Top Upcoming Third-Person Video Games of 2018

Note: Article was updated in August of 2018.

2018 is fast approaching and as such there’s a slew of new video game titles slated or expected to launch during the upcoming year. If you’re looking for what video game titles are worth checking into before they make their way onto the market then let us lend a hand. In this particular list, we’re going over our top picks for the third-person video game titles launching in the coming year. Take a look at our picks below and as always, let us know if we missed a title by dropping us a comment!

Find More Upcoming 2018 Video Game Lists on Gameranx:

Monster Hunter: World

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release: Jan 26, 2018
Platforms: PS4, XBO, PC

The Monster Hunter franchise is consistently growing and with each new installment a number of new gamers explore the monster filled worlds development studio Capcom has crafted. Monster Hunter: World will mark as the fifth main installment to the franchise and as you can expect, there will be a number of notable updates.

For instance, Capcom has placed larger maps, a more seamless experience between zones and what’s a Monster Hunter video game without the ability to hunt with friends? Outside of the offline campaign, the game will allow a four-player online co-op opportunity.

The gameplay will be for the most part the same from past installments, but this is also a great starting point for newcomers. With that said, the game is still fairly deep with the mechanics and as a result you’ll find a massive collection of helpful guides and tips from the fan base.

A Way Out

Developer: Hazelight Studios
Publisher: EA Originals
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Release: March 23, 2018

A Way Out is an action-adventure journey from Hazelight Studios. This will be the second video game to be directed by Josef Fares who you may be familiar with from his previous title, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

This is a unique action-adventure video game as it will require two players with the display being split-screen regardless of playing the video game locally or through online. All-in-all, the narrative is based around two prisoners who must survive and escape a prison. Their stories will be told simultaneously and while one character may be in a cutscene, the other will be able to freely move and execute their tasks.

Gameplay is more based around puzzle solving along with a big focus on cinematics. You could almost categorize the game as a walking simulator, but again there’s plenty of actual gameplay involved.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Developer: Rockstar Studios
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PS4, XBO
Release: October 26, 2018

Rockstar Games has crafted up a number of incredible pieces of work. Their beloved long-running series Grand Theft Auto, the single IP release of Bully, and of course their old western series, Red Dead Redemption just to name a few. Red Dead Redemption has a massive following and gamers all over the world are undoubtedly waiting for new information to trickle down from Rockstar for their upcoming installment, Red Dead Redemption 2.

This third person western will follow an outlaw named Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang as they roam the country fleeing the law as one of the last few gangs roaming the west. We’re still waiting to see just what extra features are tossed into this upcoming installment.

We imagine that there will be shootouts, shady card games, horse racing, among several other random events that could sway your outlook to the general public. From the few trailers we have seen of the game, there appears to be a few familiar faces making an appearance from the original Red Dead Redemption title.

Vampyr

Developer: Dontnod Entertainment
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Release: June 5 ,2018

Dontnod Entertainment has crafted up some popular titles so far. Their debut title Remember Me sparked the highly beloved Life is Strange IP. Following up the release of Life is Strange is Vampyr, a vastly different IP then what the developers have worked.

Vampyr takes place during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic in London where players take the role of a doctor Jonathan Reid. Our protagonist is in a predicament as he is a vampire with a bloodthirsty nature, but is battling his condition with his Hippocratic Oath.

This upcoming title will give players not only the ability to unlock new abilities and skills but dialogue options to help steer the narrative. Gameplay is also more in line with an action RPG with gamers having the ability to unlock new abilities and upgrades to your supernatural abilities.

State of Decay 2

Developer: Undead Labs
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platforms: PC, XB1
Release: May 22, 2018

State of Decay 2 is an upcoming zombie survival game set in an open world environment. The game takes place one year after civilization fell thanks to the zombie pandemic. Now only small groups that band together survive in the world.

During your journey, you’ll be able to gather survivors who can help in your makeshift community as you battle for life instead of battling against the dead. Overall, the title sends players out to explore the open world and gather resources in order to grow your community. However, the larger your community gets the more resources it will need.

