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The 25 best game trailers from E3 2018

The 25 best game trailers from E3 2018

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Smash Bros., Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Infinite, and more

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E3 2018 has been filled with new announcements, trailers, and reveals. With all this chaos, it’s sometimes tough to keep up with all the news.

Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best and coolest trailers and games right here for you to watch (or rewatch) at your leisure while you patiently — or not so patiently — deal with the hardest part of E3: waiting for all the awesome games to actually come out so you can play them.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The new Super Smash Bros. for the Switch is really trying to live up to its name as the ultimate Smash Bros. experience. Nintendo is bringing back every single character to ever appear in a Smash Bros. game for the sequel. It has rebuilt the game from the ground up, tweaking move sets, abilities, animations, and the overall pace of the game for what might be the best Smash Bros. ever.

Cyberpunk 2077

After years of waiting, The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red has finally released another look at its highly anticipated upcoming sci-fi RPG Cyberpunk 2077. There’s no actual gameplay, but the trailer shows the gorgeous futuristic city that will be the setting of the game. We’re also introduced to the customizable player character V, a hired gun on the rise to become an urban legend.

Beyond Good & Evil 2

Ubisoft’s long-in-development Beyond Good & Evil 2, which is actually a prequel to the 2003 cult classic, made another appearance this year with an epic new cinematic trailer. It confirmed for the first time that the characters Jade and Pey’j from the original game will be along for the ride here, too.

There’s not much to go on gameplay-wise (and certainly no release date), but if Ubisoft’s final game can even come close to matching the scale of the trailers, we could be in for something special.

Kingdom Hearts III

Square Enix is close to the finish line with the long-awaited third game in the Kingdom Hearts series, and the company is clearly excited about almost being able to put the game in the hands of fans with not one, but three separate trailers at E3 this year for the Disney / Final Fantasy crossover. Does the story make sense to anyone who hasn’t been closely following the series and all its various spinoffs? Probably not. But that might not even matter, given how much fun the various, Disney-inspired worlds look to explore.

Halo Infinite

Microsoft opened its E3 press conference with a bang this year, announcing Halo Infinite, the next big adventure in the company’s iconic Halo series. There’s not a whole lot to go on, but we do know that it’s being developed by 343 Industries, that Master Chief will be returning, and that the game is powered by an all-new “Slipspace Engine” that’s behind the trailer’s impressive visuals.

Death Stranding

It’s hard to say whether anyone in the world — aside from Hideo Kojima — understands anything that’s going on in Death Stranding. But even more shocking than the bizarre visuals (including another return of the fetus-powered, ghost-detecting device and mysterious, oily handprints) is that this new trailer showcased actual gameplay footage for the mysterious title.

The Last of Us Part II

Naughty Dog’s acclaimed series is back with an extended 12-minute look at the upcoming sequel to The Last of Us. The demo is seriously impressive, and it gives players a look at how stealth and survival gameplay will blend together in an incredible cinematic way as players step into the shoes of Ellie, who is the main playable character. And, as seen in a kiss between Ellie and a new character, the animation work here is top notch, too.

Ghost of Tsushima

Revealed last year at E3, Infamous developer Sucker Punch finally took the wraps of gameplay for Ghost of Tsushima, showing off some gorgeous-looking combat and stealth mechanics on the hills and forests of Japan, culminating in an incredible sunset duel that feels ripped right out of a classic samurai film.

Spider-Man

We’re getting closer to the September 7th release for Insomniac’s Spider-Man game, and the new gameplay trailer gave us a better look at how the combat and web-swinging will mesh together to bring the superhero to life. The only question is: can he really do everything a spider can?

Fallout 76

Fallout is back, and this time it’s adding multiplayer, in the incredibly ambitious-looking Fallout 76. Bethesda is throwing players together in the irradiated wasteland of the Fallout series, where they’ll be able to work together to build settlements, forage supplies, and fend off monsters... or fight each other instead. Adding to the chaos: players will be able to find nuclear launch codes, which will allow them to unleash the power of atomic bombs to level their enemies.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

This. Is. Sparta! But no, really, it is Sparta. And the rest of Greece, too, with a healthy dose of the Mediterranean Sea. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey has an absolutely massive world for players to explore, along with new, deeper role-playing mechanics that will let you decide how the story unfolds for the first time. There are also new options to romance NPCs instead of simply stabbing them.

