2019 wasn’t a bad year for gaming. We saw a lot of excellent titles released this year. Like, for example, Death Stranding, Kingdom Hearts 3, Borderlands 3, and Resident Evil 2, among others.
But the thing is, while 2019 was great, we didn’t really get anything that most would consider as genre-defining (apart from Death Stranding).
In a way, you could argue that 2019 was a warm-up to 2020, which, from the looks of the confirmed list of titles set for release by then, is shaping up to be the best year for video games in 2020.
2020 is bound to be a big year in gaming, even if we didn’t have a list of anticipated titles to look forward to.
With that said, we’ve rounded up a list of all the best upcoming games of 2020.
This list is already outdated, please refer to our partner’s site on the upcoming game releases.
1. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Release Date: January 16, 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation 4
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the eighth release in the long-running Yakuza franchise. However, it marks a departure from previous game’s themes and core concepts.
This includes a change in gameplay genre (from beat ‘em up to turn-based RPG), a new protagonist, and even a new setting.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is also considered to be a soft reboot of the series.
Gamers in Japan will get their hands on Yakuza: Like a Dragon first once it releases in January 16, 2020, with a worldwide release scheduled for later the same year.
2. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Release Date: January 16, 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Anyone who grew up watching TV in the 90s are no doubt familiar with Kakarot, otherwise more commonly known as Son Goku.
The protagonist of the anime franchise, Dragon Ball, has been around for decades. However, it was only in recent years that games based on Dragon Ball started gaining a lot of traction.
This is thanks to the successful releases of Dragonball Xenoverse and Dragonball Xenoverse 2, as well as Dragon Ball Fighter Z, in addition to the widely praised movie releases, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F and Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
As of now, we don’t really have much information about what Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is going to be all about. We only have trailers to go by, which suggest that it will be a “re-telling” of sorts of the events of Dragon Ball Z.
Either way, we can be sure that with so much good going on for the Dragon Ball franchise right now, there’s no doubt that the franchise’s next big title, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, is going to be a big hit.
3. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
Release Date: January 21, 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch
The Megaman franchise has enjoyed quite a bit of a renaissance over the past few years, and Capcom hasn’t been above taking advantage of it.
With the successful release of Mega Man 11 in 2018, Capcom now plans on re-releasing the Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX games for 2020, and we’re all the better for it.
Although these are nothing more than modern remasters of age-old titles, the complication does come with a number of quality of life improvements.
This includes, among others, special filters, as well as a Casual Scenario Mode and a Save-Assist feature for the less-hardcore fans of the franchise.
The Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is also set to come with the leader-based “Z Chaser Mode” for those who are a bit more competitive.
4. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Release Date: February 11, 2020
Platform/s: Xbox One and Microsoft Windows
Ori and the Will of the Wisps has a lot to live up to.
As the follow-up to Moon Studio’s successful debut title in 2015, Ori and the Blind Forest, the bar is set high for the sequel. Will it follow through? We don’t know just yet.
What we do know is that Ori and the Will of the Wisps will feature a variety of improvements. This includes a sequential upgrade system, autosaves, as well as a wide assortment of new movement abilities and much better visuals.
If Ori and the Will of the Wisps can be just as good as Ori and the Blind Forest, then gamers will be in for quite the treat.
5. Iron Man VR
Release Date: February 28, 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation VR
Iron Man VR has all the makings to be one of the best VR titles to date.
Granted, the bar is set low as far as VR games go. But we couldn’t help but recommend the PlayStation VR exclusive.
After all, it’s not everyday that you’d get a chance to get inside the Iron Man suit and fly around as if you were Tony Stark himself.
While Iron Man VR shouldn’t really let you do anything complicated, the trailer does show some promise.
If nothing else, Iron Man VR should be a nice reason to convince yourself (or your parents) to go and buy a PlayStation VR during the holidays.
6. Final Fantasy VII Remake
Release Date: April 10, 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation 4
Ever since Sony teased audiences with a tech demo of Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation III, fans have been clamoring for an actual remake.
More than a decade and a handful of Final Fantasy titles later, it’s finally here.
Set to arrive on March 3, 2020, the Final Fantasy VII Remake is reportedly so big that it’s going to be split in two, with the second half set to be released later on.
As disappointing as that may be, most players likely won’t have time to complain once the game actually arrives as it bombards them with one nostalgia blast after another.
7. Nioh 2
Release Date: March 13, 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation 4
Back in 2017, Nioh introduced feudal Japan to the rest of the world.
Featuring the same punishing combat of the Dark Souls games, with the matching themes and graphical style to match, Nioh was one of the more surprising hits of 2017. Expect its sequel, Nioh 2, to be more or less the same if not better (or worse, but in a good way, depending on how you look at it).
