Top upcoming games this year

The first half of 2014 has been very good for gamers, and the next few months promise to be no less interesting. If Thief and Watch Dogs have suitably whetted your appetite, here are the other notables on the menu this year:

Assassin's Creed Unity
Release date: October 28
Platform: PC, PS4 and Xbox One
Who doesn't love this stealth action adventure? This time the action takes place in Paris, during the French Revolution. Playing as a young man named Arno, one can witness the storming of Bastille from close quarters, as the protagonist exposes the "true powers behind the revolution". In another first, one can take the help of three other friends in the single-player campaign.

Far Cry 4
Release date: November 21
Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
This episode of the first-person shooter takes place in Kyrat, a breathtaking country in the Himalayas, ruled by a despot. Since it's an open-world game, players can take part in a range of activities, including driving an auto-rickshaw, to set the storyline.

Grand Theft Auto V
Release date: Late 2014
Platform: PC, PS4 and Xbox One
The big daddy of open-world action adventures finally comes to the PC and new generation consoles after its release on PS3 and Xbox 360 last year. This GTA is supposed to be an enhanced version of last year's release, with an upgraded resolution and better effects.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Release date: October 3
Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
This open-world stealth action RPG features a wraith, a supernatural entity, as the protagonist who wreaks havoc among Orc warlords. One can climb any surface a la Assassin's Creed, pit opponents and hostile wildlife against each other like Far Cry 3 and fight like Batman in Arkham Asylum. The gameplay was so similar to Assassin's Creed that there were accusations of using identical code.

PES 2015
Release date: September 2014
Platform: PC, PS3. PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One
The soccer world cup may be over, but here's to football frenzy again. The latest instalment of this sports simulator, PES 2015, features a unique AI that adjusts to the pace of action across the whole pitch. The game also features improved dribbling, runs, sprints and great defending scenarios. PES 2015 promises big things for footie fans this year.