Been saving your video game money for a few big year-end buys? Time to start budgeting, because the busy fall season has arrived. From Master Chief to Mario, blockbusters for every system – and a brand new system itself – are aiming to empty your bank account. Which upcoming games should keep you cozy over the next three months? Start with these 25.
Assassin’s Creed III
Release Date: October 21
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U (November 18), PC (November 20)
Arrivederci, Italy -- the new Assassin’s Creed game is a revolutionary, taking gamers back to the 18th century as they fight for freedom in the good old U.S. of A. Brand new tech powers this blockbuster-to-be, which takes the franchise’s stealthy parkour gameplay to the untamed wilds of an America at war – including the high seas, where you’ll actually captain your own vessel. Impressive showings all year long have many tapping this as the game to beat in 2012. (And PS Vita owners should check out companion game Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, too).
Resident Evil 6
Release Date: October 2
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
Expect zombies galore in the newest Resident Evil game, which sports an all-star cast of Resident Evil heroes across three interwoven scenarios. A mix of various action gameplay styles should satisfy your itch to wipe out the undead, though you’ll still have to use your brains from time to time. Your delicious brains.
Skylanders: Giants
Release Date: October 21
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Wii, 3DS, PC
Activision’s innovative toy/game hybrid sold like hotcakes in 2011, and seems poised to do the same this year thanks to this anticipated follow-up. You’ll get a big new game world to explore, plus 24 new Skylanders -- eight of which are supersized -- to track down at your local retailer. Don’t worry: all those Skylanders you bought for the first game will work in this one, too. A pretty big deal, you might say.
Wii U
Release Date: November 18
Price: $300 for basic model, $350 for deluxe
The first entry in the burgeoning next-gen console war, Nintendo’s Wii successor takes a page from the tech industry with an innovative touchscreen tablet GamePad that lets you play games on both the TV and the controller. HD graphics, deep social integration and the compelling Nintendo TVii feature (which essentially turns the tablet into a remote control media hub) give it some sturdy legs, while a large slate of first- and third-party games offers fresh gameplay experiences.
World of WarCraft: Mists of Pandaria
Release Date: September 25
Platforms: PC
Who doesn’t love pandas? The fourth official World of WarCraft expansion certainly does, as it lets gamers play as a race of panda-like creatures as they explore a brand new continent. We know, we know, but to be fair, WarCraft introduced these particular kung-fu pandas long before Jack Black voiced one.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Release Date: October 9
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Aliens are once again trying to take over the planet, but luckily, we have XCOM. The beloved turn-based strategy series makes a long-awaited return this year with -- what else? – a turn-based strategy game. A spiritual remake of the original XCOM game from 1994, this one packs a bigger visual punch, cool role-playing depth, and a bevy of new mechanics.
Zombi U
Release Date: November 18
Platform: Wii U
Still think Nintendo consoles are for kids? Don’t tell that to the makers of first-person shooter Zombi U. You’ll use the tablet gamepad to kill or be killed as you try to survive a zombie apocalypse in London. This one’s all about the multiplayer, however, where one player plays as the survivor and the other plays as the zombie horde.
Borderlands 2
Release Date: September 18
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
So we made one exception to the “must be released after September 22 to qualify for the guide” rule, mostly because Borderlands 2 just looks that cool. A blend of first-person shooting, role-playing, and Diablo-esque loot-collecting, it’s expected to be among the most addictive games you’ll play all year. Apologies in advance to your loved ones.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Release Date: November 13
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U (November 18)
It’s destined to be the best-selling game of 2012 -- Call of Duty has managed that trick for three straight years -- but will it be the best shooter? Tough to say in such a crowded field, but this much is certain: Black Ops II looks flat-out awesome. Developer Treyacrh has retooled every inch of the franchise, from its multiplayer to its graphics engine, and aims to thrill with a near-future narrative based the real-world battle over rare earth elements.
Dance Central 3
Release Date: October 16
Platforms: Xbox 360/Kinect
One of the best Kinect franchises gets even better this year. Dance Central 3 isn’t just a new 40-song setlist -- the sequel gets into the groove with a legitimately insane new Story mode that developer Harmonix calls “a heart-pounding saga of time travel and dance crimes." We can get down with that.
Dishonored
Release Date: October 9
Platforms: Xbox 36, PS3, PC
A revelation at this year’s E3 show back in June, Dishonored channels all-time greats like Deus Ex and BioShock with its open-ended gameplay and striking art style. Use a variety of otherworldly powers to sneak through gorgeous environments as you assassinate prey, or barge in like Rambo and make a nice mess of things. Set in a compelling alternate universe modeled after 19th century London, it’s looking like a real killer.
