My 10 Favorite Games and Trailers of E3 2017

I got to admit that as of late I am not much of a gamer anymore. Oh, I still play video games during some of my free time, but between work (at the LAPD and my duties at gXp), my wife and kids, and other family obligations, I can’t quite dedicate as much time to gaming as I once did. As it is, when I do game, it is usually by playing my favorite games such as Neverwinter, Battlefield 1, Fate Extella, or some Pokémon games on my DS. Every once in a while, I’ll play a new game that comes out, like Injustice 2, Gravity Rush 2, or Prey, but it’s not like it was before where I would buy at least eight new games a month. Quite honestly, I just can’t afford to do so anymore nor do I have the time. But I still do consider myself a gamer and wear that label proudly. As such, when it is time for E3 to come around, it is still one of the most exciting weeks for me outside of my family life.

Every year at E3, the latest and greatest games, peripherals and gaming news are revealed to the gaming community at large. It the past, I would usually attend E3 and experience the event first hand, but for the past three years, I just haven’t been able to attend. But that doesn’t make it any less exciting. Every year, I eagerly await the newest game reveals and trailers and see what games I will be salivating to play when they are released to the public; and E3 2017 is no different: there is so much news coming out of E3 that it is hard to keep up with. So many new trailers that I wonder just how I have the time to try and watch them all. And trying to narrow down which new games and trailers are my favorite every year is just so hard, more so now that I know my gaming time is limited, so I really have to evaluate what I have seen and what I believe will entertain me in the long run.

Still, what I present below is a list of my ten favorite trailers released during E3: the ten trailers for future releases that I think I will most likely be playing in the coming weeks, months or years, you know, for those games that are still a long way off from being released – Kingdom Hearts III, I’m looking at you. Still, whether they are ready for release in the next few weeks or next couple of years, these trailers for the following games are the ones that have me the most excited and remind me why I am still, and will always be, a gamer.

Honorable mentions: Ashen, Dragon Ball Fighter Z, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Metro Exodus, Metroid: Samus Returns, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Star Wars Battlefront II, Total War: Warhammer II, Xenoblade Chronicles 2

A Way Out

Developed by: Hazelight Studios
Published by: Electronic Arts
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: Q1/Q2 2018

This game totally took me by surprise with how enthralled I would be after watching the trailer shown at E3. A Way Out looks simply amazing. My partner at the LAPD said it reminds him of the TV show Prison Break; and while I can see the similarity, I believe that this games is presenting itself to be a whole lot more. From the cooperative gameplay, to the strategies involved in each scenario, and the gameplay that is being presented to fans, this game looks like it could take the gaming community by storm when it is released in 2018. This is perhaps my favorite trailer of E3 2017 and with good reason. I just hope that Hazelight and EA can deliver on what they are promising with this game because I have had my hopes dashed one too many times by amazing E3 trailers whose games failed to deliver.

Anthem

Developed by: BioWare
Published by: Electronic Arts
Genre(s): Action, Role Playing
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: Q4 2018

To say that BioWare is one of the best developers out there is an understatement. From their Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights games to their Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age games – by the way, Jade Empire is still my favorite game of theirs; now where’s that sequel – they have shown that they know how to put out interesting and engaging video games. And while I wish I knew more about Anthem, the trailer that was unveiled at E3 showed me that BioWare is still at the top of the field when it comes to new and interesting intellectual properties to present to the gaming public. Oh yeah, this game looks brilliantly amazing and I cannot wait o get my hands on it come 2018.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

Developed by: Ubisoft Montreal
Published by: Ubisoft
Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Stealth
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: October 27, 2017

As the name suggest, Assassin’s Creed Origins will act as a prequel for the series and delve into the history of the conflict between the Assassins and Templars as the player assumes the role of the games protagonist, Bayek. I’ve been a fan of this series since the first game and I am excited to see what other details emerge for the game as it approaches its late October release date, but this trailer shown at E3 really set a good standard for my expectations until the game is finally released.

