2015's most anticipated video games
You've checked out the best games of 2014 and lamented the most disappointing. Now it's time to get excited and look toward 2015, a year that's shaping up with a massive release schedule and -- ultimately -- an awesome time to be a gamer.
Bloodborne
The makers of Demon's Souls and both Dark Souls games are out to punish players all over again in a new franchise called Bloodborne that promises to be brutally unforgiving, but potentially more accessible than its predecessors.
March 24 (PS4)
Batman: Arkham Knight
Developer Rocksteady Studios is ready to close the door on its Batman: Arkham series with Arkham Knight. In addition to discovering how this Dark Knight's storyline will shake out, players will finally get to control the Batmobile and a number of new gadgets.
June 2 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Final Fantasy XV
We don't know much about FFXV, but it's without a doubt the most highly anticipated Final Fantasy game thanks to its impressive gameplay previews and what seems to be a brand-new combat system.
TBD (PS4, XBO)
Halo 5: Guardians
Did you really think we weren't going to get another Halo game? Halo 5: Guardians is a brand-new entry in the quintessential Xbox franchise.
TBD (XBO)
Hellblade
We don't know much about Hellblade, but we're confident that its developer, Ninja Theory, makers of Heavenly Sword, DmC and Enslaved, will give gamers a unique combat-focused action game with striking visuals and style.
TBD (PS4, XBO)
Inside
If you enjoyed Limbo, you'll want to pay attention to Inside, the eerie new title from the same team -- it's set to hit Xbox One first early in 2015.
Q1 (XBO)
Just Cause 3
The PC open-world cult-classic hit is finally getting a sequel its loyal fan base so desperately wished for.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO)
Mario Maker
Finally! Wii U owners will gain the ability to create and share their own 2D Mario Bros. levels!
Q2 (Wii U)
Kingdom Hearts III
Will Marvel characters finally make it into a Kingdom Hearts game? We may find out in 2015 when Kingdom Hearts III (fingers crossed) finally hits consoles.
TBD (PS4, XBO)
Mad Max
We're expecting a lot from the movie of the same name in 2015, but the jury is still out on the game. While it debuted at E3 2013, there's a lot of questions we have about Mad Max, but we're expecting to see it release some time in 2015.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO, PS3, 360)
Evolve
Evolve is an online co-op shooter that forces players to work together to take down a beast that gets more powerful as time goes by. Best part? Someone gets to play as the beast.
February 10 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Dying Light
From the team that brought us Dead Island, Dying Light is a different take on the zombie genre, where the undead become particularly nasty when the sun goes down.
January 27 (PC, PS4, XBO, PS3, 360)
Tom Clancy's The Division
In The Division, players will team up in groups to reveal the secret behind a mysterious virus that spread in New York City on Black Friday.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO)
Metal Gear V: The Phantom Pain
The Phantom Pain will be the first open-world Metal Gear game and will hopefully feature more gameplay time than cutscene time.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO, PS3, 360)
Mirror's Edge (sequel)
A follow-up to the 2008 cult-classic first-person parkour game, Mirror's Edge will let players dive deeper into the original game's mysterious city and storyline.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO)
Mortal Kombat X
Mortal Kombat's debut on new-generation consoles will also mark a perpetual online competition where the best fighters in the world can face off.
April 14 (PC, PS4, XBO, PS3, 360)
Silent Hills
If Silent Hills plays anything like P.T. (its teaser demo), we're in for an engaging and terrifying ride.
TBD (PS4)
Battleborn
From the makers of the Borderlands series, Battleborn is a co-op-focused RPG shooter that features a unique per-mission level-up system.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO)
Rise of the Tomb Raider
After an impressive reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise, Crystal Dynamics is planning a follow-up that will hit consoles first on Xbox One in 2015. Don't be surprised to see this one slip into 2016, though.
Q4 (XBO, 360)
No Man's Sky
Incredibly ambitious with promises of procedurally planets and creatures that inhabit them, No Man's Sky is one of the most hyped independent games in history. We'll see if it delivers in 2015.
TBD (PC, PS4)
Rainbow Six Siege
The next highly anticipated installment of the squad-based first-person-shooter looks to breach consoles some time in 2015. What we've seen so far has been very impressive, so we're expecting a lot from the game.
TBD (PC, PS4, XBO)
Rime
This uniquely styled adventure game has already generated a solid amount of buzz and will be a PlayStation 4 indie exclusive.
TBD (PS4)
Scalebound
Wishful thinking has us putting Scalebound in a list of 2015 games, but nevertheless we're really excited to see what Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames has in store for the Xbox One.
TBD (XBO)
Quantum Break
Just like developer Remedy Entertainment has played with in the past, Quantum Break will blur the line between an episodic television series and gameplay, all while giving players the ability to stop and manipulate time.
TBD (XBO)
Star Wars: Battlefront
What's been a rumor for what feels like forever, Star Wars: Battlefront will put players in various familiar "Star Wars" environments.
Q3 (PC, PS4, XBO)
The Order: 1886
Set in a steampunk alternate history England, The Order will take players on a visually stunning cinematic third-person experience with gunplay, gadgets and an unknown enemy race of monsters.
February 20 (PS4)
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
With a subtitle like "A Thief's End," we have to imagine Uncharted 4 is Drake's last adventure. The good news is we won't need to wait long to play this ultra-anticipated title because Uncharted 4 should hopefully hit the PlayStation 4 next holiday season.
Q4 (PS4)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Visually breathtaking and endlessly exporable, The Witcher 3 has made a lasting impression in previews. We'll see if it all comes together this May.
May 19 (PC, MAC, PS4, XBO)
The Legend of Zelda
Featuring an open-world design and graphics unlike any Zelda game before it, The Legend of Zelda will finally make its Wii U debut in 2015.
TBD (Wii U)