You’ll also find that the game does contain a storyline and you’ll have options to take on additional side quests from NPCs in the world. One of the resources you’ll likely find yourself checking on more frequently is your weapons as they too can get beat up. While this game has not received the greatest reception since its release, players who are an Xbox Game Pass member should give this title a go as it’s completely free.

God of War

Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release: April 20, 2018

What can we say about God of War that you probably are not already fully aware of? The video game franchise got its start back in the days of the PlayStation 2 and is still going strong today. However, this upcoming title, in particular, is more of a soft reboot to the franchise.

Players will be controlling Kratos in a whole new world. This time around, Kratos has a son to watch after and while he had slain the gods featured in the Greek mythology, players will be up against a new Norse mythology.

While adding a son into the mix does change the storyline of revenge, we’re still fully expecting a hack-and-slash action-adventure title. This franchise has been one of the most popular third-person video games exclusive to the PlayStation library and this installment continues that very trend. If you own a PlayStation 4 console then this is one title you need to include in your library.

Darksiders 3

Developer: Gunfire Games
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Release: November 27, 2018

The Darksiders franchise continues on with developers Gunfire Games launching the third main installment sometime in 2018. This franchise is an action RPG with a ton of hack-and-slash goodness.

So far, what we know about the video game is that the title will take place in a parallel world of events from the past video game installments. In this war-torn Earth, our protagonist, Fury, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, is in a quest to destroy the Seven Deadly Sins.

Developers over at Gunfire Games have not shown off too much for the storyline but it looks like we may see some callbacks to the original Darksiders title. Gameplay will also rely on players exploring the open world and solving puzzles. Currently the game is slated to release on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC platforms this year but we’re still waiting to hear if we’ll see Darksiders III launch on the Nintendo Switch. This could potentially happen as we did see Darksider II on the Nintendo Wii U.

Detroit: Become Human

Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release: May 25, 2018

Set in Detroit, Michigan, and developed by Quantic Dream, gamers who enjoy choice-driven narratives will want to keep tabs on Detroit: Become Human. This is a futuristic neo-noir thriller that’s based off an old 2012 tech demo from Quantic Dream that became viral online.

Players will take control of three different characters, all of which are androids. You will have Kara, a female android that has escaped the factory from where she was made. There’s also Connor, who is a male android that is tasked with hunting down deviant androids. Lastly, there is Markus, another male android who has begun an android revolution against the human race.

This is a third-person adventure that plays out similar to past video game releases by Quantic Dreams such as Heavy Rain and Beyond Two Souls. Players will be left searching around the levels for clues and items. Gameplay will also be based around quick time events and story narrative choices that will have an impact on how the rest of Detroit Become Human’s storyline plays out.

Spider-Man

Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release: September 7, 2018

Spider-Man is an upcoming video game title under developers Insomniac Games who are previously known for their Ratchet & Clank and Resistance video game franchises. Their latest upcoming title will breathe some new life into the Spider-Man story as this video game title will not be linked to any past comic books or cinematic movies.

Furthermore, we’re not going through some origin story of Spider-Man, instead, the video game will be focused around Peter Parker, eight years after he has established the role of being the famed hero. From what we know so far, this is an open-world title where the narrative will follow Peter Parker graduating college while keeping up as protector of New York City.

It looks like most of Spider-Man’s biggest enemies are in the works together in order to stop this hero once and for all. Being an open world video game players have the freedom to swing throughout New York City while helping innocent civilians during random criminal attacks, whereas combat seems to be a mix of melee and quick-time events.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: PS4
Release: April 17, 2018

For those familiar with the Yakuza series, the seventh main installment of the series is slated to launch worldwide in April of this year. Of course, if you’re unfamiliar with the series, you may want to go back and play through some of the past installments as Yakuza 6: The Song of Life picks up the story from the previous game.

The game had already released in Japan where it has received a positive reception. Gamers can still expect a brawler type gameplay set in an open world environment. Within the narrative, players will step into the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu once again who is on a mission to learn what has happened to Haruka after being locked away for three years.

