With 2020 almost upon us; here is my list of the 20 most anticipated games of the coming year based on what has been announced.
20 anticipated video game releases in 2020
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox One, PC)
Release date: Feb. 11
If you were impressed with the gorgeous visuals in Ori and The Blind Forest (2015) prepared to be stunned again with its follow up next year. Will of the Wisps is a platform-adventure game that incorporates Metroidvania-style exploration with absolutely spectacular 2D environments.
Final Fantasy VII: Remake (PS4)
Release date: March 3
While it’s not a full remake of the influential Final Fantasy 7 (1997), it’s still one of the most anticipated remakes ever. The game has been completely overhauled from the ground up with modern graphics, controls, and battle system to name a few improvements. It appears to be what fans want and more.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)
Release date: March 20
Whether you’re paying off an ever growing amount of debt or participating in seasonal events there is always something charming for you in Animal Crossing. This new outing places you on a deserted island where you explore, attract new friends and grow your community day-by-day.
Doom: Eternal (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia)
Release date: March 20
Eternal is a direct sequel to DOOM (2016) and it somehow is faster, bloodier and more frantical than its predecessor. Developer id Software is revamping multiplayer where a group of players control demons while one player fights to survive as the DOOM Slayer.
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines 2 (PS4, Xbox, PC)
Release date: March 2020
Bloodlines 2 is set in the World of Darkness and based on the tabletop role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade. The original Bloodlines was released in 2004 so this should be a welcome return for fans of the TRPG and or the original PC release.
Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia)
Release date: April 16
Announced six years ago, it was a mystery if Cyberpunk 2077 would even see the neon light of day. But then last year we got our first glimpse of Night City and people have been hooked since then. Cyberpunk 2077 is a follow up to the tabletop role playing game Cyberpunk 2020 (1990). Developer CD Projekt RED is looking to add another successful RPG to their pedigree alongside The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015).
Minecraft: Dungeons (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Release date: April 2020
Is it Minecraft (2011) without crafting? Minecraft: Dungeons seems to thinks so. The game is a dungeon crawler while keeping the Minecraft aesthetic intact. The game will task players to take their blocky avatars through randomly generated dungeons to solve puzzles and unknown threats.
Marvel’s Avengers (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia)
Release date: May 15
Marvel’s Avengers will allow you play as all of the Avengers in a new adventure that is not set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite visually playing homage to it. It’s an action-adventure game that can be played solo by switching between the various heroes or everyone can join in with four-player-co-op.
Wasteland 3 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac)
Release date: May 19
Wasteland 3 will allow players to form squads in Colorado to take part in turn based combat in, you guessed it, a wasteland. Wasteland 3 will build upon the successful RPG systems in the previous titles and feature synchronous and asynchronous multiplayer.
The Last of Us Part II (PS4)
Release date: May 29
Set five years after the events of The Last of Us (2013), a 19-year-old Ellie crosses path with a post-apocalyptic cult and cannibals. Developer NaughtyDog is bringing their signature style of cinematic visuals and storytelling for what is sure to be a much talked about adventure.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Release date: TBA
Quarantine is putting a twist on typical Rainbow Six faire by tasking a team of three to navigate a zombie outbreak rather than taking down terrorists. The game is inspired by the Outbreak game mode, which was a limited time event in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (2015).
Psychonauts 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac, Linux)
Release date: TBA
A sequel to the cult classic Psychonauts (2005) didn’t seem like a possibility until 2015 when a crowd-funding campaign launched on Fig. Now it’s on track to release in 2020. Psychonauts 2 will once again bring players back together with Raz as he navigates people’s minds and solving charming platforming puzzles.
No More Heroes III (Switch)
Release date: TBA
The quirky action adventure game is seeing a third main release on the Switch in 2020. The game picks up after a 10-year break. The main character, Travis Touchdown, returns to Santa Destroy to defend the city from another alien threat. The game will feature Grasshopper Manufacture signature style of wacky and wild moments so Switch fans should keep their eyes peeled for this one.
Kerbal Space Program 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Release date: TBA
Building off the basis of Kerbal Space Program (2011), the sequel will include multiplayer and the ability to build habitation modules. A new developer, Star Theory, has taken over development on the sequel so the original developer, Squad, could continue to update Kerbal Space Program.
Gods and Monsters (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Stadia)
Release date: TBA
The developers of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) are making a brand new open world game set within Greek myth and, at least visually, is pulling from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017). Not much is known about the title but it’s sure to turn some heads when more info is revealed.
Halo: Infinite (Xbox One, PC, Project Scarlett)
Release date: TBA
Microsoft has kept pretty tight lips around its marquee franchise. Halo: Infinite is being developed with a brand new engine and is set to be Microsoft’s tentpole launch title for Project Scarlett. Early glimpses prove that Halo: Infinite still looks like a Halo game. Look forward to more details next year.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox One, PC)
Release date: TBA
It’s a game title that speaks for itself. This time around, Flight Simulator will simulate the entire Earth using data from Bing Maps and Microsoft Azure technology. It looks mighty impressive.
Elden Ring (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Release date: TBA
FromSoftware’s director Hidetaka Miyazaki and A Song of Ice and Fire novelist George R. R. Martin have teamed up to develop a new fantasy world. It’s expected to be a third-person action RPG following in the footsteps of Dark Souls (2011) and Bloodborne (2015). It’s one to keep an eye on.
Baldur’s Gate III (PC, Stadia)
Release date: TBA
A third title in the highly anticipated fantasy RPG series, Baldur’s Gate III will be here soon. Players will be able to build characters and take them online with others to explore the continuing story and haunted lands.
Watch Dogs: Legion (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, PS5, Project Scarlett)
Release date: TBA
An ambitious game, Watch Dogs: Legion will let you control anyone. Players can jump between any character they see walking the near-future streets of London and conscribe them to their hacker resistance. Every character is said to have unique abilities and characteristics.
