Top 10 Most Hardcore Games Coming This Year (Hopefully)

Coming from the creators of 2013’s “Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons,” this action-adventure game will offer a new spin on co-op gameplay. The story focuses on Leo and Vincent, two inmates who break out of prison and go on the run. The game will offer no single player mode. Instead, you’ll play with a friend locally or online. Communication is crucial, as the two players may split up to accomplish separate tasks simultaneously. With a unique story to tell for both characters and a variety of gameplay mechanics, “A Way Out” looks to offer an experience unlike anything we’ve seen before.

This open world survival game has been on our radar ever since it was supposed to be released back in 2016. The game will take place in the savage world that fans have come to know from the comics and movies, though players will not control the titular hero. Instead, you’ll play as your own highly customizable character who is rescued by the barbarian from execution. From there, you’ll hunt, craft weapons and armor, and do whatever else it takes to survive in this harsh world. An early access version was released for Steam and Xbox One in 2017, and reception has been extremely positive. So, we can’t wait to try out the full version.

Seventeen years. That’s how long it’s been since the second game in this groundbreaking series was released. Taking place in 1980s China and Japan, the story follows Ryo, a teen martial artist seeking vengeance for his father’s murder. Creator Yu Suzuki always envisioned the story spanning multiple games, but sadly the sales weren’t strong enough. We think it’ll be different this time around, especially with the rise of 80s influence on pop culture. The first two entries pushed the Dreamcast to its full potential with their stellar graphics, engaging characters, and great gameplay. With a cult following that has only grown over the years, we’re looking forward to continuing this ambitious story.

Taking place in early 1900s London, this action RPG sees you take control of a newly vampiric doctor. As the story progresses, your character must struggle with whether to kill innocent people or stick to your Hippocratic Oath. The game will offer a tremendous amount of choice in how you tackle the story as each kill will change the world around you. You’ll craft different weapons and upgrade new skills as you combat different types of vampires and vampire hunters. With such a large amount of diverse choices, as well as multiple endings, this game looks to offer a violent and incredibly addicting experience.

Console players will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this one, but PC gamers will be returning to the world of Eora very soon. The original game was met with massive acclaim and the sequel looks to further improve on the formula. You’ll be able to play as your original character from the first entry with a story focusing on the returned god Eothas after he destroys your keep and leaves you for dead. New additions include a customizable ship that you’ll use to reach new areas, which will also bring new battle mechanics. “Deadfire” promises a living, breathing world full of possibility that we can’t wait to get lost in.

Who doesn’t love a good dystopian FPS horror game? Following in the footsteps of the first two entries, “Exodus” will continue the story of Artyom as he travels across Russia in search of a new and better life. Which is a lot easier said than done, as the world is plagued by mutated monsters as well as hostile humans. While the premise sounds a bit common, the game will take place over the course of a year and feature a mix of linear levels and sandbox gameplay. Plus, developer 4A Games have already proven that their attention to detailed atmospheres and terrifying imagery is anything but generic.

Quantic Dream have made a name for themselves for being the leading developer of cinematic heavy games, and their latest entry looks to continue that trend. Players will control three different androids in this neo-noir thriller, each with their own unique story to follow. Much like their other games, “Detroit” can branch off in a variety of ways depending on how you approach each situation. Your characters can even be killed off while the plot continues without them, though you can change the outcome of a situation if you regret how it turns out. This story looks to be the developer’s most engaging yet, with a focus on what it really means to be human.

While this may be MadMind Studio’s first game, their team is comprised of some heavy hitters who have worked on games like “The Witcher 3” and “The Division.” But that’s far from the only reason we’re excited for this one. The story follows a martyr condemned to Hell with no memories of his past life. Using your unique skill that lets you possess other martyrs and demons, you’ll solve puzzles through a horrific landscape as you desperately search for a way to escape. It’s a first-person survival horror game set in Hell. What more could fans of the genre ask for?

Oh, Kratos. Will you ever find happiness? This action hack-and-slash series received an appropriate ending with its last console release back in 2010. But this latest entry looks to be changing things up quite a bit while still keeping some core elements that made the original series great. This time, the ghost of Sparta will be tackling Norse mythology. Other new additions include an over-the-shoulder camera, new and impressive weapons, some RPG elements, and the addition of Kratos’s son, Atreus. While Atreus may make the story more powerful by humanizing Kratos, he’ll also be able to help him out in combat. Plus, even more gigantic monsters to fight? Sign us up.

Is there anyone who’s not excited for this game? As a prequel to 2010’s “Red Dead Redemption,” this open-world action-adventure game will revolve around outlaw Arthur Morgan. Players will rob and fight to survive in the rough and massive American landscape. This highly anticipated game looks to bring all the rootin’ tootin’ gun-slingin’ action that fans are expecting and will feature a brand new protagonist, Arthur Morgan. The last game in the “Red Dead” series was one of the best-selling and highly acclaimed games of its generation, so this prequel has some pretty big shoes to fill. But Rockstar has proven countless times they know how to expertly craft a follow up, so we’re not worried in the slightest.