We've all had the experience of falling in love with a brand new video game franchise. You spend months if not years reading interviews and early impressions of these games you first saw unveiled at E3 or the Game Awards. When it finally comes time to sit down and devour the game you lose yourself in this experience you've yearned for, for what seems like an eternity. After you've completed the game, possibly obtaining 100% completion or diving into the lore of the world through wiki pages or in-game codex entries, you're ready for the next adventure.
Video games take a long time to develop and fans are often left waiting upwards of 5 years for a sequel to their favorite game. Though sequels have the heavy task of living up to expectations as well as standards set in place by the previous entry, they do have a track record of exceeding the critical reception of said previous entry. Unlike film, games are influenced so much by the advancements in technology around them that they're often better the second time around.
Sequels are great, but in the modern era of games, we've seen companies go into their past and remake old favorites in hopes of nostalgia bringing in solid profits from a fan base yearning to go back to their younger days. Remakes and sequels are the lifeblood of the video game industry and help build and maintain some of the strongest fandoms in the world of entertainment. Let's now take a look at some video game remakes and sequels coming in 2019 and 10 that could possibly end up releasing this year as well.
28 Coming: Crash Team Racing: Nitro Refueled
The recent success of the Crash Bandicoot N'Sane Trilogy more than likely surprised Activision. It sold really well and communicated to Activision that fans will pay for quality remakes of their favorite 90s games. Activision followed up the remastered Crash Bandicoot trilogy by doing the same with Spyro in 2018. At the 2018 Game Awards, Activision revealed the 3rd project in their new movement and it just happened to be a remake to Crash Team Racing titled Crash Team Racing: Nitro Refueled. Fans immediately lost their minds at the visual upgrade the game received.
27 Coming: Trials: Rising
The Trials series is arguably one of Ubisoft's most consistent in terms of release quality and is often overlooked when skimming over their yearly portfolio. The Trials games managed to bring a refreshing and challenging experience to the world of racing games and platformers. It mixes the two genres perfectly and allows players to create their own levels with an extensive editor. This will be the first entry to release on the Nintendo Switch, a perfect home for a solid platformer that will make you smile from its wackiness as much as it will make you cry from its endgame difficulty.
26 Could Be: Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Now, most of us understand that the likelihood of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake coming out any time soon is pretty implausible. Square Enix has a track record of lengthy development cycles that their fans have had to deal with for ages. The glimmer of hope here is that it was previously stated that this remake would release in parts as opposed to a traditional release of the entire game at launch. It hasn't been confirmed or denied whether or not this is still the plan moving forward, but if you want Final Fantasy 7 Remake this year, you better hope it's still the plan.
25 Coming: Battletoads 2019
We're currently unsure if the Battletoads game slated for 2019, teased at E3 2018, is a remake, a re-imagining, or a straight sequel. The likeliest answer is that it's partially a remake and partially a re-imagining. The graphics are probably receiving a beautiful face-lift, while the gameplay is likely being tweaked to reflect modern standards and expectations. If done right, a new Battletoads game could be a perfect entry point for younger kids to enter the world of gaming. It's a franchise that's "toad" the line with zany jokes and some grown-up-oriented humor as well.
24 Could Be: Dying Light 2
During Xbox's E3 2018 press conference the world was introduced to the sequel to Dying Lying, Dying Light 2. It featured a more vibrant world with what seemed to be a stronger emphasis on the interactions between human factions in a world full of zombies. It still showcased impressive parkour movement and seems to be focusing on player agency this time around. No specific release date was given, but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility Dying Light 2 releases in 2019. It also wouldn't be too surprising if it ends up releasing on the next-generation of consoles either.
23 Coming: Nioh 2
Nioh managed to invoke much of what people loved from the Dark Souls games while at the same time presenting an experience that felt uniquely difficult and mysterious. In terms of sales, the original managed to exceed sales expectations and see surprising numbers when it came to overall revenue. There have currently been rumblings about Nioh making its way to the Xbox platform. If it does and ends up selling well, don't be surprised if this much-anticipated sequel also lands on Xbox One by the end of 2019. Still no word on if Nioh will ever come to the Nintendo Switch, though.
22 Could Be: Dino Crisis Remake
Capcom has been on a real hot streak of delivering fans remakes and new experiences for the franchises that they love. Between Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Yakuza there's never been a better time to be a fan of Capcom. The recent release of Resident Evil 2 and the upcoming release of Devil May Cry V, fans of those series are riding an all-time high. There is one franchise, however, that Capcom hasn't really paid much respect to in the eyes of their fans. Dino Crisis is a beloved franchise that could really use a remake/re-imagining in hopes of reinvigorating a long-dormant franchise.
21 Coming: Shenmue 3
Shenmue is arguably the most iconic cult classic franchise in video games. Fans of the series love the world and characters of Shenmue and are willing to overlook many of its shortcomings simply because the nostalgia and charm are so overwhelming. Thanks to a shoutout at one of Sony's E3 conferences that helped launch a successful Kickstarter campaign, Shenmue 3 is now a reality. If you're wondering how this miracle came to be, simply thank Michael Huber of Easy Allies on Youtube for never giving up on the dream of dreams. His reaction to its announcement went viral and it's a beautiful thing.
20 Coming: Windjammers 2
Now, most of you reading this list probably have no idea what the first Windjammers game is. Well, the game was recently brought over to the PlayStation 4 in 2018 and showed the world why it has a hardcore base of fans who love it. Windjammers is an arcade sports game were players throw frisbees back and forth at one another. Think of it as fast-paced pong meets NBA Jam, but instead of basketball it's a volleyball frisbee game. Though simplistic, it's highly replayable and a blast to play with friends on a Saturday night. Everyone just wants one more chance to show they're the frisbee champion.
