20 Biggest Games Of 2014: What Do We Already Know?

16. Mario Kart 8 (May 30)

The Wii U has had a continually troubled trajectory since its release 18 months ago, though the impending release of Mario Kart 8 just might be enough to give it a sorely-needed boost. The various iterations of the game throughout the years have always been flagship titles for whichever platform they landed on, and Nintendo will doubtless be hoping that they can milk enough nostalgia from their previous successes to start shifting more of their Wii U consoles. This past week, journalists have been able to play the game for themselves, and the response has been universally positive. Digital Spy particularly commended the excellent visuals and track selection (which is a mix of new and classic courses), as well as the bizarre addition of anti-gravity sections to make this feel like more than just an HD upgrade of what came before (as is a frequent criticism of many Nintendo titles). Will It Deliver? Almost certainly. The Wii U really needs a win right now, so even if the game falls slightly short of expectations (which at this stage seems unlikely), it'll still end up hailed as one of the console's best and brightest titles.