10 Games to Help Get Ready for 2016

The end of the year is near. Many gamers are deciding which games to get for Christmas, and many reviewers are currently selecting their top 10 games for 2015. Although I will be choosing my top 10 games of 2015 in my next blog. 2016 is almost here, meaning big games, new franchises, and much-anticipated sequels. So first, I will be selecting my top 10 games to help get ready for 2016.

First on the list, and for a good reason. The much-anticipated Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End will be released on the PlayStation 4 on March 18th next year. The title itself is intriguing, leading to speculation that Uncharted 4 could be the last in the series. Only time will tell, but in the meantime, one can revisit how Uncharted started in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. One can also rediscover how the Uncharted franchise became one of the biggest series in gaming history with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves & Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. Playing the Uncharted Trilogy again is an excellent way of preparing for 2016, with Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End being one of the first big releases of 2016.

Another big release, sometime in 2016, hopefully… The long-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3 will be released after a 10-year wait. For those unaware of the Kingdom Hearts series, Kingdom Hearts is a crossover action role-playing game between Disney worlds and Final Fantasy characters. Playing Kingdom Hearts 3 without the first 2 will be hard. Playing the first 2 again on the PlayStation 3 would be a smart idea, due to its confusing story that involves twists and turns. Another good idea would be to watch more recent Disney films such as Big Hero 6 and Tangled since both worlds will be in the game.

Not as well-known as Uncharted and Kingdom Hearts, I came across the first Outlast last year when it was offered to me as one of PlayStation Plus’ free games. After playing, I would’ve happily paid full price for the game. Outlast received mostly good reviews, with IGN describing it as ‘a unique and terrifying survival horror game.’ With more spotlight on the sequel, expect Outlast 2 to be bigger and scarier than the first (if that’s possible). Outlast 2 will be released in fall 2016. In the meantime, playing the first Outlast and its Whistleblower DLC will prepare you for the horror that’s to come.

Dust off your old PlayStation 2; Psychonauts officially has a sequel. Announced last week at The Game Awards, Psychonauts is back and will involve the use of PlayStation VR, meaning that Psychonauts 2 could be released around the same time as PlayStation VR. Also confirmed, Psychonauts will continue after the original’s ending, which concluded on a cliffhanger. The first Psychonauts game was released over 10 years ago. If you can’t quite remember the ending, or haven’t even played the game, now would be a good time to do so.

“If I have anything to say about it, and I do, you will not have to wait ten years for Street Fighter 5” Former Capcom employee Seth Killian.

Seth Killian said this in 2011, and it’s true. Street Fighter fans won’t have to wait ten years for Street Fighter 5, only 8. Street Fighter V is set for release in 2016, possibly the biggest fighting game in history. Street Fighter has a large fanbase, with many die-hard fans who are quite exceptional at playing online. Unless you want to get destroyed by them, I suggest you get back to Street Fighter IV, pick a character, and learn all their combos.

The shortest wait on the list. Far Cry Primal will be released on February 23rd, 2016. Set in the Stone Age, players will once again be the hunter. Far Cry 4 received mixed reviews, with reviewers calling the story boring and the characters abysmal. But the fun gameplay and exploration still remained the same. For the best start in Far Cry Primal, I suggest you get back to Far Cry 4, or even Far Cry 3, and go hunting.

Another short wait. Hitman will be released on March 11th. I suggest you get back to Hitman: Absolution and not the more recent Hitman HD trilogy, due to Absolution being the only Hitman game published by Square Enix. Hitman: Absolution received good reviews upon release. Expect Hitman 2016 to have the same gameplay, with multiple ways of killing your targets. Best to get back to Absolution, play dress-up with Agent 47, and practice those kills.

Watch Mojo’s number 1 pick for Overlooked Games of the 7th Generation. The original Mirror’s Edge has aged well since 2008. The environment still looks amazing, and the gameplay is a joy. With Mirror’s Edge Catalyst set for May 26th, 2016, players will be able to free run as much as they want due to the new open-world city, with no levels and loading screens. So, until then, gamers will have half a year to perfect their free running on the original Mirror’s Edge.

Square Enix is going all out in 2016 with Final Fantasy 15, Kingdom Hearts 3, Hitman, and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Set for August 23rd, 2016, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution. So, expect characters from the original to appear, as well as similar gameplay, stealth missions, and skills. Deus Ex usually focuses on its complicated story and futuristic setting. Playing the first game of the reboot again would help players understand the story and environment in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

The first Dishonored game received a long list of awards, including a BAFTA for the best game, VGX Best Action-Adventure Game, and Satellite’s Outstanding Action/Adventure Game. The pressure is on for the sequel. But expect big things from the returning assassin Corvo Attano. The developers have also confirmed that the game will be more difficult and challenging than its predecessor. Just like Hitman, I suggest getting back to the first Dishonored game and practicing those kills.

And there you go: 10 games to help get ready for 2016. Thanks again for reading. Like, share, and feel free to comment if you think I’ve missed something. Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter X @rhysbritton.