Get ready for some big-ticket video game releases

Though the word ‘Remake’ is a misnomer, Final Fantasy VII Remake will be telling the same story as the PlayStation original that released more than two decades ago. Set to release in parts, the Remake will cover different sections of the story in different episodes. With stunning visuals, a completely redone combat system that blurs the line between action adventure and RPGs and a contemporary episodic style of storytelling will make this game a must-have for both newcomers and long-time fans of the series. Game still from YouTube/@PlayStation

Releasing seven years after the original, The Last Of Us Part II is one of the much-awaited video games of this year owing to the ridiculously high standards Naughty Dog has set for itself and that the sequel will star a much older Ellie reuniting with her father figure Joel in a post-apocalyptic world still ravaged by infected humans. The visuals look much darker than the prequel. Game still

We’ve seen action adventure video games that are developed on a larger-than-life-scale, adopting a film-like approach, like Grand Theft Auto V, and we’ve also seen fantastical versions of feudal Japan in video games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Nioh. But what about combining the two? Sucker Punch Productions is doing exactly that with Ghost of Tsushima. Game still

A superhero video game we always wanted, Marvel’s Avengers will feature the greatest team of heroes from the world of comics, including Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Black Widow, Thor and more. The video game is set to be based on a devastating event that leads to the organisation being disbanded with earth’s best defenders tackling the challenges on their own. Game still

After spending years begging and pleading Valve for Half-Life 3, we finally got a new game in the franchise. Well, not exactly what we wanted but Half-Life Alyx will be the first new game in the series in over a decade. A full-fledged first-person VR action video game, Half-Life Alyx promises some of the most stunning visuals we will see on a VR set-up. That, of course, means we’ll have to break the bank to get a gaming rig strong enough to play this beast but finally getting a chance to play the latest Half-Life video game seems is too irresistible to pass. We’re also excited for: The new Iron Man VR game is set to release next month and we’re super stoked to finally get a chance to get into his super suit! Game still

After winning our hearts with the Witcher trilogy, CD Projekt Red will be venturing into new territories with it’s most ambitious project till date, Cyberpunk 2077. By far one of the most-awaited video games of this year, Cyberpunk 2077, a video game adaptation of the iconic tabletop game of the same name, shifts to an FPS perspective and will employ a meticulous choice-based narrative with highly customisable characters. And what’s more? We’ll be having the Internet’s favourite actor, the “breathtaking” Keanu Reeves accompany us in this genre-bending action adventure extravaganza set in a dystopian future. Game still

After a failed attempt at reinvigorating the franchise with Halo 5: Guardians, 343 Industries might be able to rejuvenate the series with their latest offering. With Master Chief’s life as the backdrop of this large-scale science-fiction shooter, Halo Infinite has its sights set on the fans who were the disappointed by the course the franchise took after the original developers, Bungie, left near a decade ago. Cross-play support and an all-new powerful engine should also help to show off the next Xbox system’s technical prowess too. Game still

A reimagining of the popular hacker-action-adventure, Watch Dogs: Legions is set in London. However, there’s a small twist — the game doesn’t have a protagonist. Instead, it gives us the freedom to play as anyone. Yes, literally anyone — any NPC we interact with in the open world, ranging from street thugs to cops to grandmothers strolling in the park. Of course, the level of code-breaking depends on the player’s knack of hacking and/or their level of intelligence. And once dead, it’s game over — we move on to play as a different character. Game still

Who would’ve thought that a video game that pioneered first-person video games in the early ’90s will still be relevant after four decades? After an awesome reboot in 2016 and a VR follow-up that is lauded till date, id Software’s latest offering adds much more to the franchise than what it has been known for. The Doomslayer now has blades built right into his suit, can fire himself from the BFG cannon and has a new grappling hook that helps him get around with lightning speed. Though much of the game takes place on earth, we can try out the asymmetrical multiplayer PvE mode that pits one Doomslayer against multiple demons. Game still