The best upcoming games of 2018: God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2 and more

The battle between Microsoft and Sony’s superconsoles stole the headlines in 2017, with the newly released Xbox One X taking the PlayStation 4 Pro’s crown for the most powerful games system ever.

Now, however, the limelight is shifting back to the games themselves, with some of the industry’s biggest publishers gearing up to launch new titles in the next few months.

Here are the most eagerly anticipated games due for release in 2018.

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Red Dead Redemption 2

The sequel to 2010’s critically acclaimed Wild West adventure is slated for release on 26 October for PS4 and Xbox One. Although little is known about the plot, leaked images of the game’s map reported by Tech Radar suggest the sequel will feature a massive world set around the Rocky Mountains. It also appears the game will share some locations with the last instalment, such as the Great Plains and Blackwater.

All the latest news on Red Dead Redemption 2 can be found here.

Anthem

BioWare, the EA-owned games giant behind the Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises, is releasing multiplayer sci-fi shooter Anthem to compete with the likes of Bungie’s Destiny 2. Gamers don jetpacks and explore a “presumably open world” that’s “built around activities with teams”, says Forbes. Anthem is expected to launch in late 2018, for the PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Crackdown 3

It’s been more than four years in the making, but Crackdown 3 is finally due to hit shops this spring. The open-world game, which is among a handful of exclusive titles for the Xbox One, sees players running through a comic book-like city where they can blow up almost anything in sight, with buildings that “topple and fall” and exploding vehicles, reports Tech Radar.

Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

The second instalment in the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Ni No Kuni series is slated for launch on 23 March, for the PS4 and PC. With graphics inspired by legendary anime creator Studio Ghibli, says Polygon, players control a “child king” called Evan and battle monsters in a large open world. While the first game focused on strategy gameplay, the site adds, the new version features “real-time combat” that makes battles feel more fluid.

Far Cry 5

Ubisoft’s new open-world survival game is on course to launch on on the PS4, Xbox One and PC on 27 March - one month after its original scheduled release, Alphr reports. Rather than the tropical island setting of its predecessor tropical island setting, the game takes place in a fictional US state, inviting “a number of political parallels” that “make some interesting comments about Trump’s vision of America”.

God of War

After a two-year hiatus, God of War - one of Sony’s biggest franchises - is getting a reboot. Due to launch on 20 April, the eighth instalment in the series is set shortly after the events of 2010’s God of War III, Engadget reports, and follows the relationship between the protagonist Kratos and his son.

Sony is also launching a limited-edition PS4 Pro console, which comes with a unique silver and gold design. The console launches on 20 April, but a price has yet to be announced.

Detroit: Become Human

Quantic Dream’s next story-driven game is due for release on 25 May exclusively for PS4 users, says Tech Advisor.

Detroit: Become Human is set in a sci-fi universe, the website says, and players have to explore environments “to find clues” from the perspective of seven characters. Players can make their own decisions throughout the story, which can dramatically change the plot.