We may be sliding down the back half of 2018, but when it comes to video game releases, it feels like the year is just getting started.
Looking to capitalize on the holiday season, some of the biggest video game publishers wait until the fall and winter to debut their latest installments. It also happens to be the time of the year when more people find themselves in front of their TV screens and out of the cold.
While there are some promising original games in the works — including FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, BioWare’s Anthem, and the long-awaited Cyberpunk 2077 — the most anticipated games continue to be sequels, prequels, and spin-offs to already beloved franchises.
An already established video game series comes with a built-in audience, which makes sequels a bit more of a sure thing as far as profits are concerned. As a result, massive franchises like Call of Duty have become accustomed to cranking out a new game at the same time every year. There are also those lesser-known gems which the developers have finally gotten around to giving players a second outing.
Meanwhile, Internet rumors continue to swirl about sequels that may secretly be in the works, but we've seen plenty of video games scrapped after years of development. Until a trailer drops and a release date is set, some of these rumored sequels are definitely not a sure thing.
Here are 20 Video Game Sequels Currently In Development (And 5 That Are Just Possibilities).
25. In Development - Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
What would fall be without another Call of Duty game? Interestingly enough, players will be able to check out Black Ops 4 a month earlier than expected when the game hits shelves on October 12, 2018 — making it the first COD game without a November release date since 2005.
Black Ops 4 is also set to be the first game in the franchise without a single-player campaign mode. On top of its multiplayer gameplay, Black Ops 4 will feature zombie maps as well as a new addition called Blackout — a battle royal mode set to feature the biggest map in franchise history.
24. In Development - Fallout 76
When it comes to the Fallout series, Bethesda is known for officially announcing installments mere months before their release, meaning players will already get a chance to check out the latest addition on November 14th of this year.
Set before the other games in the series, Fallout 76 will take place in a post-apocalyptic West Virginia and feature the franchise's biggest map to date.
Uunlike the other games in the series, Fallout 76 is set to be an online-only RPG.
As a result, a beta version will be available a month early to select players who preorder the game, to help work out any bugs.
23. In Development - The Last of Us Part II
A survival horror game about two people on a cross-country trip in a world overrun by zombies is far from a new concept. But 2013’s The Last of Us managed to exceed player expectations in nearly every way imaginable, giving us a game that was both exhilarating and heart-breaking.
Can Naughty Dog possibly recreate perfection with a sequel?
The Last of Us Part II is set to pick up five years after the first game, with Ellie as the new protagonist.
This year’s E3 gave us an in-depth look at both the story and gameplay — meaning an official release date should be lurking right around the corner.
22. In Development - Halo: Infinite
Just recently, Halo writer Jeff Easterling confirmed that Halo: Infinite is, in fact, Halo 6. While this was already the assumption of many players, the open-ended trailer which debuted at this year’s E3 still had many wondering where Infinite was going to fit in the overall Halo timeline.
We now know for sure that the latest installment will pick up with Master Chief immediately following the events of Halo 5: Guardians, and that Locke will play a lesser role in the sequel.
There’s still a ton yet to be revealed about the game, including the overarching story and the projected release date.
21. Possibility - Borderlands 3
Game developer Gearbox has been notoriously close-mouthed about giving Borderland 3 an official announcement, dodging both this year’s E3 and SDCC. But a number of not-so-subtle hints have been dropped over the past few years, leading us to believe that another main installment is most likely in the works.
Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has alluded multiple times to another big Borderlands game going into development. Meanwhile, Walmart accidentally released a slate of new games on its website earlier this year, and Borderlands 3 happened to make the cut.
Still, we have yet to get a release date or any official footage to help confirm the game's existence.
20. In Development - Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
After a solid debut in 2016, this multiplayer action series is set to drop its second installment on March 15, 2019, with Tom Clancy's The Division 2.
Picking up six months after the events of its predecessor, The Division 2 will take place in a desolate Washington D.C., where the rising conflict between the opposing factions of survivors will set the stage for the action.
The first official trailer debuted at this year’s E3 to positive reviews.
Ubisoft has already announced that any downloadable content released within the first year of gameplay will be free to all.
19. In Development - Shadow of the Tomb Raider
While the reboot of the Tomb Raider films may have been D.O.A., it looks like the video game reboot series is still on track for continued success with the latest installment, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which hits stores this September.
Shadow will be the third installment of the reboot series, and the twelfth installment of the Tomb Raider series overall, which finds the player exploring the legendary lost city of Paititi.
The game will introduce a number of new mechanics to the franchise, including the ability to barter, rappel, and go into stealth mode — which brings a much-needed change of pace for a series that’s over 20 years old.
18. In Development - Kingdom Hearts 3
It’s been 13 years since Kingdom Hearts 2 was released for the PS2, and the critically-acclaimed game is finally getting a direct sequel on the PS4 and Xbox One on January 25, 2019.
The hack-and-slash adventure will pick up with series protagonist Sora as he embarks on an adventure alongside a few familiar faces, including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy.
A number of Disney settings are slated to appear in the game, including Arendelle from Frozen and San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.
Kingdom Hearts 3 will also be the first game in the series to allow teams an additional character, bringing the total up to five players per team.
17. In Development - Metro Exodus
The third installment of the post-apocalyptic series, Metro Exodus will take place two years after the events of its predecessors, Metro: Last Light.
The game will pick up with protagonist Artyom as he fights to survive in an unforgiving Russian wasteland filled with monstrous creatures and malicious survivors.
The gameplay is set to take place over the course of one year, and it will continue to draw inspiration from the series of novels written by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky.
Metro Exodus will be available for PS4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows on February 22, 2019.
16. Possibility - Bloodborne 2
At the end of last year, FromSoftware dropped a mysterious trailer at the Game Awards that many speculated was a teaser for Bloodborne 2.
