16 video games we can't wait to play in the near future

halo 5
Xbox

Games just keep getting better and better.

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Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo continue to push the limits of their living room game consoles, and we've seen some great games this year on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U, respectively, as a result. 

And these consoles will continue to mature, which means we're only going to be treated to better and better titles across a wide swath of genres, from adventure games to competitive shooters and more.

Here are the games we can't wait to play in the near future:

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"Star Wars: Battlefront"

star wars battlefront vader luke skywalker
EA DICE

After two “Star Wars: Battlefront” games a decade ago, EA DICE is now rebooting the beloved franchise just in time for "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens," the first major epic "Star Wars" movie coming from Disney later this year.

Though the original games centered on conquering command posts with factions made of “Star Wars” creatures like Wookies, Jawas, and Tusken Raiders, studio head Patrick Söderlund said this would be “DICE’s interpretation of what Battlefront” should be, so we’re expecting some new spins on the original concept.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: November 17, 2015

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"The Legend Of Zelda Wii U"

zelda wii u full
The first look at "The Legend of Zelda" for Wii U, coming in 2015. Nintendo

The next "Legend of Zelda" for the Wii U is being touted for its amazing visuals as well as its new open-world format, where you can travel on foot, on horseback, or using a new kind of parachute item to float over long distances. Gameplay was shown off at last year's E3 conference, but the game was unfortunately delayed back in March, when producer Eiji Aonuma said Nintendo was no longer considering a release date in 2015.

Platforms: Wii U

Release date: TBA 2016

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"Kingdom Hearts III"

kingdom hearts 3
PlayStation

The "Kingdom Hearts" series — an intelligent and thrilling crossover between Disney and Square Enix characters and worlds — has sold 21 million units so far. This year, we finally got a look at "Kingdom Hearts III," which originally had a 2015 release date but Square Enix now insists the launch date is "unannounced." (Expect later next year or 2017).

In this new game, Sora will once again be your protagonist as he and his Disney buddies Goofy and Donald search for the guardians of light. They'll visit all the familiar Disney worlds, as well as some new ones, including Star Wars and Marvel locations, and even San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release date: TBA

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"No Man’s Sky"

no man's sky
PlayStation

No video game dominated the conversation at last year's E3 than "No Man's Sky," a completely unheard-of title from a group of unknown developers in the UK. Between the whimsical art direction and the game's infinite procedural universe, which guarantees no two adventures are alike for any gamer, "No Man's Sky" is all about exploration and survival in a massive universe you've never seen before.

There's a highly sophisticated engine that powers "No Man's Sky," which is able to churn out countless variations of flora and fauna, and we can't wait to see how this massive game will translate to a gaming console like the PS4. But despite how much footage we've seen, we still have no idea when the game will eventually launch.

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Release date: TBA

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"Final Fantasy XV"

final fantasy 15 xv
Square Enix

All the "Final Fantasy" games are different, but they're all centered on emotional characters and epic storylines. In the next big addition to the franchise coming next year, it looks like the protagonists take an epic road trip with incredible sights and dangers around every turn.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release date: TBA 2016

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"Assassin's Creed Syndicate"

Assassin's Creed syndicate
Assassin's Creed

Last year's "Assassin's Creed" game was riddled with awful glitches that stunted gameplay. Ubisoft aims to make up for that experience with "Assassin's Creed Syndicate."

Tech Insider got an early look at "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" back in May. The game will be set in 19th-century London and will feature new gameplay mechanics, like a grappling hook and the ability to hijack, and even fight on top of, a horse and buggy. 

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release date: October 23, 2015

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"Rise Of The Tomb Raider"

rise of the tomb raider
Tomb Raider

The 2013 remake of "Tomb Raider" was critically acclaimed and massively successful: People loved the recreation of Lara Croft's origin story by focusing on beautiful settings, varied gameplay mechanics and tight, rewarding combat. In the sequel to that game coming later this year, Lara must travel around the globe using her survival skills to explore the secret world she was exposed to in the previous chapter of her story. 

"Rise of the Tomb Raider" will be an Xbox One exclusive at first; PlayStation 4 owners will need to wait until "holiday 2016."

Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360 (PlayStation 4 in 2016)

Release date: November 10, 2015

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"Halo 5: Guardians"

halo 5
Xbox

There's really not too much to say here. It's "Halo."

Though the original studio behind "Halo" has gone onto greener pastures ("Destiny," anyone?), "Halo" is still Microsoft's most important gaming franchise — for not only the Xbox, but also Windows 10 (a major character in the game, the AI personality Cortana, is also your Siri-like assistant in Microsoft's software).

