The Most Anticipated Video Games of 2014

2013 was a beast.

New consoles, a newGrand Theft Auto, virtual reality becoming an, um, actual reality, and Valve making its first tenuous steps into the console arena all combined for a crushing amount of activity in a single calendar year.

2013 is now a fading crone that we should all forget in the glorious luminance that is 2014.

With clear eyes, and a collective amnesia of the year prior, we look to 2014 for an even more brilliant display of gamesmanship. Titanfall, Destiny, Halo 5, and more are all patiently waiting in the wings to colonize what's left of the precious space left on your hard drive.

Here are the games, in no particular order whatsoever, we are anticipating most for the rest of 2014.

RELATED: "Titanfall" Official Gameplay Trailer (Video)

RELATED: Two New Titans Announced For Titanfall (Video)

RELATED: "Titanfall" vs. "Destiny:" 5 Reasons Each is Awesome

RELATED: Green Label - The 10 Video Game Vehicles We Want to Drive

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Release Date: Fall 2014

A welcome addition to our list of titles to look forward to in 2014. Evolve is being developed by the same people who worked on Left 4 Dead 2, which is reason enough to be excited about a co-op muliplayer title. Evolve will pit three players as monster hunters looking to exterminate a fourth player controlling the monster. Hunters will be controlled from the first person while the monster while be controlled from the third-person perspective. Looking heated, keep an eye out.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release Date: TBA 2014

EA reveled the next Mirror's Edge would be an open world prequel to Faith's story. The game was revealed at E3 last year and next to nothing is known about the actual plot of the game. The biggest concern surrounding the game stems from fans hoping EA doesn't try and cram guns into Faith's hands to make her more appealing to a 'wider' audience.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4,Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date: TBA 2014

We've only recently gotten a look at actual gameplay from the tersely titled, Mad Max, but come the fuck on, it's a Mad Max game. An open world, post-apocalyptic wasteland that stresses the use of vehicular combat is too good to pass up. A double barrelled shotgun and melee combat will round out the game's homage to the films. Expect a gruesome nod to the brilliant films that made the game possible.

Platform: Xbox One
Release Date: Mid-2014

Sunset Overdrive looks fucking bonkers. As some parallel reality Los Angeles is overrun by Hannah Barbara flavored mutants. It's up to you to traverse the rooftops via syklines and free running to eraditcate the mutants in what looks like a city trapped in a bottle of Sunkist.

Platform: TBD
Release Date: 2014

There's nothing that's not fucking brilliant about the decision to allow Telltale Games to create an episodic Game of Thrones series. After the universal praise for The Walking Dead and Fables properties, Telltale has promised to stay true to the visceral fantasy setting of Game of Thrones. They've reiterated that there will be no shortage of bloodshed and swordplay, but they'll definitely make the series a Telltale production.

Platform: Wii U
Release Date: TBA 2014

Monolith Soft's upcoming Wii U title is a longshot for actually being released in 2014. The teaser we were privy to was stunning and emphasized a massive, socially integrated title that puts players in control of massive transforming robotic 'dolls' (mechs). Monolith Soft co-founder, and Xeno series director Tetsuya Takahashi is returning for the title and it's widely assumed that the title will fall in the Xeno mythology and have MMORPG elements. Reason enough to cop a Wii U for us.

Platform: Wii U Nintendo 3DS,
Release Date: Late 2014

Why the Wii U didn't launch with a Smash Bros. title is beyond me, but the beleaguered console will be getting a much deserved shot in the arm as 2014 sees not only a new Super Smash Bros. title, but a new Mario Kart title as well. Early teasers have revealed that, yes, Mega Man will be a playable fighter. And in a far more interesting move, the Wii Fit trainer will also be a roster selection. Dibs.

