2016: A Year in Preview - Part 2

We continue our look at the most exciting games coming this year.

Mirror's Edge Catalyst (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Release: May 24

When DICE announced that Mirror's Edge Catalyst isn't a sequel, but is instead a reboot of their eye-catching parkour-themed action game, we were delighted. The concept that drives Mirror's Edge is compelling, and its intriguing protagonist, Faith, passes through an adventure played out in a stylishly constructed world. However, there was obvious flaws that held it back from greatness. Now we're excited because their plans for Catalyst are fairly closely aligned to what we wanted from the first game. The new open-worldliness of this reboot, and the move away from gunplay towards a purer, more athletic vision, could prove to be just the ticket needed to send this series to the highest of heights.

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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Release: August 23

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is the follow-up to one of our favourite games of the last console generation, and we can't wait to see how the political landscape of the future has been shaped by the events depicted during Human Revolution. The mix of stealth and action, plus the augmented abilities that evolve over time, should present players with a range of tactical options during their adventure. If they've fixed the honky boss battles, and there's no reason to think that they haven't, then we should be set to get our hands on a thought-provoking, challenging and rewarding first-person shooter. The recently announced delay now sees the game coming out in August, which will hopefully be ample time for Eidos Montréal to polish their game to perfection.

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Crackdown 3 (Xbox One)
Release: Q3 2016

When Crackdown lands on Xbox One we might be in for a watershed moment. The destruction powered by the cloud might well open the floodgates to games more complicated and CPU-intensive than ever before. On top of potentially spectacular destruction we're also getting the return of a popular Xbox-exclusive franchise, one that feels unique within the sphere of open-world adventures. Time will tell whether this is going to be a clever trick that defines a game, or a great game with a clever trick up its sleeve, but we can't wait to find out and we look forward to seeing first hand just how destructive it can be.

Gears of War 4 (Xbox One)
Release: Q4 2016

It might not be the most subtle blockbuster series in the history of video games, but it's almost certainly one of the most action-packed. Gears of War 4 is now under the full control of The Coalition, and we're hoping that they can deliver a new game worthy of Epic's legacy. The Xbox One sorely needs a Gears game, and this may well be the tonic that fans of the series have long been craving. Will it be enough to put the franchise back at the top table of gaming? That's something we're going to have to wait until the end of the year to find out.

Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4)
Release: 2016

In a sea of sequels, here's one new IP to get excited about. Guerilla has been nurturing the Killzone franchise for a long time now, so it's great for them that they were given room to grow in a new direction, and the futuristic robo-dinos in their new sci-fi property makes Horizon: Zero Dawn one to watch. A strong female lead and what looks a compelling setting will hopefully gel well with the studio's signature style, and if it does we could be in for a genuine treat when the game finally sees the light of day in 2016.

Overwatch (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Release: Q2 2016

Blizzard's first foray into the world of first-person shooters had us well and truly impressed after our time with the beta, and as such we're suitably excited about getting our hands on the final version of the game. Lots of comical characters mesh together to create a chaotic battlefield that excites as much as it entertains, and so far it looks like Blizzard are doing a grand job of balancing the whole thing. There's more to see before final conclusions can be drawn, but we're optimistic that the studio are cooking up a delight.

The Legend of Zelda Wii U (Wii U)
Release: 2016

Is there a game coming to Wii U that has more weight of expectation behind it? If there is then we can't think what it might be. A full entry in the iconic series is long overdue on the current generation of Nintendo consoles, and it's certainly a game that would've helped breathe new life into the Wii U's life cycle - this one is, after all, a genuine system seller. We don't know a huge amount about what's going to be included in Link's next adventure, but that isn't stopping us from getting excited, such is the pedigree of this enduring series.

Total War: Warhammer (PC)
Release: April 28

Creative Assembly's strategy titles and Games Workshop's tabletop fantasy world could make a sensational combination, and we've not got too long to wait before we find out just how well-matched they are. The long-running PC series has needed a change of pace for some time now, and Warhammer might just be what's needed to freshen up the franchise and take it to the next level. This is the first of three games as per the agreement between Sega and GW, and we can't wait to see what comes of this potential match made in heaven.