With E3 2018 on the horizon, both fans and those in the gaming industry are waiting with anticipation as the largest developers and publishers announce their upcoming games. That being said, aside from Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch, little is known. There is a lot of speculation, and games likely to appear, but we’re going to focus on games that will be complete surprises. That being said, here are five games we think will be total surprise announcements at E3 2018.
Xenosaga HD Collection
With the latest trademark of Also Sprach Zarathustra by Namco Bandai, this once-outlandish rumor is gaining more and more traction. The Xenosaga series began in the early 2000s and culminated in the third installment, Thus Spoke Zarathustra. It is one of the most underrated series’ of all time and there has been a fan campaign for an HD release. With the latest rumors, that movement has only become more vocal. With the success of Xenoblade 2, this is very much in the realm of possibility.
The Last of Us Part II – Playable
The Last of Us Part II is an enigma. Very little has been shown of the title. This will probably change at E3 2018. The Last of Us was one of the best games of last generation and probably the best game on the PlayStation 3. It redefined the place of narratives in video games. The story was riveting, and from what we’ve seen from the trailers thus far (although brief, at least the initial one), the game may surpass the original, which is no small feat.
3DS Zelda
It’s been a while since A Link Between Worlds was released for the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo has maintained that the 3DS family of systems is not dead, and with the New Nintendo 2DS coming out this year, it is unlikely that Nintendo will abandon the system. A Link Between Worlds came out in 2013 and is one best Zelda games to date. It set the groundwork for Nintendo’s breakthrough title Breath of the Wild, changing many of the conventions of the series yet still maintaining the “Zelda” feel. It didn’t hurt that it was a sequel to one of the best Legend of Zelda games ever. There were rumors that there would be a quasi-remake of Link’s Awakening, and regardless of this is true or not, a new Zelda game for the 3DS is exactly what the system needs.
Gears of War 5
Gears of War 4 left on a massive cliffhanger. Microsoft desperately needs exclusives for this year. It’s a win-win situation. Gears of War is perhaps Microsoft’s strongest franchise, even stronger than Halo. Gears 5 would be huge this holiday season. It would give Microsoft the chance to make a comeback. While their software lineup (exclusives) have been rather lackluster, they have the chance to make up for it. Sure, they’re not going to catch up to Sony, but that’s not the point. Microsoft had one week year, but Gears 5 has the chance to remedy this.
Skyward Sword HD
This is more wishful thinking than anything. Skyward Sword is the most underrated Zelda game. It may even be the best Zelda game sans Ocarina of Time. It definitely has the best narrative and sets the foundation for the entire Zelda saga. Skyward Sword in HD would be incredible. Finally, Miyamoto’s vision for the game would be fulfilled. The watercolor effect would be even more apparent. Most of all, Skyward Sword is a lot of fun and has some of the most memorable villains, boss battles, and dungeons in the series. It would make a fine addition to the Nintendo Switch.