“This time around, the gloves are off” is what Tom Lee, Nioh 2’s Creative Director, had to say about the game.
Considering how difficult Nioh already was, and yet how satisfying it was to play through let alone complete, we sure do hope that Nioh 2, along with its fully customizable character creator, lives up to the hype.
8. Doom Eternal
Release Date: March 13, 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and Nintendo Switch (later on).
Doom never really died. It’s lived on through various ports and mods throughout the years. But hey, more fast-paced action never really hurt anyone, right?
So, when the 2016 reboot was released, you can bet that most gamers, us included, were excited to get our hands on it.
Thankfully enough, unlike other modern reboots of classic titles, the 2016 Doom reboot was actually just as good if not better than the original.
Judging by the looks of it, Doom Eternal won’t really change things up much, and that’s okay. The Doom formula doesn’t need tweaking or changing.
Some fine tuning could help, but overall, what’s important is that the fast-paced balls to the wall action is there.
With that said, Doom Eternal, with its classic formula is going to be a guaranteed success.
It also probably wouldn’t hurt that Doom Eternal will come with new multiplayer modes and features like zero-gravity environments and a new weapon in the form of a grappling hook.
9. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Release Date: March 20, 2020
Platform/s: Nintendo Switch
As the first true Animal Crossing title for the Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn’t pulling any punches.
Instead of giving players an established village where they can make their mark in, Animal Crossing: New Horizons gives players literally nothing.
Yes, you read that right. Nothing.
There’s no village, and definitely no people. There’s just you, an empty place, and endless possibilities. But that’s not all. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is also set to introduce a fully-featured crafting system, where you can create all the furniture that you want, as well as a robust character creation system.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons will also come with multiplayer co-op, with support for up to eight players simultaneously.
The list of new things to explore and to do in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is potentially endless, which only makes it all that better.
10. Half-Life: Alyx
Release Date: March 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows
Sorry guys. This is not Half-Life 3.
But, then again, at this point, we’ll take all the Half-Life that we can get, and we certainly won’t complain if Half-Life: Alyx arrives by March 2020 as promised.
Set between the first two Half-Life titles, the game promises to deliver a complete first-person shooter experience in VR form. Considering that we’ve already experienced how good VR can be if designed properly even in games that were not intentionally designed simply for VR, we can only expect great things for Half-Life: Alyx, especially with Valve behind it.
If all goes well, Half-Life: Alyx has the potential to legitimize VR gaming.
11. Bleeding Edge
Release Date: March 24, 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows and Xbox One
Ninja Theory has been responsible for some of the best action games over the past decade or two. Even the wildly divisive DmC: Devil May Cry was lauded for its action-packed gameplay, which is undoubtedly Ninja Theory’s best trait.
So, what do you think will happen if Ninja Theory focused all of their efforts on a brand-new IP centered on fighting?
All-out mayhem is probably apt.
Bleeding Edge is a 4v4 team combat game that’s set to feature a fun set of characters and a comic book-inspired look that has the potential to be the next big e-sport title if Ninja Theory does it right.
12. System Shock
Release Date: Q1 2020
Platform/s: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Another much-anticipated remake, the 2020 remake of 1994’s System Shock has been in development for quite a while already and was even put on hold for a while in 2018.
Now, the development is in full swing and we can expect it to release in the first quarter of 2020.
For those who weren’t yet born when System Shock was first released, the game puts you in the shoes of a world-renowned hacker. However, after a hack gone wrong, you find yourself at the mercy of an executive where you eventually find yourself waking up in a world that feels completely different.
13. Cyberpunk 2077
Release Date: November, 2020 (after postponement)
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia
As the people behind the wildly successful The Witcher video game franchise, including the all-time great, The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red only have themselves to blame for all the hype that Cyberpunk 2077 has gotten since it was first unveiled years ago.
Adding Keanu Reeves to the game’s cast only added to the anticipation, setting the bar for Cyberpunk 2077 ridiculously high.
At this point though, CD Projekt Red deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Considering that The Witcher video game franchise only kept getting better and better after each release, we’ve little doubt that Cyberpunk 2077 is going to be in the running for one of the best video games of 2020 if not of all time.
14. Trials of Mana
Release Date: April 24, 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4
You know that running joke about Japanese video games being better? Well, most of the time, they are.
Luckily, more and more Japanese-only releases are starting to be released in the west.
In the case of the sequel of the Secret of Mana, it only took 24 for Seiken Densetsu 3 to reach other parts of the globe. That’s a long time. However, many who’ve played the game before will swear that it’s worth it.
Judging by how much effort Square Enix has put in to re-release the game to a western audience — the Super NES original in English (Collection of Mana) and a 3D remake (Trials of Mana) — we’re inclined to believe.
Trials of Mana will receive a revamped combat system, with more modern quality of life features and improvements. Also, the original story was retained, which, by today’s standards, is actually still quite interesting.
