These are the 20 most impressive games we saw at E3

The week of E3 is always insane. It's the time of year where we get drowned in incredible new trailers for video games, and this year was no different.

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Since you're a busy individual with all sorts of real-world responsibilities, we took the liberty of ranking the 20 best looking video games at E3 this year. Just for you.

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20. "Agents of Mayhem"

Agents of Mayhem E3 2016 Volition
Deep Silver/Volition

"Agents of Mayhem" is perhaps the most appropriately-named video game in recent memory. The open-world, third-person action game seems like it will serve up the same wacky, over-the-top style characteristic of Volition's last big series, "Saints Row."

Some gameplay was shown at E3 in addition to its awesome reveal trailer, and we can't wait to see more.

Release date: 2017

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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19. "Horizon: Zero Dawn"

Horizon: Zero Dawn
Guerrilla Games/Sony

"Horizon: Zero Dawn," though it takes place far off in the future, has a sort of caveman aesthetic to it. You play as a young woman named Aloy, taking on giant robot dinosaurs with your tricked-out bow and arrow. You take them down to collect their rare parts, but for what purpose? This is one of the key elements of the game we've yet to delve into.

This year wasn't the first time we've seen "Horizon: Zero Dawn," but the new trailer showcased at Sony's press conference shed a lot more light on what the moment-to-moment gameplay is like.

Release date: February 28, 2017

Platform: PlayStation 4

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18. "Inside"

Inside screenshot E3 Microsoft Playdead
Playdead

"Inside" is the latest game from "Limbo" developer Playdead — which, by the way, is free right now on Xbox One.

Much like "Limbo," "Inside" is a side-scrolling adventure game that features a strikingly minimalist art style. "Inside" also is infused with an incredible sense of dread, tension, and overall creepiness. If you haven't heard of "Inside" before now, you absolutely need to watch its incredible trailer.

Release date: June 29 (Xbox One), July 7 (Steam)

Platforms: Xbox One, PC

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17. "Abzû"

abzu giant squid studios
Giant Squid Studios

"Abzû" is a gorgeous ocean exploration game being led by creative director Matt Nava, who served as art director for "Journey" — which, coincidentally, Tech Insider recently ranked as the most beautiful PlayStation game ever made.

In "Abzû," you play a scuba diver seeking to uncover all the secrets of the ocean. In an interview with Tech Insider, Nava says his own experiences scuba diving were a huge inspiration for the game, though we somehow doubt he's had this many whale encounters.

Release date: August 2

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC

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16. "Thumper"

thumper game virtual reality
Drool

The makers of "Thumper" describe it as a "rhythm violence" game, and that basically hits the nail right on the head. You play as a small, chrome beetle hurtling down a psychedelic highway to throbbing dubstep-style music. The game blends action and rhythm gameplay that results in something completely unique.

Release date: TBD

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC, PlayStation VR

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15. "ReCore"

recore joule
Microsoft

"ReCore" is a new, original game from "Mega Man" creator Keiji Inafune and some of the people who made "Metroid Prime." You play as a girl named Joule, who has a gun, some sweet jet boots, and the ability to place cores inside different robots to make them do her bidding. Robot dog!

Release date: Fall 2016

Platform: Xbox One, PC

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14. "Dishonored 2"

Dishonored 2
Arkane Studios

The sequel to the open-world stealth action game "Dishonored" is coming out later this fall, and the gameplay trailer shown off at Bethesda's E3 press conference was fantastic. 

"Dishonored 2" is sort of like a puzzle game, in that you can complete mission objectives in a wide variety of ways using the many tools at your disposal — either sneak in and assassinate enemies silently, charge into the fray head-first, or some combination of the two. It's up to you.

Release date: November 11

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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13. "Spider-Man PS4"

spider man
Insomniac/Marvel

After a pretty incredible showing in "Captain America: Civil War," we're happy that our favorite wall-crawler is making a return to the world of video games, too.

The newest "Spider-Man" game is being developed by Insomniac, the developer behind other incredible action-adventure games like "Ratchet and Clank" and "Sunset Overdrive." Both of the aforementioned seamlessly blend action and humor, so we can't wait to see how their latest project turns out. 

Release date: TBD

Platform: PlayStation 4

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12. "Batman - A Telltale Series"

Batman Telltale Series large version
Telltale

An all-new "Batman" game coming out this summer lets you fight crime as the Dark Knight, but you'll also have to navigate the everyday life of Bruce Wayne, too.

Games made by the company Telltale are known for the incredible stories they tell — they play out like interactive movies rather than what you would expect from a traditional video game. But because it is a game rather than a movie, the actions you take will shape the way the story unfolds. 

Release date: Fall 2016

Platform: Consoles/PC/mobile devices

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11. "The Last Guardian"

the last guardian
Sony

Last year, the biggest (and most surprising) news out of Sony's press conference was the new trailer for "The Last Guardian," an inventive and visually striking adventure game. Its presence at E3 was surprising because it had been stuck in development hell for several years, and last year was the first look we'd gotten at the game in a long time. So long, in fact, that many believed the game had been canceled altogether.

This year, we got a fantastic new trailer for "The Last Guardian" as well as an official release date: October 25.

