#5 Fallout 4
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
If you’re a fan of the Fallout franchise then it’s likely you’ve already picked up the latest release. However, if you’re completely new to the series, Fallout 4 still marks as a great first entry. Set during the events of a nuclear war, players manage to escape into a vault, only to awaken hundreds of years into the future. What’s left of your world is nothing more than decay and outsiders trying to make it by in this new world.
Each installment to the Fallout franchise manages to bring out an incredible wasteland to explore and Fallout 4 is no exception to that trend. You’ll come across old ruins, new structures, and a fleshed out cast of characters to meet along your journey. Much like other previous installments, players will be able to adjust the character stats as they progress along with selecting both the armor and weapons used as you come across new gear during your exploration.
#4 Monster Hunter: World
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
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 is 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.
Each Monster Hunter installment brings in a new slew of fans but be prepared to spend some time on how the game works. You’ll be spending plenty of time researching your target, gathering resources, making gear that would be suitable to fight against specific species along with strategically plotting out your battles.
#3 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Publisher: CD Projekt
Fans of western RPGs will no doubt have played at least one of the Witcher games. With its deep rich narrative journeys and fleshed out worlds, the trilogy has wrapped up with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. As expected the third installment not only saw a massive overhaul in terms of graphics but provided gamers with a much more lively world filled with quests and exploration.
While still taking the role of Geralt of Rivia, players will find that that they must deal with the invasion of the Norther Kingdom along with the growing threat of the Wild Hunt. Outside of just a massive world to explore, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt delivers campaigns and quests to keep you busy for hours on end especially with the expansions that add in more content to the base game.
#2 Nier: Automata
- Developer: PlatinumGames
- Publisher: Square Enix
Nier: Automata is a sequel to the 2010 video game release known as Nier, a spin-off title from the Drakengard series. Overall, the story is set within a proxy war between machines developed by alien invaders and the last surviving members of humanity. There has been a ton of newcomers to the franchise thanks to this spin-off title and its an easy game to jump right into. Still not persuaded on picking up Nier: Automata? Take a look of our detailed breakdown of the game within with our Before You Buy series upload posted right up above.
#1 The Outer Worlds
- Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher: Private Division
The Outer Worlds was a new IP brought out by Obsidian Entertainment. Developers behind Fallout New Vegas, is brought out a new title that takes plenty of inspiration from the Fallout franchise. Set in the distant future where the world has sent out various ships to colonize other planets, our protagonist finds themselves in a vessel that was deemed lost in space. Being in cyrosleep, you awake years later after a mad scientist named Phineas Welles discovers the ship and begs of you to help him overthrow what he believes is a tyranny government control.
From there players are left on their own. You’ll venture to other planets, meet unique characters, form a party and solve different issues. However, the game has two main pathways. You can either accept the pleas from Phineas Welles or help the local governments track down the mad scientist. As a result you’ll likely want to play through the game twice to see how the outcomes would differ.
Bonus
Elex
- Developer: Piranha Bytes
- Publisher: THQ Nordic
Described as an edgy, dark, uncompromising, and complex by the publisher, Elex is an action RPG based around war and the strive to claim a powerful resource known as Elex.
With Elex, those who have access to this resource will be given magic-like powers. As a result, there are several factions all with different morals and ideas who struggle in obtaining the resource to use in deciding the fate of their planet. As you progress, you’ll also slowly uncover the truth to your protagonists history. Despite there being a few problems with the game, developers are looking at bringing out a sequel which will hopefully answer to some of the criticisms fans and critics alike have voiced.
