March 25, 2016

A few great games aside, 2016 isn’t exactly off to a huge start. That’s about to change. Spring, typically a pretty busy season for gamers, goes virtually bananas this year thanks to the arrival of both the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive.

But even if you’re not hopping on the virtual reality (VR) bandwagon, there’s plenty of big games to enjoy, including the long-delayed Uncharted 4, the reboot of seminal shooter Doom, and the much anticipated return of Mirror’s Edge. Note: All of the games on this list are scheduled to be released between March 20 and June 19 (except one, because we just couldn’t help ourselves).

MLB 16: The Show (March 29 | PS4)

Sony’s long-running baseball sim is still the only real option for sports fans hoping to recreate the upcoming MLB season. Thankfully, it’s also consistently great. This year’s model includes a new “Showtime” feature that lets you briefly slow down time to make big plays.

Hyper Light Drifter (March 31 | PC, Mac; consoles to follow)

You’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of this stylish action role-playing game, though you’ve definitely heard of the games it recalls: Diablo and The Legend of Zelda. Hyper Light Drifter is very much its own beast, however, starring a sword-wielding hero who hacks and slashes through a futuristic world in search of a long-forgotten cure.

Quantum Break (April 5 | Xbox One, PC)

Time hasn’t been on this long-delayed game’s side, but you’ll manipulate the heck out of it to take down enemies in Quantum Break. Made by the minds behind Max Payne, it’s also wildly ambitious: Decisions made in each episode of the game will affect the outcome of a live-action digital series.

HTC Vive (April 5)

HTC and Valve’s highly anticipated Vive virtual-reality headset is finally hitting the market. The $800 Vive sets itself apart by way of its room-scale capabilities, which allow you to walk around a large space and have your movements translated into virtual reality. Each Vive comes with Tilt Brush, Job Simulator, and Fantastic Contraption free, but make sure you have a high-powered PC to run it all

Dark Souls III (April 12 | PC, PS4, Xbox One)

Hope you’ve been practicing your breathing exercises, because Dark Souls is back. The latest in FromSoftware’s diabolically difficult action franchise sees the return of director Hidetaka Miyazaki, who took a break from Dark Souls II to craft Bloodborne. Fans should expect cruel enemies, brutal bosses, and (infrequently) moments of pure, unfiltered joy.

Star Fox Zero (April 22 | Wii U)

Do a barrel roll over to your Wii U, because Fox McCloud and his yappy squadron of anthropomorphic pilots are jumping back into action in Star Fox Zero. The team’s debut on the Wii U will have you performing aerial acrobatics through space and battling on land as you try to take down Andross and restore peace to the galaxy.

Battleborn (May 3 | PC, PS4, Xbox One)

Gearbox Software, which knocked it out of the park with the Borderlands games, are back with another colorful, character-driven shooter. But Battleborn is less about plot and more about variety; it’s brimming with co-operative and competitive modes, including a compelling take on the popular MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) genre.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (May 10 | PS4)

Nathan Drake has one more treasure hunt in him before developer Naughty Dog sends him off into the sunset. In Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Drake and his brother, Sam, set out for Madagascar to find pirate Captain Henry Avery’s treasure. Expect plenty of cliffhanging action — and, of course, plenty of Drake’s trademark wit.