios
Release Date: 2/21/2017
Platforms: XB1, PC

Halo Wars 2 came as a bit of a surprise, but it could be the one of the most unique cross-compatible games in the Windows 10 / Xbox One lineup. It’s not often that RTS titles come to console, and none with as much success as this game’s predecessor. Halo Wars 2 is a co-creation between Halo masters 343 Industries and strategy game powerhouse Creative Assembly, taking place shortly after the events of Halo 5: Guardians. At the end of the previous game, the UNSC Spirit of Fire, went down with all hands aboard, and Halo Wars 2 looks to answer the question of just what happened to them. Beyond the story, which will undoubtedly be fantastic, the game will also feature six-person multiplayer and a new card mechanic to hasten base building. We won’t have to wait long as the game is hitting both platforms next month.  (Our Review)

South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Developer: Ubisoft San Francisco
Release Date: Q2 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Following the amazing-but-flawed South Park: The Stick of Truth, we return to the sleepy little podunk mountain town. The boy have switched up from their Dungeons & Dragons-esque adventures and have decided to play superheroes. Naturally, Cartman screws things up and splits the group into his faction (Coon and Friends) and his rivals (Freedom Pals). The New Kid (read: you) will choose a side and once again embark on a tastelessly-awesome RPG. While we don’t have an exact release date, from what we’ve seen thus far it’ll be worth the wait.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Developer: Ubisoft Reflections
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

I recently went hands-on with Wildlands for a look at the single player and four-player cooperative action. Up to four players can play cooperatively as they confront a fictionalized narco-state version of Bolivia, taking down crime bosses and crushing the drug trade. Unscripted and reactive, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands represents the largest open world Ubisoft has built to date. The game works just as well when you scope out the enemy from afar with silences sniper rifles as it does when you are careening through the sky tearing things up with mounted gatling guns on a combat helicopter. Wildlands is all about play your way, and so far it’s shaping up to nail that goal.

Guardians of the Galaxy – A Telltale Series
Developer: Telltale Games
Release Date: April 2017
Platforms: Uh, all of em.

What do we know about this game? Absolutely nothing! That said, Telltale has had a pretty solid run with licensed products, and Guardians of the Galaxy is already rooted in comedy, so it makes for a solid platform to build something amazing. Episodic Rocket and Groot please!

Prey
Developer: Arkane Studios
Release Date: May 5th, 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

After a bumpy start as a sequel, and then a complete reboot by a second development team, Prey is finally on track, and it looks absolutely amazing. In Prey the United States and the U.S.S.R. have banded together to combat an alien threat called the Typhon, creating a prison space station to hold them called Talos 1. Naturally, they dissect the Typhon, gaining access to their matter manipulation powers to create powerful Neuromods, and sold them on Earth via the station owners, TransStar. From what we’ve seen of the trailers, things go predictably pear-shaped, and we are left injecting Neuromods to use the Typhon’s own weapons against them. With a release date just around the corner, we won’t have to wait long to experience the new horror direction of Prey for long.

Shenmue 3
Developer: Ys Net
Release Date: December 2017
Platforms: PS4, PC

“Do you know where sailors hang out? Are you guys sailors?” Ok, so maybe Shenmue 1 and 2 are a little clunky, but there’s no doubt that there are plenty of folks who feel like they need to see the story to conclusion. Having Yu Suzuki at the helm lends a lot of weight to the project. It’d be nice if we got a few more updates from the team, but given that nobody believed this game would ever exist, we’ll take what we can get.

(Kickstarter)

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Developer: Inti Creates
Release Date: Early 2018
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC, Wii U, Switch

Maintaining a healthy mantra that a good game is worth waiting for is what keeps my faith in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, but getting my hands on an early version cemented my excitement for the game. Having Koji Igarashi at the helm, and Michiru Yamane running music, Bloodstained will be amazing. Capturing everything fans loved about Castlevania, amping it up with some amazing RPG elements, and coupling it with gorgeous and beautifully animated artwork shows that Inti Creates is ready to deliver the next chapter, in spirit if not in name.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Developer: Red Storm Entertainment
Release Date: May 30th 2017
Platforms: PS4 (PSVR) / PC (Rift/Vive)

While there hasn’t been a lot of info on this game as of yet, everyone I’ve talked that has played it insists it captures the best parts of every Trekkie fantasy ever. Playing as ship’s Captain, Helmsman, Tactical, or Engineering officers, you and three of your friends will work together to explore The Trench, a largely uncharted sector of space, aboard the USS Aegis. While I’ve been enjoying my PSVR to this point, Star Trek: Bridge Crew is why I bought it in the first place.

