With E3 2018 coming to a close and all of the biggest and most surprising game announcements behind us, it's now time to look at all of the amazing games coming out this Summer. With school out for some, there's no better time to jump into some interesting new worlds on all different platforms in multiple different genres. I did my best to find games that would satiate players of all different interests, skill levels, and platforms. The Fall of every year is when the big blockbuster releases come out, but that doesn't mean the Summer is a barren wasteland. As the years have gone by we've seen publishers take chances and release their games during the Summer months. For the sake of this article we do dip into September, but let's be real. Everyone still believes it's still Summer deep into the Fall season. I know that I'm probably going to miss or leave off a game you're really excited for this Summer, I'm sorry. I tried to do my best and I think this is a pretty solid list of upcoming releases as well as a few games that have already started off the Summer gaming season with a bang. There's a good mix of AAA as well as Indie titles that show a lot of promise and quality. Let's now take a look at 25 console games coming Summer 2018 that we all need to play! Let me know what Summer game you're most excited for as well.
25 LEGO The Incredibles
With the release of the Incredibles 2 hitting theaters, there was bound to be a video game tie-in to the highly anticipated sequel from Pixar and Disney. LEGO The Incredibles is developed, like all other LEGO games, by TT Games and features the familiar gameplay you're used to. It obviously has it's own Incredibles flair to it, but it stays true to what makes the LEGO games from TT Games so entertaining and enjoyable. LEGO The Incredibles recently released on June 15th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
24 Vampyr
Though Vampyr released to mediocre critical reception, there's still a lot to be interested in. Vampyr is an action role-playing game centered around a doctor trying to come to terms with the fact that he recently became a vampire.
The story's narrative focuses on his struggle and the story itself is considered the strongest part of the game.
Its weaknesses lay within its actual gameplay as well as performance. If you're looking for a game with an interesting story than Vampyr might be a great experience. It released on June 5th for Xbox One, PS4, and Steam.
23 WarioWare Gold
For the many of you who still enjoy playing games on your Nintendo 3DS systems, WarioWare Gold is an upcoming entry in the hectic and manic microgame based series. The game is set to feature over 300 of these microgames with a ton of familiar classics as well as a great number of new additions. As more and more players transition over to the Nintendo Switch it seems that WarioWare Gold may be one of the final major releases on the platform. WarioWare Gold will launch in North America on August 3rd, 2018 for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
22 Unravel Two
During their E3 2018 Press Conference, Electronic Arts announced a sequel to the beloved 2D platformer Unravel. People instantly fell in love with the game's red protagonist, Yarny, when the first Unravel was announced. The sequel evolves on the initial entry by giving players two characters to control either on their own or with a friend in co-op play. The game was also released the same day it was announced allowing players to get their hands on it immediately. Unravel Two released on June 9th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
21 We Happy Few
We Happy Few was originally revealed during the Xbox Briefing at E3 2016. Audiences were quickly enthralled by the world Compulsion Games had created. The game features a set of characters trying to escape the control of an oppressive government.
Many people describe the tone and story of the world as 1984 by George Orwell meets A Clockwork Orange.
The game released into Xbox's early access program and has allowed the developer the financial security to finish the game. We Happy Few will release on August 10th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
20 Yakuza Kiwami 2
Sega has recently turned their ship around and has quickly fallen back into the hearts of millions of gamers. They seem to have a better understanding of what people want from their franchises. The Yakuza franchise is no exception and over the last 2 years has found a fresh breath of air with a brand new ravenous Western audience.
Sega's been consistently bringing the games to the West and it's paying off in huge dividends.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is a remake of the 2006 entry and is set to release on August 28th exclusively for the PlayStation 4 and at a later date on PC.
19 Code Vein
Code Vein is an upcoming vampire action-RPG published by Bandai Namco. It takes a lot of inspiration from the Souls games but blends it into an anime vampire world full of chaos and mystery. Unlike Souls games, Code Vein gives the player an AI partner that helps them fight enemies and bosses throughout the game. This mechanic will entice people who believe the Souls-like games are too difficult as well as alienating those who were looking for a more hardcore experience. Code Vein is set for release on September 27th, 2018 and is coming to Xbox One, PS4, and Steam.
18 Crash Bandicoot N'Sane Trilogy (Nintendo Switch/Xbox One)
It's been a year since everyone's favorite 90's bandicoot made his HD return to the PlayStation ecosystem on PlayStation 4 via the Crash N'Sane Trilogy which released last Summer. Activision holds the license and has since announced that the spinning orange adventurer would be coming to Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch in 2018. Though some purists feel that the Crash Bandicoot games should only be played on a PlayStation console, many fans who have moved over to Switch, Xbox, or PC can finally spend time with their old friend later this Summer on June 29th, 2018.
17 Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is a 2D platformer that rewards exploration and discovery. Certain areas and opportunities open up after you've obtained certain skills and abilities. Hollow Knight is very much a Metroidvania and does it exceptionally well.
It features a striking art style that seems to mix the best parts of Tim Burton, A Bug's Life, and H.P. Lovecraft.
