1. TORCHLIGHT 2
Play it on: PC Out: September 20
Now that Diablo 3 has finally delivered, playing out to a cacophony of mouse clicks and a fountain of coins, it's Torchlight 2's turn to shake the foundations of the dungeon crawler.The first game was well received by the PC community, despite its paper-thin story, and Torchlight 2 seeks to pick up where that game left off. In fact, it looks perfectly positioned for loot em' up fans tired of Blizzard's baby. New to the dungeon-raiding party is LAN co-op, vast overland areas and new hub towns, a revised interface for users confused by convoluted menus, and - excitingly - TorchED, an editor which lets players add new mods and content to the world. Let's not forget, however, about returning pets - they'll trot to town and sell your loot so you don't have to. BG
2. BORDERLANDS 2
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: September 21
One of Borderlands 2's biggest improvements over the original is that the entire game world is now connected. If you see something in the distance, you can travel there without an intrusive loading break. But don't expect a quick ride: this game is huge. Another important upgrade is that enemies now behave in interesting ways. They won't just charge blindly at you: they'll work in teams, and some larger enemies even have the ability to 'buff' their underlings. It's a layer of tactics that should add some variety to the RPG-style grinding that the game is famed for. A new class, the Mechromancer, can summon a huge robot helper made of scrap metal, but she'll initially only be available to people who have pre-ordered and have access to the so-called 'Premiere Club'. The first review in GamesMaster garnered an insane-o-score. Here at CVG, we're not sure it's quite that good - but, as you'll see in our review it's still seriously good. AK
3. PES 2013
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3 Out: September 21
If FIFA 13 is unsurprisingly good, PES 2013... isn't. Is. You know what we mean. Once the Nottingham Forest (European Cup winning version) of football games, it then became the Nottingham Forest (relegation to League 1 version) of football games - until this year. Back on riotously good form, Konami's vision of the Beautiful Game is different to FIFA, leaning heavily on iteration (often via finger-bleeding frustration), but few other games give you such profound 'Eureka!' moments. When you 'get' PES, when it finally makes sense, it's a proper epiphany, every one-two, every flick, every perfectly-weighted through ball feeling as dazzling, unique and important as its real-life equivalent. This year's PES/FIFA face-off is closer than ever, but they remain very different games. It's just a shame that PES still has such awful commentary. TW
4. LITTLEBIGPLANET VITA
Play it on: PS Vita Out: September 21
It's fair to say that it hasn't been the best of starts for PS Vita. Despite looking the part, packing bundles of power under the hood, and - eventually, at least - being backed by some very, very big names, it's struggled to win the attention of gamers in a climate where you can now play GTA on the same device you make calls, text mates and surf the worldwide webulator on. Which is a shame because, without Vita, we would have missed out LittleBigPlanet Vita. Says CVG reviewer Andy Hartup in his upcoming review: "Nothing here feels like a novelty feature. It's all here for a reason, and that makes the single-player the best LBP campaign on any format." Add in intuitive touchscreen functionality and access to over 7m user created levels via PS3, and you have one of the biggest, best and most delightful surprises of the generation. TW
5. WORLD OF WARCRAFT: MISTS OF PANDARIA
Play it on: PC Out: September 25
This is the first major World of Warcraft update since 2010's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. It introduces the Pandaren, a race of giant talking pandas who specialise in martial arts. For the first 10 levels they're neutral, and you get to decide whether your character sides with the Alliance or the Horde. Their starting area is the titular Pandaria, an island directly south of Northrend. The new monk class uses a charge system. Regular attacks build up 'chi', which allows you to unleash more advanced attacks when filled. Pet Battle sees you entering your vanity pets into turn-based battles with other players', or creatures encountered in the wild. It's basically Azeroth's version of Pokémon, especially as pets you defeat are stored in a journal. AK
6. FIFA 13
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: September 28, November 30 on Wii U
When Celtic win the Scottish Premier League in April, it'll only be slightly less surprising than this year's FIFA 13 scoring big in next week's review. The game's Vancouver development team know exactly what they're doing now, and in this year's outing, they've added a bunch of subtle additions as well as refined the existing mechanics. One, unforced errors, sounds like the stuff of nightmares, but within the context of a match, it provides an extra layer of realism, while better interceptions, tweaked AI and new animations all help to delicately improve the game. There are bigger changes online, where - alongside a revamped Manager Mode, you'll find Match Day, which let's you recreate that week's real world fixtures, and Football Club, which gives you the chance to play out important stages of classic matches. Plus there's Skill Games too. In fact, this year's biggest downside is that Geoff Shreeves' bore-o-voice now stinks up the touchline. TW
