![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="161" width="242" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="360" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
For this next edition of the list, we’re going to count down the 2014 games we’re most hyped about from numbers 20 to 11.
20. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
There’s never enough Donkey Kong Country goodness laying around for us. Thankfully, Nintendo is gifting Wii U owners with a new side-scrolling adventure that features DK and his many monkey buddies. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze comes with the same awesome and tight platforming that was prevalent in Donkey Kong Country Returns. We know this game’s gonna be tough, but we’re ready to test our platforming skills anyway. Plus there’s Cranky Kong! No joke, we’re excited about his inclusion.
19. Strider
Capcom’s coolest ninja is making his welcome reboot debut this year and we’re glad it harkens back to his old-school roots. Strider adopts some wonderful 3D graphics and returns to the side-scrolling gameplay that Capcom’s cyber ninja is known for. That familiar sword swishing noise, those acrobatic skills and all that super fast motion will make older fans and newer followers addicted to Strider’s next-gen return. Lt’s hope this game plays as awesome as it looks.
18. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
*SPOILER ALERT FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T BEAT THE FIRST LORDS OF SHADOW* Gabriel Belmont is now Dracula, the Lord of Darkness.*SPOILER DONE* Now that we’ve gotten that obvious story twist out of the way, we now have the right to exhbit how hyepd we are for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. Playing as Dracula himself is a great reason to tackle this game, but the new suite of supernatural powers and modern-day setting also make us excited for this release. SO where will Gabriel Belmont go this time? We’re eager to find out…
17. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="325" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Shout out to Game Informer for revealing this new Lord of the Rings action/adventure release. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor puts players into the battle-worn boots of a wraith named Talion. He comes back from the dead with a clear hit list he has to fulfill and a journey that will hopefully explain his death. The open-ended gameplay and the cool mechanics that let you keep enemies alive for future battles/plot changes makes this title seem like something that could be a grand adventure. We’re so ready to play with Talion and carry out some justice in Middle-Earth.
16. Thief
Thief. PC gamers already know the deal. Console gamers with current-gen and next-gen machines will now get the chance to experience some of the greatness master thief Garret can pull off. Playing with Garrett and pulling off slick arrow shots, pick locking doors and hopping behind unknown assailants and dropping them silently are factors that have us ready for this reboot. The “Focus” mode enchantments will slow things down and make your silent kills look even more lethal in action.
15. South Park: The Stick of Truth
HILARIOUS! Have you guys seen the trailers for this thing? Pure, unadulterated comedy that will surely offend some folks. Who cares, right? IT’S SOUTH PARK! When THQ lost this game, we were scared about the status of it. Thank the gaming gods because Ubisoft managed to pick up the rights to South Park: The Stick of Truth. The visuals look amazing in action. It looks like you’re practically in control of an episode of the show. The RPG mechanics are there, along with the incredibly offensive humor that make us giggle for hours. Farting super moves? SING US UP!
14. Bayonetta 2
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="400" width="640" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
For anyone who actually sat through the entirety of the first Bayonetta, then you know just how insane this sequel is gonna be. Bayonetta 2 is a Wii U exclusive that will blow gamer’s minds with its over-the-top action and sexually suggestive poses from the lead Umbra Witch. The moment-to-moment melee gameplay and wild demon summons we’ve seen so far have us extra prepared to get sucked into some more Bayonetta madness.
13. Dark Souls 2
We’re gluttons for punishment, so you know we’re ready to hop into the unforgiving world of Dark Souls 2. Things will be difficult, for sure. But we’re already in the know about how difficult our adventure will be for out custom made cursed hero. The new usage of dedicated multiplayer servers and the return of Covenants will make this feature-rich series a lot harder to put down. Prepare to die…a lot.
12. Dragon Age: Inquisition
Game Informer knew the gaming world wanted to know about the future of Dragon Age. The newest game in the series, Dragon Age: Inquisition is the return to form for the series that BioWare has been producing for a long time. The familiar player races make a return, but some of the new features we’re expecting to really take advantage of are the new battle mechanics and deep customization options. We know the decisions we’re going to make in this sequel will reach far and wide in Inquisition. It’s time to return to Thedas.
11. Battlefield: Hardline
Electronic Arts and the devs behind the Dead Space series (Visceral Games) are going to do something different with the Battlefield series for 2014 – cops and robbers! The massive tanks and war torn beaches of past games are getting ditched in favor of metropolitan wars between the cops and the thieves they’ve been sent to stop. We’re heavily anticipating a ton of fun multiplayer matches where chaos ensues as robber try to run off with some dough while the po-po try and take them down fro ma helicopter. We’re loving the beta right now, so you can get an early sample of how great this game’s going to be.
