We already posted a feature highlighting our top ten most anticipated games that we decided on by a staff vote. Now we're letting you know each editor's personal pick. As you'll see, some editors have similar tastes, while others chose titles that might not make 2015. Find out below what each staff member has the highest hopes for.
Bloodborne
Bloodborne is poised to capitalize on From Software's continual iteration on the same theme of their challenging franchises. From Shadow Tower to King's Field to the Souls series, I'm of the mind that this is the game they've been working toward creating the entire time, something that allows them to take advantage of the dark dreamscapes and nightmares that we're only treated to flashes of in prior iterations of the atmospheric action/RPG. Throw in procedurally generated dungeons to add even more longevity to what is almost assuredly a brilliant single-player experience and this recipe looks like a terrifying all-encompassing adventure that could put even the Souls titles to shame. With a horror backdrop and the removal of many a Soul's player's only solace - the shield - players will be thrust into the darkest of worlds with no way to sit back and analyze combat safely, with the reclaim system forcing players to take constant risks, potentially making every encounter as tense as the most gripping Souls' battles. — Dan Tack
No Man's Sky
The sheer size of No Man’s Sky is certainly appealing, but my context in the physical size of the game is what’s appealing to me. While most open world games understandably have to solve the seeming contradiction between being large enough and yet still filled with interesting things to do, I can’t wait to disappear into No Man’s Sky and subsequently be awed by the same feelings of wonder and insignificance that pondering – and even sometimes understanding – the magnitude of the real-life universe brings. And yet as much as the game’s universe dwarves my senses, I do not expect to be bored at all. Hopefully crafting, exploring, surviving, and even rare human interaction will take on their own exaggerated importance; giving desperate meaning to a sense of loneliness that is both profound and intense. That’s my hope anyway, which is why I’m so looking forward to this game. — Matthew Kato
Persona 5
The Persona series has never disappointed me. The games have often defined my RPG experiences. While last generation only brought us Persona 4: Golden on the Vita and a couple of fighting games, it still scratched the itch I needed. That being said, I'm ready for something fresh - a brand new cast with intriguing struggles. I just love how Persona touches on such relatable issues, whether it's standing up for what you believe in or coming to terms with the death of a loved one. The writing is fantastic, the characters are so damn likeable, and I love watching them bond and learn from one another. I'm interested in how the franchise will evolve for this new entry. Persona 4 definitely polished its mechanics and had more creative dungeons, and Atlus will no doubt raise the bar for Persona 5. Persona 5 has remained a big mystery, and I can't wait to meet a new cast and go on another exciting adventure. After all, the Persona series features some of the best writing to hit the JRPG genre and I always get addicted to fusing persona. — Kim Wallace
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Metal Gear series is one of my favorites, so I'm looking forward to The Phantom Pain for all of the reasons that any fan would (including the increasingly bizarre story). However, there's an extra layer this time around: I already have hands-on time with the basic mechanics thanks to Ground Zeroes. While I thought that prologue entry was disappointing as a standalone product, it actually made me more excited for the fully featured release of The Phantom Pain. The approach to open-world stealth is interesting and exciting; I can't wait to see those concepts explored and expanded within the context of larger maps, more objectives, and other gameplay elements (like the buddy system). Beyond that, Kojima Productions has a long history of surprising twists in this series, so I'm also looking forward to all of the inevitable crazy stuff that I can't even begin to predict at this point. — Joe Juba
Batman: Arkham Knight
Just having Rocksteady back in the driver's seat of a new Batman experience is reason enough for Arkham Knight to be my most anticipated game, but as a life-long reader of Batman comics, I'm also drawn in by the prospect of a new villain. The mystery surrounding Arkham Knight's identity has been one of my favorite talking points over the last year, and looks to be a fun rivalry that doesn't retread old comic book stories. And by no means am I trying to shortchange the Batmobile or the expanded scope of Gotham. I can't wait to roar down Gotham's streets, and soar across its expanded skyline, but I am a little nervous about the Batmobile playing too much of a role in the game. The Riddler races are a strange idea, and using the Batmobile in puzzles (as we've seen in demos) could be worrisome if tapped too often. Regardless of my concerns, I can't wait to get my hands on a new gen-only Batman experience. My guess as to who Arkham Knight is? Jason Todd. The suit design is similar to Red Hood's. — Andrew Reiner
See more editors' picks on page two....