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
Release Date: November 18
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Wii
The sequel to 2010 hit Epic Mickey is more than just a tweaked take on the franchise’s paint-as-you-go platforming formula: it’s a musical. Like, a full-on, belt-out-your-feelings deal that aims to bring some Broadway flair to Mickey’s colorful world. Crafted by design visionary Warren Specter and built from the ground up with co-operative play in mind, it’s got some serious chops, too. We’re anxious to sing along.
FIFA 13
Release Date: September 25
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Wii, 3DS, PS Vita, PC
Fun fact: With well over 100 million copies sold, EA’s FIFA is one of the ten best-selling video game franchises of all time. The latest version looks to keep its win streak alive with an overhauled dribbling system, advanced AI, and a deep FIFA Club feature that lets players stay connected to their game across multiple devices.
Far Cry 3
Release Date: December 4
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
It’s releasing after Black Friday, but you might want to save a few bucks for this wide open shooter. Juxtaposing the beauty of a tropical paradise with the horror of its unstable inhabitants out to make your world a living hell, Far Cry 3 is as pretty as it is gritty. It’s pure Far Cry sandbox gameplay, too, letting gamers creatively solve problems by taking advantage of its open-world layout.
Forza Horizon
Release Date: October 23
Platforms: Xbox 360
Microsoft’s Forza series has lapped Gran Turismo to become the leading console automobile sim, but they’re mixing things up with this twitchier take. Set in an open-world environment, the game veers off course by letting racers run amuck on the side roads of Colorado and doling out extra points for property damage. Mmmm…felonies.
Halo 4
Release Date: November 6
Platforms: Xbox 360
You finished the fight, but it’s time to pick a new one. Last seen floating through space at the end of Halo 3, Master Chief returns to his roots by once again saving mankind from an alien threat in this anticipated sequel. But Halo 4 isn’t just a retread -- a brand new environment created with brand new technology by a brand new development team gives the game a fresh sheen, while new modes like the episodic Spartan Ops should give it a nice, long shelf life.
Hitman Absolution
Release Date: November 20
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Betrayed by allies and hunted by the police, Agent 47 has a lot to deal with in Hitman Absolution. So do gamers. A reprise of the franchise’s stealth action gameplay, Absolution lets gamers solve missions in a number of different ways based on their play style. However you choose to take out targets, expect the advanced AI and stunning graphics engine to make it entertaining.
Lego The Lord of the Rings
Release Date: October 30
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS Vita, 3DS, DS, PC
You shall not pass up this family-friendly take on the Lord of the Rings trilogy, if you know what’s good for you. Though it’s got that familiar Lego gameplay, Lego LOTR adds deeper role-playing roots by giving gamers inventories and items to manage. That blockhead Sauron doesn’t stand a chance.
LittleBigPlanet Karting
Release Date: November 6
Platforms: PS3
You’ve poured hours into building worlds for LittleBigPlanet. Now Sackboy and pals are headed to the races, where you can build and customize karts and tracks and then share those creations with the world.
Medal of Honor: Warfighter
Release Date: October 23
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
While Call of Duty flits off to the near future, EA’s Medal of Honor: Warfighter is staying grounded by following the challenging missions of real Tier 1 operatives. You’ll explore hotspots like Somalia and the Phillipines in the game’s gritty solo campaign while honoring teamwork in the game’s revamped multiplayer.
NBA 2K13
Release Date: October 2
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, Wii
How do you make the best basketball video game on the planet even better? We’re not sure, but hopefully the folks at 2K Sports have some ideas. The next installment in the award-winning series features fresher graphics, new defensive controls, and even the classic ’92 Dream Team.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Release Date: October 30
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita, PC
It might bear the name of one of the longest-running (and best-selling) racing franchises around, but the latest Need for Speed takes a brand new turn thanks to developer Criterion Games at the helm. Taking a cue from the legendary Burnout series, Most Wanted marries open-world racing with high-speed carnage and ties it together with the next version of the impressive Autolog social service.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Release Date: November 18
Platforms: Wii U
Believe it or not, the flagship title for the Wii U is the first Mario game to launch alongside a Nintendo home console in over 15 years -- and it looks like loads of classic side-scrolling fun. Gamers can give each other a helping hand by using the tablet to build platforms, or go for broke with four players all jumping around at once.
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Release Date: November 11
Platform: 3DS
Spend a good chunk of your childhood collecting stickers? Then you’ll be stuck on Sticker Star, the first entry in the clever Paper Mario series to hit a handheld. It’s another turn-based role-playing game set in a paper-thin version of the Mushroom Kingdom, but with loads of collectible, powerful stickers and more of the great writing that makes Paper Mario such a beloved series.
Release Date: November 20
Platforms: PS3, PS Vita
Sony’s answer to Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. lets players duke it out with a broad roster of famous Sony icons, from God of War’s Kratos to Uncharted’s Nathan Drake to old-school hip-hop hero Parappa the Rapper. Oh, and Fat Princess. Woohoo! It’s also cross-platform, letting Vita and PS3 players go head to head.
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