Agents of Mayhem
Developer: Volition
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Real talk? Saints Row went from crazy to full out schizoid by the end, but that didn’t stop it from being stupidly fun. But Johnny Gat and crew have finished their stories. Volition went back to the well for their next open world game taking place in a futuristic Seoul, South Korea. Racking up a dozen agents of a group called M.A.Y.H.E.M., you’ll take four in the field with you at any given time trying to take down a terrorist organization called L.E.G.I.O.N. We haven’t had a lot to go on, but we do know that the game is procedurally generated, so there’s plenty of reasons to come back and explore the rest of your roster.

Vampyr
Developer: Dontnod
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Let’s be honest, from well-trod tropes to sparkly angst-riddled kids, the vampire mythos has seen better days. The team at Dontnod (Developers of Remember Me and Life is Strange) want to change that, creating a world where consequences for your actions matter. As protagonist Jonathan Reid, you’ve recently been infected and must stay alive to figure out how to reverse your vampirism. Choosing to feed on a shopkeeper orphans his child, and that’s going to have an impact on the area. While you get stronger, the community gets a more weak. If you run rampant on an area, it may even frighten away the locals, creating a dead zone in the city where people are too afraid to travel. Finding balance between necessary feeding and keeping people that might one day help you alive seems to be a key element in Vampyr. Here’s to hoping that the team at Dontnod can give us the same feelings we once had for games like Vampire: The Masquerade.

Destiny 2
Developer: Bungie Studios
Release Date: October 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4

Destiny 2 hasn’t officially been confirmed yet, but it’s hardly a secret that Bungie has been hard at work on the sequel to their MMORPG shooter for years now. Destiny hasn’t always been a stellar experience, but since the game’s rocky start in 2014, it has redeemed itself and devoured countless hours of many gamers’ lives. Unverified reports have surfaced that Destiny 2 will be “a very different game” from the original title, possibly even meaning that players will be unable to import their hard-earned loot and powerful characters. Smart money’s on Destiny 2 being officially announced at E3 this year.

(We’d love to show you video. There isn’t any yet…)

Crackdown 3
Developer: Reagent Games
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: XB1, PC

It was E3 of 2014 when we first heard about Crackdown 3. Built from the ground up to take advantage of the power of Microsoft’s Azure platform (read: half a million connected servers worldwide), the game will feature a completely destructible world, cooperative multiplayer, and all of the orb collecting from the previous two titles. The original plan for the multiplayer beta was late 2016, but developer Reagent Games wants a little more time in the oven before they let us ravenous Crackdown fanatics in to blow up their handcrafted world. Look for this to make a big splash at E3 — likely with a “And you can play the beta…right now” announcement.

Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt RED
Release Date: Holiday 2017?
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Cyberpunk 2077 is based on the Cyberpunk pen and paper RPG created by Mike Pondsmith. Taking place in Night City, a sprawling Mega-City One (read Dredd comics) sort of place nestled between LA and San Francisco, Cyberpunk 2077 will be a sprawling open world RPG even larger than The Witcher 3. Surprisingly, it’ll also be multiplayer. There is VERY little known about the game thus far, but CD Projekt RED’s pedigree has been flawless to this point. There has to be the most hype-fueled title on this list, but damn it if I’m not excited already. C’mon CDPR – let’s do this thing!

Aaero
Developer: Mad Fellows
Release Date: Q1 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Aaero takes the best parts of games like Rez, Descent, Audiosurf, Tempest, and Thumper, the game makes music the heart of the action. Created by a two man team called Mad Fellows, the game is all about speed in highly-stylized environments, driven by awesome musicians like Noisia, Katy B, The Prototypes, Neosignal, and Flux Pavilion, just to name a few. Put on some headphones and check out the video to see what I’m talking about.