Platform:Microsoft Windows,Mac OS X, Linux, iOS,PlayStation 3 (PSN),Xbox 360 (XBLA)
Release Date: January

The Banner Saga is gorgeous to look at. Channeling Fire Emblem style tactical combat with the painted visual aesthetic of Dragon's Lair, the game is a charming mix of art and strategy. Turn based combat with a decidedly Nordic themes and an amazing soundtrack will appeal to fans of isometric strategy titles.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, OS X,PlayStation 3, Xbox 360,iOS, PlayStation Vita, Ouya
Release Date: Episodically throughout 2014

With episode 1 of season 2 of Telltale's The Walking Dead already out in the wild, fans of the episodic series are digging their heels in for another possible game of the year run for the series. Clementine is a bit older, a bit wiser, but the world she faces is just as brutal as we remember. Zombie dramas should all hope to be this well-scripted and engaging.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date: Q2

The sting of not seeing Watch_Dogs drop in 2013 is still a raw nest of rashy hives on the inside of our thighs. Ubisoft delayed the game to 2014, taking a cue from Rockstar's decision to delay GTA V, in order to fully polish the dystopian, cyber-noir title. Everything we've seen of the open world's vigilante tale of revenge has looked so ill that the delay was cushioned by Ubisoft's promise of an even more streamlined hackable Chicago of the future.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: March 4 (hopefully)

Can the video game version of South Park be as funny as the actual show? That's what Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Obsidian Entertainment are banking on with the thrice delayed Stick of Truth title. The show's creators are adamant in releasing a game that is a deeply nuanced RPG that also manages to capture South Park's irreverant toilet satire. Here's to hoping the delays were worth it.

Platform: PlayStation 4
Release Date: Q3

Steam punk Arthurian legends hasn't been done yet, right? King Arthur and his Knights battle legions of human-human, half-animal half-breeds over the centuries as the knights discover a life extending substance known as Black Water. That may seem like a plot pitch for the next Underworld movie, but the knights rally in Victorian Era, steam punk London to continue the ancient battle in the modern world. The game looked gorgeous at E3, but we still haven't seen any actual gameplay yet. Still, looks promising.

Platform: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PC
Release Date: Q3 2014

Let's be frank with one another, Dragon Age 2 was not that awesome. It felt stale and repetitive when compared to the far superior Dragon Age: Origins. Bioware caught no shortage of shit for Dragon Age 2, and seemed to have learned from their mistakes. What we've seen of Inquisition, Bioware has promised a return to form with characters choices with consequences and a massive world brimming over with Bioware's deft story crafting.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4
Release Date: Mid 2014

Supergiant Games' new indie title, Transistor was treated with as much pomp as any AAA title from Sony during their PS4 E3 reveal. Supergiant is the same team that brought us the eminently playable iOS title, Bastion and Transistor looks to be no less impressive. A sci-fi action RPG that centers around a young girl, Red, discovering the Transistor, a sentient alien sword. The art and music direction of the game has Transistor generating alll types of heat.

Platform: PC, iOS, PlayStation 4
Release Date: 2014

Developer Jonathon Blow has earned a reputation as being a harsh critic of the modern gaming landscape for calling such titles like World of Warcraft unethical in part to their addictive gameplay loops. Regardless of what you think of Blow personally, his 2008 debut, Braid, has made him one of the most prolific indie developers around. The Witness is an open-world, puzzle title that bears a resemblance to the PC classic Myst, and will be Blow's first release since Braid.

Platform: Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Xbox 360 Xbox One
Release Date: 2014

While the horror genre continues to bask in a bit of a renaissance thanks to smaller titles like Outlast and Amnesia, The Evil Within marks the return of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami to the survival horror genre. What we've seen of the game has been appropriately atmospheric and gory as you play police officer Sebastian Castellanos as he investigates a series of gruesome murders.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Release Date: Sometime 2014

Another Kickstarter Cinderella story, Wasteland 2 is proof that legions of old-school PC fans exist and they are perfectly happy to back revisits of classic PC titles. The original Wasteland was a huge inspiration that spawned its spiritual successor, Fallout. Wasteland 2 will be another post-apocalyptic, strategy RPG title developed from the brilliant inXile Entertainment and will be fucking amazing. Mark these words.

Platform: PS4
Release Date: 2014 (hopefully)

The Uncharted 4 (if that's what Naughty Dog ends up calling it) is a dark horse for a 2014 reveal. After the teaser trailer was revealed at Sony's PS4 reveal event, not much was shed on the story's plot.

A map of an island off the coast of Madagascar with the Latin phrase 'hodie mecum eris in paradiso', two of the biggest clues as to the game's direction. That Latin phrase was taken from the seven last words of Christ, said to be uttered on the cross.

