2016 was a decent if unspectacular year for PC gaming. Several popular game franchises received high quality additions – Battlefield one, Dishonored 2, Culture Six, and Watch Dogs ii just to name a few – but we also saw great new IPs from studios large (Ubisoft'due south The Partitioning) and pocket-size (Jonathan Blow'due south The Witness).

On the other hand, a drove of games we were excited to play ended up existence major disappointments. Mafia III and No Man'south Heaven are prime examples, though fifty-fifty titles like Deus Ex: Mankind Divided received mixed reception amidst fans of the series. Hopefully the games nosotros're most excited to play in 2017 will meet the hype surrounding their release.

Mass Effect Andromeda

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  • Release Date: March 21, 2017
  • Genre: Sci-fi role-playing
  • Purchase if y'all similar: Mass Issue, BioWare RPGs, space exploration

Perhaps the most hotly anticipated game of 2017 on PC, as well as consoles, is Mass Effect Andromeda. While not a direct sequel to 2012'due south Mass Effect 3, Andromeda volition bring gamers dorsum into the universe of the highly regarded original trilogy, complete with an all-new open up world surround. The game is Electronic Arts' big outset half release, and developer BioWare will undoubtedly create a stunning role-playing feel using DICE's fantastic Frostbite 3 engine.

Andromeda is fix 600 years later on the events of Mass Effect 3 in, you guessed information technology, the Andromeda Galaxy. The game will feature many classic Mass Effect elements, such as exploration of planets using a infinite ship under your character'southward control, the power to play as many races and genders, and choices that impact the narrative. After delays pushed Andromeda back to an early 2017 launch, we tin can't wait for this 1 to striking PC.

For Accolade

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  • Release Appointment: February xiv, 2017
  • Genre: Activity hack-and-slash
  • Buy if you like: Medieval fantasy, swinging swords, non-RPG adventures

The hack-and-slash genre has been neglected for a few years now. Most games of this type are either transformed into expansive role-playing adventures, or released in a painfully mediocre state (anyone recollect Ryse: Son of Rome?). For Honor is Ubisoft's accept on the genre, their showtime in 30 years of game development and publishing, and information technology'southward set up to occupy the company'south traditional early on-twelvemonth release slot that terminal year gave us Far Cry Central and The Sectionalization.

For Honour allows you lot to take control of a grapheme from i of 3 major medieval war factions: The Legion (knights), The Chosen (samurai), and The Warborn (Vikings). Throughout a story-driven singleplayer campaign you'll duel enemies using a combat system known as "Art of Boxing", which gives more intricate control over weapons than a standard 'mash the button' hack-and-slash game. In that location'southward also a variety of multiplayer, which the game's creative director described as a "shooter with swords", whatever that means.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

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  • Release Date: 2017
  • Genre: Medieval role-playing
  • Purchase if you like: Fantasy games without magic, medieval history, knights

Most fantasy role-playing games include magical elements, but Kingdom Come up: Deliverance is unlike. This is a function-playing game based on medieval history; there's no magic, no dragons, and no potions to be found here. Kickstarted in 2014 and adult by a new company called Warhorse Studios, Kingdom Come up is set to offer something truly different than the vast majority of fantasy RPGs.

Elements y'all'd expect from a modern RPG are still here, though. The game is open earth, prepare in the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1403. There's a skill tree for your character, and a weapons organization that supports everything from swords to bows. With such a strong focus on realism, you lot can likewise expect an NPC organization that reacts to law-breaking, an intricate armor arrangement that includes degradation, and lots of travelling around on horses. If information technology all comes together as planned, this could exist the sleeper hit of 2017.

Scalebound

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  • Release Date: Cancelled
  • Genre: Fantasy part-playing
  • Buy if you similar: Dragons, Game of Thrones, awesome graphics

Update:Microsoft has cancelled Scalebound, which is disappointing considering nosotros were hoping it would be a proficient release in 2017. Missed deadlines and problems with the game's engine were cited as reasons for the counterfoil.

Scalebound is the third role-playing game on this list so far, and information technology could be the about exciting. Adult by PlatinumGames as an exclusive for Microsoft platforms, Scalebound sees the player control not but a human character, but also a big dragon sidekick. Most fantasy RPGs make dragons your enemies, but in Scalebound your dragon will greatly assistance y'all in the heart of battle. Think of it like Daenerys Targaryen'due south dragons in Game of Thrones.

Aside from copious dragon-related powers – including the main character'south ability to shapeshift into a half-dragon hybrid – Scalebound will feature more role-playing elements than any of PlatinumGames' previous titles. The studios expertise in hack and slash games such as Bayonetta and Metallic Gear Rising: Revengeance will certainly come in handy for the combat in Scalebound. You tin besides expect a seriously cute game hither: the developers are specifically aiming to brand Scalebound a graphics masterpiece through the utilize of Unreal Engine 4.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of State of war III

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  • Release Engagement: Early 2017
  • Genre: Sci-fi existent-time strategy

The Dawn of War series has been immensely popular with existent-fourth dimension strategy fans since the starting time was released more than 12 years agone. Dawn of War III has been a long time coming, specially since the last installment, Dawn of War Ii – Retribution, is over five years sometime now, just information technology's something to wait forward to in 2017.

Relic Entertainment have been keeping most of the information regarding Dawn of War III close to their chest, just information technology is known that 3 races will be playable from 24-hour interval one: the Space Marines, the Eldar, and the Orks. The game will too include basebuilding and large-calibration walkers, elements that weren't seen in Dawn of State of war II. Some websites have hinted that the game will be released on April xxxth, although this hasn't been officially confirmed by the game'southward creators.