Escape from Tarkov
Developer: Battlestate Games
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

Escape from Tarkov is looking to blur the line between hardcore FPS and action RPG MMO, passing it through a story-driven narrative to provide structure. In a fictional future, the Norvinsk region has been seized with warfare, various factions vying for control. The player will take on the role of one of two sides who have flourished under the cover of the Tarkov conflict. With solo content, as well as large multiplayer raids, the game looks to capture a gritty future where player agency causes the storyline to unfold. Early Alpha coverage has been very positive, and I’m getting a great S.T.A.L.K.E.R. vibe, so this might be one to keep an eye on.

Absolver
Developer: Sloclap
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC

With a unique and gorgeous art style, Absolver looks like it could be a great brawler, but that would only tell half the story. What makes it different is that the combat style is defined by the player. As you acquire weapons, new combat styles, and powers, you’ll also build a team of warriors to tackle PVP and PVE, growing them through the unique Combat Deck system. The storyline is told through consequences of decisions as you unravel those you encounter. Friend or foe, mentor or monster, there will be consequences or rewards for your every action or inaction. Developer Sloclap is trying to make a lot of unique concepts stick, so let’s hope that they can pull it off.

Injustice 2
Developer: Netherrealm
Release Date: May 16th, 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4

Injustice: Gods Among Us was amazing in every way, and I’d argue better than the last few DC movies. The team at Netherrealm have expanded the roster to include the likes of Blue Beetle, Harley Quinn, Supergirl, Deadshot, Gorilla Grodd, and Atrocitus. Toss in fan favorites like Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash and you’ve got a fantastic fighting game. Why do I have faith? Netherrealm made Aquaman cool. Aquaman! If they can do that, they can do anything.

Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Games
Release Date: Q4 2017
Platforms: XB1, PS4

Rockstar Games has a license to print money, and they just brought it to bear on the most requested sequel in their entire library. The amount of speculation on the Internet is amazingly high. Who are the silhouetted characters in the reveal images? Will they be a part of the multiplayer component? Will Rockstar give in and give us the game on the PC? All we really know for sure is that it’ll have an amazing storyline and will sell like hotcakes when it’s released sometime in Q4.

Star Citizen
Developer: Cloud Imperium Games
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PC

Beset with delays and fraught with development challenges, Star Citizen is the most ambitious fan-funded game ever made. With over 100 million dollars in crowdfunding, Cloud Imperium Games is building a massive persistent universe, as well as an incredible looking single player game. Beyond that, it allows players to engage in ground-based combat, physics-based dogfighting, and more unique ships you can shake a stick at. Currently there are five modules available — Arena Commander, Star Marine, Area18, Hangar, and Persistent Universe. While Squadron 42 (the single player module) has been delayed into an unspecified time in 2017, it has to be relatively soon given that the original plan was late 2016. Or maybe I’m just delusional at this point…

Battletech
Developer: Harebrained Studios
Release Date: Late Q3 or early Q4 2017
Platforms: PC

I’ve gone hands-on with this game twice, and both times I came away more impressed. With melee recently added, and the team at Harebrained announcing a potential mid-March multiplayer beta, the game is shaping up nicely. None of that is a surprise with the original creators Jordan Weisman and Mitch Gitelman at the helm. Given the House Kurita flag that is hanging behind me as I write this, you might say I’m a little excited to get my hands on the full game. Check out the video below for an interview while I play the game with the team at MechCon 2016!

Torment: Tides of Numenera
Developer: InXile Entertainment
Release Date: 2/28/17
Platforms: PC, XB1, PS4

Spiritual successor to RPG hallmark title, Planescape Torment, Tides of Numenera retains the gorgeous isometric artstyle, but more importantly has the incredible writing we’ve come to expect from this RPG powerhouse. Numenera is a world of hyper-advanced civilizations who have fallen, their inventions and achievements (called numenera) now the obtuse relics of ages past. As one human discovers a way to cheat death and live forever through constant reincarnation, he stands to rise to ultimate power if not for one thing…you. (Our review)

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4

Wait, you thought you were done with the Uncharted series? Ha! Chloe Frazier (from Uncharted 2) and Nadine Ross (from Uncharted 4) team up for globetrotting shenanigans and hardcore parkour.