We still don't know a ton about the plot, but we do know "Halo 5" will let you play as two different "Spartan" super soldiers — Master Chief, the protagonist of the original series, and Spartan Locke, who is a mainstay on the digital TV series "Halo: Nightfall." The game's opening cinematic looks pretty sweet. 

Platforms: Xbox One

Release date: October 27, 2015

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"Destiny: The Taken King"

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Bungie

"Destiny" is the $500 million franchise from Bungie, the original makers of "Halo." The game launched a year ago, but has undergone hundreds of important updates and changes to become an entirely different game. Now, the game is about to undergo its biggest transformation yet with the release of "Destiny: The Taken King."

In the first "Destiny" expansion, your job is to hunt down and kill Crota, the prince of the evil alien race called the Hive. Now that you've slain the prince, Crota's father Oryx, who leads an army of corrupted aliens called "Taken," is coming for your head. "Destiny: The Taken King" completely overhauls the game's economy, adds tons of unique story missions and bounties, as well as a heaping trove of new weapons and armor to find and acquire. It looks like the best version of "Destiny" yet.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Release date: September 15, 2015

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"Uncharted 4: A Thief's End"

uncharted 4
PlayStation/Naughty Dog

The "Uncharted" series was a great reason to own the PlayStation 3, and now, the final installment in the action-adventure franchise looks to be one of the best games on the PlayStation 4.

The story takes place years after Nathan Drake's last adventure. A conspiracy surrounding a pirate's hidden treasure brings the treasure hunter out of retirement. 

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Release date: March 18, 2016

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"Fallout 4"

"Fallout 4"
Bethesda Softworks

"Fallout 4" is easily one of the most anticipated games in 2015. The latest chapter in the extremely popular post-apocalyptic open world game franchise lets you create a character from scratch (male or female) to explore Boston before and after it becomes a nuclear wasteland.

"Fallout 4" offers a world of customization, from your identity to your family, weapons, armor, and even your own living settlement. It looks like the biggest, most accessible and most fun "Fallout" adventure yet.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: November 10, 2015

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"Just Cause 3"

just cause 3
Just Cause

The "Just Cause" series is known for its high-octane, comical action and its massive open world environments.

The third game in the franchise has been in the works since 2012, but it promises so much more than the first two games: A giant map with more to explore, especially on a vertical scale, using new traversal tools like the wingsuit. And everything you see in the game, from structures and statues to vehicles and more, can be destroyed.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: December 1, 2015

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"Hitman"

hitman
PlayStation

Try your best to forget about the movie "Hitman: Agent 47," which has little to do with the series of popular stealth games, and the latest game coming later this year.

The sixth console game in the "Hitman" franchise promises all the gameplay you know and love: It's still about finding and killing assigned targets in any number of ways, using camouflage and disguises to blend in with surroundings rather than simply hide. 

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: December 8, 2015

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"Battleborn"

battleborn
Battleborn

If you loved any of the "Borderlands" games, the highly-stylized first-person shooters that let you explore vast worlds and collect bounties, you'll love "Battleborn," which is the first original game from the same company.

Though "Battleborn" is still a first-person shooter like "Borderlands," it also has elements of multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs), which means players will mostly be fighting each other in big matches in order to move the story along. Considering the popularity of both MOBAs and first-person shooters as separate genres, blending the two into a seamless game sounds like one of the most ambitious ideas we've heard of — and we can't wait to see it in action.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: February 9, 2016

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"Dishonored 2"

dishonored 2
Bethesda Softworks

"Dishonored" was one of the best, most underrated action adventure games in 2012. As a bodyguard who's framed for the murder of the empress he was sworn to protect, your job is to seek revenge against those who conspired against you — but it's up to you on how you do it. You can use stealth, combat, a combination of both, or neither — it's possible to complete the game without killing a single person.

In the sequel due out next year, you can play as the same protagonist, Corvo, or Empress Emily Kaldwin. It's still about player choice — how you take out your targets is up to you — but the game will be more challenging than its predecessor, while the in-game systems for improving your abilities have been significantly deepened.

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: Spring 2016

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"LEGO Dimensions"

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LEGO

Aside from its classic building blocks, Lego has made a name for itself recently by making great video games about popular fictional characters from beloved franchises like "Batman," "Lord of the Rings," and "The Hobbit."

But later this year, Lego will take this idea a step further with "Lego Dimensions," which follows multiple characters from multiple franchises after a masked villain breaks into multiple worlds. Expect characters from 14 different popular franchises, including "Scooby-Doo" and "Back To The Future." 

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Release date: September 27, 2015

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