Reboots are a tricky thing. They can represent an excellent revisiting of a beloved franchise, or they can be a mediocre outing that no one wanted. Regardless, in today's world of studios going with "what works," reboots are inevitable.
There is a lot of money on the line, and gaming studios want to ensure they can secure revenue, so past successful games seem like a "sure bet." This year has seen its share of reboots and remakes, and even more, are rumored. So, today, we are going to discuss the reboots we are excited to see, and the rumored ones we want to happen also.
10 Happening - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
While this may not seem like a traditional reboot, it is resetting the franchise in a way that is moving Animal Crossing into another direction. This title will be the first time that gamers get to experience an HD-version of an Animal Crossing game, and it is the first core game in the franchise since 2012.
You can now craft items, experience autosave, customize your home, and take advantage of new technologies like the Nook Phone. New Horizons represents a turn in the Animal Crossing franchise, and it is embracing many of the new desires of gamers.
9 Rumored - Metroid Trilogy
It's been ten years since Samus' last outing, and fans are getting a bit anxious in waiting for the next iteration. At E3 2017, fans received confirmation that Metroid 4 was coming, but not much else.
Well, in addition to a fourth game, gaming leaker, LeakyPanda added to the rumor mill with claims that Nintendo is planning a Metroid Trilogy. Since it was specified that this is a different game from Metroid 4, this could very well be a soft reboot of the series. Who knows?
8 Happening - Half-Life: Alyx
It is finally time to revisit Valve's alien-infested world of Half-Life. In the newest iteration, Half-Life: Alyx, the game's title protagonist, will work with her father to put together a resistance against the planet's invaders.
What makes this one stand out? Well, it is set between the events of Half-Life 1 and 2. However, that's not all; this will be a VR outing. For the first time, fans get the chance to be right in the thick of things. Expect to see this new imagining of Half-Life in late March of this year.
7 Rumored - Silent Hill
Since P.T., horror fans have been yearning for another look at the Silent Hill franchise. Well, they may get their wish. Rumor has it that Komani is planning a "soft-reboot" of Silent Hill.
For those who are a little weary of Komani, they have promised that this will not be a "gambling game." They are looking to make a real-deal shot at making a Silent Hill reboot. There are so many questions. Could Kojima be involved? When can we expect the game? Hopefully, Konami is putting together a new "Team Silent," as we speak.
6 Happening: Halo Infinite
If you have been missing Xbox's most famous FPS, then you are in luck. As announced at 2018's E3, Halo will be back and in full swing this year. Master Chief is back at it again to save the galaxy, and you are all invited to take part.
According to franchise writer, Jeff Easterling, Halo Infinite is "Halo 6, and is the next chapter of the story." This will be the franchise's first major title in five years. This iteration is a bit of a reboot/reimagining as it will be a departure from the last game and will again feature Master Chief prominently (something that is long overdue).
5 Rumored - A New Batman Title
Building a universe within any sector of entertainment is not just Marvel's strategy. DC has taken them on in film, and now they are doing it in the gaming industry.
Rumors are swirling that WB Montreal is planning to do a soft reboot of the Batman series, with the plan to expand into a full-on DC gaming universe. If all goes well, a Superman game could also be in the works. Maybe they can do better than their film counterpart.
4 Happening - Psychonauts 2
In 2005, a quirky game called Psychonauts, from Double Fine Productions became a cult classic. It followed the story of Razputin, a psychic that wants to join a society of secret agents.
The original story left off with a cliffhanger. Well, fifteen years later, Psychonauts 2 is finally ready to be released to the masses. This new installment will see new hub worlds, secrets, and plots. What can gamers expect in this latest outing? Well, get ready to find out this year.
3 Rumored - Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
EA hasn't always been the best steward of the Star Wars franchise. However, through a variety of missteps, the company seems to have found its stride with Start Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Also, we have seen a shift in momentum toward Star Wars properties, thanks to Disney.
Now, EA wants to venture back into some successful stories and reimagine them, and one of those could be Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The rumor is that this title will either get a remake or full-on reimagining. We can't wait to see if this one turns out to be true.
2 Happening - System Shock
If there is one game on this list that would spark more excitement than the others, it is likely System Shock. At the time, this game was a groundbreaking move forward in the sci-fi genre. Veteran developers from teams that worked on Fallout: New Vegas, Mass Effect, and Bioshock were tapped to participate in this reboot of the series.
This team has also been collaborating with the original team that worked on the first game. When will it make its appearance for gamers? That is to be determined, but we know it is happening.
1 Rumored - Mass Effect
Rumor has it that a new Mass Effect game is in "very early development." Now, we don't know what this game actually is, but there is some speculation that it could be a reboot of the franchise.
One reason why is the poor reception of the conclusion of Mass Effect: Andromeda. The franchise definitely took a dip as a result of the missteps of this last outing. Fortunately, BioWare could be writing its wrong with this newly developed Mass Effect title. Stay tuned for developments on this one!