Gallery: The Games We Can't Wait to Play in 2014
01JAZZPUNK
Predicting the biggest games of the year is starting to seem futile. After all, at this time last year we couldn't wait to get our hands on *Beyond: Two Souls* and *SimCity*, and look how those turned out. And who could have seen *Gone Home* or *Papers, Please* coming? Indie games were some of our favorites in 2013, but with thousands and thousands of them in development at any given time, it's extremely difficult to guess which ones will hit. So it may well be that this list is completely wrong. But that's not going to stop us from charging forth anyway. For this year's installment of our most anticipated games, we've tried our best to look beyond the marketing hype for triple-A games and feature the indie projects in development. There's a whole lot to look forward to this year, but the only thing we're sure of is this: When December rolls around, our Games of the Year list will feature a lot of surprises. In the meantime, here's what's already on our radar as the games most likely to be standout experiences. Our longstanding no-wishful thinking rule applies: If a publisher hasn't explicitly said by now that a game is arriving in 2014, it didn't make the list because it probably isn't arriving in 2014. __Above:__ *Jazzpunk* (PC) --------------- PAX expos usually are a whirlwind in which I have precious little time to spend with individual games, but during last fall's show in Seattle I was utterly transfixed by [*Jazzpunk*](http://necrophonegames.com/category/jazzpunk/) for the better part of an hour. It's a first-person adventure with a striking aesthetic and an insane sense of humor. It's impossible to guess what'll happen next, but you can bet it will be funny. *Jazzpunk* should be available this month, so you can experience it for yourself. *-- Chris Kohler* *Release date: January 2014*
02BRAVELY DEFAULT
*Bravely Default* (3DS) ----------------------- The spiritual successor to the well-received *Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light*, Bravely Default looks to be one of the most exciting Japanese RPGs coming to America. Already a [bestseller in Japan](http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/17/this-week-in-sales-bravely-default-flies-high/), where it launched more than a year ago and already has prompted the development of a sequel, the game features a class system à la *Final Fantasy V* and turn-based combat that centers around banking actions and then unleashing multiple hits at once. A surprisingly robust demo -- I put a solid five hours into it -- is available on the Nintendo eShop. *-- Bo Moore* *Release date: February 7, 2014*
03TITANFALL
*Titanfall* (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) ------------------------------------ First-person shooter *Titanfall* is the debut title from Respawn Entertainment, the studio founded after *Call of Duty* kings Jason West and Vince Zampella got the boot at Activision. These aren't regular soldiers: They can double-jump, wall-run and zip around with a jet pack, making for a fast-paced shooter more reminiscent of *Tribes* than *Call of Duty*. And of course, once a giant mech spawns you can jump into the cockpit and stomp around the battlefield with impunity. No, it's not exclusive to Xbox One, but the fact *Titanfall* is not on PS4 could be a huge advantage for Microsoft in the nex-gen wars -- if it's any good. *-- Ryan Rigney* *Release date: March 11, 2014*
04METAL GEAR
*Metal Gear Solid V* (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A new *Metal Gear Solid* game is always an event. Every iteration introduces fundamentally new concepts while killing half the things you loved about the previous game. Everyone remembers the shock at spending a significant portion of *Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty* as a naked dude. *Metal Gear Solid V*'s addition to the franchise, aside from Roman numerals, will be [open world map design](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-c1a5c55-8) and a much less linear structure. Konami is splitting the release into two parts. A "prologue" called *Ground Zeroes* will be released in March. The full game, *The Phantom Pain*, will be released... at some point. *-- Ryan Rigney* *Release date: March 18, 2014 (and beyond)*
05TELLTALE
*The Walking Dead, Season 2* and *The Wolf Among Us* (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, iOS) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Telltale Games' *The Walking Dead* was [WIRED’s top game of 2012](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2012/12/the-10-best-games-of-2012/#slideid-126591) because it wasn’t another zombie game, but a moving story that happened to include zombies. We were so eager to find out what happened to young Clementine that we put the second season on our [list of anticipated games last year](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2013/01/most-anticipated-games-2013/?pid=3253). Telltale surprised us by releasing the first episode of its *Fables* series *The Wolf Among Us*, a neo-noir murder mystery with fairy tale characters living out of sight in New York City, just before dropping the first episode of *Walking Dead* season 2. Yes, both games kicked off in 2013, we'd be lying if we said the remaining episodes aren't among the gaming experiences we're most looking forward to this year. *-- Daniel Feit* *Release date: Scattered throughout 2014*
06WITNESS
*The Witness* (PS4, PC) ----------------------- At a glance, *The Witness* appears to be about little more than solving a series of maze-like puzzles. Creator Jonathan Blow insists it's so much more, and given his last game, the time-bending puzzler [*Braid*](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2008/08/review-braid-in/), I'm inclined to trust him. It seems like the maze puzzles will be presented in a way that teaches you, without being too overt about it, how to solve more and more complicated ones. That's about the extent of my knowledge about the game, and I intend to keep it that way until it ships. *-- Bo Moore* *Release date: TBD*