19 Could Be: Bayonetta 3
Fans of the Bayonetta series have one entity to thank for this game's very existence. Without Nintendo, the Bayonetta franchise would have never received an initial sequel, and it seems like the upcoming third entry is happening solely because Nintendo wants it on the Nintendo Switch. Platinum Games is a developer with a lot of high highs and some low lows, but they've always delivered with the Bayonetta series. Though very little has been shown since its initial reveal, don't be surprised if it shows up in Nintendo's next Direct with a harder release window or date attached to it.
18 Coming: Rage 2
During their 2019 E3 presentation, Bethesda showed off its brand new vision for the Rage franchise. The original was mostly considered an iD Software tech showpiece and received a net positive reception from critics. The game had it's narrative and gameplay issues, but it did feature many mechanics and first-person shooter experiences players fell in love with. The sequel is set in a huge open world and cranks the anarchy punk themes to 11. It's being co-developed by Avalanche, the guys behind the overlooked and loved Mad Max open world game from a few years ago.
17 Coming: Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is a game that seems to have been a pipe dream for a long time, and recently became a reality that Tim Shafer is focused on delivering. They were able to fund a good portion of the game through the crowdfunding platform known as Fig, where backers get a financial stake in the end product. The publisher of the game was recently raided by Swedish police in connection to insider trading and is likely on the brink of closure. Tim has reassured fans that there are backup plans and strategies in place when this very likely event takes place in the coming weeks or months.
16 Coming: Shovel Knight: King Of Cards
Fans have been waiting to see what Yacht Club Games has in mind for a follow-up to their hit Shovel Knight. Before they can do that they're still hard at work on completing the promises they made to backers when Shovel Knight was initially funded. King of Cards is the last stretch-goal expansion promised to backers and is looking to release in 2019. It was initially announced that it would likely be coming in the first half of the year, but a recent update stating Yacht Club Games is taking some extra time to polish it up. Look for it to release in the second half of 2019.
15 Could Be: Beyond Good And Evil 2
Sometimes your dreams may seem impossible, and though that may be the case, there's nothing against truly believing in something. That's how most people feel when it comes to the possibility of Beyond Good & Evil 2 releasing in 2019. The last two times we've seen the game it featured beautiful cinematic cutscenes followed by rough-but-promising gameplay in the early alpha stages of development. The chances of this game coming out in 2019 are probably lower than that of Final Fantasy 7 Remake if we're being honest. Still, don't ever give up on your dreams no matter how unrealistic they are.
14 Coming: Super Meat Boy Forever
Super Meat Boy is a very important game when it comes to understanding what it did for indie games as a whole in the console space. Not only was it one of the first premiere indie titles on the Xbox 360, but it also helped usher in an era of quality indie games and made it viable for independent developers to make sufficient profits for their high-quality work. This upcoming follow-up to the brutally challenging, but equally addictive platformer is set to redefine what makes up a Super Meat Boy game. Here's hoping it's just as crazy, funny, and challenging as the original.
13 Coming: Luigi's Mansion 3
In typical fashion for Luigi, it seems that the 3rd entry in his adorable Ghostbuster's inspired franchise is being overlooked and forgotten in favor of Super Mario Maker 2, Pokemon Sword & Shield, and many other Nintendo Switch titles coming in 2019. The reveal was pretty funny considering most reactions to the Nintendo Direct weren't sure if it was a port of the original game as opposed to a new entry. The confusion was likely due to the lower than expected graphical quality of the game. Here's hoping Luigi's Mansion 3 sells well so he can get a proper budget for his next outing.
12 Could Be: Borderlands 3
We're all aware of this mysterious AAA 2K game that's supposed to release before March of 2020. It's something 2K made sure to reiterate during their investor calls, just to make sure their investors know a large amount of revenue is right around the corner. Many people assume this game will be Borderlands 3 despite Gearbox Software's numerous issues involving Randy Pitchford and issues. Some game journalists have suggested that Borderlands 3 might be Gearbox's version of a games-as-service type game considering the framework of Borderlands would translate to the genre.
11 Coming: Gears V
Gears of War 4 was a mixed bag among franchise newcomers and veterans of the series. The game introduced a trio of new protagonists and started laying the seeds for a new direction for the franchise often labeled as a mindless bro-shooter. At E3 2019, The Coalition unveiled their new direction for the iconic Xbox franchise and it revolves around Kait Diaz. The game seems to be making the narrative a heavy focus which is reflected by the series officially dropping the "of War" in its title with the 5th entry, Gears V.
10 Coming: Spelunky 2
Spelunky was a hit indie game on Xbox 360 that introduced many gamers to what a rogue-like experience really is. The game is very addictive and led many people to hundreds of sleepless nights due to the "just one more run" mindset. The game was also full of so many secrets and Easter eggs that the community found through experimentation. Spelunky 2 seems to take the adventure to the skies where players will take control of the original spelunker's daughter. Here's hoping the sequel gives us as much enjoyment, pain, and sense of reward as the original.
9 Coming: Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Machine Games not only revitalized the Wolfenstein franchise, they managed to showcase the perfect way to blend ultra-intense first-person shooter gameplay with a crazy story that's over the top but still manages to engage the player with a story and characters that matter to them. Wolfenstein: Youngblood has players taking over control of BJ Blaskowicz's twin daughters who were still in the womb during Wolfenstein: New Colossus. Hopefully, this game will continue to progress the Wolfenstein series that we've all come to know and love.