7. RESIDENT EVIL 6
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3 Out: October 2
The J'avo in Resident Evil 6 are the long-running series' latest breed of zombie, and they're the smartest yet. They can work in teams and use guns. Yes, really. Luckily, you're now able to move and shoot at the same time. In truth, Resident Evil's survival horror roots shrivelled up and died a long time ago, so the emphasis on loud, explosion-filled action shouldn't surprise. What's interesting is that there are four types of 'scenario' now, each with their own playable characters. Jake Muller is one of the new heroes, and is the son of iconic series antagonist Albert Wesker. He teams up with Sherry Birkin (the little girl from Resident Evil 2) and the pair find themselves battling through the zombie-infested streets of Edonia, a fictional Eastern European city. Other returning characters include Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield. Want to know more? CVG's Ben Griffin played through the first 15 hours of the game recently, and offers an opinion on how it's shaping up. Or you can see 18 minutes of Leon's campaign for yourself. AK
8. XCOM: ENEMY UNKOWN
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: October 12
While 2K Marin's XCOM spin-off is a tactical first-person shooter, XCOM: Enemy Unknown from Firaxis - creators and long-time developers of the Civilization series - is more in line with MicroProse's beloved 1994 original. It's a dense, turn-based strategy game where you build an underground base and train a squad of soldiers to battle a global alien invasion. Your base, dubbed the 'ant farm', also doubles as the game's interface. Here you'll be able to research new technology, train (and name) soldiers, and capture aliens for study. Above ground, combat is turn-based and uses a cover and line of sight system. Fears that it would be 'dumbed down' for consoles are unfounded: from what we've played of it, this is very much classic XCOM. AK
9. DISHONORED
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: October 12
In Dishonored you play as Corvo Atano, a masked assassin who uses supernatural powers to take out his targets. He can teleport, possess people, and see through walls. But you you don't have to kill anyone at all. The game's design promotes freedom and creativity, and you can solve problems without resorting to violence. Maps are huge, and filled with secrets and side-missions. It's not an open world game, but the spaces are big enough that you can take multiple routes to objectives. We sneaked into a mansion by teleporting across rooftops, but we could have also possessed a rat and crawled up a drainpipe. Some of the Dishonored team worked on Deus Ex, and it feels almost like its spiritual successor. AK
10. DOOM 3: BFG EDITION
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: October 19
This HD version of Doom 3, id Software's eight-year-old horror FPS, comes complete with the Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil expansion pack, plus a new set of missions. The visuals have been given a modern overhaul, and you're now able to use your gun and flashlight at the same time. It's a worthy upgrade of a game that was unfairly panned by critics when it was first released in 2004. The dev team also added a checkpoint save system to make things easier, as well as support for 3D TVs. Unlike the original games, Doom 3 is story-driven. It's slower and more atmospheric, with voice acted NPCs and computer logs that fill in the backstory. Of course, there's still plenty of hellspawn to fry with your plasma rifle and carve up with your chainsaw. AK
11. FORZA HORIZON
Play it on: Xbox 360 Out: October 23
Forza Horizon is the first game in the series to go beyond the circuit. It's set in an enormous open world, but still retains the series' trademark realistic handling. The developers, Playground Games, are a new studio, but they have roots in some of the best racing and open world games including Project Gotham Racing 4, Colin McRae: Dirt 2, and even Grand Theft Auto IV. They've worked closely with Forza creators Turn 10 to keep the cars and driving physics authentic, but the game is less serious than Forza Motorsport 4. You'll take part in illegal street races, chase planes around twisting mountain roads, and race hot air balloons. It's also the first Forza game to feature night races and off-road sections, which should give the four-wheelers in your garage a chance to shine. Even a month out from release, we already love it. AK
12. MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: October 26
Medal of Honor: Warfighter is a big budget, Frostbite 2-powered FPS that sees you stepping into the boots of the elite Tier 1 Operators. You'll be shooting and grenading your way around locations including the Philippines and Somalia. We asked the developers what makes the game stand out from other shooters, and they said the story focuses less on the war at large, and more on the personal struggles of the soldiers themselves. How they'll portray an emotional, human story in a game where you can survive a direct shotgun blast to the chest by hiding behind a bin remains to be seen - but EA are prepping this as their biggest game this autumn. AK
