It’s a new year, and that means a new year’s worth of attempts to make a dent in my video game backlog. Last year, I challenged myself to play at least 40 games in 2017.
I succeeded!
…and my remaining backlog is larger than it was a year ago. I blame Humble Bundle and several free game promotions.
Therefore, it’s time for Operation Backlog Completion: Round 3! I was tempted to raise the goal again, but 40 feels like a reasonable number. In 2018, I’ll complete 40 more games.
Operation Backlog Completion 2018
Last year, I also set two additional goals: I would play all of the games I had previously listed as my most-anticipated games of the year, as well as any games I backed on Kickstarter.
I did not get through all of these games on the list, but I will play them in 2018! (Along with my most-anticipated games of 2018, assuming they aren’t delayed, and additional Kickstarter games that came out last year.)
Happy New Year! Yesterday I looked back at the wonderful games I played in 2017, and now I’m ready to look ahead. These are the five games I’m most excited for in 2018.
Honorable Mention
Since I already played Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2, I’m not counting them on this list, but I’m still excited that they’ll be available on the Switch this February!
(I’d love to count Bayonetta 3, but it might not be a 2018 release.)
I also considered including the unknown Ace Attorney game, but since we don’t even know what it is, I can’t really say that yet.
Now, let’s move on. Here are my top 5 anticipated games of 2018!
5. Vampyr
I had my eye on Vampyr, from Dontnod Entertainment, before I played anything else by them. Now that I’ve played Life Is Strange and enjoyed it a lot aside from the ending, I’m really looking forward to seeing how they handle a vampire story.
Vampyr follows a doctor who has become a vampire, and it deals with the conflict between his oath as a doctor and his thirst for human blood. It is an action RPG with multiple endings, and it sounds like your choices about whether or not to feed on people (and who) will play an important role. You’ll also encounter other types of vampires, as well as vampire slayers.
It sounds like a very cool game, and I can’t wait to see how these ideas are handled. Vampyr was originally announced for November 2017, but it was delayed to 2018.
4. Dragon Quest XI
I’ve been following Dragon Quest XI for a while, especially once it became clear that it would not follow the growing trend of big JRPG series to switch to action combat, but instead would feature turn-based combat across all of its versions. The localization announcement made me explode with happiness, and I included it on my list of upcoming turn-based RPGs to look forward to.
We don’t know when this year it will be out or even what systems it will be released for, but I’m looking forward to learning more about it.
3. The Wolf Among Us: Season 2
I enjoyed Telltale’s The Walking Dead, but I still haven’t played its sequels. On the other hand, when I finished The Wolf Among Us, I immediately wanted a sequel – not just because of the tease at the end, but also because I loved it so much.
Ever since then, every time Telltale announced a new game, I just had one question: “What about The Wolf Among Us 2?”
And earlier this year, it was finally announced!
We barely know anything about Season 2 except that it exists and is coming in 2018, but that’s enough for me. I’m looking forward to another dark, thrilling mystery to investigate!
2. Project Octopath Traveler
Project Ocotpath Traveler is another one of the turn-based RPGs I’m looking forward to, and while I still have some skepticism since we don’t know how it will handle the multiple characters, the demo convinced me that this could be an excellent JRPG.
Am I hoping you play as all eight protagonists separately and then they join together as a single party? Yes. Will I be disappointed if you just pick one to play as and the others are recruited without their stories being involved? Probably.
But since the demo already got me interested in its two playable characters and their stories, I’m hopeful that Project Octopath Traveler will turn out well.
And finally, there’s one game I’m looking forward to in 2018 more than any other announced so far…
You can probably guess what it is…
1. Kingdom Hearts III
I’m completely caught up on the Kingdom Hearts series now and eagerly awaiting Kingdom Hearts III. It finally received a release window for the first time and should be out this year. Let’s take another look at that exciting trailer.
I could go on and on about the things I hope to see in Kingdom Hearts III. (At the top of my list is a playable flashback featuring Young Eraqus and Young Xehanort. I don’t care which one is playable, as long as one of them is, please!) While it’s always a little worrying to approach the conclusion of an epic saga, I have faith it will be a satisfying one.
2018 is the year of Kingdom Hearts III, and I can’t wait to see more!
Conclusion
Vampyr, Dragon Quest XI, The Wolf Among Us: Season 2, Project Octopath Traveler, and Kingdom Hearts III are my most-anticipated games of 2018. Which games are you looking forward to this year?
So, in 2018, I will play: