2017 looks to hold a number of great third-person video game titles. From action-adventures to role-playing, there’s really something for everyone in this list. We decided to pick out our most anticipated third-person video game releases for the upcoming year.
We, of course, would love to hear what third-person video game titles you’re looking forward to most in 2017. Let us know your picks by leaving us a comment down below!
Vampyr
Developer: Dontnod Entertainment
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: TBA 2017
Development team Dontnod Entertainment really gained mass exposure for their Life is Strange video game release. Now the studio has taken a much darker tone for their next IP, Vampyr. This is a title that is set during the 1918 London Spanish flu pandemic.
Players will take the role of a doctor named Jonathan Reid who happens to be a vampire. Johnathan is fighting his own inner demons that conflicts with his sworn Hippocratic Oath as he needs to feed on the blood of humans in order to survive.
Similar to Life is Strange, it appears that Vampyr will present players with a variety of choices and dialogue options that will likely steer the narrative overall. However, unlike Life is Strange, this is an action role-playing video game where players can battle enemies rather than focusing on communication and choices to progress the campaign story.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Horizon Zero Dawn will mark as the first IP developed by Guerrilla Games since their release of Killzone in 2004. This is an action role-playing video game title that is set a thousand years into the future.
Mankind has mysteriously fallen with cities only a shell of a once thriving society. Now only small tribal groups remain with giant predatory mechanical beasts roam the world openly. The plot will revolve around a female hunter named Aloy who sets out on a journey to explore the open world, meet with other tribes, and potentially learn of the reason mankind fell to being with.
Days Gone
Developer: SIE Bend Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Release Date: TBA 2016
Days Gone is a video game being developed by SIE Bend Studios and interestingly enough, this will be their first IP creation since their 1999 release of Syphon Filter. Not much has been revealed for Days Gone quite yet, but we do know that this will be an open world zombie post-apocalyptic video game.
Players will be controlling Deacon St. John who was once a bounty hunter. Now that the world has been invested with a disease turning humans into the living undead, Deacon St. John will take to the open road in an attempt to survive another day.
God of War
Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: Expected 2017
God of War was a pleasant surprise during E3 2016 and while we don’t know too much about the upcoming soft reboot, there is already plenty of hype within the gaming community. So far we know that an older Kratos has returned, this time acting as a mentor and fatherly figure to a young boy.
While successful in his revenge against the Olympian Gods, Kratos has since moved onto the world of Norse mythology with a new set of gods and monsters that await him. Though it has not been stated that God of War will be launching within 2017, it is expected that the title will launch at some point next year.
For Honor
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: February 14, 2017
For Honor is an upcoming action hack-and-slash type video game. Within this For Honor world, factions of medieval knights, samurai, and Vikings meet up on a battlefield in one epic battle.
This being more of a fighting-based video game, there is a big emphasis on multiplayer where friends can jump online and battle in a series of modes such as brawls, skirmishes, and elimination type matches.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
Developer: Ubisoft Paris
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands will be the tenth installment in the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon franchise. This time around, the game is set in Bolivia, where the rising power of drug cartels has become a concern to the United States Government.
To deal with this concern, the Government has sent in an elite special operations unit called “the Ghosts” to destroy the cartels within their own country. Unlike previous installments within the franchise, players will have access to an open world environment.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Take-Two Interactive
Platforms: PS4, XB1
Release Date: TBA 2017
So far there is nothing we know officially about Red Dead Redemption 2 other than Rockstar Games is currently working on the third entry to the Red Dead series.
With Red Dead Redemption being a critically acclaimed hit and fans eager to continue with the Grand Theft Auto style gameplay set in the old west, Rockstar Games isn’t revealing just what all they have planned for their next entry quite yet. One thing is for sure, we certainly hope that Red Dead Redemption 2 will at least offer PC gamers a chance to pick up the video game installment.
Prey for the Gods
Developer: No Matter Studios
Publisher: No Matter Studios
Platforms: PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: Expected 2017
Prey for the Gods is often described as a spiritual successor to Shadow of the Colossus. The video game is in development under No Matter Studios and will feature a character’s journey into a frozen island. With little equipment, players will have to locate resources to stay alive while also battling massive bosses.
Development for Prey for the Gods started in 2014 with three developers, who has since announced in February 2016, that the three decided to work on their upcoming IP full-time. Though there is no release date attached to the project, it is expected that the title will see a release within 2017.
Detroit: Become Human
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: Expected 2017
From developers Quantic Dream, comes Detroit: Become Human. If you enjoyed the past video game releases from the development team such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, then you’ll likely feel right at home with their upcoming video game release.
Detroit: Become Human is an action-adventure video game where players will be taking control of multiple characters. In the neo-noir thriller story, these characters can die and as a result, the storyline will adapt and continue without them. Furthermore, there will be a series of choices players can make which will also result in the narrative story being branched out further.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii U, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: TBA 2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will mark as the nineteenth main installment to The Legend of Zelda franchise. This time around, players will be placed in a large open-world environment with the ability to play through the game’s dungeons in any order.