13. ASSASSIN'S CREED 3
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U Out: October 31 (November 30 on Wii U)
The Assassin's Creed games are all about hiding in plain sight, and Assassin's Creed 3 features the boldest assassinations yet. You'll be fighting through and sneaking past literal armies to reach your targets. One is a British general protected by thousands of soldiers, which is made possible by Ubisoft's stunning AnvilNext engine. The scale of the battle scenes is dizzying. The environment is split between cities and the wilderness. In the wilds you'll skip between trees, hunt animals, and invade enemy camps. In the cities you can leap across rooftops and take shortcuts through building interiors. Hero Connor, another ancestor of Desmond Miles, swears no allegiance to either the Americans or the British - so you'll get to kill both. Also released at the same time is PS Vita spin-off Assassin's Creed: Liberation which plonks you in the shoes of - gasp! - a female protagonist and gives you the chance to wrestle crocodiles. AK
14. WWE 13
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii Out: November 2
If you're over twenty, here's a sobering thought: all the wrestlers you loved as a youngster are either bald or dead. The Undertaker is both (sort of). That's why, with WWE '13, developers Yuke's is bringing them back in an effort to appease fans who fondly remember the drive-a-beer-truck-to-the-ring late 90s age. Playing through the new Attitude Era campaign as Mankind, The Rock, Kane or more (there are 35 classic superstars, with eight playable in this mode) as they claw back ratings from WCW in the Monday Night Wars is enough to reinvigorate the passions of any fan long over pro wrestling. Oh, and as an added bonus, if you like your fighters with criminal convictions, you can play as renowned ear-chomper, Mike Tyson, though only if you've gone for the 360, PS3 or creaky old Wii version. Wii U owners? Sorry. Not this year. BG
15. PLANETSIDE 2
Play it on: PC Out: Autumn (TBA)
Planetside 2 is an MMOFPS focusing on class-based territorial control. You'll pick one of three factions and fight for the planet Auraxis on foot, in jeeps, and in jets. It uses the fashionable free-to-play model, but you'll only be able to buy shortcuts to items already available in the game. There are six classes, and not all of them are offensive. Engineers can repair vehicles and fortify their home base, for example. You can also climb into MAX, an armoured mech suit, as well as fire massive guns. Sony Online Entertainment have cancelled promising spy MMO The Agency to focus on Planetside 2, which says everything about their desire to get it right. AK
16. NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED (2012)
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: November 2
Developers Criterion are never happy making a good racing game - they want to make a great one. And Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012) is might be their best yet. The brains behind Burnout Paradise and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit have cherry-picked features like the Autolog, drop-in multiplayer, deep car customisation and open-world racing from their own back catalogue, but this time there's one key difference - you won't always be going forward. Evading fleets of pissed off cop cars down alleys, side streets and shortcuts ranks among the game's highlights, as does the ability to mod your car on the fly with Kinect. BG
17. HALO 4
Play it on: Xbox 360 Out: November 6
343 Industries, who have taken over development of the main Halo series from creators Bungie, have described Halo 4 as being darker and more story-driven than other games in the series. It sees Master Chief and Cortana crashing on a mysterious Forerunner planet and battling against mechanical enemies known as the Prometheans. These guys can toss back plasma grenades, protect themselves with hardlight shields, and deploy turrets. After years of fighting the Covenant, it'll be good to test our Halo skills against a new foe. Much of the story is shrouded in mystery, but the antagonist is rumoured to be Didact, a great Forerunner general that fans of Halo's expanded universe may remember from Halo Legends. AK
18. CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS 2
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U Out: November 13, (November 30 on Wii U)
For once, the extras bundled in with special editions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 might eclipse the game itself. Those who pre-order the £85 Prestige version will receive a ludicrous remote-controlled, flying, MQ-27 Dragonfire Drone. It's enough to make you forget about everything else this is packing: a new zombie campaign for up to eight players; branching storylines; Strike Force missions which let you command unmanned aerial vehicles, jets and robots; an explosive plot where World War III kicks off in L.A., Yemen and Singapore; and that same, tight multiplayer, now with score streaks that don't reward for kills alone, and multi-team matches. BG
19. HITMAN ABSOLUTION
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: November 20