If you’ve been itching for some classic JRPG action, Trials of Mana should scratch that, and then some.
15. Minecraft Dungeons
Release Date: April 2020
Platform/s: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
Ever since its release, Minecraft has become pretty much anything you can think of. It’s even received its own interactive show on Netflix, which was surprisingly good.
Now, the best-selling video game of all time is finally getting a sequel. Or, at the very least, a totally different game in the franchise.
Minecraft Dungeons takes the global appeal of Minecraft and tops it off with the standard dungeon-crawler formula.
The result? A four-player battler with ridiculously fast gameplay, yet with the same classic look that has made Minecraft as popular and as famous as it is right now.
16. Marvel’s Avengers
Release Date: May 15, 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia
Great, another comic book-based video game, what could possibly go wrong, right?
When it comes to comic books and video games, we’ve seen more duds than wins that we’ve come to expect a half-decent game be good already. Not every comic book-based video game can be Spiderman PS4, after all.
Something tells us that Marvel’s Avengers has the potential to go the Spiderman PS4 route.
Developed by the same people behind Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics’ take on a superhero video game will feature the likes of Captain America and Iron Man, as well as the rest of the Avengers, who will attempt to try and salvage their reputation, as well as what’s left of the world, after a mission goes wrong.
Just how exactly Marvel’s Avengers will play out is the big question right now.
Regardless, given Crystal Dynamics’ success with the Tomb Raider reboot and its sequel, we’ve no doubt that they’ll be able to pull off something that’s quite remarkable.
17. The Last of Us Part II
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation 4
First announced during a PlayStation event in December 2016, the hype for The Last of Us Part II hasn’t died down since, and why should it?
The original title, The Last of Us, was a genre-defining title that’s widely considered one of the best video games of all time. It was both a commercial and critical success, which means that the sequel has a lot of living up to do.
The Last of Us Part II is set to feature an older version of the main character, Ellie, and will take place 5 years after the end of the original title.
18. Genshin Impact
Release Date: Spring 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation 4, PC, iOS, and Android
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild might be a Nintendo Switch exclusive, but Genshin Impact isn’t, and it looks like it’s going to be every bit as good as the latest installment in the classic The Legend of Zelda franchise.
While Genshin Impact’s visual inspiration is evident, it separates itself just enough to make it a completely different and unique game.
Featuring an all-female cast, the ability to switch characters, and much-faster company, as well as a compelling plot, Genshin Impact should give you a pretty good reason to go out and explore the wilderness more, both in game and in real life.
19. Wasteland 3
Release Date: Spring 2020
Platform/s: PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Most people probably haven’t heard of the Wasteland franchise. Most likely wouldn’t even believe you if you told them that this was the franchise that inspired Fallout.
Initially released in the late ‘80s, Wasteland finally received a sequel in 2014, and just half a decade later, the franchise’s third title is due to come out.
Featuring the same top-down perspective and turn-based tactical combat that fans of the Wasteland games have come to love, Wasteland 3 changes things up a bit.
For starters, you’re no longer in a radioactive desert. Instead, the setting this time around will be post-apocalyptic Colorado, where, for some reason, has been completely covered with snow.
Considering that Wasteland 3 will serve as Brian Fargo’s farewell to a 4-decade-long career in the gaming industry, we can expect InXile’s to make sure that Wasteland 3 goes out with a bang.
20. Dying Light 2
Edited: According to the latest news, the game may not be released in 2020.
Release Date: Q1/Q2 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
The original Dying Light was an interesting game with a unique set of gameplay mechanics.
In a game that was essentially Mirror’s Edge meets Resident Evil, the FPS survival game paired punishing first-person combat with the sort of parkour-style maneuverability that no game has managed to pull off quite as well since.
Now, many years after its initial release, Dying Light 2 is set to bring the zombies back once again, along with a couple of nifty changes and improvements.
For example, in Dying Light 2, players no longer just follow the set narrative. Instead, players will get to interact with various factions and settlements, making decisions based on the situation at hand.
The decisions made will then have an effect on the current status of the in-game world, which is reportedly set 15 years after the original Dying Light took place.
As an added bonus, Dying Light 2 comes with a four-person mode, as well as a map that’s 4x larger than the original game’s map.
Considering how long the developers, Techland, supported Dying Light, we have high hopes that they’re going to deliver on all of their promises for Dying Light by the time it releases sometime within the first half of 2020.
21. Destroy All Humans! Remake
Release Date: Q1/Q2 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia
Officially announced just this 2019, the remake of 2005’s cult classic, Destroy All Humans!, is finally set to release sometime in 2020.
Flipping the script and putting you in the shoes of an alien sent to destroy the world, Destroy All Humans! garnered a lot of praise during its initial release.