Release date: October 25

Platform: PlayStation 4

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10. "Death Stranding"

death stranding playstation 4
Sony

Hideo Kojima, the legendary game designer behind "Metal Gear Solid," made a surprise appearance on stage at PlayStation's E3 press conference to unveil his newest game called "Death Stranding."

"Death Stranding" looks like some kind of surrealist psychological horror game. It stars Norman Reedus, a lead actor on the television show "The Walking Dead." Details on this game are nearly non-existent, but for now, we can at least watch its incredible trailer.

Release date: TBD

Platform: PlayStation 4

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9. "Gears of War 4"

Gears of War 4
Microsoft

"Gears of War 4" is the newest entry in a series that's had a huge impact on third-person action games in the last decade: The first "Gears of War" made duck-and-cover shooting the norm in third-person action games. "Gears of War 4" was first unveiled during Microsoft's E3 conference last year, and based on the trailer shown off at Xbox's E3 press conference, it looks like it doubles-down on the hyper-violent, over-the-top action the series is known for.

Release date: October 11

Platform: Xbox One, PC

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8. "Forza Horizon 3"

Forza Horizon 3
Microsoft

"Forza Horizon" is usually the more amped-up, wild cousin of the more grounded "Forza Motorsport" franchise. The series' newest entry, "Forza Horizon 3" looks to continue that trend.

The game's latest trailer, unveiled at E3, is incredibly stylish and definitely worth checking out.

Release date: September 27

Platforms: Xbox One, PC

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7. "Battlefield 1"

battlefield 1
Electronic Arts

DICE, the developer of the long-running and hugely popular "Battlefield" series of multiplayer shooters, is taking on the challenge of making a World War I video game fun. The signature large-scale battles of the "Battlefield" games are being transported back to the early 20th century, with jet fighters and high-powered assault rifles being swapped out for biplanes made of wood and unwieldy Gatling guns.

Release date: October 21

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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6. "Detroit: Become Human"

Detroit Become Human thumb 1a
PlayStation

"Detroit: Become Human" stunned audiences with its gorgeous teaser trailer when it was revealed last year as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, but now we know a lot more about what the game will actually be like.

Good news: It still looks incredible.

The game takes place in a sci-fi world where humans and androids co-exist. It will be largely narrative-driven, allowing you to control how your character responds to various situations. How you act will drastically alter the outcome of each situation and the game as a whole.

Release date: TBD

Platform: PlayStation 4

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5. "Dead Rising 4"

dead rising 4
Capcom

"Dead Rising" was one of the best early Xbox 360 games, an absurd zombie-slaughter adventure set in a mall where every mundane object could be picked up and used as a weapon. It put hundreds of zombies on screen at once, all out to get your brains.

And now, it's coming back.

After a couple of sequels that were less-warmly received, original protagonist Frank West is back to use some of the most absurd video game weapons ever to take down hordes of the undead.

Release date: Holiday 2016

Platforms: Xbox One, PC

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4. "God of War"

god of war e3 2016 sony
YouTube/PlayStation

PlayStation's E3 press conference kicked off with our first look at a newest entry in the "God of War" franchise, but Kratos looks a bit different than the last time we saw him.

Aside from that epic new beard, it also looks like he's a proud papa to a young boy. This is not the same vengeance-driven hyperviolent demigod we're used to seeing, but it's good to see Kratos starring in a new game again.

Release date: TBD

Platform: PlayStation 4

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3. "Watch Dogs 2"

Watch Dogs 2 trailer initial reveal
YouTube/Ubisoft

"Watch Dogs 2" lets you roam around a gorgeous, massive re-creation of San Francisco. You play as Marcus Holloway, a hacker from Oakland working with a vigilante network called "DedSec." Though the game looks like it will definitely fall into some well-worn hacker cliches, we can't deny that it looks like it will be pretty fun to play.

Release date: November 15

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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2. "Mass Effect: Andromeda"

Mass Effect Andromeda E3 2016 trailer
YouTube/Electronic Arts

"Mass Effect: Andromeda" is technically the fourth in the sci-fi epic "Mass Effect" series, though its newest entry is effectively a fresh start for the series. In the first three games, you played as Commander Shepard, one of the galaxy's most famous military commanders, but "Mass Effect: Andromeda" takes place in a completely different time period and region of space.

You play as a human explorer in the Andromeda galaxy, seeking to find a new home for humanity. Like all BioWare games, "Mass Effect: Andromeda" will likely boast an incredible story and nuanced characters for you to meet up with.

Release date: 2017

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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1. "Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild E3 2016 Nintendo Wii U
YouTube/Nintendo

"The Legend of Zelda" has long been one of the video game world's most iconic franchises, so anytime a new sequel comes out, it's bound to attract a lot of attention.

Such is the case this year, but even more so than usual — mostly because Nintendo is emphasizing that "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" will buck several of the series' least-loved conventions, including its dreadfully long introductory sections, and it will also feature an incredibly massive open world, freeing you up to explore the game however you wish. 

Though "Breath of the Wild" will release on Nintendo's current console the Wii U, it's also expected to be a launch title for Nintendo's mysterious next-generation console, codenamed "NX," which will also be out early next year.

Release date: Early 2017

Platforms: Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo NX

Gaming PlayStation 4 Xbox One
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