Prey for the Gods
Developer: No Matter Studios
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4/XB1/PC

Sony and Team Ico don’t seem to be in a big hurry to give us a sequel to Shadow of the Colossus, but No Matter Studios looks to be able to deliver something even better. Prey for the Gods, a Kickstarter-funded project, casts the player as a lone hero send to the edge of a world locked in eternal winter. The key seems to be the destruction of massive behemoths that roam the land, and it’s your job to fell them and restore the world to its normal cycle. Unlike Shadow, Prey for the Gods has a non-linear storyline, letting player agency rule the day. With combat being compared to a blend of Deus Ex, Shadow of the Colossus, and BloodBorne, this sounds like it’ll be an amazing project.

System Shock 3
Developer: Otherside Entertainment
Release Date: 2017…maybe
Platforms: PC, unnamed consoles?

Otherside is busy resurrecting Origin’s dungeon crawler, Ultima Underworld as Underworld Ascendant, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have time to also bring System Shock back to life. Otherside Entertainment is being helmed by none other than Paul Neurath and Warren Spector, two of the best in the business at creating deep story-driven experiences. With games like Strike Force: Terra Nova Centauri, the Thief series, Deus Ex, the Wing Commander series, several Ultima titles, and of course, System Shock 1 and 2 under their collective belts, there’s no doubt they can bring Shodan to a new audience. I could see this slipping into 2018, but we’ve waited 17 years for a sequel, what’s another year?

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Developer: Yacht Club Games
Release Date: March 3rd 2017
Platforms: PC, XB1, PS4, Wii U, Switch, PS3, PS Vita, 3DS

Hell yes. Yacht Club Games hit it out of the park with Shovel Knight, so a prequel has us pretty excited. We finally get to find out how the Order of No Quarter came together. Look for this Metroidvania title to top a lot of Indie lists this year.

Sonic Mania
Developer: Headcanon, Pagodawest Games
Release Date: Q2 2017
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch

Sonic’s been going through a weird patch as of late. While his recent entries haven’t been terrible, many agree that the series should come back to its 2D Genesis roots. Enter Sonic Mania, a Sonic game that emphasizes speed and 2D platforming above all. Filled to the brim with nonstop action and a killer soundtrack, you’ve got the recipe for a great new Sonic game this year. Plus, it gets Nintendo Switch support, so that’s awesome!

Super Bomberman R
Developer: Konami Digital Entertainment
Release Date: March 3
Platforms: Switch

In weird anniversary milestones, Konami has seen fit to release a new Bomberman title to coincide with the franchise’s 33rd anniversary. After Hudson Soft’s shuttering in 2012 and the current generation all but skipping a Bomberman release, hope seemed lost for the series, but this title seems fit to introduce the public to our favorite bomb-throwing protagonist and his family. With 8-player multiplayer and a 2-player story mode, it seems like the perfect fit for the upcoming Nintendo Switch.  (Our review)

Kingdom Hearts 2.8
Developer: Square-Enix
Release Date: Sooner than kingdom Hearts 3
Platforms: PS4

Hey, so a new Kingdom Hearts (mini)game that WE KNOW FOR SURE is coming out this year (and I’m not counting the re-release of the re-releases). Remember how Aqua was screwed in Birth by Sleep? Well, hopefully she isn’t as screwed now and we get some more exposition about her situation. You also get a remake of Dream Drop Distance, which is awesome because The World Ends With You is in it (basically the only non-FF Squenix game in a Kingdom Hearts title). Kingdom Hearts Unchained X is probably my contender for best mobile game for 2016 (Sorry Pokémon Go), so having cutscenes in the form of Back Cover is nice too.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier
Developer: Telltale Games
Release date: EP 1 and 2 are out
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC, Mobile

As you can see in our review, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier brings us an older Clementine, but also promises a second controllable character named Javier. It also incorporates choices made in previous games, extending out the consequences of your actions or inactions and tying it all together. Not to worry, though — if you are changing platforms, there will be a tool to tailor up to 42 decisions and bake them into the game so you can right any hasty decisions you might have made. If you are coming from PS3 or XBox 360, you’ll be able to simply upload your save files to the cloud to pull those over. Episode 3 is coming on the 14th of February, so now’s a great time to jump in.

