My most anticipated games of 2016

We’ve seen some great games so far this year, and it’s not over yet.

With the year more than halfway over, I’ve been thinking about the games I’m most looking forward to playing later this year. I don’t have time to play everything I’d like to, but I’ve really enjoyed some games that have been released this year, notably Uncharted 4, Firewatch, and Unravel. With all the great games coming out in the latter half of this year, I’d better start saving my money (or, I could just start a Christmas list). These are the four games that are coming out later this year that I'm most looking forward to.

No Man’s Sky
Gamers have been looking forward to No Man’s Sky since its announcement at E3 two years ago. I named it my “Game of the Show” that year, and then it fell off my radar for a while. Over the past few months, I’ve been thinking about the game a lot and how excited I am to explore the vast universe that Hello Games has worked tirelessly to create. In late May, the game was pushed back to August from its original release date of June, and it went gold just last week. This game is going to be massive, and I am anxiously awaiting its release so I can embark on a caffeine-fueled journey to explore this vast universe (18 quintillion planets. 18 QUINTILLION). No Man’s Sky will be released on Aug. 9, 2016.

The BioShock Collection
I could not be more excited for The BioShock Collection! It was rumored for a while that we would be returning to Rapture and Columbia on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and the rumors were finally confirmed last month. For $60, players will get the chance to return to Rapture in the original BioShock and BioShock 2, and Columbia in BioShock Infinite. The Collection will include all single-player DLC packs, including Minerva’s Den, Protector Trials, Burial at Sea, Clash in the Clouds, and more. Even more, all three games will be running at 1080p and “up to” 60 frames-per-second (sans Infinite on PC, which will be included in the collection but will not have updated visuals). The original BioShock, released in 2007, still looks gorgeous on my PS3 to this day, and I cannot imagine how beautiful Rapture is going to be in 1080p at 60fps. The BioShock Collection will be released on Sept. 13, 2016.

Mafia III
I am a huge fan of Mafia II, which was released six years ago on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC (man, time flies!). I loved it so much that I dedicated hours upon hours to collecting Wanted Posters and even Playboy magazines to get the Platinum trophy on PS3. Upon collecting that last Wanted Poster and earning the Platinum, I immediately craved a sequel; the game ended on a cliffhanger, and I was dying to know what happened to Joe and Vito. When Mafia III was announced at Gamescom last year, I couldn’t have been happier. The more I learn about the game, the more excited I am to play it. The game will take place in 1968 in a fictional re-creation of New Orleans called New Bordeaux and will follow a new protagonist, Lincoln Clay. There’s nothing I love more than a big, juicy third-person, single-player, cover-based shooter (and hyphens. I love hyphens).
I am anxiously awaiting the game’s release date of Oct. 7, 2016.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Anyone who’s played South Park: The Stick of Truth (TSoT) should keep The Fractured But Whole (TFBW) on their radar. I didn't truly appreciate South Park until a few years ago when I binge-watched all the episodes. I've been obsessed with Cartman and the gang ever since, and I fell in love with TSoT. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were heavily involved in the development process, lending their voices and ideas. The same is true for TFBW. The game will take place after events of TSoT, and gamers will reprise the role of the “New Kid.” This time around, we will be roleplaying as superheroes. I am so excited to play this game, and I hope gameplay will be as solid as it was in TSoT. We will go on down to South Park to have ourselves a time on Dec. 6, 2016.

What games are you looking forward to playing later this year? Tell me on Twitter: @gottosaurus