The holiday season is a popular time for video games to be released, and there are many games that have been released or teased over this year that I’m eager to play. Since the school year has started, my time and dedication for playing new games has waned slightly, but with Thanksgiving and Winter breaks coming up, my amount of free time is going to increase. Because of this, and the amount of games just released or set to release soon, I’m eagerly looking forward to getting in some quality gaming time soon. As such, here is the list of the games I’m most looking forward to playing soon.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
I’m a huge fan of the Fire Emblem series, as well as entries into the Warriors genre of games, which are large scale battle simulator games where you focus on units and troops while managing a battlefield. It’s a fun mix of button-mashing combos and strategy, as you order troops around and navigate complex levels and scenarios. I was a big fan of the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity game from a few years ago, so a Fire Emblem version is a no brainer for me. I started the demo for this game over the summer right before it released and enjoyed what I played, but haven’t gotten it quite yet because of other games that were higher on my list. This game isn’t a top priority right now, but it’s a game I know I’ll enjoy when I do finally get it.
Pokémon Scarlet
Pokémon Scarlet released on the 18th of November, a few days after I wrote this list. As far as my next game purchase goes, I’m torn between getting this game and the next one on list. I’ve been a fan of Pokémon games for several years now and have enjoyed keeping up to date with the news for Scarlet/Violet. I’m especially looking forward to the cooperative aspects of Scarlet and the online functionalities. The last mainline Pokémon game I beat was Pokémon Moon, so I’m excited to play through another game in this franchise. I’m optimistic about the quality of this game and look forward to it whenever I do pick it up.
Sonic Frontiers
I’ve been a huge fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise for about a decade now. This game series has been very hit or miss, more miss over the last decade, so it has received a lot of bad rep as a result. However, Sonic Frontiers, which released early November, has been the best Sonic game in years. It changed up the traditional Sonic format, opting for an open world design rather than a level based track design like we’re used to. One of the best writers for the franchise, Ian Flynn, was the head writer for the game, promising a great story, fun gameplay, and super sonic speeds.
Potion Permit
Potion Permit released back in September, and I’ve had my eye on it for a while. It has a charming art style and aesthetic. You play as an alchemist who has been hired to help heal a town of their ailments. The gameplay consists of finding ingredients, fighting off monsters, and making potions to help out the citizens of the town. It’s a simple but pleasing plot for a game. The game was released just a bit ago and, based on the reviews I’ve read, needs a bit of fine tuning, but once updated, I’ll be sure to pick it up and live out my witchy fantasies.
Coral Island
Coral Island is a farming simulation game very similar to Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, where you grow crops, tend to animals, and get to know the world around you. It boasts a wide cast of characters and has a fun art style. The game is currently on Early Access, meaning it isn’t fully finished yet, but the current gameplay that’s available is very promising. As a huge fan of Stardew Valley, this is a game I’ll for sure pick up once it’s fully completed.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
This is a game I’m literally counting down the release for. I’ve been waiting for this day since 2019, when the first trailer was teased and the game announced. Now we have a release date: May 12, 2023. I can hardly contain my excitement over this game. The previous instalment of the series, Breath of the Wild, is one of my all time favorite games (so much so that I’m working on 100% completing it). I’m eager to see what mechanics it takes from traditional Zelda games, its predecessor, and what new concepts are introduced. I’m also so ready to experience the immersion and story found within this new Hyrule. I’ve long awaited this game, and although I still have over 175 days to wait, the end is finally in sight.
I have a lot of options ahead of me in terms of which new game to play next. I have a wide array of genres and playstyles to choose from. From the fast paced gameplay of Sonic Frontiers to the laid back simulation style Coral Island, there’s a lot of variety. All in all, I have a lot of options on my list and a lot of hours to sink in once I have the time (and money) for all of these amazing games.