The game's mechanics are often compared to that of FromSoftware's Souls-borne games due to it's punishing yet rewarding combat and an interesting death mechanic. It was released on PC in 2017 but recently released on the Nintendo Switch on June 14th, 2018.
16 FIFA 19
With the World Cup taking place this year it seems that this could be a big year for the EA's FIFA franchise. They recently acquired the rights to the UEFA Champions League which was previously exclusive to the Pro Evolution Soccer series. To the untrained eye, it may seem as though these annual sports titles are just a clever way to have fans pay $60 for a roster update, but there are numerous changes that happen from entry to entry. FIFA 19 will release on September 28th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch, PS3, and Xbox 360 and will once again feature Ronaldo as it's cover athlete.
15 Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a rogue-like Metroidvania that's currently in early access on PC. It has received extremely high praise and critical has seen 8's,9's, and 10's across the board.
Though it has a large and established audience on PC fans have been clamoring for it on the major consoles for a while now.
Players have recently found out that the game will be coming to all major consoles this summer. The art direction and gameplay are often lauded for being exceptionally refreshing. Dead Cells will release in August 2018 for Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
14 Graveyard Keeper
Everyone fell in love with the Harvest Moon-like farming game Stardew Valley last year. Once it released on the Nintendo Switch it seemed to get an even longer extended life as people could manage their games on the go. Graveyard Keeper aims to hit a lot of those same notes, except for the fact that you manage a graveyard instead of a farm. Through its trailers, it seems to carry much of the charm Stardew Valley has as well as having a similar art direction. Graveyard Keeper digs its way onto Xbox One and PC on August 15th, 2018.
13 The Crew 2
In a little under two weeks, Ubisoft's motorsport extravaganza The Crew 2 releases to the masses. The Crew 2 is a racing game that allows the player to compete, race, and explore every single motorsport out there will the goal of becoming the king of them all. It's been a long time coming for this ambitious title and racing fans around the world can't wait to get their hands on it. It looks to feature a big sprawling open world of the United States in the same way that the original did. The Crew 2 launches on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on June 29th, 2018.
12 Dragon Quest 11
Dragon Quest 11 is yet another entry in the storied franchise that Western fans have been waiting to come west for over a year. Though the series is tremendously popular in Japan it hasn't always seen tremendous sales success in the West.
Fans are hoping to showcase just how passionate and large of an audience this game has when it releases later this year.
It features a colorful and vibrant world that looks to bring in new fans and exceed expectations for long-running followers. Dragon Quest 11 launches on September 4th, 2018 on PlayStation 4 and PC.
11 Madden NFL 19
Though the base cover athlete has yet to be revealed we do know a lot about this year's entry into the Madden franchise. The single-player "Longshot" mode is making its return and sees you continue the story from Madden
There seem to be new additions to both franchise mode as well as the very lucrative Madden Ultimate Team mode.
Fans are concerned with some of the animations and player models, but if you want to play as your favorite NFL players there's really not an alternative. Madden 19 will release on August 10th, 2018 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
10 Overcooked 2
Overcooked was a co-op game that came out of nowhere and took the gaming world by storm. People loved having an old-school couch co-op feeling game usually reserved for Nintendo consoles available to play on their devices. The chaotic teamwork and cooking blended so well. The sequel seems to take players on even crazier cooking adventures with plenty of new challenges. Hopefully, your marriage or friendship is strong enough to survive another test of will and communication. Overcooked 2 releases on August 7th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
9 NBA 2K19
The NBA 2K series has been the most dominant NBA series for almost a decade at this point. So much so that EA has dipped in and out of competition via their NBA Live franchise that has underperformed during its last couple of outings. Though NBA 2K19 was met with some criticism based on its microtransactions it seems that the series is still seeing tremendous sales success. This year's entry will feature LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. You'll be able to get your first look at Trae Young and the rest of the rookie class when it releases on September 11th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
8 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an action-puzzle game that released almost 4 years ago on the Nintendo Wii U. Like many other Wii U titles, Treasure Tracker received fantastic reviews but saw little success due to the poor sales performance of the console it was released on. Thankfully Nintendo understood this and has decided to port many of these games over to the Nintendo Switch. It's more than a port seeing as it features levels inspired by Super Mario Odyssey. Look for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on your Nintendo Switch when it releases on July 13th, 2018.
7 The Awesome Adventures Of Captain Spirit
If you're someone who loved Life Is Strange, or maybe someone who didn't, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is a zero risk entry point for everyone out there. It's a single episode that's estimated to last anywhere between 3-5 hours and is completely free. It takes place 3 years after Life Is Strange, and though it isn't directly connected to either entry, it will be a story that bridges the gap going into Life Is Strange 2. The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit will be free to download on June 26th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
6 Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix have done a fantastic job of bringing Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise into the modern era. Though Shadow of the Tomb Raider is being primarily developed by Eidos Montreal it seems to still be hitting the quality benchmark we have come to expect from the series. This game looks to take a closer look at the person Lara Croft has become and teach her that many of the decisions she makes lead to horrifying consequences for innocent people. The 3rd entry in the Tomb Raider Trilogy hits shelves on September 14th, 2018 on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.