GameSpot Best of E3 2016 Awards

These are the most exciting, promising games coming out of E3 according to GameSpot's editors, and the ones we can't wait to play more of. When deciding these, our only condition is that gameplay must be shown off--so cinematic trailers or teasers don't count. Click ahead to see our results.

It should come as no surprise that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of our favorite games of E3 2016. Its vibrant world is brimming with possibilities, showcasing a level of freedom in exploration that we never thought we wanted in a Zelda game before. Its brilliance shined through in the brief time we spent with it, and it's those moments that have convinced us that this could easily be one of the best games coming in 2017.

For more on the much anticipated open world game, watch our full The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild E3 stage demo.

DICE's Battlefield 1 appears to be a promising return to form for the long running shooter series. Rather than place its setting in the present or push it into the future, the latest entry takes us to the past. Set in World War I, the game celebrates the technology of its time, incorporating it into the series' signature land, air, and sea combat. Battlefield 1 looks to recapture what made the series great by returning to exactly what we've been wanting for so long: a historical multiplayer shooter that provides unique experiences and narratives for its players. For that reason alone, it's one of the best games we've seen at E3.

For more on the upcoming first-person shooter, watch our full Battlefield 1 E3 stage demo.

There's nothing more exciting than a game's first sequel, regardless of whether or not its predecessor was a success or not. It's the possibility for a second chance; and that's exactly why Watch Dogs 2 excites us. Its faithful rendition of San Francisco brims with life; its improved hacking tools and environmental interactivity expand on the possibilities of its predecessor; and its protagonist Marcus Holloway--a far more charming and affable personality--is a refreshing breath of air from the self-serious Aiden Pearce. Watch Dogs 2 gives us hope for the refinement and polish that we expect from a big budget sequel, and we can't wait to try it once it launches in November.

For more on the upcoming sequel, watch our full Watch Dogs 2 E3 stage demo.

The latest God of War game wowed us at Sony's E3 2016 press conference. The game is a drastic departure in style and tone from previous entries; its somber mood, revamped combat mechanics, and aged protagonist were unexpected. What we saw appeared to be God of War redefined, a new entry that dares to step away from the over-the-top spectacle from the series' past towards uncharted territory. Kratos' new adventure has us excited, and we can't wait to see more of it in the coming months.

For more on the upcoming action game, watch our full God of War E3 stage demo.

After the disappointing critical reception of Resident Evil 6, our love for the time honored survival horror series began to wane. But when Sony showcased the next entry in the series at its E3 2016 press conference, our mouths dropped; Resident Evil 7: Biohazard represents a return to form that none of us had expected. Years of the series' more action-focused entries made us cynical, but this latest game has given us a new kind of terror to look forward to in Resident Evil.

Adding on to our list of surprises from this year's E3, Bend Studios' seized our attention with Days Gone--the developer's first new IP since 1999's Syphon Filter. The game offers what seems like a cross between The Last of Us and Sons of Anarchy. It tells the story of Deacon St. John, a drifter and biker who lives out in the wilderness sometime after a global pandemic devastates the population. While we only saw a small slice of gameplay, we're eager to learn more about what we can expect from this upcoming post-apocalyptic open world adventure.

Call of Duty has remained a dependable series over the years, retaining its entertaining signature fast-paced shooting action across its multitude of entries. But now it aims to reinvent itself by pushing forward into the limitless frontier of space with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. What we saw captivated us; the intense spaceship dogfights, the anti-gravity shootouts, and the sheer chaos of its spectacle impressed us in ways that we haven't felt towards the series in years. Infinite Warfare might just be our most anticipated Call of Duty yet.

For more on the upcoming first person shooter, watch our full Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare E3 stage demo.

Horizon Zero Dawn has once again made it to our Best of E3 list, proving that we're still excited for the upcoming open world action-adventure even a year after it debuted. The game's unique aesthetic continues to charm us with its mix natural world characters with sci-fi robotic creature, while its frenetic action and vast open world makes us eager to conquer the adventure that lies ahead.

For more on the upcoming open world game, watch our full Horizon Zero Dawn E3 stage demo.

The upcoming Gears of War 4 appears to be a thrilling, if not safe new entry in Microsoft's premiere third person shooter franchise. But that doesn't deter us from the journey back to Sera; rather, we're eager to see what this game has to offer us in its single-player campaign and multiplayer. The Gears of War franchise has always maintained a legacy of guts and gore, and this latest entry looks to follow that closely. We just hope it'll be the shock to the spine that this long running series needs.

For more on the upcoming third-person shooter, watch our full Gears of War 4 E3 stage demo.

The first Dishonored was a fulfilling first-person action game that delivered on all fronts; it captivated us with its gritty steampunk world, its intrigue-packed narrative, and its refined stealth combat. The upcoming sequel looks to capitalize on all these aspects, pushing them to new heights. While only a small slice of the game was shown at E3, what we've seen has convinced us that Dishonored 2 could be one this year's finest.

For more on the upcoming stealth action game, watch our full Dishonored 2 E3 stage demo.

The Mafia franchise is taking a step in a different direction with Mafia III. You play a mixed-race Vietnam War veteran, Lincoln Clay, who starts his life again in a fictional version of New Orleans called New Bordeaux during the '60s. There's a lot to dig into with this latest entry, and we're interested to see how developer Hangar 13 balances the action of its open world with its rich historical setting and time period. If it plays its cards right, it could be one of this year's most uniquely enticing open-world games.

For more on the upcoming open world game, watch our full Mafia III E3 stage demo.

For Honor was one of the most pleasant surprises from last year's E3; its focus on calculated sword-fights between Vikings, knights, and samurai on a war torn battlefield enthralled us. Ubisoft's showcase of the game's single-player furthered our excitement for the game, making us eager to immerse ourselves in the heat of its epic battles. And with its intense and unique multiplayer mode, For Honor could very well be one of the most standout games when it releases February 2017.

For more on the upcoming action game, watch our full For Honor E3 stage demo.

The Civilization games have always managed to consistently floor us with their exceptional standard of quality, and the latest entry is no different. The new active research system aims to give us more options, while its more varied and self-contained multiplayer offers us less-predictable competitive showdowns. The realm of possibility looks to be expanding in new and exciting ways in Civilization VI, providing a refreshing change of pace that could make this franchise more dynamic than it's been in years.

For more on the upcoming strategy game, watch our full Sid Meier's Civilization VI E3 stage demo.

Nier: Automata was an unexpected surprise; it comes as a sequel to a cult favorite action-RPG released 2010. With PlatinumGames at the helm of its development, the game appears to be one of the most promising games from the studio yet, bringing forth a tightly designed combat system and a dark atmospheric world. In addition, key members from the original are contributing to the development of the game, which should please hardcore fans. Nier: Automata may not seem like much compared to Platinum's other upcoming offerings, but its well worth your time and attention; it's hands-down one of our most anticipated action games of 2017.

Titanfall was a multiplayer shooter that succeeded thanks to the power of its forward thinking. It elevated the FPS genre's mechanics through its unique maneuverability options and intense Titan battles. The game's sequel appears to expand on these elements to create a frenetic display of multiplayer action that's still a joy to witness. In addition, the Titanfall universe's lore is finally being fleshed out into a single-player campaign, which present an exciting new experience for the series altogether. We cannot wait to get our hands on Titanfall 2.

For more on the upcoming first-person shooter, watch our full Titanfall 2 E3 stage demo.