Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
Platform: PC
Release date: Fall 2019
The Age of Empires series is a favorite amongst real-time strategy buffs, and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is a chance to revisit the series as one of its historical highs - or try it for the first time, if you're new. Not only will you get to enjoy a visually and aurally improved version of the original game, you'll get to play through "The Last Khans" which features three new campaigns and four new civilizations. It will also probably be easier to find multiplayer matches in the new game than the original, and you'll have your choice of 35 civilizations to play as when you do.
The Outer Worlds
Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: October 25, 2019
If Fallout: New Vegas is still your favorite Fallout game, you need to start paying attention to The Outer Worlds. Obsidian Entertainment, who developed New Vegas and a number of other beloved RPGs as an independent studio before being bought up by Microsoft last year, finally revealed the release date for their game along with a slick new trailer. Obsidian is really trying to drive home how much choice you have to shape your character's path in the game - you can be the space-age equivalent of a noble gunslinger, or you can be murderous scumbag who is only out for their own gain. It may not be the flashiest first-person game you'll see at E3 this year, but it may be the one that sticks with you the longest.
Empire of Sin
Platform(s): Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: Spring 2020
John Romero is best known for his role in creating Doom, but his new studio Romero Games is making something a bit different: an XCOM-style, top-down tactics game set in 1920s Chicago. You can play Empire of Sin as a variety of gang bosses, be they real historical figures like the infamous Al Capone or made-up archetypal thugs, running things in the underworld and putting the screws to any opposing gangs. Your aim to take over every illegal operation in the city, building by building, and become its reigning crime kingpin. From the looks of the reveal trailer, Empire of Sin is sure to have plenty of snappy jazz tunes, blazing tommyguns, and noir stories layered over all the turn-based tactics.
Bleeding Edge
Platform: PC, Xbox One
Release date: TBA
The new game from the developers of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and DmC: Devil May Cry is a change in tempo: it's a 4-on-4 online action game starring a unique cast of heroes/weirdoes. It's not coming from quite as far out of left field as it might seem - Ninja Theory has a ton of experience with making melee combat shine as well as making us fall in love with unexpected characters. What little Bleeding Edge gameplay we saw looked interesting, and we won't have to wait long to get a much better look at it - a Bleeding Edge alpha is coming on June 27.
Minecraft Dungeons
Platform: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Release date: Spring 2020
Diablo-style, top-down dungeon crawling in the world of Minecraft, give you a whole new perspective on the familiar blocky aesthetic. Oh, and you can play through with up to four players in either online or local co-op (though local's only supported on Xbox One). Minecraft Dungeons was already announced last year, but getting our first look at how delving deep into dangerous encounters was a treat - and you can already imagine how the items and crafting systems you already know will feed into an entirely different kind of combat-focused play experience.
FIFA 20
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: September 27, 2019
Street football finally returns in FIFA 20, and though it has the same free-wheeling attitude as FIFA Street, you'll find a more grounded and flexible experience in the new Volta Football mode. Teams can face off in everything from 3v3 to 5v5 with or without dedicated goalies - and with or without walls, as arenas from Tokyo rooftops to professional futsal pitches allow. It's also the first time FIFA will let both men and women players face off in the same matches, which is pretty cool. Even if you prefer to stick with pro ball, improvements to player awareness and all-new goal kicking systems will give you plenty to sink your cleats into.
Madden 20
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: August 2, 2019
There's going to be another Madden - you're shocked, I know - but you may be more surprised to hear that you can participate in a beta for Madden 20 at the end of E3 week. The beta will run from Friday to Sunday and give you the chance to try out all of the games' modes save for its Madden Ultimate Team and Face of the Franchise story campaign. Once you're in, you'll get to enjoy the work EA's put into a fresh new presentation for the game, including some much-requested changes to the on-screen scoreboard and menus across the rest of the game. Make sure you check out our wishlist of Madden 20 features for more stuff we want added to the game.
The Sims 4: Island Living
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release date: June 21, 2019 (PC) / July 16, 2019 (consoles)
You can get those refreshing summer vibes year round with The Sim 4: Island Living, an expansion featuring a tropical getaway for your Sims. You'll be able to turn your Sim into a mermaid (though you'll have to provide Ariel's singing voice yourself), become a conservationist and make it your mission to clean up any trash off the beach, or just have fun in the sun by riding Jet Skis, snorkeling through coral reefs, and playing with dolphins. Even without a mermaid's tail, any Sim can now walk into open water, and you can decorate your home with Polynesian-style flower prints, tikis, and beach-ready furniture aplenty. If you want to live dangerously, you can even build your house near an active volcano, or befriend some elemental spirits who watch over the island.
Watch our latest Release Radar video to see what's big in games and entertainment this week.
