2019 is shaping up to be another great year in gaming. Ghost of Tsushima looks amazing, there's a new game coming from the makers of Dark Souls, and of course, Nintendo will have plenty of surprises for us on the Switch. That's just the original stuff though. Plenty of older franchises; some storied and some not, are returning with new installments as well. In fact, the variety is staggering when it comes to video game sequels in 2019. A few of these games have been years in the making and others we're surprised are finally being released at all.
A sequel is always a risky gambit and it'll be interesting to see what some of these new releases do. Will they be able to revive a long gone property for a new generation? Will they live up to the potential their first installment couldn't muster? Will they be worth the years-long wait some fans have had to suffer through? Only time will tell, but just polishing up things that worked perfectly fine the first time will work too. All we want in the end are good games. If any of these sequels can deliver on that, that will be enough.
Some of the names on this list will be familiar to gamers. Some of these names we haven't heard from in years. Nevertheless, all of them are coming back next year for the second, third, and maybe even fifth or more time. Here are 30 Video Games We Didn't Realize Were Coming In 2019.
30 Battletoads
One of the most infamously difficult NES games ever (and that's saying something) Battletoads is kind of the little franchise that couldn't. The series, while memorable, never had the success it seemed to be aiming for back in its day. But after testing the waters with cameos in Shovel Knight and Killer Instinct, that may change next year. Battletoads is coming back with original developer Rare Studios. An Xbox One exclusive, the new game is going to feature an updated art style and 3-player co-op. We don't know much besides that, but it's cool to have a classic series back.
29 Shenmue 3
Now here's a cult classic. The original Shenmue games have often made "Best game of all time" lists and fans have been waiting years for the finale to this kung fu revenge saga. And we do mean years. Shenmue 2 came out in 2001.
Some had given up hope this game was ever going to come out.
But after a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2015 and three years of additional development, Shenmue 3 is finally going to be released to the world. Series creator Yu Suzuki hasn't revealed much as to the game's content yet. The fact that it's coming out at all is amazing.
28 Devil May Cry 5
After the mixed reception to Team Ninja's series reboot DmC: Devil May Cry back in 2013, fans have been waiting for a proper sequel to this classic 3D action series. The wait won't be much longer with Devil May Cry 5 out next March.
This new game looks to bring the series back to its roots.
Nero, the protagonist of Devil May Cry 4, is back as the lead with series hero Dante along for the ride. A new character named V is joining the cast as well. The trailers are promising a return to the demon hack and slash experience the series is known for.
27 Gears 5
It might have only been two years since the last Gears of War game, but this new installment looks to shake things up. Along with a shortened title, Gears 5 will feature the series first female lead. Kait Diaz, the Outsider from Gears of War 4. No worries though fans, series protagonist Marcus Fenix and son will be there too. The game's plot is supposed to focus around discovering the origins of the Locust villains and be a more intimate story overall. Answers to big series mysteries have fans very excited, along with all the third-person action Gears of War is known for.
26 The Last Of Us 2
It was inevitable that The Last of Us was going to get a sequel. After both the financial and critical success of the game, it would have been unthinkable for any publisher. The only question would be how long we'd wait. The answer is six years. The Last of Us Part 2 will continue the story of Joel and Ellie, with actors Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson back in the roles, five years after the previous game. Not much is known about the story yet, or a release date announced, but you can bet gamers are waiting with bated breath.
25 Rage 2
Honestly, we're surprised that this game even exists. The original Rage was a shooter from Doom creators Id Software back in 2011. It wasn't a particularly bad game, but it wasn't a very good one either.
It was mostly kind of generic. Nobody thought it needed a sequel.
And yet, we're getting one, and it actually looks good. Bethesda seems to be working the same magic they did for Wolfenstein and Doom for Rage. Plus, developer Avalanche already has a knack for insane post-apocalyptic action with their Mad Max adaptation. Rage 2 is shaping up to be anarchic fun.
24 Yoshi's Crafted World
The Wii U had many underrated gems on it, but Yoshi's Wooly World might have been the most underrated. Following up on the "everything is made of arts & crafts" look of Kirby's Epic Yarn, Wooly World was a true sequel to the N64 classic Yoshi's Story. Thankfully Nintendo is giving everyone a chance to rectify their mistake with this Switch sequel. A classic style platformer, Yoshi's Crafted World is pushing the handmade aesthetic even further with levels that look like paint, felt, and cardboard dioramas. This game has been delayed for two years, but the final result looks adorable.
23 Dead Or Alive 6
The announcement of another Dead or Alive game usually isn't cause for celebration. Gamers know what to expect from this franchise. A fighting game with characters in out there outfits and a focus on physics. But Dead or Alive 6 seems to be changing things. Developers Team Ninja have said the new game will feature more realistic anatomy and less juvenile titillation.
The complex controls have also been toned down to let newer players adjust and learn to play easier. We're interested to see how Team Ninja's new approach pays off.
22 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Through its many handheld games, the Fire Emblem franchise has found an audience here in the West. The mix of complex characters and in-depth strategy has a passionate fanbase. Nintendo has noticed this and are bringing the first console Fire Emblem game in over 10 years to Switch. Fire Emblem: Three Houses seems to shake up the gameplay a little. Still a turn-based tactical RPG, the control schemes look streamlined for newcomers. No word yet on the story besides a few setting and character names. If nothing else, this probably means we'll have a new Smash Bros. fighter in the near future.