Tekken 7
Developer: Bandai Namco
Release Date: June 2
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

The last numbered Tekken release came out nearly 8 years ago in the US, and since then there have been TONS of competition in the fighting genre. However, with new mechanics that keep the 1-on-1 gameplay fresh, and a bunch of diverse newcomer characters (especially with the fact that most fighters will speak their native languages, a trend carried over from Tag Tournament 2), there’s no doubt that Tekken 7 will be a prominent fighter for years to come.

Persona 5
Developer: Atlus
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Platforms: PS4, PS3

Persona 5’s exhaustive delays are coming to an end when Persona 5 comes to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in April. Nearly three years after its projected 2014 release date, Persona 5 promises a stylish and sexy return to form after nearly a decade worth of spin-offs, one with new characters, incredible music, and themes of weight and consequence. Japanese fans have had their chance to dive into Atlus’ new world, but it’ll be nice when it finally makes its way westward and we get to try it out for ourselves.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Release Date: 2017
Platforms: PS4, Vita

While the original story of Danganronpa and Hope’s Peak Academy has concluded, Spike Chunsoft is giving the series a new story and setting to work with, one that will once again make way for the murder mystery that has become synonymous with it over the years. Now on PlayStation 4, as well as Vita, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony promises more elaborate murders, complex class trials, and more despair and the hands of Monokuma. We can’t wait to see what tricks are up Spike Chunsoft’s sleeves when we enter Danganronpa’s new world to see what mysteries lie ahead.

This list wouldn’t be complete without a good look at the awesome board games heading our way in 2017.  Without further adieu!

Legend of the Five Rings Card Game
Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
Release Date: TBA
Platform: Living Card Game

Legend of the Five Rings has a lush Eastern setting that has breathed and changed with its audience for over twenty years. The card game was also a deep strategic experience that despite its flavor never stopped being rough around the edges. After acquiring the rights to this storied legacy, Fantasy Flight promises to move the game to its LCG format and tighten up the mechanics for a new edition. It is sure to be a welcome change to the land of Rokugan. (Here’s also hoping for a substantive announcement about the L5R RPG line, but Fantasy Flight has not been forthcoming so far.)

Dark Souls Board Game
Publisher: Steamforged Games
Release Date: April 2017
Platform: Miniatures Board Game

It’s beautiful. It’s painful. It’s punishing in all the ways you secretly know you want. The Dark Souls Board Game is going to take all of the despair and triumphs we experienced learning the fate of the undead and give us a brand new experience to share around the table. With lush miniatures, a unique stamina system, and bosses with learnable movesets the folks at Steamforged Games might just give us everything we could have wanted from a Dark Souls tabletop experience. Time will tell if it holds up to the profound feelings its namesake has instilled in us all.

Starfinder Roleplaying Game
Publisher: Paizo Publishing
Release Date: August 2017
Platform: Roleplaying Gamer (Pdf and Hard Copy)

Say it with me now: Pathfinder! In! Spaaaaaaaace! Paizo has continued to support its flagship line with ever-more diverse releases, but come summer 2017 we are going to get a whole new experience from the adventurers of Golarion. Magic and races spread among the stars will fight through alien geometries to discover the secrets of a vast universe. Whatever your feelings on Pathfinder, be it unenthused acceptance or wholehearted joy, this is going to be a fascinating release that could change the landscape of scifi gaming for years to come.

