Some consider the strategy game genre quite niche and they wouldn’t be wrong. However, Sid Meier’s range of Civilization games have managed to break through the barrier and entice all sorts of players. Keeping true to the roots of strategy games, you are tasked with creating and maintaining structure within various forms of leadership. In Civilization’s case, the aim is to create and maintain an empire through any means necessary. The series hasn’t been afraid to try new things, ranging from the Bronze Age all the way into the future, sending players into space.

Civilization VI looks to be similar in both design and concept however there are a few tweaks. It remains a turn-based strategy game with heavy influences from past titles, but why fully change a successful formula, rather than ironing out the creases.

Thankfully it’s not going to just be a pretty graphics upgrade. Civilization VI looks to build upon the previous Civilization V in multiple ways. One example is the previous research tree which has now been modified to show more extensive options and allows players to further advance their colony. The attack options have also been altered, adding more ways to attack or invade unfamiliar territory.

Civilization VI releases on the 21^st October for Microsoft Windows, Linux and OS X.

This may look familiar. What I mean by this is getting excited for a Watch Dogs game. We all know the fiasco that surrounded the previous title in the newly-established series, however this shouldn’t impact opinion for the latest release. Watch Dogs 2 looks to take the good things from the first game and erase the bad.

Set in San Francisco with a whole new protagonist, the sequel looks to employ a more “free” approach to play styles. Trailers show features incorporated from the original game but improved on. One of these is the tedious hacking from the original title which has now been redesigned and seems more enjoyable. It’s all good having these fancy hacking gizmos but if there’s no personality then they become obsolete.

The game promises an open world “twice the size” of the original along with more density, which will make the world feel alive, something that was panned the last time around. Maybe the sunny coastal region of San Francisco will literally brighten up the game and create a whole new atmosphere for the game to bloom.

It’s never good for a game to be forcefully thrown onto the hype train and with everything in mind, the original Watch Dogs wasn’t that bad. It still wasn’t great, but hopefully this will change with the sequels imminent release.

Watch Dogs 2 releases on the 15^th November for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

After the somewhat stale reception that Gears of War: Judgement received, new developers The Coalition are looking to bring back this franchise to its glorious roots. A third-person cover based shooter at heart, Gears of War 4 looks really promising. There’s a brand new roster of characters along with some old greats making another appearance. One of these is everyone’s favourite disgruntled veteran, Marcus Fenix. The story, this time however does not follow Marcus’ exploits, but his son’s; J.D Fenix.

The main characters aren’t the only changed feature, there is a whole new breed of enemies that are hell-bent on ravaging the planet Sera once again. A risky move was changing the beloved locust enemies however, the new mysterious creatures look just as terrifying and dangerous as the locust did.

Set 25 years after the previous game’s events, Gears of War 4 is paving the way for the new group of COG soldiers to fight off this mysterious-yet-deadly threat to their planet and mere existence. Keeping the over-the-shoulder camera view that is a staple of the Gears series, the combat seems pretty much the same with some new added features, such as the ability to vault cover and attack the enemy on the opposing side. There are also many new weapons being added however the cover-star Lancer is still the main attraction of all the assault rifle aficionados.

Multiplayer and horde modes are returning, with these being extremely popular on past titles. There have been new additions to both of these modes as well as the base game, including weather variations that can impact your chances of survival on the battleground. These vary from a heavy breeze to a full blown sandstorm.

Gears of War 4 is being released on the 11^th October for Xbox One and Windows 10 users.

It would be considered a crime by some to not list this remaster by Infinity Ward. Back in 2007, the world was struck with a revolutionary right hook in the form of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. This (at the time) brand new game was a formula that was very rare, in a sense that there were other similar games around, but none quite pulled it off like this. Multiplayer teams were pitted against each other in a battleground inhabited by apache helicopters and roaming snipers, there was a sense of tension and imminent danger but at the same time there was no fun like it.

It was this unique recipe that cemented Modern Warfare’s prestige as one of the best games ever created, and now that game is coming back. Remasters are becoming somewhat of a trend lately but this is a clear example of a necessary upgrade as the fan-base is still going strong.

Some of the upgrades are enhanced textures, advanced rendering and high-dynamic range lighting which will add a more definitive experience as well as satisfying the nostalgic needs of the masses. What could possibly be better than revisiting a timeless classic with a shiny new coat of paint, when said paint is in high definition and runs at 60 frames per second or even more.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered releases on the 4^th November for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

The Mafia series is one that many people hold close to their hearts, this is mainly due to the critically acclaimed Mafia 2. Revolutionising the gangster narrative, Mafia 2 proved that the mob genre isn’t only capable of success on the big screen, but also within the gaming industry. Mafia 3 was announced earlier this year and 2K have been releasing video after video showcasing the many various new additions, along with snippets of the new narrative combined with gameplay.

The stunning, next-generation graphics engine is the perfect start for the journey that awaits Lincoln Clay, the games protagonist. Lincoln is a Vietnam war veteran who has ties to the Black Mob. When the Black Mob is betrayed by the Italian Mob, Lincoln sets out for vengeance with one single goal, to destroy the destroyers.

There is a bigger emphasis on the freedom within the massive open world at your disposal, something that was criticised within the previous release. New Bordeaux, the game’s setting, is an iteration of New Orleans with many distinguishing and realistic features; such as the thriving streets and the infamous Bayou. There are also many more side missions and activities to partake in when taking a break from the main storyline.

The combat has had a serious overhaul, something to point out is that stealth is now a bigger factor when engaging enemies and there is a fluent cover system including the ability to blind fire. There is also a vast arsenal of weapons that are at your disposal, ranging from the sawed-off shotgun to the M16 assault rifle, which is accurate for the games setting.

The 1960’s was an infamous time period for music with artists such as the Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, all of which have licensed tracks featured in the game. Along with music, cars are heavily used in the game and what better decade could be present than the 60’s. Muscle cars and powerful engines will be making an appearance which is fitting considering the importance of the decade’s involvement with the progression of motor vehicles.

You can expect Mafia 3 to release on the 7^th October for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.