21 Crackdown 3
Crackdown's big superhero-inspired open-world gameplay was somewhat unique back when it came out. But in the nearly a decade since Crackdown 2, both open-world games and superheroes have flourished without it. Any sequel would need to do something to set itself apart.
Thankfully, Crackdown 3 looks to be doing just that.
Again set in a near-future, crime-infested city, the new game retains the open world but implements a "Gang Bites Back" system. Meaning that depending on how you've been playing, the criminals can take over portions of the map or send goons after you. Everybody's playthrough will be different.
20 Metro Exodus
Based on a series of Russian post-apocalyptic sci-fi novels, the Metro games have been under most people's radar. Those that have played them, love them though, for their great mix of first-person shooter, stealth, and even some survival horror elements. The games just drip atmosphere. Metro Exodus seems like the perfect game to bring this series to more people's attention. Taking the setting out of the Moscow subways and into the post-nuclear Russian wilderness, Exodus promises a bigger world than any Metro game yet but with just as much atmosphere. A new sandbox-ish gameplay approach could hook new players.
19 Wasteland 3
The gap between the first two Wasteland games was 26 years. Waiting five for this sequel doesn't seem too bad, and that wait seems worth it. One of the major inspirations for Fallout, Wasteland is a squad-based tactical RPG. The upcoming third installment is moving the post-apocalyptic action from the desert to frosty Colorado. That's a cool change already, but this sequel is also offering an entire multiplayer campaign. Players can recruit a friend and go on separate missions, but the outcomes have consequences for the overall story. So maybe don't play with someone you wouldn't trust with something important.
18 Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Ori and the Blind Forest was a Disney-inspired game for Steam and Xbox. It quickly gained critical acclaim for its splendid animation and emotionally affecting story laid over tried & true Metroidvania gameplay. And in the three years since its release, gamers have wondered if we'd heard the last from Ori. This sequel shows we haven't. Improving on the visual style of the first game, Ori and the Will of the Wisps appears to expand on the gameplay and tell another rich story. Developer Moon Studios has taken two years to craft this follow up. It looks to be a great time.
17 Spelunky 2
The first Spelunky game from back in 2008 was one of the games that sparked the indie retro-gaming renaissance. A procedurally-generated platformer released for free online, Spelunky inspired many other designers. That it's getting a sequel is more than a pleasant surprise. Players will be taking control of the daughter of the first game's protagonist this time around and liquid water physics look to add a fun extra dimension to the gameplay. Both veterans and newcomers alike should be able to jump in, no problem. And just like the first game, it will be available for free online.
16 Animal Crossing Switch
Everybody loves Animal Crossing. Nintendo's small-town life simulator has charm to spare and every one of the games has become a beloved time sink. So when Nintendo announced a new Animal Crossing for Switch at E3 (after some Smash Bros. trolling), people went wild. No details about gameplay or a release date have been announced yet, but does that really matter? It's Animal Crossing. People know what to expect. You're going to run chores, meet your neighbors, decorate your house, and be in perpetual debt to Tom Nook. That raccoon is a damn loan shark.
15 Bayonetta 3
Against all odds, the Bayonetta series keeps surviving. The first game came out on Xbox 360 and PS3, and stunned gamers with its difficulty and provocative protagonist. Then the sequel was a Wii U exclusive and seemed like it would be buried by the console's failure.
But, almost unbelievably, a third installment is on its way.
An exclusive for the Nintendo Switch, very little has been announced about Bayonetta 3 yet. But Nintendo looks to be giving the game and character a major push. They've re-released the first two games on Switch to catch up new players and Bayonetta herself was added to Smash Bros.
14 Serious Sam 4
It's been about eight years since Serious Sam brought his less than serious approach to alien invasions and first-person shooters. But he'll be making his return to gaming next year. Gameplay-wise, not much seems to have changed. If the demo is anything to go by though, it'll be a crazy good time. Not only will players gun their way through over-the-top alien monsters, they'll also be teaming up with NPCs for even wilder action. Developer Croteam promises battles with thousands of characters fighting at once. Serious Sam 4, with the wonderful subtitle Planet Badass, has no release date right now.
13 Evil Genius 2
The original Evil Genius had a neat idea for a real-time strategy game. Players took on the role of a James Bond-movie evil mastermind, managing their evil lair and acting out their scheme for world domination. It had potential but didn't really come together in that game. When the game's developer went out of business, a sequel seemed unlikely. But you can't keep a good villain down. Studio Rebel Developments picked up the license and are preparing a sequel. It'll be their first RTS made with a new engine too. Details are scarce right now but we're interested.
12 The Talos Principle 2
One of the many sci-fi first-person puzzle games to ape Portal, The Talos Principle switched things up by focusing on philosophy over humor. Along with great puzzles, it was able to separate itself from the pack. After a DLC pack, the intriguing story was mostly wrapped up and gamers thought that would be it. Developer Croteam has said otherwise and announced a sequel back in 2016. Details have been scarce since then, but they assure us the game is still on the way. Just gives gamers plenty of time to replay the original in the meantime.
11 Mount & Blade 2
A medieval warfare sim and RPG from 2010, Mount & Blade has survived on its modding potential more than its graphics. Modders have taken its basic gameplay and re-skinned the action for big franchises like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Still, there comes a time when a game engine needs to get updated and that time has come for Mount & Blade.
The sequel has been in development since 2012.
Developers TaleWorlds Entertainment have promised better graphics, smarter AI, and improved gameplay. 13 minutes of gameplay were shown at E3 2017, but there hasn't been much news since. Modders are eagerly waiting for a release date.