Many critics referred to the game as an excellent game with an interesting premise. Not to mention, the amount of mayhem that players could inflict within the levels made it a fun yet satisfying game to play.
Unfortunately, it did not sell as well commercially.
Here’s to hoping that Destroy All Humans! Remake in 2020 does far better.
22. Oddworld: Soulstorm
Release Date: 2020
Platform/s: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows
The Oddworld franchise is a good example of what happens when you deviate too much from the formula that made it so well-loved in the first place.
Despite multiple releases, the Oddworld franchise has never reached the same critical and commercial heights that it did with Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee and Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus, both of which were released for the original PlayStation.
Thankfully, Oddworld: Soulstorm is set to bring back the same Oddworld that fans loved decades ago.
Billed as a true “sequel” and set to be part of the planned Oddworld quintology, Oddworld: Soulstorm will feature a more modern design, with the same visual fidelity, lighting, and rendering on par with today’s games, but with the same design philosophy that made Oddworld stand out all those years ago.
23. Phantasy Star Online 2
Release Date: Q2 2020
Platform/s: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch
MMOs typically don’t get much attention these days. They’ve since been replaced in the spotlight by MOBAs like Dota 2 and League of Legends, and much more recently, Battle Royale titles like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
While Phantasy Star Online 2 isn’t a new game by any means, it’s a new release for the rest of the world that’s looking to make a big splash.
MMO fans who’ve been clamoring for something new and different will likely find what they want in Phantasy Star Online 2.
24. Microsoft Flight Simulator
Release Date: 2020
Platform/s: Microsoft Windows and Xbox One
Initially a business-oriented offering, Microsoft Flight Simulator has become quite popular among gamers since its release. As such, its latest iteration, titled simply as Microsoft Flight Simulator, is much anticipated.
While Microsoft Flight Simulator won’t change much from previous titles, it will come with better graphics and more places for players to explore. Also, it will include newer features as well. This includes requiring players to monitor weather patterns, among other things.
If it delivers, which it likely will, Microsoft Flight Simulator is set to become the most realistic mainstream home flight simulator program on the market.
25. Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2
Back in 2004, one of the greatest games that you’ve probably never heard of was released.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines was an action RPG that follows the story of a human-turned-vampire. In a way, it was ahead of its time.
Where titles back then focused on linear gameplay, Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines put a lot of value and emphasis on decision-making and character-building.
The sequel will look to take the same formula that made the original a cult classic, but package it for a more modern, open-minded audience.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 will follow largely the same formula of a human-turned vampire. However, it will come with a much-improved combat system while retaining the same charm of the gameplay and narrative of the original.
26. Resident Evil 3 Remake
The news is out. Resident Evil 3 Remake is coming to PC in April 2019!
After the big success of RE 2: Remake, it’s no brainer that a remake of the third installment of this series has already begun earlier.
The 3rd series was titled Nemesis and it released in 1999, about 2 decades ago. Many fans have said that Nemesis is one of the top Resident Evil games of all time.
Honorable Mentions
- Watch Dogs Legion — Initially set for a March 6, 2020 release, Watch Dogs Legion, which will take place in a fictional post-Brexit London, was pushed back for after Ubisoft’s fiscal year-end.
- Gods and Monsters — Ubisoft’s latest IP, Gods and Monsters is being developed by the same people behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The game has been labelled as a Breath of the Wild This is because of both game’s similar art styles. However, judging by how Assassin’s Creed Odyssey turned out, which is anything but what anyone would’ve expected from an Assassin’s Creed title, Gods and Monsters is bound to be a great game. It’s a shame that we’ll have to wait sometime between April 2020 and March 2021 to see it in action.
- Skull and Bones — Another new IP from Ubisoft and another delayed game. For all the hype that Skull and Bones has received since its initial reveal, we don’t really know much about the game. But what we do know is that it’s going to be the spiritual successor to Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Just whether or not it will be a great game is something that we’ll only know once it finally releases.
- Ghost of Tsushima — Following the story of the last Samurai on Tsushima Island, Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world PS4 exclusive that will let players explore a world without waypoints nor guidance. Unfortunately, we don’t know if and when exactly Ghost of Tsushima is going to release. However, industry reports and reports claim that it is going to be released sometime in 2020.
- Persona 5 Royal — For Persona 5 fans, this will be one of the top releases in 2020. It is already out for the Japanese audience but the global release is slated for Q1. While the main story is probably the same, you’ll get a new character and more side stories in the game.
Final Thoughts
There you have it.
2020 is set to be a big year for gaming, and it’s bound to be even bigger. After all, the gaming industry is not without its surprise releases, with some games being released just months if not weeks after its big reveal.
With that said, even with what’s already confirmed, we know that the current generation of consoles will get the send off that it deserves.
This article was composed by Ray.
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