Say what you will about 2017, it was one hell of a year for video games. PCWorld's annual Game of the Year awards and the accompanying list of the best PC games you might have missed were packed to the rafters this time, and there were even more superb games waiting in the wings. The most anticipated PC games of 2018 have a lot to live up to.
But you know what? They just might. There are already quite a few cool games on the horizon, be they games that meant to release in 2018 or games that slipped out of 2017 by accident. Monster Hunter finally comes to PC, Far Cry 5 finally goes to Montana, and Star Citizen—ha, just kidding. Star Citizen isn't releasing in 2018. Probably.
Below you'll find the titles we're most looking forward to though, with dates for those that have solid release dates planned, "release windows" for a few others, and hopes and dreams for the rest.
[ Further reading: These 20 absorbing PC games will eat days of your life ]
Monster Hunter: World – January 26
I’m listing this under its console release date, but it’s a bit misleading—Monster Hunter: World is coming to PC, but nobody’s said when yet. The console versions launch on January 26 with the PC release to follow.
The PlayStation 4 version
Monster Hunter: World - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition
$29.99
See it
on Amazon
Fingers crossed it doesn’t take long though, because Monster Hunter: World looks like it might be a breakout hit. It’s the first mainline Monster Hunter to come to non-Nintendo platforms in over a decade, and it looks stunning. Capcom recently ran a beta on PS4, and my favorite part: Someone was fighting a dragon in a pool and the dragon slammed into a nearby stone wall, which collapsed and sent a wave of water rushing out, sweeping both dragon and player over a cliff. It’s the sort of easily shared and digestible moment that might convince people to check out and maybe stick with a series known for its high difficulty and impenetrable UI, because the rewards can be worth it.
BattleTech - “Early 2018”
There’s a chance you’ve already played BattleTech. The backer beta for Harebrained’s turn-based mech game went out last summer, and included a decent slice of the multiplayer side.
Singleplayer is what I’m most anticipating though, and it’s what we’re waiting on in the full release. In BattleTech you run a mercenary company, contract killers looking for the highest bidder. Like XCOM there’s an element of persistence to grapple with—a destroyed mech is destroyed forever, a dead pilot is dead no matter how veteran he or she might be. But what makes BattleTech interesting to me is the risk/reward proposition. You can negotiate for better pay up front, or decide a mission’s not worth it halfway through and jet out of there. It’s an interesting twist, and I’m curious to see how the experience holds up when there’s a whole galaxy to explore.
