2018 was a great year for folks who prefer their games with a minimum of button mashing, with some fantastic new episodic series kicking off and triple-A publishers delivering ambitious, polished hits like Detroit: Become Human and A Way Out. 2019 looks slightly less exciting, although games like In the Valley of the Gods and the remainder of Life is Strange 2 ought to keep adventure fans satisfied. Here are some of the exciting worlds you’re going to be exploring in 2019…
Note: Only games with confirmed 2019 release dates are eligible for these lists. Stuff that’s only rumored or speculated to be coming out is relegated to the honorable mentions. Other entries on Wccftech’s Most Anticipated of 2019 series: Strategy and Simulation, Action, Platform
Related Wccftech’s Best Adventure Games of 2018 – Eclectic Expeditions
Say what you want about Electronic Arts as a whole, but their EA Originals label been an undeniable success, publishing great indie titles like A Way Out and Unravel. Sea of Solitude looks like another winner. The game casts players as Kay, a woman who ventures into a foreboding sunken city to try and find out why she’s been transformed into a monster. This one’s sense of style and creepy edge looks to set it apart from the artsy indie adventure pack.
Related The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan Interview
Life is Strange 2 got off to a fantastic start in 2018, with a moving, beautifully-crafted first episode (Wccftech’s Rosh Kelly gave it a 9.5 in his review). Episode 2 has been slow to arrive, but developer Dontnod Entertainment insists they’re just taking the time to ensure future episodes are as polished and moving as possible. No rush, I say.
Firewatch set the indie adventure scene aflame back in 2016 (sorry), and now developer Camp Santo are set to release their sophomore effort, In the Valley of Gods. Beautiful stylized graphics, a unique 1920s Egyptian setting, and the promise of more juicy relationship drama make for an enticing package, and the fact that Campo Santo is now owned by Valve means they have the resources to really bring their latest story to life. This one has some big expectations attached to it, rightfully so.
If you’re at all into Japanese visual novels, you’re no doubt familiar with Kotaro Uchikoshi, creator of the amazing (and completely mind-boggling) Zero Escape series. His latest, AI: The Somnium Files, casts players as a murder investigator with the very handy ability to read people’s memories. Similar concepts have been done before, but I’m pretty confident Uchikoshi will take the whole “mind-reading detective” trope in a new, unexpected direction.
Until Dawn was one of the best sleeper hits of the past few years, and now developer Supermassive Games is returning with a new horror game, Man of Medan. The first entry in proposed series of scary games entitled The Dark Pictures Anthology, Man of Medan gives off strong Until Dawn vibes – you once again take control of a group of sexy, doomed college kids, and your decisions will determine how the game plays out. Here’s hoping Supermassive has another horror hit on their hands.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season got narrowly edged off the list by Life is Strange 2, as there’s only one more episode coming out in 2019, but make no mistake, the series’ finale is shaping up to be a must-play. Other notable adventures on the way include Dontnod’s Twin Mirror, Lovecraft-fest The Sinking City, and artsy chill-out games Sable and The Pathless. Moving onto the maybes, there’s A Plague Tale: Innocence, Moons of Madness, and the latest from the maker of Danganronpa, Death March Club. Adventure fans willing to go a little out of their way should find plenty to play this year.
Those are the games that you’ll be puzzling your way through this year! Any promising adventure games we missed? Round up your own list and share it in the comments!