07WATCH DOGS
*Watch Dogs* (PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ah, the long-promised *Watch Dogs*. The game, originally slated as a launch title for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One but delayed to 2014, is set in an open-world, alternate reality version of Chicago where an all-seeing operating system called ctOS runs in all the electronic devices around you. But great news: You can hack ctOS too, and much of the fun of the game seems to lie in the creative ways it lets you disrupt the world around you, like changing traffic lights and messing with cellphones. Not only does it transform hacking from a throwaway minigame into a core premise, it offers a novel (but optional) multiplayer element in which you can drop into another player's single-player game, hack him, and take what you gain back to your own game. Filled with the sort of near-future paranoia that’s looking less near-future all the time, *Watch Dogs* may have made us wait, but it still looks like it’s worth it. *--Laura Hudson* *Release date: Q2 2014*
08TRANSISTOR
*Transistor* (PS4, PC) ---------------------- Supergiant Games' debut *Bastion* was one of our [favorite games of 2011](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2011/12/best-games-2011/?pid=2325). It broke away from the action-RPG pack thanks to creative level design and innovative storytelling. Supergiant's sophomore effort [*Transistor*](http://supergiantgames.com/index.php/2013/06/transistor-faq/) is another action-RPG, but one that will mix the traditional free-roaming hack-and-slash experience with turn-based strategy. And even if the game sucks (which it won't), we'll at least be treated to another outstanding original score from returning composer Darren Korb. *-- Bo Moore* *Release date: TBD 2014*
09OCTODAD
*Octodad: Dadliest Catch* (PC, PS4) ----------------------------------- I was of course intrigued by *Octodad* purely by the top-line concept: You are an octopus desperately trying to keep your family from discovering you are an octopus. But it wasn't until I tried a brief hands-on demo last year that I became anxious to play the whole thing. The feeling of clambering around as an uncoordinated octopus was so perfect; the reactions of the game to my input just made me start laughing uncontrollably. That's how you know you've potentially got some dynamite on your hands. *-- Chris Kohler* *Release date: TBD 2014*
10GALAK Z
Galak-Z (PlayStation 4, PC) --------------------------- Galak-Z looks like an arcade-style twin-stick shooter, but it doesn’t play like one. Most videogames of this type present space as a hazard-strewn pathway that runs in a straight line from point A to point B. *Galak-Z* treats space like a desert: dangerous, but not because there's an enemy hiding under every rock. When you encounter hostile spacecraft, they are not instantly on the offensive. They can be alerted by your presence, lured into danger, or avoided altogether. This means there are times when you shouldn’t be shooting, an uncommon experience in this genre. Developed by indie studio 17-Bit (*Skulls of the Shogun*), *Galak-Z* has an authentic '90s Japanese vibe. *-- Daniel Feit* *Release date: TBD 2014*
11HYRULE
*Hyrule Warriors* (Wii U) ------------------------- Man, what is going to happen with this unlikely mashup of *The Legend of Zelda* and *Dynasty Warriors*? Put aside the fact you and I probably could think of 100 developers we'd like to see take on *Zelda* before Tecmo Koei ever got its hands on it, because this is what we're getting. I don't know if it'll be a surprisingly interesting spin on the series that (Nintendo surely hopes) will revive *Zelda* sales in Japan, or if it'll be like watching your dog get euthanized. Either way, I'm really curious to find out. *-- Chris Kohler* *Release date: Summer 2014 in Japan, 2014 in the U.S.*
12RAPTURE
*Everybody's Gone to the Rapture* (PS4) --------------------------------------- The Chinese Room's *Dear Esther* was a unique experiment in game storytelling that had very little interactivity. Spiritual successor *Rapture* looks to be something more like *Gone Home*, in that you'll have the ability to pick things up, manipulate objects, etc. It'll follow six people left behind at the end of the world after most of humanity has disappeared. It'll probably be better than *Left Behind: The Video Game*. *-- Chris Kohler* *Release date: TBD 2014*
13DESTINY
*Destiny* (Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4) ------------------------------------------------------------ As the first non-*Halo* game created by Bungie in nearly 15 years, and the first created under the studio's publishing deal with Activision, the open-world, online shooter *Destiny* has a lot riding on it. Few studios have a better track record than Bungie when it comes to producing highly polished shooters with innovative online elements. That's pretty much the only thing this studio does, in fact, and that's the only part that is potentially worrying: Is this game going to fundamentally feel just like another *Halo*, or bring something truly new? *-- Ryan Rigney* *Release date: September 9, 2014*
14SMASH BROS
*Super Smash Bros. U* (Wii U, 3DS) ---------------------------------- Is *Smash Bros.* series director Masahiro Sakurai trying to lower expectations for his game? He got out front with most of the bad news -- a smaller roster, no cross-platform play between 3DS and Wii U, few new third-party characters -- in [a lengthy interview with Kotaku](http://kotaku.com/an-in-depth-chat-with-the-genius-behind-super-smash-bro-530744390) last June. Since then there's been a tantalizing trickle of character reveals, most of which concern characters that were already playable in older versions of this Nintendo all-star fighting game series. For fans, it's becoming a waiting game to see which characters we love won't make it in. I'm not worried, though.They definitely wouldn't cut my favorite character, Falco, right? *-- Ryan Rigney* *Release date: TBD 2014*
