The mixed reality category – meaning all things virtual and augmented reality – has become incredibly exciting over the course of 2017. In 2016, we were mostly focused on the rollout of the top headsets, which were only just becoming available to consumers. But this year has been all about seeing new games and experiences, and suffice it to say we’ve learned VR and AR can do some pretty extraordinary things. It’s not just about gaming, either; just this October, for instance, we pointed out a very cool instance of a World War II shipwreck being recreated in virtual reality. As often as cool experiences like these come up, however, and as much as we continue to read about VR’s potential in various industries (from healthcare to retail), it’s still gaming that catches most people’s attention. And now that mixed reality is more firmly established heading into a New Year, it’s natural to wonder what the next hits will be. What will be the next games to really make a splash on these new mediums? We don’t have a crystal ball, but looking at the current landscape these would be some of our best guesses.

Pokémon GO Spinoffs

It’s actually surprising it’s taken this long for us to hear about legitimate spinoffs of Pokémon GO, which is really the game that put AR on the map (even before Apple and Google made it easier for developers to work on games in this category). Now, however, we’re on the verge of more. Niantic, the very company behind Pokémon GO, has announced that its follow-up will be a Harry Potter AR game , and predictably, everyone is going ballistic. Pokémon GO is one of the most successful mobile games of all time, and there’s a reasonable chance a similar game in the Harry Potter image can do even better. This and other potential spinoffs could define mixed reality in 2018.

Virtual Casino Games

There’s been very little activity blending the casino genre with mixed reality just yet – but on its own, this genre has done as much as it can to push the boundaries of VR without actually using relevant equipment or software. Poker and blackjack games are now played online with live dealers on video feeds; slot arcades have added 3D animations that really bring the action to life ; and there’s always a need for more interactive multiplayer opportunities. It’s all coming to a head just as mixed reality gains steam, with the logical next step being the advent of fully interactive VR  Best Indian Casinos

New Versions Of Major Titles

This is the clearest upcoming trend in mixed reality, and it’s essentially beginning now. Were you to look through the biggest titles unveiled at E3 this year you’d see a lot of familiar titles: Fallout, Doom, Skyrim, and Mario Kart among them. These games represent major gaming companies who have taken their time committing to VR, but are now ready to migrate their biggest franchises over. These games have gigantic built in fan bases, and will make it big immediately, barring very poor execution and/or disastrous reviews (and possibly even in spite of those possibilities).

Sports Games

Sports games may be a little while, and we’ve seen very little in this category so far (save for some fringe activities like bowling or archery). But it seems like it will only be a matter of time before developers begin to figure out sports games in mixed reality. Whether through VR experiences involving shooting basketballs or throwing footballs, or AR games that work like projections of FIFA, Madden, or NBA 2K games on tabletops, sports are going to make their way into these mediums. And as some of the most consistently popular video games around, they’ll be big hits when they do.