Gameplay can at times be a bit wacky as there’s always a group of gangs wanting to give a beat down to our hero. Progressing through the game and winning fights will give players EXP that can later be used to upgrade aspects such as strength or agility while players can also use a variety of items around you against an enemy such as signs, chairs or even traffic cones.

Ghost of Tsushima

Developer: Sucker Punch
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe
Platforms: PS4
Release: TBD

From the developers who brought up the Sly Cooper and Infamous series comes their latest IP, Ghost of Tsushima. Sucker Punch has yet to unveil too many fine details about the game and we’re not necessarily positive we’ll see this game launch within 2018 so that may mean a future post update to note that the game is launching in the following year.

Ghost of Tsushima is a singleplayer narrative that takes place in 1274 Japan. Samurai were once the greatest warriors to defend Japan, though that reign has ended after the ruthless Khan marches through terrorizing the island.

In the game, players will follow Jin, one of the last battered samurai who may be Japan’s only hope against Khan. Even with your armor, katana, and longbow, players will be against the odds of survival, that’s why Jin will have to forget the traditional ways.

Instead of the old ways, players will need to rise up and become a ghost, using unconventional war tactics to free Japan.

Left Alive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fufUeHvQU0c

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PC, PS4
Release: 2018

Left Alive from development studio Square Enix is an upcoming survival action shooter and there are already gamers online suggesting that this could be the next Metal Gear Solid franchise. Not too many details are available with the upcoming title other than that players will be taking the role of three different protagonists.

It seems that these protagonists are set to tell the story of human survival during the war-torn Novo Slava in 2127. From what we can also gather so far about the game is that players will have more freedom on how to complete objectives such as opting for a more guns blazing approach or sneaking your way around danger.

As you progress through the narrative, it seems that there will also be a series of choices available that will give big consequences to the storyline. Currently, the game is slated to launch at some point this year.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4, PC, XBO
Release: September 14, 2018

When Tomb Raider received its big reboot back in 2013, the series received a massive revival with new and veteran players enjoying the latest big adventure featuring Lara Croft. In 2015, a sequel to Tomb Raider landed into the market and much like the reboot, Rise of the Tomb Raider was a big hit.

Now gamers are waiting for the next big release known as Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This will be another grand third-person adventure title you won’t want to miss out on. Lara Croft is back in action as she faces against the Trinity organization along with stopping an apocalypse that could kill off modern civilization.

Currently the game is slated to release in September of this year for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC platforms.

Strange Brigade

Developer: Rebellion Developments
Publisher: Rebellion Developments
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Release: August 28, 2018

Strange Brigade is an upcoming cooperative third-person shooter filled with both puzzles and survival horror elements. What we know so far is that this is a video game based in the 1930s, where the British Empire has established a fearless group known as the Strange Brigade.

Players are then tasked with seeking out the strange and supernatural areas to uncover untold riches just waiting to be claimed.

This third-person shooter has a variety of weapons to choose from that can be customized and upgraded throughout the game matches. Developers have also mentioned that special prototype weapons can be found within treasure chests. These particular weapons will be more powerful than the standard weapons that can be purchased or upgraded. Outside of gunning down enemies such as mummies and minotaurs, players will have to explore the area and solve puzzles.

Just Cause 4

Developer: Avalanche Studios
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Release: December 4, 2018

Just Cause 4 was officially announced during Microsoft’s E3 press conference this year and as such players can expect to step back into the shoes of Rico Rodriguez. The game will still be a third-person action-adventure title set in an open world environment while being set in a fictional South American country called Solis.

The overall journey for Rico is to fight against a paramilitary group known as the Black Hand but in order to do so, players will have other hostilities to worry about. One of the biggest aspects that developers Avalanche Studios is pushing for this upcoming installment is weather conditions. Players will have to avoid downpours, lightning strikes and tornadoes when maneuvering around the country.

As a result, this game will be action-packed. Gameplay footage unveiled so far has showcased massive tornadoes ripping through the environments leaving nothing but destruction. All the while Rico has to fight against the paramilitary group.