Siobhan Keogh: Most anticipated games of 2015

A scene from Evolve.

Last year was a bit of a downer for games but that’s about to change, writes Siobhan Keogh-Dwyer.

Games-wise, 2014 was something of disappointment. Aside from a few successes - including Dragon Age: Inquisition and Shadow of Mordor - there wasn't much for gamers to really sink their teeth into. Even the games that initially looked incredible, like Watch Dogs and Destiny, turned out to be whopping disappointments.

Why? Well, new console generations are always a bit rocky to begin with, for starters. The really good stuff usually starts to come out a few years after the consoles are released. But there's another reason 2014 was boring - all the good games were delayed. In that respect, 2014's loss is 2015's gain.

This year is looking up. Many of the games that were expected last year will finally see the light of day in months to come. So I thought I'd round up my most anticipated games of 2015.

5. Halo 5: Guardians

It's no secret that I'm a long-time fan of the Halo series. Although some people aren't so keen on Halo's direction since moving to 343, I thought that Halo 4 campaign was an improvement on most of the previous series. I got to know Master Chief and Cortana better in Halo 4 than I ever had before and I really appreciated that.

I didn't really get into the multiplayer in Halo 4, which is a shame, but when I played the beta for Halo 5 multiplayer I had a good time. I'm not getting my hopes up too high, but I think Halo 5 could be pretty good.

Release date: TBA 2015

Halo 5: Guardians.

4. Quantum Break

We still know very little about Quantum Break. The game - about characters who can bend time - was unveiled in 2013 but information has been scarce. A TV show is in production as well as the game, which is interesting. What's more interesting? "How you play the game shapes a personalised version of the television show."

There's every possibility that Quantum Break could be a terrible idea - I mean, maybe that's why we haven't heard anything for a while - but if the creators of Alan Wake and Max Payne can pull it off, it could also be amazing.

Release date: Quarter 2, 2015

3. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

A scene from Unchartered 4: A Thief's End.

Intrepid adventurer Nathan Drake is back, and it looks like Uncharted 4 might be his last journey. I was a latecomer to the Uncharted series, but have enjoyed each of the PlayStation 3 games immensely.

Developer Naughty Dog has always had a knack for making its games look incredible, and so far it seems Uncharted 4 is no exception.

The series has always had a pulpy, cartoonish feel, but this time there's a shift towards near-photorealism.

Even if the game sucks - although I doubt it will because Naughty Dog games don't suck - Uncharted 4 will be worth checking out to admire the artwork.

Release date: TBA 2015

2. No Man's Sky

What's cool about No Man's Sky is that it is a science fiction game with a huge scope, created by an indie studio in England that basically no one had heard of until recently.

In the game you control a spaceship and explore the universe, fighting enemies, travelling around the planets, checking out the wildlife and generally doing whatever you want in this incredibly vast world.

No Man's Sky is procedurally generated, meaning graphic content is created by the computer and can seem endless. The code in No Man's Sky allows for there to be more than 18 quintillion possible planets - there is very little chance that all the planets will ever be discovered, even if the game sells well into the millions.

Release date: TBA 2015

1. Evolve

The first multiplayer shooter I ever really got hooked on was Left 4 Dead. I absolutely love playing co-operatively against an enemy controlled by another player, and that's exactly what Evolve offers.

In Evolve four people play as human hunters and one person plays as one of several monsters whose goal is to be the last one standing. At first the monster is a bit of a weakling and has to wander around killing small creatures in order to evolve and become stronger. In other words, at the start of the game the monster has to hide - but once it evolves the hunters become the hunted.

It sounds like it's fresh, and high pressure, and a whole lot of fun.

Release date: February 10

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