The rough translation is 'today you will be with me in Paradise'. Great. More obfuscation. Like we said, dark horse bet.

Platform: Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release Date: April 4, 2014

Bethesda is gambling big on releasing a subscription based MMO in the year 2014. The Elder Scrolls universe is a vast and meticulously crafted, but the monthly subscription model has many scratching their heads at this seemingly outdated move. Bethesda makes amazing games, let's hope this experiment works out for both Bethesda and gamers.

Platform: Linux, Mac OS X,Microsoft Windows
Release Date: September 9

Double Fine's Kickstarter for their genealogical, medieval tactical strategy game breezed through the million dollar mark in record time. Massive Chalice will allow you to rule your kingdom through political maneuvering and battlefield dominance. Your heroes will fight, marry, parent heirs, age, and die while passing on traits from one generation to the next. Double Fine doesn't disappoint and Massive Chalice will be a high water mark of 2014.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Ouya, Wii U
Release Date: Mid 2014

Another Kickstarter success story, Alex Preston's Heart Machine studios asked for the humble sum of $27,000 to create Hyper Light Drifter, $640,000 later his game has garnered well the well earned hype. A 2D, pixel art, action adventure, RPG HLD channels all of greatest aspects of classic adventure titles like Diablo and Legend of Zelda. 2014 is going to be a huge year for this crowd sourced gem.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date: Q1 2014

Hideo Kojima's fifth installment in the Metal Gear Solid series seems like it may have been close to collapsing under the considerable heft of the series' legacy. Keifer Sutherland replacing David Hayter as the voice of Snake was an initial shock to fans, but once gameplay footage of the game was finally released, shock was replaced by reverent awe. Photorealstic espionage has never looked more terrifying. Kojima promises a more mature and serious approach to the series with The Phantom Pain.

Platform: PS4
Release Date: March 21

After Cole McGrath ended his run as the Infamous hero/anti-hero, the Infamous series turns to Delsin Rowe to fill the series shoes. Rowe is the newest super-powered conduit, and is able to control heat and smoke. The games has looked non-stop beautiful and is one of the strongest PS4 exclusives heading to consoles.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date: 2014

Sweet baby Lucifer, this game is soooooo long overdue. We haven't had a decent single player Lord of the Rings (LOTR) title since the criminally underrated LOTR: Return of the King RPG six years ago. Shadow of Mordor places you in control of a recently slain ranger that is revived and is granted wraith abilities to seek out his vengeance. Half-ranger, half-wraith all badass. The open world title takes place between The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings and looks absoloutley stunning. Here's to hoping it doesn't get delayed.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: March 11

When fans of the sadistically devious first Dark Souls title first learned that Namco Bandai was planning to make the sequel 'more accessible to a larger audience' i.e. easier, they were none too please. Luckily, these were rumors and Dark Souls II will still deliver the dungeon crawling, high fantasy that fans of the series love so much. You will die, a lot, and the game will softly laugh as you masochistically start anew. Difficult and brutal, we look forward to the new title.

Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
Release Date: March 11

"Have you seen Titanfall?" is a meme that quickly began to spring up on forums everywhere for the ubiquitous and near universal praise the game has received. Respawn Entertainment's first title hopes to dethrone Activision as the FPS ruler. Made up of ex Call of Duty developers, Respawn is banking on creating a frenetic marriage of massive mech combat and jetpack enabled run and gun FPS action. This game is going to be massive and is an early contender for GOTY. Mechs, everyone loves mechs.

Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360
Release Date: 2014

Halo 5 (if that's even you're real name) has been confirmed for a 2014 showing, but it's still unclear if the rather diminutive and humble numerical extension is the final indicator for the next installment of the series. We know next to nothing about the next game, but we do know that Master Chief was doing his best Tusken Raider during the Xbox One's reveal early last year.

Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date: September 9

The world will finally get a chance to see what Bungie has been working on since handing over the reins of the Halo franchise to 343 studios in 2011. Destiny has made some of the most ambitious claims about what it hopes to accomplish in 2014. Looking to marry the socially driven MMO experience with the tightly honed, shooter mechanics of games like Halo sounds like a wedding we'd like to crash. Destiny is promising a socially integrated space opera of the first order and we're hoping they succeed.