That game actually turned out to be Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — another creation from Dark Souls and Bloodborne mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki. That hasn't stopped rumors from swirling about a sequel to 2015’s Bloodborne.
Miyazaki has already confirmed that he personally won't be involved with another Souls game.
With Sekiro set to be released next year, it’s possible that another Bloodborne game will be Miyazaki's next project.
Wspecially considering that the first gothic-themed RPG was such a critical and commercial success.
15. In Development - Soulcalibur VI
With an upcoming release date of October 19, 2018, Soulcalibur VI will debut almost exactly twenty years after the first Soulcalibur was released in arcades, and the latest installment is set to explore many of the mysteries of the 1998 game.
The 3D fighting game will feature a familiar cast of characters, including the ax-toting golem Astaroth and the sword-wielding Ivy Valentine. However, The Witcher protagonist Geralt of Rivia is slated to appear in the game as well, alongside the totally new Soulcalibur character Groh.
Further developments to the series will include a slow-motion attack and an increased emphasis on defensive maneuvers.
14. In Development - Darksiders III
Taking place at the same time as the previous installments of the series, Darksiders III is set to follow Fury, one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse who is tasked with trying to defeat the Seven Deadly Sins by using her wide range of weapon and magic skills.
As its name implies, this will be the third installment of the Darksiders series, which is best known for its open world format and hack-and-slash fighting style — though the games feature their fair share of puzzle and platforming challenges as well.
Darksiders III is due out on November 27, 2018.
It will be available for PS4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
13. In Development - Mega Man 11
Debuting nearly 30 years after the original, Mega Man 11 is set to hit shelves on October 2, 2018. The latest installment will pay tribute to the earlier games in the franchise while offering up a number of new features.
The platforming game will find the player once again suiting up as the eponymous hero who's tasked with taking down Dr. Wily and his army of Robot Masters.
A new boss called Blast Man will make his debut in the game, along with a Balloon Attack mode, which will allow players to revisit old levels to destroy certain balloons and avoid others while competing for the fastest time on the leaderboards.
12. In Development - Metroid Prime 4
Over a year ago, Nintendo announced that a new installment of the Metroid Prime series was officially in development for the Switch.
Those who hoped for a trailer or a release date during this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo were disappointed.
Aside from a report that the game’s development is “proceeding well,” not much else is known about Metroid Prime 4 to date.
The sci-fi series has been a Nintendo staple since the 1980s, but the last few installments were only available on the 3DS. Therefore, a release on the Switch could be just the thing the Metroid series needs to bring protagonist Samus Aran back into the mainstream.
11. Possibility - Bully 2
Rockstar Games is no stranger to controversy, which has largely come due to its Grand Theft Auto series. Even before the video game publisher released Bully — an open world game set in and around a boarding school in New England — the game was already greeted with its fair share of backlash.
The game was a lot milder than many had expected. Bully actually went on to be one of the most praised games of 2006.
The company is notorious for turning out long overdue sequels (case in point: Red Dead Redemption 2.) Some recently leaked concept art has many speculating that a sequel to Bully may finally be underway.
10. In Development - Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Ubisoft’s best-selling franchise of all time is expected to make its return when Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is released on October 8th of this year.
The game will pick up prior to the events of its predecessor — last year’s Assassin’s Creed Origins — which find the player in 431 BCE during the time of the Peloponnesian War. Origins’ character Layla Hassan is also expected to make a reappearance during the contemporary storyline.
The ability for the player to chose their character’s gender will be a new addition to the game.
Additionally, Odyssey is expected to skew more toward an RPG than previous installments, which will allow the player to affect the outcome of the story more than ever before.
9. In Development - Super Mario Party
As far as Mario spin-offs go, the Mario Party series has never been one of the most popular. That hasn’t stopped the franchise from turning out 10 installments in the last 20 years, making it the longest-running minigame series of all time.
The eleventh installment is set to be released on the Nintendo Switch on October 5th of this year, and it will be the first Mario Party game to feature an online multiplayer mode with up to 80 different games.
Super Mario Party was recently announced at this year’s E3, making it an exceptionally short wait for anxious players.
8. In Development - Battlefield V
Though we’re still a few months away from the game’s release, Battlefield V looks like one of those games that is bound to get lost during the onslaught of releases during the fall season.
Pre-orders have been reportedly low, and the October 19 release date sandwiches Battlefield V right between the releases of Black Ops 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
There will always be a faction of FPS players who have a weak spot for WWII gameplay.
Battlefield V is set to put realism at the forefront of the story, featuring certain modes that challenge the player with limited ammo and no possibility of respawning.
7. In Development - Hitman 2
A sequel to the 2016 reboot, Hitman 2 will be released for the PS4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows on November 13, 2018. The game will pick up with Agent 47 as he continues to track down the Shadow Client and unravel his mysterious past.
Those who preorder the gold and collector’s edition of the game will have access to Hitman 2 a few days before anyone else, along with immediate access to the co-op multiplayer mode Sniper Assassin, which involves taking out some long distance targets under challenging time restraints.
Unlike its predecessor — which released chapters episodically — all of the base content for Hitman 2 be available right out of the box.
6. Possibility - Watch Dogs 3
With Watch Dogs 2 being a massive step up from its predecessor, players have been anxiously awaiting a third installment of the Ubisoft franchise.
Though nothing has been officially announced as of yet, the company continues to drop clues about the game's possible development. These included an extended cutscene added to the end of Watch Dogs 2, as well as Ubisoft’s AI assistant, Sam, confirming that the game is coming along nicely whenever users ask about it.
As a game about hackers, it makes sense that the company would be cheeky about unveiling Watch Dogs 3.
We'll need something a little more concrete before this game is considered a sure thing.