2011 was a great year for gaming, no matter how you slice it.
Gamers were spoiled rotten with the likes of Portal 2, Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Killzone 3, The Witcher 2, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Crysis 2, LA Noire , Dark souls and many, many more.
Indeed, you could easily take a handful of the games I just mentioned and argue that they are some of the best games released in the past 10 years.
But where do we go to from here?
I was having this conversation with a friend over the weekend, and he mentioned that he felt like there were no really big releases left that he was looking forward to. Of course, he was wrong, because we have a ton of awesome games preparing to drop in 2012.
Here are my own personal top 5 most anticipated games scheduled for release in 2012.
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect is one of gaming’s most loved franchises, and is probably the most critically acclaimed sci-fi RPG series gaming has ever seen.
Mass Effect 3 is the final chapter in the trilogy, and it will complete Commander Shepard’s story.
Expect tweaks to the combat system, missions set on Earth, four player co-op and improved AI.
Mass Effect 3 will be released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on 9 March, 2012.
Mass Effect 3
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
The next instalment of one of PC gaming’s most respected franchises is expected to drop in 2012.
Heart of the Swarm will not only deliver a fully fledged Zerg campaign, but it will also introduce a variety of new units to the multiplayer portion of the game, which should be just what the competitive StarCraft II scene needs to spice things up a bit.
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm is expected to be released sometime in 2012, exclusively for PC.
StarCraft II - Heart of the Swarm
BioShock Infinite
Although it is not a direct sequel or prequel to previous games in the series, Bioshock Infinite has original Bioshock mastermind Ken Levine at the helm, which means we can expect something special.
Taking place in the same universe, but at an earlier point in time (1912), BioShock Infinite will see players control former Pinkerton agent, Booker DeWitt, as he attempts to rescue a woman named Elizabeth who is trapped aboard the collapsing air-city Columbia.
Bioshock Infinite is being released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 at some point in 2012.
BioShock Infinite
Borderlands 2
I loved Borderlands. It introduced a fresh world that oozed personality, wrapped it up with solid shooter mechanics combined with RPG elements, and delivered it using a cel-shaded rendering technique.
The sequel promises more of the same, but will introduce additional advanced character building elements traditionally found in RPGs.
Borderlands is expected out on 1 September 2012 (tentative), and will be released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Borderlands 2
The Last Guardian
Known in Japan as Hitokui no Ōwashi Trico, The Last Guardian is without a doubt my favourite new IP set to drop in 2012.
Having said that, it is being designed with the same stylistic, thematic and gameplay elements which guided the development of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, two of the PS3’s most unique and respected games.
The Last Guardian is being released exclusively for PS3, and is due out sometime in 2012.
That’s not all though, there are loads of other games which are sure to make 2012 a year to remember, including Far Cry 3, Max Payne 3, Syndicate, Xcom, Diablo III, Grand Theft Auto V, and Hitman Absolution.
The Last Guardian
Which games are you looking forward to in 2012? Let us know on the MyGaming forum and in the comments section below.
