10. Cuphead
Cuphead is probably one of the few games from Microsoft’s E3 2015 event that caught my eye. I don’t own an Xbox One but if I did I would buy this game so hard. Typically, I wouldn’t put an Xbox exclusive game on this list because I am an exclusive Sony user but this game left an impression on me. I thought about buying an Xbox One (briefly) in order to get this game. It’s that adorable.
The game tells the story of Cuphead and is a side scrolling shooter where you only fight bosses. Yep, just bosses. No buildup whatsoever. What really sold me Cuphead is the art style. Cuphead is done in the art style of a 1930’s silent cartoon. From the trailer and released gameplay, it’s fairly easy to see that the developers took a great amount of care in making sure that Cuphead looked like the real deal. It payed off because it really does look like a classic cartoon!
Cuphead left me with desire to switch consoles (if only for a few days) to play this game. Not many Xbox exclusive games give me this feeling, but this one did. Therefore, Cuphead rightfully deserves a place on this top 10 games of E3 2015 list.
For all you Xbox One users, Cuphead will be exclusively available to you in the spring of 2016.
9. Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst is set to be the origin story of Faith, the protagonist from the cult classic Mirror’s Edge. This game first appeared in E3 2014 but E3 2015 was its year to shine.
EA showed a trailer comprised of in-engine footage of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst this year at their press conference. The trailer released at E3 2015 was beautiful, clean, and downright exciting. Watching Faith trapeze across roof tops and kicking ass was exhilarating.
EA is hush-hush on the specific details of the plot right now, but did say that it was Faith’s origin story. EA also mentioned that Faith will never fire a bullet in Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. She will use her raw skills to complete missions and take on enemies. That being that the player will need to use the environment to their advantage. This brings a whole new challenge and dynamic to the already established franchise.
I love games that revolve around parkour and strategy. Combined with the impressive trailer, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst made its way into my heart and the list of the best games of E3 2015.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on February 23, 2016.
8. Dishonored 2
I loved the original Dishonored so I was pretty excited to learn that there would be a sequel. The best part? A female protagonist!
That’s right! In Dishonored 2 you will be able to play as Emily Kaldwin, a dethroned empress to be. If you so wish, you can choose to play as Corvo, the protagonist from the first game.
From the release trailer, In Dishonored 2 the land is thrown into chaos and Emily is searching for answers, working to overthrow the “usurper.” Since this game was just announced at E3 2015 specific details about the plot are under wraps.
What put Dishonored 2 on this year’s list is a combination of a fully playable female protagonist and how satisfying the last game was.
Dishonored 2 will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One sometime early 2016.
7. The Last Guardian
The Last Guardian is quite easily the most anticipated E3 games since 2009. This game has been through development hell and has since disappeared from the E3 stage until this year. This year, Sony finally released some gameplay from the newly revamped The Last Guardian. It has been a long time coming. Sony needed to give us an update on the development of this game and even went a step further by giving a release date.
The Last Guardian is a puzzle game revolving around the developing relationship between a boy and a bird-dog-thing named Trico. Watch the relationship grow as they solve puzzles and go on feather clad adventures. On a side note, where can I adopted one of these beasts? I want to cry from all the adorableness already!
What put The Last Guardian on this list is the immense anticipation that the gaming community feels for this game…and the dog thing (but really it was the bird-dog).
The Last Guardian will be available exclusively for PlayStation 4 sometime in 2016.
6. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
I have always loved the Uncharted series. Unfortunately, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is going to mark the last of the Uncharted games featuring Nathan Drake, the established protagonist for Uncharted. A beloved series is ending so why not cast it off with explosions, car chases, and gun fights at E3 2015? Sony certainly thought so…
E3 2015 was a pretty big year for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The game got a trailer, a live stage demo and a ton of coverage from the news outlets at E3 2015. The live demo had a bit of a hiccup at Sony’s E3 2015 press conference when technical difficulties prevented Nathan Drake from moving, but it came back, and came back swinging. The demo that was shown stirred up excitement for Nathan Drake’s final chapter. Prepare yourself for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End because you’re sure to have a ton of fun (a most likely bawl your eyes out)!
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End makes it onto this list because of its spectacular showing at E3 2015. Combined with the anticipation for this game Naughty Dog gave those at the convention a live demo that was very Uncharted-esque, which is not at all a bad thing. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End came into E3 2015 with purpose and succeeding in showing itself in an exciting light.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End will be released exclusively on PlayStation 4 sometime in 2016.
5. Horizon Zero Dawn
This game was a surprise at E3 2015. Before Sony’s press conference there was nothing floating about the internet about this game, not even the slightest hint. This game surprised us, but it surprised us in a good way.