Within The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players will take on the role of Link after he awakens from a deep slumber that lasted a hundred years. A mysterious voice alerts link to reach a ruined Kingdom known as Hyrule where he will learn of Calamity Ganon, the antagonist who had previously destroyed Hyrule, though, during the process, he had trapped himself within the Kingdom. Ultimately, Link will have to train and prepare for a battle against Calamity Ganon before he escapes and destroys the world.
State of Decay 2
Developer: Undead Labs
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platforms: PC, XB1
Release Date: TBA 2017
There are not too many details released for State of Decay 2 as of right now. We do know that this video game is a sequel to the 2013 State of Decay and will focus heavily on cooperative gameplay with up to three other players.
Overall, State of Decay 2 is a zombie-survival game that lets players have their own unique story. While battling zombies is very much a key aspect of the upcoming title release, players are encouraged to work together in setting up their own community that’s able to successfully take out the undead threat.
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
Developer: TaleWorlds Entertainment
Publisher: TaleWorlds Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Release Date: TBA 2017
Taking place hundreds of years before Mount & Blade: Warband, players will witness the decline of the Calradian Empire and the formation of the Kingdoms. Playing out similar to the previous Mount & Blade: Warband, gamers will also find that there will be different vassals, armor, weapons, and architecture that was inspired from 600 to 1100 A.D.
Styx: Shards of Darkness
Developer: Cyanide
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One
Release Date: 14 March 2017
This is the third game set within the world of Of Orcs and Men and a sequel to Styx: Master of Shadows. With the title available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, is it worth your hard-earned money? We recently covered this video game title in an episode of Before You Buy.
Rime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrQINQ-Jxmo
Developer: Tequila Works
Publisher: Grey Box, Six Foot
Platform: PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
Release Date: 26 May 2017
Rime is an adventure-puzzle type video game that looks to take several inspirations from past title classics. Players take control of a young man who is trapped on an island and must solve a number of puzzles. Despite its long development time, there is plenty of interest for this title to make its way onto the market.
Splatoon 2
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch
Release Date: 21 July 2017
Splatoon was a massive hit when it launched for last generation Nintendo console, the Wii U. Despite interest from gamers all over the world who wanted to pick the game up, there wasn’t that many adopters for the Wii U console itself.
Needless to say, with the popularity of Splatoon, a sequel was announced for the Nintendo Switch, a console that is doing very well. There won’t be too many drastic changes to the team-based third-person shooter though with a more active community, perhaps we’ll see consistent updates.
The Surge
Developer: Deck13 Interactive
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One
Release Date: 16 May 2017
The Surge takes place in the distant future where most of the worlds resources have been consumed. Players will be fighting off a variety of enemies, both human and robotic, all the while upgrading their own exoskeleton suit. With influences to Dark Souls gameplay, gamers can expect a bit of a challenging aspect throughout The Surge.
Crackdown 3
Developer: Reagent Games, Sumo Digital, Cloudgine
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Platform: PC, Xbox One
Release Date: TBD 2017
At this point, there’s not very much information released for Crackdown 3. Microsoft has been keeping their lips pretty tightly sealed when it comes to this franchise exclusive. However, we do know that destructible environments will be playing a big role in the gameplay this time around.
Nier: Automata
Developer: PlatinumGames
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PC, PS4
Release Date: 17 March 2017
Nier: Autoamata is a sequel to Nier which happens to be a spin-off title to the Drakengard series. Overall, the story within Nier: Automata is that machines have been sent to earth in order to fight a proxy war for humanity. Essentially, players are tasked with clearing out the invading forces and take back the world for what’s left of the human race once again.
If you enjoy fast-paced action titles that is similar to Bayonetta, another title that was previously released by developers PlatinumGames, then you’ll definitely want to check this game out.
Super Mario Odyssey
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Switch
Release Date: TBD 2017
Super Mario Odyssey was unveiled during E3 2016 and we haven’t received too many details about the game. Players will be taking the role of Mario where gameplay is free roam similar to Super Mario 64. Likewise, it seems that Mario will find himself outside of the Mushroom Kingdom and in drastically different environments than before such as a city level inspired by New York City.
Assassin’s Creed Empire/Origins
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform: TBD
Release Date: TBD 2017
Ubisoft will likely be unveiling more details about the next main installment to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. As of right now, there are supposed leaks and rumors that suggest that we could see the latest installment take place in Ancient Egypt. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what Ubisoft reveals during this year’s E3 event.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Developer: Monolith Production
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 10 October 2017
Following after the events of Shadow of Mordor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War will continue to follow our main protagonist Talion as he forged a new Ring of Power. Though conflict may arise between Talion and his infused spirit of elf lord Celebrimbor when it comes to their end goals.
Outside of the narrative, most of the gameplay mechanics you’ve become acquainted with in the first installment will likely make a return when the game launches this October.