15X
*X* (Monolith Software) (Wii U) ------------------------------- How the worm has turned. Nintendo basically had to be shamed into releasing the gorgeous, fun RPG *Xenoblade Chronicles* on Wii, and now its follow-up is one of the most anticipated titles for Wii U. Even if *X* is as good as its predecessor, it still probably won't sell many copies. That's OK. At least it'll give content-starved Wii U owners the kind of lengthy single-player adventure that the system has sorely lacked thus far. *-- Chris Kohler* *Release date: TBD 2014*
16GAME OF THRONES
*Game of Thrones* (platforms not announced) ------------------------------------------- The last *Game of Thrones* videogame, a lackluster 2012 Atlus title best endured only by superfans, left many devotees of the George R. R. Martin novels and the HBO adaptation feeling cold. So the news that Telltale Games had acquired the *Game of Thrones* license for a multi-year, multi-title series came as glad tidings, particularly since the developer has made an entire business model out of turning popular franchises like *The Walking Dead* and *Fables* into compelling interactive stories. Part of what draws people to the world of Westeros is not only its epic scope, but its intensely personal elements, and how the decisions of both kings and commoners can echo across continents and into history. While details are admittedly scant, Telltale’s larger body of work promises what so many *Game of Thrones* fans have been waiting for: a chance to make some of those choices in a way that feels both epic and emotionally real. *--Laura Hudson* *Release date: TBD 2014*
17COSMIC STAR
Cosmic Star Heroine (PS4, Vita, Xbox One, PC, Mac) -------------------------------------------------- Zeboyd Games' role-playing games like *Breath of Death VII* and *Penny Arcade Adventures* were modeled on classic 8- and 16-bit Japanese RPGs, but the gameplay was not beholden to the rules of the '90s. The turn-based combat was fast-paced and random encounters were limited, making both games feel like a refinement of past mechanics rather than a warts-and-all homage. The studio turned to Kickstarter to fund Cosmic Star Heroine, a retro-inspired game with a science-fiction setting. As a fan (and a backer) I eagerly await the results. *-- Daniel Feit* *Release date: December 2014*
18VISCERA
Editors' Picks -------------- Finally, here are some personal picks from WIRED editors and contributors of more games we're looking forward to playing in 2014. __John Mix Meyer:__ *Charles Barkley: Shut Up and Jam Gaiden* might be the funniest role-playing game ever made. The game followed the adventures of Charles Barkley and his son Hoopz as they attempt to eke out a living after Barkley destroyed most of New York City upon using his explosive Chaos Dunk technique, thereby rendering basketball illegal. The long-awaited sequel now features a fast-paced real-time combat and randomized loot systems. Honestly, I don't care. I just want to dress up Charles Barkley in a Shrek outfit again. __Daniel Feit:__ Violence and video games have been attached at the hip for decades, but for every bloody rampage players have participated in, they never stick around to deal with the consequences. PC game [*Viscera Cleanup Detail*](”http://www.runestorm.com/viscera”) (pictured above) skips the shooting and the maiming and leaves it to the player to clean up the mess. The first-person “space-station janitor simulator” has already been approved by Steam Greenlight and developer Runestorm released a standalone level last month set in Santa’s workshop. I spent my Christmas cremating elf corpses and now my mop and bucket are ready to explore deep space. __Bo Moore:__ Coming off a $645K Kickstarter, *Hyper Light Drifter* is an homage to 8- and 16-bit action RPGs but built to take advantage of modern game mechanics and design. Its sword-wielding but fragile protagonist cuts through a moody, atmospheric setting filled with droves of enemies. *Hyper Light Drifter* is more about outsmarting the hordes than simply slicing through. It's expected to launch on many platforms in July, but as with many overfunded Kickstarters that date will probably slip. __Chris Kohler:__ Do you think that games like *Papers, Please* would be better if they were *more* depressing? [*That Dragon, Cancer*](http://thatdragoncancer.com/) was probably the only game at PAX last year that had a box of tissues sitting next to each demo station. It's an autobiographical story of a dad raising a baby who has terminal cancer. I think interactive games possess a unique ability to let us experience the world from someone else's perspective, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this Ouya game has to show me. And hoarding Kleenex. __Ryan Rigney:__ Years before *Super Meat Boy* caused a million controllers to be thrown in exasperation, *N* invented and nearly perfected the super-hard, high-precision platformer. When I discovered it in its original form, *N* was the richest, most addictive Flash game I’d ever played. When *N+* hit Xbox Live Arcade, it added in an unforgettable, infuriating co-op mode. I'll never forget watching my dad learn how to wall-jump at max speed to save me from a laser turret at the last possible second. PlayStation 4-exclusive *N++* promises to be the ultimate *N* experience. I don’t care that [the teaser trailer](http://vimeo.com/72306409) showed literally nothing of the game. I’m sold.