Rage 2

Turn up your Andrew W.K. playlist, because Rage is back, and this time, it’s determined to be a party. It’s a little puzzling why Bethesda would bring back the lukewarmly received series, but the soft-rebooted Rage 2 looks like a seriously good time. There’s an open world and explosions powered by Just Cause developer (and fireball experts) Avalanche Studios, and fast, ability-based gunplay that looks like a blast to play.

Just Cause 4

Speaking of Just Cause, everyone’s favorite infrastructure demolition simulator / open-world action game is also back, with a new engine that promises the best-looking Just Cause yet, along with better physics, tougher enemies, a more customizable grapple, and massive, swirling tornadoes that you’ll be able to fling enemies into and wingsuit around.

Gears 5

The next installment in the Gears of War franchise is coming next year, and it’s adding a new main character: Kait Diaz, who appeared in Gear of War 4, is now getting the spotlight in the upcoming sequel. There are also some new Arctic and jungle landscapes that look like a breath of fresh air (literally) to the almost comically gray levels of past Gears games, and some new monsters that look like they could use an introduction to the sharp end of a chainsaw-gun.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the most beautiful games for the Xbox One, and its sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps looks like it’ll be continuing that legacy. It’s more than just a good-looking sequel, though; it’s also bringing even more of the rock-solid Metroidvania platforming and exploration that made the first game so good.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

It was a big year for samurai at E3, with Dark Souls creator From Software revealing that its next game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, will also be taking place in a Japan-inspired setting, shifting away from the medieval castles that the studio has typically hewed toward. If it’s anything like Dark Souls, though, expect Sekiro to be punishingly difficult.

Anthem

“What if Destiny had jetpacks?” seems to be Anthem’s vague mission statement. That said, the armored-suit open-world massively multiplayer action RPG looks gorgeous, with bright, open spaces for players to explore with their Iron Man-esque suits. And the combat looks interesting, blending more traditional gunplay with the added mobility of the suits for a more three-dimensional take on the genre.

Jump Force

Step aside Infinity War, because Jump Force is gunning for the crown of the most ambitious crossover ever made. Bringing together a roster of iconic characters from popular Shōnen Jump series like Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, Goku from Dragon Ball, Naruto from Naruto, and Light and Ryuk from Death Note into a single, 3-on-3 tag-team fighting game, Jump Force sounds like a dream for anime fans.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

If there is one constant in video games, it’s that there will always be more Nazis to kill. And nowhere is that truer than the Wolfenstein series, which will be jumping forward in time to 1980s Paris, putting players in the role of former protagonist B.J. Blacskowitz’s twin daughters in a new co-op adventure as they look to find their missing father and follow in his Nazi-fighting footsteps.

Forza Horizon 4

The mainline Forza Motorsport games may win out on realism, but there’s nothing like the Forza Horizon games for sheer fun. The newly announced Forza Horizon 4 unleashes players on Britain this time, adding a new dynamic weather system that will change and shift over time. Players will also be able to link up with other racers in real time with a seamless, open-world multiplayer system.

Devil May Cry 5

Fans have been waiting for a true sequel to Devil May Cry 4 for years, and now they’re getting just that with Capcom’s newly unveiled Devil May Cry 5. Platinum-haired Nero may have lost his replacement arm, but that won’t be stopping him from slashing and blasting his way through the demonic hordes when the game comes out next year.

Unravel 2

Released as a Beyoncé-style “available now!” surprise at EA’s press conference, Unravel 2 brings back the original game’s adorable Yarny in a sweet, puzzle platformer that doesn’t have any guns, gore, or explosions. And this time, there are two yarn friends, so you can play in local co-op.

Sable

Sable might be the most stylish game at E3, with bold, crisp artwork and a haunting soundtrack from Japanese Breakfast. Players will get to explore a vast desert filled with strange structures, although it’s anyone’s guess what you’ll find when Sable releases next year.

Tunic

Formerly known as Secret Legend, Tunic is an isometric adventure game that draws on the style of the early Legend of Zelda titles, putting players into the role of a brave (and adorable) fox as you explore ancient ruins, battle monsters, and uncover secrets about the mysterious world around you.

Skyrim: Very Special Edition

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim feels like it’s been ported to almost every platform. And now, with the release of Skyrim: Very Special Edition — which is actually a real Alexa skill, at least in some form — Skyrim’s takeover is complete. The trailer (starring Keegan Michael-Key) is probably funnier than the actual game, but it’s nice to see that Bethesda has a sense of humor.