Sequels are easy to get excited for. If a game is a hit, a new one will come along and, usually, you can expect a similar experience to the one that got you fired up the first time around. When it comes to a new series, however, you never quite know what you’re jumping into. That mystery produces a fun sort of excitement all its own. So, here’s the top seven new series we’re looking forward to in 2015.
Evolve
This was perhaps the easiest call on the list, simply because Evolve appears to be the latest example of Turtle Rock studios doing what they do best: Creating compelling, action packed multiplayer (or single player, I suppose) experiences. Four hunters, one beast, one all-out war between those decidedly lopsided odds. If the hunters take too long to track down the monster, they’re in for a hell of a fight. If the monster doesn’t stay hidden long enough to evolve into a more badass creature, the match could be over before it even begins. It sounds like a fantastic game of cat and mouse, and one we can’t wait to play when it launches in early 2015.
The Order: 1886
Honestly, I feel a bit nervous for the team at Ready at Dawn when it comes to The Order: 1886, because there’s a lot riding on this game. One of the earliest announced and most impressive looking PlayStation 4 exclusives, many have billed this as the game to get for Sony’s new console. The team did a tremendous job with the PSP God of War games, but third-person shooting on a brand new piece of hardware is sure to be something of a jump for RAD. Will The Order give gamers a whole new reason to celebrate the PS4, or will it be just another lukewarm next gen adventure? We can’t wait to find out.
Scalebound
There aren’t a whole lot of exclusives known for the Xbox One and only a couple of them are slated for release in 2015. Thankfully, one of them is Scalebound, the latest title from the folks behind the over-the-top Bayonetta series, Platinum Games. First shown off at E3 2014, we don’t really know much about Scalebound other than the fact that the protagonist looks like a cross between DMC’s Dante and a Final Fantasy character, he carries a wicked sword and fights dragons. Oddly, that’s more than enough for us to be pumped for this upcoming action title.
Splatoon
One of the few rare new IPs for the Wii U that we’ve heard about, many came out of E3 2014 calling Splatoon their surprise game of show. Nintendo isn’t typically the kind of developer to put out a third-person team-based arena shooter, but it turns out that a few clever twists can make any genre a go for the Big N. You play as people who can transform as squids, for instance. The levels are pretty stark, which makes perfect sense for the ink you’ll be shooting all over the place. Ink can damage your enemies or you can even swim through it to sneak around or reach higher platforms. It’s unique, it’s colorful, it’s fun, and it’s a perfect fit for Nintendo’s home console.
Mighty No. 9
When Keiji Inafune found resistance in creating a new Mega Man game, he decided to take matters into his own hands and create a passion project that can easily be seen as a spiritual successor to the Blue Bomber’s series, Mighty No. 9. A Kickstarter darling and headed to every platform known to man, Mighty No. 9 is a 2D platforming adventure featuring a collection of levels themed after unique bosses. At first glance, you wouldn’t be blamed for assuming that No. 9 was a next gen Mega Man game and, since it looks like that’s not happening anytime soon, we’re more than happy to take this new series for a spin.
Bloodborne
Take everything you love about the Dark Souls series, drop it into a gothic, London-esque setting and give the player the ability to wage war against the forces of darkness at a more fast-paced tempo, and you’ve basically got Bloodborne. From Software have promised that their latest offering will bear the trademark Souls challenge, but that the gameplay will allow for more maneuverability and insane combat. Throw in some intriguing multiplayer options and a blunderbuss, and you’ve got the makings of a potential next gen classic coming out in just a couple of months.
No Man’s Sky
I wouldn’t want to be anyone at Hello Games right about now. The team got to work on an ambitious indie project, No Man’s Sky, which managed to strike a chord with many gamers the world over, and now the hype train has inadvertently gone off the rails for the upcoming PS4/PC title. Anticipation has skyrocketed for this procedurally generated galaxy exploration game that allows players to hop from planet to planet on a never-ending quest for discovery. Additional mechanics are likely, but few details have been shared at this point. No Man’s Sky looks promising, so here’s hoping it can live up to the ridiculous buzz the community has created for it.