Hitman games are not played, completed and discarded, but played, played and played again. If you needed any indication of that, think back to Hitman Absolution's May pre-order incentive (and insanely generous giveaway) Hitman: Sniper Challenge, a five-minute level you could quite feasibly wring weeks out of. (And an insane-o-score. Witness CVG's Iain Wilson blamming his way to a mentally huge 4,748,625 points.) Imagine this spread over a dozen open environments, with people to interact with and impromptu weapons with which to stab, smash and shoot. Each level is a sandbox on a microcosm, a sequence you can stir and subvert, each tiny variation drastically altering the outcome. Or you could just Uzi-up and shoot everyone in the head. BG
20. STARCRAFT 2: HEART OF THE SWARM
Play it on: PC Out: Autumn (TBA)
If you needed any proof Blizzard are crazy perfectionists, look no further than Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm. Starcraft 2 launched in 2010, and only now, two years later, are they ready to drop the first expansion. It will, however, be worth every penny, spanning 20 missions, a new storyline centred around Zerg leader Sarah Kerrigan, seven new multiplayer units (including mobile spider mines and the dragonfly-like Viper), and a variety of tweaks designed to maintain Starcraft 2's position on top of the competitive circuit. The 'Autumn (TBA)' date above is the only fly in the ointment: while the game's in Beta right now, Blizzard still haven't locked down a date - and analysts reckons that means a non-appearance pre-Christmas. Cross those fingers. BG
21. FAR CRY 3
Play it on: Xbox 360, PS3, PC Out: November 30
Four Ubisoft studios are working on Far Cry 3, a massive open world shooter set on a string of tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean. The stealth mechanic has, mercifully, been majorly overhauled since Far Cry 2, and you can now silently dispatch enemies with stealth takedowns. There will also be fast travel points to teleport quickly around the islands - although you can still move seamlessly across the entire environment if you want. Ubisoft say the map will be ten times larger than in previous installments and there'll be more detail to reward exploration. A separate co-op campaign is included, set six months before the events of the single-player story. It supports up to four players, and has its own locations and story. AK
22. DOTA 2
Play it on: PC Out: Autumn (TBA)
Defense of the Ancients was one of the most popular fan-made mods in the world, an online arena-based battler, originally developed for Warcraft 3, that became a fixture at BlizzCon, Asia's World Cyber Games, and the Cyber Evolution League. Forget Counter-Strike Source. Forget Black Mesa. Forget DayZ. This is bigger than all of them. It's little wonder Valve battled Blizzard for the rights. Valve won, and DotA 2's fast-paced blend of RPG, RTS and tower defence spearheads their push into competitive gaming. In 2011 it was the second most played eSports title behind Starcraft 2. This autumn it will go free-to-play in an attempt to seize the throne. BG
23. NINTENDOLAND
Play it on: Wii U Out: November 30
For some reason, companies have used athletics to demonstrate the capabilities of their new-fangled controllers. Nintendo chose Wii Sports. Microsoft had Kinect Sports, and for Sony it was Sports Champions. This year Nintendo seeks to buck the trend with NintendoLand, a 12-minigame compilation making use of Gamepad, Nunchuck and Remote and based on various Nintendo franchises. Race around an F-Zero track, shoot from Samus' gunship, tackle a Zelda dungeon and hunt ghosts in Luigi's mansion. Oh, and get involved in a reprise of 1986 NES title, Balloon Fight. You wanted that, right? For those with gaming mates, and for those curious about what the Wii U actually does, NintendoLand will be a must-have. BG
24. ZOMBIU
Play it on: Wii U Out: November 30
ZombiU draws parallels with Condemned, both fresh horror properties launching onto a console in a shower of blood and bludgeoning. Condemned was terrific on 360 - but what of ZombiU? It's a good stress test of the Wii U's power, impressive, rain-slick London streets and barely-lit Tube stations demonstrating snazzy effects in small, quiet scenarios. Plus, you'll be blasting your way out of Buckingham Palace too. There are never more than a handful of zombies on the screen, but this acts in ZombiU's favour - it's a tense tread punctuated by pant-wettting undead surprises. Of course, there's token use of the Gamepad as inventory screen and lock-picker, but while we wouldn't go expecting a COD-troubling supershooter, it'll likely to be solid launch day fun. BG
25. NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. U
Play it on: Wii U Out: November 30
Hardly 'new' but definitely 'Super Mario Bros.', it was a toss-up between New Super Mario Bros. U and eye-poppingly beautiful Ubisoft platformer Rayman Legends for the final slot. Both are out at launch but we opted for Mario because, well, it's Mario, and even Mario at half-power is guaranteed gaming gold. In this latest outing, up to five people can play, the fifth stunning enemies and tapping item boxes on the Gamepad. There are also fresh power-ups in Flying Squirrel suits and Baby Yoshi's who blow bubbles to attack foes and illuminate dark corners. Rayman Legends will definitely be the platformer of choice for the core crowd - it's fresher, more challenging and better looking. But never underestimate the power of the plumber. BG
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