2018 may have been a great year for gaming, but 2019 is shaping up to offer players some exciting releases as well. More importantly, gamers shouldn't have to wait too long to get their hands on some of the biggest releases of the year, as many are hitting before the midway point. Still, there are a handful of games that stand out above the rest as the most anticipated of 2019, either because of the hype surrounding them or their place in a popular franchise. These are the 15 games we are most looking forward to in 2019.
[Note: this list only includes games that have confirmed releases for 2019, so many unconfirmed games such as Death Stranding, the Last of Us 2, and others were not eligible.]
16 1. Resident Evil 2
This remake of the survival horror title has received plenty of attention since it was first announced, and many fans can't wait to return to Raccoon City. With updated graphics, a third-person shooter perspective, and high levels of nostalgia, it's not a surprise Resident Evil 2 won "Best of Show" at the 2018 Game Critics Award. Of course, this title has a lot riding on it, as a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis has been teased if this game does well enough.
Resident Evil 2 will launch on January 25, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
15 2. Kingdom Hearts 3
Potentially one of the most anticipated titles of the year, Kingdom Hearts 3 finally releases at the end of January after being announced all the way back in 2013. It has been a long road, but that hasn't slowed excitement. With the story picking up after Dream Drop Distance and serving as the end to the "Dark Seeker/Xehanort" saga, Square Enix is trying to keep some secrets of Kingdom Hearts 3 safe, but here is everything we do know about the upcoming action RPG.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on January 25, 2019.
14 3. Jump Force
Jump Force is an upcoming fighting game that features characters from a variety of animes, as well as player-made characters and a unique antagonist named Kane. While little about the story is currently known, there have been 28 playable characters from 11 different shows confirmed, including Bleach, Dragon Ball, Hunter x Hunter, Naruto, Rurouni Kenshi, and Yu-Gi-Oh!
Jump Force is set to release on February 15, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
13 4. Far Cry New Dawn
A narrative sequel to Far Cry 5, Far Cry New Dawn puts players in a reborn world after the events of the prior game. Even though it was just revealed at the Game Awards 2018, New Dawn likely jumped to the top of many a fan's most anticipated list, as the first-person shooter is set to have new companions, expeditions, and epic beast boss battles.
12 Far Cry New Dawn is set to release on February 15, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
11 5. Anthem
Anthem is BioWare's first new IP in 10 years, and the developer has clearly gone all out with it. With a complex world, unique factions and characters, and the mysterious power of the Anthem, this world will be ready to be explored in the Iron Man-like Javelins very soon. But for those who do not wish to wait until its release date, it's worth mentioning that the VIP and open demo dates have been revealed.
Anthem releases February 22, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
10 6. Devil May Cry 5
Devil May Cry 5 features the return of both Nero and Dante, but also sees the first appearance of a new character named "V." As seen in the Game Awards 2018 trailer, it turns out that this new character uses three demons to fight: an eagle named Griffon, a panther named Shadow, and a large golem named Nightmare. With old and new being the name of the game in this next installment, it'll be interesting to see what happens with this title next March.
Devil May Cry 5 is scheduled to launch on March 8, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
9 7. Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Looking to improve upon its predecessor, The Division 2 is set to go all out next March, with its developer, Massive Entertainment, paying close attention to player complaints from the first game. As a result, the sequel promises improved launch content, improved endgame content, and 8 player raids. Of course, those excited to get their hands on it ASAP should know that a beta is planned for the game, but exact dates have yet to be revealed.
The Division 2 is set to launch on March 22, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
8 8. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Even with gaming trends leaning more toward multiplayer experiences, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is proof that there will always be quality single-player titles. This action adventure game puts players in control of Sekiro, or the "one-armed wolf," as he takes on a samurai who attacked him and kidnapped his lord. Sekiro is referred to as the one-armed wolf because one of his arms is a prosthetic equipped with various tools for traversal and combat.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice launches on March 22, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One
7 9. Mortal Kombat 11
One of the biggest games to come out of the Game Awards 2018 was Mortal Kombat 11, as its first trailer, release date, and pre-order bonuses were all announced in one night. Of course, there's not much more known about the game, but more is expected from a January 17th Community reveal event. If nothing else, fans are curious to know which fighters made the roster this time around.
Mortal Kombat 11 is scheduled to release on April 23, 2019, for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
6 10. Rage 2
Set 30 years after the events of the original Rage, this first-person shooter sequel looks to give players a wild ride. From nanotrites to vehicular combat and lots of firearms to overdrive mode, this will hopefully be a more than a worthwhile follow-up to the original, but it is worth mentioning that it seems it will only be available via the Bethesda Launcher. It appears to be skipping out on Steam altogether, which has not been a real popular decision, but has done little to actually slow the hype train.
Rage 2 is set to launch May 14, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
5 11. Untitled Gen 8 Pokemon Game
Despite the popularity of Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, some fans were disappointed when they realized that it was not a core RPG title. Nintendo remedied and clarified this situation by revealing that there would be legitimate, gen 8 titles coming in the second half of 2019, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. As this will be the first new generation of Pokemon to feature on the Switch, it'll definitely be interesting to see how the fan-favorite franchise moves forward. Hopefully, more is learned soon about this currently untitled entry.
The eighth generation of Pokemon is set to launch in Q3/Q4 2019, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
4 12. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Revealed at E3 2018, Respawn Entertainment's next game will hopefully be the Star Wars adventure that fans of the space opera franchise have been looking for. Very little is currently known, but a few details have leaked. If that leak proves to be true, then hopefully fans will be in for a real treat next holiday season, as this title could come out around the same time as Star Wars Episode IX.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is scheduled to release in Q4 2019 for unspecified platforms.
3 13. Gears of War 5
New open world gameplay elements, new characters, new weapons, and new enemies are all on the books for the upcoming installment in the long-running Gears of War franchise. Players will also be taking the new point of view of Kait Diaz, as she attempts to discover the origins of the Locust and her family. While a release date has not been set yet, fans can rest assured that they will be gearing up some time in 2019.
Gears 5 is scheduled to release in 2019 on PC and Xbox One.
2 14. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order was a surprise announcement at the Game Awards 2018 and a welcome one to be sure. Even though more details won't likely come until later this year, it is clear that the game will build upon its predecessors and feature an impressive roster. Avengers, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy, and even the Inhumans can be seen in the trailer, so it'll be interesting to see how they are put to use. Also, considering Avengers: Endgame is set to come out in a few months' time, it's likely that there will be a lot of Marvel excitement to push this game ever forward.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is scheduled to release in 2019, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
1 15. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
A sequel to the popular Xbox-exclusive platformer, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is finally ready for release in 2019 and promises players another moving, yet challenging experience. This time around, Ori will be venturing outside of the Forest of Nibel into environments with their own themes and obstacles. Much like its predecessor, Ori has the potential to be a sleeper hit thanks to tight mechanics and beautiful art.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is scheduled to release in 2019, for PC and Xbox One.
Of course, there are other titles releasing in 2019 that didn't make the list, like Days Gone, Metro Exodus, and Crackdown 3, and some games that could come out this year but are more likely 2020 releases. Still, if even a handful of these games make the type of impact that they are expected to, players should be plenty occupied throughout 2019.