Scion 2nd Edition
Publisher: Onyx Path Publishing
Release Date: May 2017
Platform: Roleplaying Game (Pdf and Print On Demand)

Onyx Path Publishing has been branching out recently, sticking to its horror roots while also creating swashbuckling adventures on Mars and building a society of sentient, religious dogs. With the rerelease of Scion, the company will be playing to its strengths and reviving a franchise that needed fixes from day one: Scion places the children of ancient gods at war with the deadly titans on the streets of our modern world. Think Medusa with grenades and you’re most of the way there. The new system they are building for it has powers grow as the tension of a scene escalates. Players can enter their character’s story whenever they choose, struggling to get a grip on their new abilities or battling with towering deities in epic confrontation. This has been a long time coming, and I am glad to see its return.

Rising Sun
Publisher: CMON
Release Date: Late 2017
Platform: Area control, drafting

Blood Rage became all the…ahem…rage after it’s release, controlling clans of Vikings in their quest for glory in battle or Ragnarok. What if you traded those Vikings with Samurais? Soon Eric M. Lang and CMON will bring that idea to Kickstart with Rising Sun, though I’m sure a few surprises will come along the way. Until then, here’s a small look at the combat system.

Madness at Midnight
Publisher: Mr. B Games
Release Date: Early 2017
Platform: Area control

If you’ve played Arkham Horror, Eldritch Horror, or Elder Sign, then you have played as an investigator trying to defeat the horrors that go bump in the night. But what if your objective was to bring out those creatures and wreak chaos on the world. That’s what Madness at Midnight does. Richard Launius (designer of the Arkham Horror and Elder Sign) created a game where everyone plays a different sects of cultists. You have to not only combat other cultists who want to end the world with their Elder God, but also take care of those pesky investigators snooping around. You’ll need to control locations without making a scene.

Super Dungeon Legends
Publisher: Ninja Division
Release Date: Early 2017
Platform: Dungeon Crawler

Super Dungeon Explore and The Forgotten King are great games, playing out like a board game version of Gauntlet. However, the game can get repetitive since you do the same thing every game. Super Dungeon Legends brings two campaigns to the Super Dungeon Explore experience, and allows players to spend crystals on their characters to gain new skills or craft artifacts. The big-headed chibi figures are back, but now you’ll be able to take them on a journey.

Hero Realms
Publisher: White Wizard Games
Release Date: Early 2017
Platform: Deck building

Star Realms became a huge hit with gamers, creating a deckbuilding game with direct player interaction. Hero Realms looks to be Star Realms with a fantasy reskin. However, it has character packs that act as the starting deck for each player, giving them a unique number of starting health points and abilities. Future expansions will give players the ability to play cooperatively against bosses or in a campaign. A lot of value is available in this inexpensive and small package.

Pericles
Publisher: GMT Games
Release Date: March 2017
Platform: Conflict Simulation

Pericles is the spiritual successor to GMT’s 2015 hit Churchill, the successful game about the political power struggles between the big three Allies during World War II. While its predecessor focused on the allies against a common enemy, Pericles actually will pit players against each other in both the political arena and on the battlefield. Two players control Spartan factions while two others control the Athenian factions. On the battlefield, the two teams battle it out for military supremacy while you battle against your own ally for the most honor within the faction. Only the player with the most honor on the winning military side can win the game. Churchill was one of my top five games of 2015, and Pericles looks to take that great design and build from that.

Imperial Struggle
Publisher: GMT Games
Release Date: Late 2017
Platform: Area Control

Twilight Struggle reigned supreme atop Boardgamegeek’s rankings for a long time. GMT’s brilliant card driven game about the Cold War between the United States and the USSR was a war of wills as the superpowers fought for global supremacy. Imperial Struggle takes Twilight Struggle’s winning formula to the 18th century conflict between Britain and France. At the height of their colonial power, Britain and France battled as far afield as India, Canada, and the Caribbean. Two players will balance peace term efforts of expanding their economic interests and their alliances with war time efforts of territorial expansion and prestige growth. The global sparring between these two behemoths did a lot to shape our modern world, and I’m looking forward to how this system works with this fascinating time period.

So that’s the list.  Did we miss anything?  Tell us in the comments, and join is in the collective groan as we open our wallets to buy all this awesomeness.

See below for our list of partners and affiliates: