Our Most Anticipated PC Games Of 2018

2017 was an amazing year on PC, giving us titles like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and more. PC titles can come out of nowhere, with early access titles, open betas, closed betas, and all manner of games in some sort of development "launching" years before an official release date. That said, here are some of the titles we know - or in some cases, simply expect - to be hitting in 2018. As anything can happen along the way, expect some hidden gems to come out of nowhere, as games like Undertale have done in past years.

13. GTFO
Release: 2018

GTFO looks like the horrific mutant lovechild of Left 4 Dead and Alien, and we couldn't be more excited. The sci-fi co-op shooter tasks a four-player team of scavengers with exploring an underground complex for precious artifacts – but you must fight your way through an army of alien monstrosities if you actually want to cash them in. GTFO is the latest project from Payday designer Ulf Andersson, and sports an equal focus on teamwork. An A.I. "Expedition Director" also promises to deliver plenty of replayability via "procedural gameplay scenarios," which could make GTFO a dream (or nightmare?) come true for co-op fans.

12. Metro Exodus
Release: Fall

The third installment in 4A Games' post-apocalyptic FPS series, Metro Exodus has Russian protagonist Artyom setting out for greener (and hopefully less radioactive) pastures. This time around players can expect to battle Metro's horrific monsters in more open sandbox environments, in addition to the linear and claustrophobic tunnels that the series is known for. Metro Exodus also boasts dynamic weather and a day-night cycle, which should make the survival-oriented action all the more immersive. Players can start stocking up on ammo and air filters sometime this fall.

11. Griftlands
Release: 2018

Klei’s impressive run of PC offerings (Don’t Starve, Invisible Inc.) has our interest piqued for this upcoming turn-based sci-fi RPG. While we haven’t seen much of it at all outside of its E3 trailer, the concept and company are enough to have us fiending for a chance to explore the outer galaxies. Pirates, mercenaries, payoffs and what looks like a fairly wondrous world to explore while you gear up and take down all manner of humanoid and alien make up the backdrop for a gritty space adventure.

10. Sunless Skies
Release: 2018

Sunless Seas was an impressive dark romp through Lovecraftian waters. The mysterious, story-soaked roguelike offered new adventures every attempt through its deadly seas. You can check out our review for that game here, and it should give you an indication of why we’re excited for the sequel. Instead of being forced to eat the crew and being assaulted by chthonic sea crabs, we can look forward to all manner of nightmarish realities in the sky on steamships. I’m sure there will be some otherworldly creatures in the celestial skies that will inspire awe, terror, and game resets – all at the same time.

9. The Last Night
Release: 2018

The Last Night, a pixelated, futuristic adventure set in a world where computers have taken on most of the world’s labor, made a splash when it premiered during Microsoft’s 2017 E3 reveal. The game looks like a stunning homage to Blade Runner and similar cyberpunk influences. The E3 trailer didn’t reveal much gameplay but suggested hints of gameplay elements from cinematic platformers like Another World and Flashback. We’re always up for another quality cyberpunk game and look forward to seeing if The Last Night lives up to the promise of its sci-fi trappings.

8. Wargroove
Release: 2018

We all love Advance Wars, and Chucklefish is giving us the prospect of a modernized take on the classic turn-based war battle of resources and units. Up to four players can play a commander and army to get into the mix, with online gameplay for those that want to dig into the strategy after tackling the campaigns. Map and campaign editors add to the mix and allow players to construct their own amazing creations. You can even play as one of the Starbound races as a faction.

7. Hunt: Showdown
Release: 2018

Crytek’s bizarre mix of teamplay hunting, monster slaying, and survival has us extremely curious to see what the final implementation will be like. Take on teams of other hunters as you track down your quarry, or team up as you attempt to take down your monstrous enemy. However, there can only be one winner, so those makeshift alliances fade quickly after the beast is downed and the trophy needs to be delivered. A tense hunt turns into a brutal battle for survival and escape, making this multi-phase hunt-and-survive experience an interesting amalgamation of several core genres.

6. Monster Hunter: World
Release: Fall

While the wait for the PC version takes us to autumn or beyond, hopefully the monster-slaying action translates well. The voracious hardcore audience for Monster Hunter titles could benefit greatly from a little PC power behind the action, with Steam serving as a great place to play with established friends and communities. While some of the ferocity behind the dinosaur thunder stomping and dragon fire-breathing may diminish by the time this hits PC, hopefully the port is worth it. Who knows, maybe we’ll even get something special for PC.

5. Dauntless
Release: 2018

Phoenix Lab’s take on beast hunting and slaying with a small squad of adventurers continues to ramp up to release with new weapons, customization options, and behemoths to square off against. The game’s promise of continuous updates for intrepid slayers to take on is an awesome one, with an ever-shifting endgame that serves up new deadly encounters on a regular basis.

4. Age of Empires IV
Release: TBA

While the RTS genre may have given up much of its legacy to the MOBA scene, if there’s any franchise that could bring it back to the spotlight, it’s Age of Empires. While we know almost nothing about the game right now, having Relic Entertainment at the helm inspires confidence that we’ll be getting something that channels the classic spirit of the RTS while adding some modern accessibility and improvements.

3. Artifact
Release: TBA

Valve’s Dota 2 inspired digital card game may not be Half-Life 3 or Left For Dead 3, but there’s plenty of room in that space for something different. Crafting a team of DOTA characters and gearing them up and pushing lanes promises to shake up a genre loaded with titles like Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone. This is especially cool for players who may not want to embrace the technical last-hitting, split-second gameplay, and sometimes tumultuous teamplay of Dota 2, but still want to load up an anti-mage and push some barracks down.

2. World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth
Release: TBA

Another WoW expansion? Yes indeed. With artifact weapons being moved out of the spotlight, players can engage on swashbuckling adventures to rip resources off islands, participate in Warcraft III style sieges, and unlock a handful of new allied races as they explore new locations like Zandalar and Kul Tiras. Legion was instrumental in reigniting the WoW spark, and hopefully tapping into the ancient animosity between Horde and Alliance will give us yet another amazing chapter.

1. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall
Release: February 8

Civilization’s expansions are always a high note, adding a ton of new options to already robust core games. Rise and Fall promises to shake things up with a smattering of new systems, several new civilizations, emergencies to spur conflict, leadership options to control your ascent to power, and an age mechanic to chart your historic rise - and maybe fall.