2014 is shaping up to be a landmark year for gaming. Not only is it the first full year for the Xbox One and the PS4, enabling the range of games for each system to be increased, we are also yet to see how the Xbox 360 and PS3 are going to be given continued support by developers. This may also be a make or break year for Wii U, with support for the system by AAA developers seemingly dropping like flies.
In this round-up I have tried to include games from all the big systems, excluding the handhelds. I have also not included yearly games such as FIFA or Call of Duty; after all these are destined to be big sellers no matter how good or bad they are. It is possible I might miss out on some titles some may consider to be big games. Feel free to comment below (or not if the anger at such an injustice blinds you so).
Watch Dogs
This was initially meant to released alongside the Xbox One and PS4 in November 2013, but was delayed by Ubisoft who claimed that extra time was needed to make the game something they could be proud of. The premise of the game is intriguing: an open world game set in a fictional Chicago, the main protagonist is computer hacker Aiden Pearce. Seemingly, most of the city is open to hacking and it is likely that the game will focus primarily on the continuous monitoring of the public and collection of data. This is set up to be an ambitious game, with the same kind of scope as the Assassins Creed series, but will it be as successful? Ubisoft is certainly hopeful, and next-gen gamers in particular will be keen to get their teeth into one of the year’s big new IPs.
Release Date: May 27th 2014 for PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.
Mario Kart 8
This is sure to be a hit for Nintendo, albeit on the struggling Wii U. The secret to success for the Mario series is they are always extremely fun to play, whether on your own or with friends. According to 
Nintendo, the game will feature 16 entirely new courses as well as 16 courses from previous games, such as Moo Moo Meadows, that have been given an update to look even better on the new release. As well as the usual, Mario Kart 8 will contain new items and features, and more importantly will feature local or online play for when you want some of that sweet competitive Mario action.
Release Date: May 30th 2014 for Wii U
Destiny
By the same developers that gave us Halo, Destiny is set to become every bit as huge as the famous series. The game is played entirely online, and is set 700 years in the future on a post-apocalyptic Earth. This sci-fi first person shooter should look absolutely stunning, both on the old and new console generations, and should hit the spot for those gamers missing the frantic pace of Halo. Unlike Halo, Destiny is not console exclusive and so everyone will be able to enjoy one of the most anticpated games of the year.
Release Date: September 9th 2014 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.
The Sims 4
Announced by EA back in May 2013, like Mario Kart, fans of the game will already know what they are going to get with The Sims. Although there will certainly be 
improvements over the last game, gamers expecting an overhaul will likely be disappointed. Still, with a series that has always been popular, the focus will always be on iterative improvement. This is a sandbox game that lets your imagination run wild and is a great time-waster. After all, who can forget their first ever Sims baby?
Release Date: September 15th 2014 for PC and Mac.
Alien Isolation
As a fan of the horror genre, this is one of the games I am most looking forward to in 2014. Creative Assembly have been developing this game for years, and had to remain silent throughout the debacle that was Aliens: Colonial Marines. The game is set in 2137 and follows the original Alien film, 15 years after its events. The main protagonist is Amanda Ripley, daughter of the famous Ellen Ripley (of the films), and follows her as she tries to recover the lost flight recorder of the Nostromo spaceship of Alien. However much of the game revolves around trying to avoid an alien that has managed to board the space station. Featuring much of the same visual style from the original film, which the developers have worked hard to incorporate, done right this could be a survival horror unlike any other. Potentially one of the games of 2014.
Release Date: October 7th 2014 for PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.