Vampyr

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  • Release Date: 2017
  • Genre: Gothic role-playing
  • Purchase if you similar: Vampires, tough moral choices, Earth State of war I London

Afterwards finishing work on the critically acclaimed Life is Strange, Dontnod Entertainment moved on to Vampyr, an upcoming role-playing game set during the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic in London. It shouldn't come as a surprise that you'll be playing as a vampire chosen Jonathan Reid, who struggles to uphold the Hippocratic Oath as a doctor while craving the taste of human blood. You lot'll often exist faced with the choice between protecting your identity, and gaining new abilities by preying on those around you.

Much of the game is based on vampire lore. You won't be able to enter the houses of Londoners unless you are invited, although y'all volition be able to 'mesmerize' human targets into post-obit you to an aisle for an easy feed. Combat consists of mostly improvised and crafted weapons, which you will demand to defeat vampire slayers and other vampires. And while Vampyr is non strictly open up-world, the game will characteristic open neighborhood hubs for exploration and questing. Expect flow-accurate visuals recreated in Unreal Engine four and a compelling story as well.

Prey

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  • Release Date: H1 2017
  • Genre: Sci-fi first-person shooter
  • Buy if you lot like: shooting aliens, space stations, Dead Space, the original Casualty

Prey is one of the nigh exciting games to expect in 2017. This game has been anticipated in a variety of forms since the original release of Prey in 2006, firstly as a sequel by Homo Caput Studios (cancelled in 2014 afterward eight years of troubled development), and now as a "re-imagining" of the original by Dishonored programmer Arkane Studios. Built from the footing upward for modern platforms using CryEngine, the new Prey will finally hitting PC and consoles in the outset half of the year.

The game is assault a futuristic space station with conflicting enemies, and much of the story revolves around using the station's resources to defeat said aliens. Arkane are integrating role-playing elements into Prey, including decisions that bear on the story and a continuous environment, alongside elements that made their Dishonored games a huge success. Players will get to explore both the interior and outside of the station, the latter involving nix-gravity movement. The character you lot play, Morgan Yu, tin gain abilities from aliens as well.

Agents of Mayhem

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  • Release Date: 2017
  • Genre: Action-take chances
  • Purchase if you like: Saints Row games, Grand Theft Motorcar, over-the-peak fun

This is a game that has been flying nether the radar, only should be a ton of fun when released. A spin-off from the Saints Row series, Agents of Commotion volition have identify subsequently the catastrophe of Saints Row: Gat out of Hell in a futuristic Seoul. Y'all can expect developer Volition will include a lot of crazy antics and hilarious missions in this open up-earth title, equally gamers have come to expect from everything Saints Row. Even the names of the organizations in the game - Thou.A.Y.H.E.M. for the adept guys, L.E.G.I.O.North. for the bad guys – are unsurprisingly ridiculous.

The specifics of Agents of Mayhem have mostly been kept a secret, but we exercise know that you'll control three agents at any i time with the power to switch between them, giving you a variety of abilities depending on who you choose. There will be twelve agents in total to select, and given what we've come up to love from Saints Row games, yous can expect all of them to be over-the-top caricatures of existent world figures. This game won't take itself seriously and you lot can bet it'll be filled with humor and parodies like previous games from Volition.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands

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  • Release Date: March vii, 2017
  • Genre: Tactical 3rd-person shooter
  • Buy if you lot like: armed services shooters, tactical shooters, Ghost Recon games, open-globe environments

Ubisoft is calling Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands one of their biggest ever open world games, and early impressions take indicated information technology's non just a typical Ubisoft open-earth experience. That's plenty for us to get excited nearly this shooter, which is set in the beautiful expanses of present-mean solar day Bolivia, rather than the futuristic settings of previous Ghost Recon games. Players will be tasked with commanding a four-person special operations squad sent to Bolivia to infiltrate and destroy a powerful drug cartel in the area.

Ghost Recon Wildlands volition characteristic popular elements from previous Ghost Recon games, including its tertiary-person perspective and four-player co-operative modes (although single-player with AI teammates will likewise be an option). Missions volition be partially open ended, and the game will give players numerous ways to traverse the mural, recon the area, and take out any required targets. Ubisoft will as well build in interactions with NPCs, allowing players to course relationships that may affect missions and the story, which could add some interesting non-linear elements into the game.

Absolver

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  • Release Date: 2017
  • Genre: Martial arts action function-playing
  • Buy if you like: fighting games, fluid and interesting combat, indie games, interconnected worlds

Absolver is one of the most exciting indie games set for release in 2017. Developed by Sloclap, a studio formed by ex-Ubisoft Paris employees, Absolver is an activeness function-playing game that integrates fluid martial arts fighting. The world within the game is connected such that the game includes single-actor elements alongside cooperative and competitive play; there will fifty-fifty be some MMO aspects such equally player versus histrion fighting matches.

Some interesting concepts are included in Absolver, such as the 'combat deck', a serial of cards that governs what fighting moves are available during gameplay. Progressing through the game will encounter more than cards added to this deck, expanding the corporeality of dynamic moves available. Office-playing elements like collecting weapons and equipment will besides be a characteristic of Absolver, as is a beautiful art fashion that focuses more on stylized landscapes than realism. It's one of several engrossing titles set for release in 2017 that uses Unreal Engine four

Honorable Mentions

  • Crackdown iii
  • Star Citizen
  • Bounding main of Thieves
  • Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
  • Star Wars Battlefront 2