20. Redfall (XSX/PC)
Rhi "StormyDawn" Mitera: Redfall is everything I've ever wanted from a vampire game: all the team-based fun of games like Left 4 Dead, combined with the aesthetics that the best '90s World of Darkness RPGs had to offer and sprinkled liberally with chaos — and vampires. In a world where first-person shooters all start to look the same after a while, Redfall promises to be a delightful surprise and I am so excited to destroy the undead with three of my closest friends.
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19. Total War: Warhammer III (PC)
Tony "OUberLord" Mitera: If there are two things that work well together due to their love of massive battles, it's Total War and Warhammer. When the two franchises first came together, it wasn't just an excuse to see those massive battles, as the Warhammer flavor also added a lot of depth to the Total War gameplay. The sequel further refined those ideas, and here we are with a third entry in the series coming up. Great; I've certainly missed the feeling of realizing, "Oh crap! It's 3am on a workday!"
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18. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (Switch/PS5/PS4/XSX/XOne/PC)
Redmond Carolipio: I'm wondering why it took so long for Gollum to get his own game, but the gameplay concept appears to be perfectly suited for him. I get the impression it'll be a combination of climbing, stealth and probably some puzzle stuff in rich Middle-earth environs. I'm most looking forward to inhabiting the space of the character himself, where everything will just seem bigger as he duels with his split personalities.
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17. TIE: Ghostwire: Tokyo (PS5/PC) / Metroid Prime 4 (Switch)
Chris "Atom" DeAngelus: Another game that has been in development for quite some time, Ghostwire: Tokyo looks like a modern Maken X. It's set in a that's Tokyo overrun by demons, and you play as a magical martial artist who defeats them with a combination of cool powers and awesome kung-fu. We've only gotten a few glimpses of the gameplay, but everything about it looks as stylish as they come. With striking visuals and an awesome concept, it's easy to imagine Ghostwire: Tokyo being a must-play exclusive for the PS5.
Tony "OUberLord" Mitera: Metroid Prime 4 exists ... and that's all we really know about it right now. The poor game has had a heck of a development cycle since it was announced in 2017, having first bounced through Bandai Namco before landing back in the hands of Retro Studios, who developed the original trilogy. There's little fact to go by and a lot of speculation surrounding the game. I'm just hoping that it takes the chance to tighten up the gameplay, as I always felt the Prime games feel a little cumbersome, but I'm also a sucker for all things Metroid.
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16. TIE: Mario + Rabbids 2: Sparks of Hope (Switch) / Marvel's Midnight Suns (Switch/PS5/PS4/XSX/XOne/PC)
Andreas Salmen: The original Mario + Rabbids game was a crossover we didn't really expect or wanted, but it turned out to be a refreshing take on two familiar franchises. Sparks of Hope looks to increase the ambition with space travel and, potentially, a greater emphasis on varied environments. We haven't seen much actual gameplay for this title, but if it manages to be half as good as its predecessor, this should be a worthwhile addition to the Switch's library.
Cody Medellin: Of all the genres that we've seen Marvel games occupy, strategy hasn't really been seen in the console/PC space. Hearing that Marvel's Midnight Suns is being developed by Firaxis gave people the idea that this was essentially X-COM, but seeing cards get involved have made people question whether the team can pull it off. At the very least, it should be interesting to see how it plays after other strategy offerings like Slay the Spire showed how strategy and card games can work together.
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Rhi "StormyDawn" Mitera: I have been thoroughly enjoying the early access version of Baldur's Gate 3 and watching the game's development in real time, but I am so excited for the full release this year. The beta is just long enough to really get its hooks into you, and when it ends, it always leaves me wanting more. I can't wait to see how the story goes from here — and what other trouble I can get into.
Read more WP impressions about Baldur's Gate 3
14. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl (XSX/PC)
Tony "OUberLord" Mitera: I've always been unapologetically in love with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise. It's something about the game's dour setting, immersive gameplay, and a world that feels like it goes on without revolving around your actions. Now the fourth game in the franchise, it will be interesting to see how the title manages to make things feel fresh given it is dealing with the same exclusion zone that all the previous offerings have explored in their own ways. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has the most to live up to in my list of anticipated games this year.
Read more WP impressions about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
13. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch)
Chris "Atom" DeAngelus: One of Nintendo's most underrated franchise returns, Advance Wars (a franchise born from Famicom Wars) was a perfect combination of simple but addictive RTS gameplay that made you beg for just one more stage. Re-Boot Camp brings the same great gameplay people loved with some new features and a whole lot of extra shine. Assuming it lives up to the Game Boy Advance originals, it has the potential to be one of the Switch's most addictive games yet.
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12. Gotham Knights (PS5/PS4/XSX/XOne/PC)
Rhi "StormyDawn" Mitera: I've said for years that Batman media should pay more attention to the rest of the Batfamily. The Robins have so much potential for storytelling outside of the Bat himself. I'm glad someone out there was listening because Gotham Knights looks like it's going to everything that I've always wanted in a Batman game. The only way it could have been better is if we could have more than two-player co-op, but at least I can still play it with my sister. (I call dibs on Red Hood!)
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Redmond Carolipio: I've already found the samurai game of my dreams, but now I'm looking for the kung-fu game I've always wanted, and Sifu has a chance to fill that hole in my heart. Its focus appears to be on the essence of hand-to-hand combat and technique, so I don't think this is going to some simple beat-'em-up, especially with the wrinkle that you age several years with every defeat. I'm also thinking that losing is part of the game's ethos, where you have to lose to get better and improve your skills. That sounds like a grind worth experiencing.
Read more WP impressions about Sifu
UPDATE (Jan. 19, 2022): Looking for honorable mentions and titles #10-1? Look no further!