THE BEST GAMES OF 2014

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

(PS3/ Xbox 360)February 11, 2014Square Enix tri-Ace/ Square EnixOne of the first major releases of the year ignores the shiny new consoles altogether in favor of the current-gen systems. The third game in the Final Fantasy XIII series brings back the character of Lightning to end the FFXIII storyline once and for all. We hope.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

(PC, PS3, Xbox 360)February 25, 2014Mercury Steam/ KonamiIf you haven’t played the first Lords of Shadow and intend to, you should get on that ASAP. The sequel picks up immediately after the twist at the end of the original. Stop reading at this point if you are among that rare group – you’ve been warned. In the sequel, you are Dracula and you fight Satan. What more do you need to know?

Thief

(PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)February 26, 2014Eidos Monteral/Square EnixOne of the first next-gen releases of the year, and arguably the first major one of the year, Thief revitalizes the long-running franchise by being more thief-iery than ever. The game will be on current-gen systems as well, but the PC and next-gen versions are what have us drooling.

South Park: Stick of Truth

(PC, PS3, Xbox 360)March 4, 2014Obsidian Entertainment/UbisoftEven though this year will feature the release of several games that will help to define the next-gen systems, the current-gen systems aren’t going to be neglected just yet. For evidence, look no further than the RPG based on South Park, which is written by series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

(PC, PS3, Xbox 360)March 4, 2014Team Ninja, Spark Unlimited, Commcept/Tecom KoeiAt some point in this list we will talk more about the next-gen titles on the way, we promise, but it’s tough to overlook a new Ninja Gaiden game. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will play like the last few Ninja Gaiden games, but it’s a spin-off starring a ninja seeking vengeance against series star, Ryu Hayabusa. Twist!

Dark Souls II

(PC, PS3, Xbox 360)March 11, 2014From Software/ Namco Bandai (From Software in Japan)For those looking for a blend of agony and ecstasy in their gaming, From Software has you covered with the sequel to one of the more unique – and frequently frustrating – games of 2011. The plot is that you are a guy that dies and dies and dies, then occasionally pulls off something utterly incredibly … before dying. Those with the patience and drive to dig deeper will be left with an incredible game and plenty of bragging rights.

Titanfall

(PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One)March 11, 2014Respawn Entertainment/Electronic ArtsThis online-only multiplayer game from a huge chunk of the team that originally created Call of Duty has a spot on almost every “most anticipated” list around. And for good reasons. PS4 owners, prepare to hear a lot about this game. 

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

(PS4, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)March 18, 2014Kojima Productions/KonamiAlthough we don’t yet have a release date for Metal Gear Solid V, we won’t be completely Metal Gear-less in 2014 thanks to Ground Zeroes. Think of it as a prologue to MGSV. A very, very big prologue with an open-world feel. Whatever it is, more Solid Snake (or Big Boss as the case may be), is always a good thing.

by digital trends