Horizon Zero Dawn takes place in a post apocalyptic world that is controlled by robot-dinosaur creatures. The main protagonist is woman that belongs to a tribe that is dedicated to fighting against the robots. The trailer at E3 2015 shows the protagonist on a hunt but she isn’t hunting in the normal sense. She’s hunting machines and each machine that she hunts she utilizes different strategies to take it down. Because the game was just announced, details about the plot are still a closely guarded secret.
What puts Horizon Zero Dawn on this list is the surprise of its announcement and how amazing gameplay looks already. This game is absolutely going to make its way into my collection when it comes out.
Horizon Zero Dawn will released on the PlayStation 4 in 2016.
4. No Man’s Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGy8HIYBwV0
Have you ever dreamed about traveling the universe, all of space lying in front of you with infinite destinations as far as the eye can see? I certainly have.
That is what No Man’s Sky is about. No Man’s Sky is a completely open world experience where you are an adventurer traveling across the universe exploring undiscovered planets, mining resources, and battling in space. Your goal in No Man’s Sky is to eventually make it to the center of the universe but is by no means the entire point of the game.
The end goal to this game might be to reach the center of the universe but players are likely to continue exploration even after the end goal is met. Sean Murray, co-founder of Hello Games, revealed last year that No Man’s Sky has over 18 quintillion unique worlds, making it virtually impossible for any one person to explore all of No Man’s Sky. Even before launch No Man’s Sky is making me feel insignificant and small in the grand scheme of things.
The sheer size is what puts No Man’s Sky on this list. I also love the concept of being a space explorer with no limits whatsoever. I can’t wait to get my hands on this game and proceed to never see the light of day again.
No Man’s Sky will be released on PC and PlayStation 4 sometime in the future, but no release date has yet been set.
3. Fallout 4
Fallout 4 got tongues wagging before E3 2015 when Bethesda released a trailer the week before. Needless to say, people were already excited for this game by the time E3 2015 came around.
Fallout 4 takes place in a post-apocalyptic retro-futuristic Boston where you go on adventures with your furry friend, Dogmeat. You kill a bunch of shit too. Like most games on this list, specific details about plot beyond “you shoot a bunch of shit” is unavailable at the moment.
Fallout 4 is grown a lot upon the last game and other Bethesda games. One change coming this time around is the addition to full voice actors for the main character (a male and female, respectively). Various other features such as an improved building system have also been added to the game.
Fallout 4 had a great showing at E3 2015. Bethesda was generous in giving their fans copious amounts of gameplay that no doubt got the pre-orders flowing. I’m really looking forward to playing this game this holiday season when it comes out. A ton of exciting things have been added to the Fallout franchise and I’m very much interested in playing it for myself.
Fallout 4 will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 10, 2015. Just in time for the holiday season, am I right?
In the meantime, go replay Fallout 3 and listen to some ’50s music on Spotify.
2. Mass Effect: Andromeda
The sounds I made when I found out this game was going to be released made my dog run into the other room in fright and my family all rushed into my office to protect me from whatever supposed intruder had just entered the house. I’m just a tad bit excited for this game. I apologize to anyone who was within a ten mile radius of me.
At E3 2014, Bioware commented on there being a new Mass Effect game in development but since then have gone silent until now. I had a feeling that we would hear something from Bioware at E3 2015. Sure enough EA opened their E3 2015 press conference by officially announcing Mass Effect: Andromeda with an extremely vague but yet still satisfying trailer.
There isn’t much to say about plot details just yet. What we do know is that Mass Effect: Andromeda will take place many years after Mass Effect 3 and will take place in the Andromeda galaxy (as the name would suggest) rather than the Milky Way galaxy. Yeah, that’s pretty much all we know at this point.
As my introductory anecdote might suggest, I’m pretty excited for this game. The Mass Effect series is a beloved one and I’m happy to see it extending into the next generation (in all meanings of the word).
Mass Effect: Andromeda will be released just in time for the 2016 holiday season for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
1. Star Wars Battlefront
Coming into E3 2015 this game was the one that I was most looking forward to. I am a huge fan of the original Battlefront series way back in the early 2000’s. I was about 8 when I got my hands on Star Wars: Battlefront for the first time and I fell in love immediately. I have fond memories of going head to head against my brother in the split screen modes, and we even solved a couple of arguments over a quick battle. The Battlefront series has a fond place in my heart and I am overjoyed that it is getting a proper next-gen reboot.
At E3 2015 fans (such as myself) finally got a look at real gameplay of the game. Immediately I was hit with a wave of nostalgia as the Hoth rebel base is very much reminiscent of the one in the original game. From the gameplay trailer I find that Star Wars Battlefront is really working on honoring the original series while at the same time establishing itself as its own thing.
I’m excited beyond words for Star Wars Battlefront. Let the nostalgia trip begin!
Star Wars Battlefront will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on November 17, 2015.
