There is much to be excited about in the world of console gaming. After a somewhat shaky start, the current gen consoles seem to now be hitting their stride with a veritable bevy of exciting games on the horizon. It is that horizon to which we look now and Xbox one is the vessel with which we are setting sail towards 5 of the most exciting prospects for 2016.

The list starts with

Sea of Thieves

Number 5 on the list is Rare’s latest offering. The anticipation for this game is only exceeded by the mystery that currently surrounds it. A surprise announcement at last years E3 it has grabbed the imagination of many with it’s goofy cartoon style set in a pirate infested world in which you captain your ship to glory and riches. Information about the game has been sparse but, with this year’s E3 just around the corner, it’s likely that we will be rewarded for our patience with some much needed details of this intriguing game from one of the world’s premiere developers.

What can be taken from the trailer and subsequent snippets is that you will take on the role as a pirate set in a fantasy world complete with buried treasures, vast oceans, and skeletal enemies to fend off. Perhaps most excitingly, the hint towards a well fleshed out crew system for sailing your pirate ship around the 7 (maybe?!) seas. Engaging enemy ships in 3rd person was incredible enough on Assassins Creed- Black Flag, I can only imagine what a first person perspective will bring to the table! That alone earns Sea of Thieves a place on my top 5 most anticipated Xbox games of 2016.

No firm release date as of yet but 2016 is what Rare are telling us. Keep up to date with the game here or check out the official website at https://www.seaofthieves.com/

E3 Trailer –

Moving from the unknown into much more familiar territory we come to our number 4 on the list

Lego Star Wars – The Force Awakens

If you are a Star Wars fan who has not yet dipped into the Star Wars Lego universe then now is your chance. With the refreshed franchise being accompanied by a fantastic new lego version to go along with the movie. If the previous iterations were anything to go by then we will be treated to a fun packed and whimsical telling of the story, crammed full of action, comedy, and extras! Forget Battlefront, this is the Star Wars game I need in my life.

The style, from what I have seen, remains true to the game series and everyone’s favourite characters (new and old) will be in the mix. The game follows an adventure structure as you play through the narrative of the movie. Coop play is present again so get a friend round, order the pizza, chill the beer and settle in for what is almost guaranteed to be a fun packed ride. Don’t believe me? Watch the trailer and see for yourself!

Official Game trailer –

Battleborn

Battleborn occupies the number 3 spot and with good reason! In my circles Battleborn is one of those upcoming releases that just isn’t getting the same attention as many others. I think this could end up being a bit of a tragedy if more people don’t cotton on to what is being created by the good folk over at Gearbox (of Borderlands fame). First person MOBAs and Hero Shooters are a relatively new idea that has not quite found it’s footing yet. What Gearbox are trying to achieve is not only an intense and fun filled online multiplayer experience but are also adding value for money in the form of various co-op modes and a fleshed out single player campaign (hopefully nothing like Titanfall’s attempt at this…). So to cut a bit of a rant short, Battleborn looks like far more than a genre copy or a one trick pony. It’s certainly something that deserves people’s awareness at the very least.

If you’re at all interested in a comical, frantic FPS style game choked full of colourful characters and player progression choices then it’s probably worth checking it out. More details on their website or wait for our full review!

Battleborn Bootcamp Trailer –

Cuphead

The list would not be complete without mentioning one of the most refreshing and retro looking games since Broforce. Our number 2 is Cuphead, and if you have any love for the classic look of 30’s cartoons then this is a must have!

Initially a seemingly boss battle filled nostalgia piece the more i see from Cuphead the more it excites me! Authentic cartoon style – Check, Full Co-op mode – Check, Platform puzzles – Check! With all of the AAA titles that get released it is easy to overlook some of the ID@Xbox offerings but this is a mistake! Although this is MDHR’s first game release they seem to have gone to painstaking lengths to create a very special experience. Platform style games have actually given me some of the most fun i have had on consoles in recent years (Limbo, Rayman, Ori & The Blind Forest) and Cuphead could be steering its way into the list.

No official release date as of yet other than ‘2016’ Hopefully there will be news on this soon. If you want to see a bit of how the game plays the youtube link is below and also to see more from the developer you can see their website here: http://cupheadgame.com/

Cuphead Gameplay Trailer –

So top of the list can only be Fable lege….oh wait…nevermind. Gears of war 4 it is then!

Gears of War 4

It’s hard to talk about the journey of any Xbox owner without touching upon their time with the Gears of War series. It has certainly impacted me and as such i cannot wait to get together with my friends once more and experience the latest trials and tribulations that this sorrowful world has in store for us. A definitive 3rd person shooter than makes use of cover mechanics, co-op gameplay and larger than life boss fights. There is rarely a dull moment in a gears of war game and the adrenaline pumping storylines add to the package that makes Gears of War one of the most satisfying journeys on offer.

Gears of War 4 is due to be with us early October and I will undoubtedly be reviewing this one as soon as it is available! For development updates check their website: https://gearsofwar.com/

For an idea of the gameplay check out the trailer –

It’s fair to say the next 6 months could well be some of the best so far in the Xbox One lifecycle. We have all of the above and more to look forward to as well as the newest versions of some of the most well established franchises (i’m looking at you Call of Duty & Battlefield). Keep an eye on the website for more in depth reviews of these games as they arrive.