Our 10 Most Anticipated Action Games Of 2018

Many of us are still catching up on the phenomenal games that came out in 2017, but most game developers aren't ready to stop making games yet, which means that a whole  new lineup of must-play titles will soon be vying for our time. We polled the Game Informer staff about this coming year's lineup, and here are the top 10 action games that we can't wait to get our hands on.

10. Days Gone
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4
Post-apocalyptic open-world survival games aren't as fresh as they once were, but we're still hopeful for SIE Bend Studio's take on zombie killing. Players take control of a drifter and former bounty hunter named Deacon St. John, who has been wandering the road, living in wilderness encampments, and eking out a pale existence in the wake of a global pandemic that nearly wiped out humanity. The game's zombies, called Freakers, behave differently depending on the environment. For example, they might seem weak and slow during the day, but will become fast and aggressive at night. Here's hoping the final release comes together.

09.  Mega Man 11
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Mega Man fans have had a long wait since the Blue Bomber's last adventure. Fortunately, Capcom hasn't forgotten how it's done in the interim. Mega Man 11 might look modern, but it remains true to the series' roots. Eight new robot masters give Capcom's adorable blue robot a hearty challenge, but four difficultly modes should make it easier for newcomers to adjust to Mega Man's traditionally unforgiving action/platforming. Capcom also has one new mysterious mechanic up its sleeve, which we'll hopefully learn more about later this year.

08. Skull & Bones
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Those who couldn't get enough of the naval battles from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag should get ready to set sail again later this year. Ubisoft Singapore is taking the tactical pirate battles established in the Assassin's Creed series and expanding them to create this standalone adventure. Players will be able to customize their own pirate captain and then loot the Indian Ocean by themselves or with up to five friends. Players can also expand their fleets with a variety of ships, including sloops-of-war, frigates, and brigantines - then outfit those vessels with mortars, broadside cannons, and rockets. Polish off your spyglasses, because you don't want Skull & Bones to drift by without a closer look.

07. A Way Out
Release: March 23
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Directed by Josef Fares - whose previous work includes Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - A Way Out follows the adventure of two convicts who escape from prison and remain on the lam. The unique twist to this prison break is that the entire game is built around split-screen co-op, and must be played with another player, either locally or online. This means that while one player is engaged in a certain task, they will always see the progress their partner is making in a separate window. For example, while one player distracts a guard, the other player might hunt around for a tool to aid their escape. We're still not sure if players can keep their attention split throughout an entire game, but we're excited to see how this oddball take on co-op actually plays.

06. Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life
Release: March 20      
Platform: PlayStation 4
Yakuza might have finally reached a tipping point in the west. We love the series' wacky vibe and freeform open world. Yakuza 6 looks to give players their money's worth, since it will be jam-packed with a variety of unique missions and side quests. The story centers on mainstay Kazuma Kiryu who returns to Hiroshima after a three-year prison sentence. Of course, after we're done in Hiroshima, he'll probably be on his way back.

05. State of Decay 2
Release: 2018
Platform: Xbox One, PC
The original State of Decay was ripe with technical problems, but we loved the tense atmosphere of this particular brand of zombie survival horror. Fortunately, Undead Labs' second outing looks more polished. Additionally, you'll now be able to team up with up to three other players as you gather resources, shore up your base of operations, and fend off endless waves of the undead. However, State of Decay 2 still features permadeath, so don't expect this outing to be any less tense.

04. God Of War
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4
After putting the Greek pantheon six feet under, Kratos escapes to the frozen north, hoping to live the rest of his life in relative peace. Unfortunately, the Norse gods aren't keen on leaving Kratos alone. Players will get to use Kratos' new magical axe to cut through an army of trolls and Jörmungandr, level up his rage-fueled abilities, and issue commands to his son Atreus. Despite a greater and more mature focus on storytelling, the new God of War still features plenty of larger-than-life action, which feels more personal thanks to the new camera perspective.

03. Spider-Man
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4
QTE sequences be damned, Insomniac's take on everyone's favorite wall-crawler looks like a good time. Set within its own continuity, this version of Spider-Man lets players explore an open-world version of New York as our hero battles low-rent criminals and iconic supervillains. Fortunately, comic characters like Mr. Negative will give players some fresh faces to punch. Insomniac hasn't detailed all of Spider-Man's mechanics, but the brief looks we've had of the game's stealth and action look bombastic in all the right ways.

02. Monster Hunter: World
Release: January 26 (PS4, Xbox One), TBA (PC)
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Monster Hunter fans don't need to be sold on another Monster Hunter game, but Capcom's massive action/RPG might finally reach a wider audience in the West this year thanks to a number of quality-of-life improvements that have streamlined the action. Fortunately, the series core loop remains intact, so we can't wait to team up with several friends, hunt down massive, dinosaur-like creatures, and then use their bones to make new weapons and armor. Monster Hunter: World's giant list of weapons should make it easier than ever for newcomers to find a favorite hunting weapon. 

01. Red Dead Redemption 2
Release: 2018
Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Oddly enough, our most anticipated action game of the year was also our most anticipated action game of last year. Rockstar might have delayed Red Dead Redemption 2's release late last year, but that only means that it's had more time to polish the sequel to one of the best games from the last generation. Set during the waning years of the American frontier, Red Dead Redemption 2 follows the story of outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of the Dutch van der Linde gang, who can hunt wildlife, dual-wield pistols, and canoe across vast stretches of the wild west. Rockstar is the best-in-class at capturing atmosphere, and based on everything we've seen so far, we can't wait to lose hundreds of hours exploring Red Dead Redemption 2's awe-inspiring world.

Get a feel for what else is on the horizon this year by reading our genre-free list of the 20 Most Anticipated Games of 2018.