Beyond Good and Evil 2

Developed by: Ubisoft Montpellier
Published by: Ubisoft
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Platform(s): Unspecified
Release: Unspecified

Yes! Yes! Yes! It’s about damned time that something, anything new was unveiled about this game. I mean, the first Beyond Good and Evil game was released back in 2003 and we haven’t really heard or seen anything new for Beyond Good and Evil 2 since 2008/2009; so, it’s definitely been a while. But this new trailer, and details of the game that reveal it is a prequel to the first game, are welcome news for fans of the series. Sure, no platforms or release dates were announced, but I am hopeful that those details will be announced sometime in the coming weeks or months. But for now, I am happy just to see that this franchise has not been forgotten or that the game isn’t lingering in some kind of infinite limbo.

Days Gone

Developed by: SIE Bend Studio
Published by: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Survival Horror
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Release: Unspecified

I know it’s “just another zombie game”, as I have heard some gamers cry about online since the gameplay trailer was released, but SIE Bend Studio is presenting a beautifully detailed post-apocalyptic war in Days Gone that has certainly captured my attention. I really want to know more about this game, especially an estimated release date, as time goes on, but for now I am quite happy with what Sony presented at E3 this year. In comparison, this game reminds me of a more refined Dying Light, and I say that in a good way as Dying Light is one of my favorite PS4 games out there.

Far Cry 5

Developed by: Ubisoft Montreal
Published by: Ubisoft
Genre(s): Action/Adventure, First-Person Shooter
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: February 27, 2018

Though the series has been around for a while now, I just recently played my first Far Cry game last year with Far Cry 3 and I was blown away by the game and its presentation. I blasted through Far Cry 4 when I started my playthrough of that game and finished just in time for the initial reveal for Far Cry 5. Now, having seen the trailer for the game at E3, I am really looking forward to playing this game when it releases in 2018… and haters be damned. What’s wrong with the setting that the game is presenting? Like there aren’t real anti-government militias and groups scattered across the US, right? I think, for as much as it is fiction and fantasy, this game is grounded more in reality than people want to realize.

God of War

Developed by: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Published by: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Platform(s): PlayStation 4
Release: Q1 2018

To say that the God of War franchise has been one of my favorites of the past decade is a bit of an understatement. Yeah, from its amazingly detailed story to its beautiful gameplay, the series was a benchmark for the PlayStation for the past several years. And when this new God of War was revealed last year, I knew I couldn’t wait to hear more about it. Now this new gameplay trailer unveiled at this year’s E3 has shown gamers a bit more about the world and even gleamed at the story a bit and I am pretty sure that I am not the only gaming fan out there salivating in anticipation to play this new game when it is finally released in 2018.

Kingdom Hearts III

Developed by: Square Enix Business Division 3, Osaka Branch Office
Published by: Square Enix
Distributed by: Disney Interactive Studios
Genre(s): Action, Role Playing
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: Unspecified

Oh! My! Stars! And! Garters! I love the new Kingdom Hearts III trailer that was revealed at E3… but the wait for this game is what’s killing me. I wrote earlier that Square Enix has KH3 (as well as the Final Fantasy VII remake) pegged for a later unspecified (possibly 2020) release date, and knowing that and having watched this trailer, just makes me yearn for the game today. But, alas, the game is still years away from release, so, for now, I will have to be satiated by watching this trailer and others that may be released between then and now… but what an amazing trailer this one is.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite

Developed by: Capcom
Published by: Capcom
Genre(s): Fighting
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release: September 19, 2017

I’ve been a huge fan of the Marvel/Capcom fighting games going all the way back to X-Men: Children of the Atom. From then, I have played every game that has come out based on that series and have been a huge fan of each one. I see no reason to deviate from the franchise now, especially with the release of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite just around the corner. And with the changes that they are making to the gameplay with this iteration of the game – two-on-two battles, the use of Infinity Stones, and a tag-team combo system – I am excited to see how it changes the way I and others play the game.

Super Mario Odyssey

Developed by: Nintendo EPD
Published by: Nintendo
Genre(s): Platformer
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Release: October 27, 2017

Admittedly, as I approach the age of 40 (next year to be precise), I identify myself as an old-school gamer more and more. As such, I have a very nostalgic connection to games that I loved and were popular in my youth. So, when I first saw the Super Mario Odyssey trailer coming out of E3 it immediately caught my attention. Aside from the traditional and 3D platforming elements that I have come to love, a return for the game to a more freeform style of exploration found in classics like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine – mechanics that I am sure will call out to so many gamers who were fans of older Super Mario games.

So that’s my list of favorite games and trailers from E3 2017; what are yours? Let us know in the comments below and on our geekXpop Facebook page.