1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
E3 2013 will always be remembered as one of the most dramatic in the history of the event, but it was also one of the very best when it came to the huge amounts of promising software that was shown. While many of the big "next-gen" titles looked like enhanced versions of current-gen ones, there were a handful of games that looked truly next gen: games that in no way possible could work on the aging PS3's and 360's in millions of homes across the world. Games like Metal Gear Solid V were stunning in their scope and attention to detail, and other games like The Division look to seamlessly integrate single player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer in ways that have never been seen on consoles before. But in many ways, the defining next generation game of E3 2013 was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The final chapter in Geralt of Rivia's trilogy, The Witcher 3 looks poised to be a true game-changer: a game that will set a new standard for RPG's and one that will lead the charge into the new generation. Much of the discussion surrounding The Witcher 3 has been around its new open world, a first for the series. Rumored to be at least 20% larger than the world of Skyrim, the game is also running on developer CD Projekt RED's new engine that will feature stunning environmental detail, dynamic weather effects, and a seamless, load-free gameplay experience. CD Projekt RED is also promising a 50+ hour main campaign and dozens of hours of side quests that will be available across the grand world, so we could very well be looking at the biggest single player RPG experience to ever be seen on consoles. The scope of the game doesn't seem to be impacting The Witcher 3's gameplay either, a challenge that Bethesda's wonderful open world RPG's haven't quite managed to overcome. The combat is reported to be an evolution of the rock-solid mechanics that graced The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, promising a much more deliberate, tactical pace to the combat. The inclusion of steeds and boats to the navigation of the world should be a nice touch as well. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of The Witcher 3, which may very well end up being its biggest challenge as a game, is how it is going to balance being a story-centric experience while adopting an open world format. Although several games, such as Red Dead Redemption and Sleeping Dogs, have managed to be effective storytellers while following the open world structure, The Witcher series comes from a tradition of very strong, mature, player-driven storytelling that has distinguished it not only from other RPG's, but from most other games, period. The developer has promised, while revealing very little detail, that the Witcher 3 will be the first game to truly solve this problem, and will deliver a Witcher-quality story while at the same time giving gamers the most vast and detailed sandbox ever made. These are bold statements. But if there is a developer that can pull this off, it is CD Projekt RED. A huge, open, dark fantasy RPG with a strong story, choices that matter, and top notch gameplay? Yes, please. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is going to be one of the most exciting games to watch for in 2014, regardless of genre. This is
true next gen stuff, folks. And the most exciting thing, is that it's only the beginning of what's to come. As if being a fan of RPG's wasn't already great enough, it looks like it's only going to get better in 2014 and beyond. What other RPG's are you looking forward to in the future? Let us know in the comments below!