In some ways, the early part of any year is the most exciting for gamers. We get to look back on our favorite experiences from the year prior, get over our virtual disappointments, and look forward to the new experiences in the year ahead. While some of those experiences will undoubtedly be delayed into 2017 and beyond, and there will certainly be exciting games come out in 2016 that have not yet been revealed, it remains exciting to think about what is to come. What follows is a list, in no particular order, of some of my personal most anticipated games of 2016.

Already Released

Three of my most anticipated games of 2016 are already here, and they have made these first couple of months one of the most exciting beginnings of a year in recent memory. All three are independent games, and all three are slow-paced, narrative-focused, and character-driven experiences: Gone Home (Console Edition), Oxenfree, and Firewatch. These are all games that are targeting gamers’ emotions, each in a unique and powerful way. As I get older, I find myself craving more and more of these types of experiences, and these appear to be three of the best examples of such games in recent memory.

Coming Soon

My thoughts on The Division were torn, but since playing the beta, I have a newly-found optimism for Ubisoft’s RPG-MMO-shooter. As I described in my impressions of the beta (here and here), I have some reservations, but am excited by the setting and the potential for it to develop into an interesting, fun game.

I am eagerly awaiting Quantum Break. I enjoy third-person shooters and action games, story-driven experiences, and time travel. I also appreciate a developer taking a risk and trying to push the gaming medium into new territory. Regardless of whether or not Remedy’s blend of video game and live-action television show will work well and click with gamers, I look forward to seeing the fruits of their effort.

Like many gamers, one of my most anticipated games of the year is Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. I have been a big fan of the series since the beginning, and while I don’t expect A Thief’s End to be particularly special or memorable in terms of gameplay – it will likely follow the “Naughty Dog formula” – I can’t wait to see how this saga ends after following Nathan Drake’s adventures for close to a decade.

Optimistic Bets

One of my favorite experiences of the last generation was the Mass Effect trilogy, and I cannot wait to see what Bioware does with Mass Effect: Andromeda. We still know very little about it, other than that the Mako is coming back, but after what they pulled off with the original trilogy, I’m inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

My favorite game series of all time is The Legend of Zelda, and I absolutely cannot wait to see the new version. Whether it is on Wii U, NX, or both, it will certainly be a polished, high-quality game. But something about this Zelda title seems special. Maybe it’s the lush, gorgeous visuals, or maybe it’s the fact that Nintendo is finally trying their hand at something of an open world, but whatever it is, the new Legend of Zelda game may be my single most anticipated game not only of the year, but of this entire generation.

I have watched South Park since I was a kid, and it has remained one of my favorite television shows well into adulthood. When South Park: The Stick of Truth came out, I had tempered expectations. It was, after all, a game based on a cartoon license. That game, however, blew away every expectation I had and became one of my favorite games of the generation. That’s why, when I heard the highly unexpected announcement of a sequel, I immediately became excited. With the experience of doing one great game under their belt, how will Matt Stone and Trey Parker follow that up? Given their history, trying to predict such a thing is futile. But one thing is for sure: No matter what it is, I suspect South Park: The Fractured But Whole will be a worthy successor.

The Many More

These are some of the many games I’m excited to play in 2016, but there are many, many more. I’m excited to see how The Fullbright Company follows Gone Home when they release their new game, Tacoma. I’m also thrilled to finally get my hands on Capybara’s Below for the Xbox One.

I’m also excited about a number of bigger games. How will Comcept and Armature do with ReCore? Will Rare finally return to their good standing with Sea of Thieves? How will Guerrilla do when stepping away from first-person shooters with their new game, Horizon: Zero Dawn? And will Square-Enix finally recapture their mojo with Final Fantasy XV?

All of these will be great, exciting games to follow in the coming months, and I look forward to hearing more about them, getting my hands on them, and finding out which ones meet or exceed our expectations and which ones disappoint.