2019 has now ended and we got a very healthy quantity of great games. There weren’t super obvious standouts like we got in 2018 with God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2, but we did get a bunch of very solid games. It was a year of variety with games like Sekiro, Kingdom Hearts 3 and Beat Saber. Video game streaming services made a huge leap with the already stellar Xbox Game Pass getting an upgrade with Game Pass Ultimate. PlayStation Now received a price drop and the ability to download some games rather than streaming them. To throw in even more variety, Apple Arcade was released to give those who love gaming on their phones an excellent service to jump into.
2019 was a year for variety and accessibility throughout all the major platforms. There were hiccups of course; Anthem was a total failure, Fallout 76 got worse, right as it was getting better and gaming was still under fire in the media for various political reasons. We still made it through though, even if it wasn’t always a cakewalk. Now we have 2020 to look forward to.
2020 has the feeling of an iconic year in the making for video game history. It will likely sit alongside 2007 and 1998 as the most positively remembered years in gaming. We will get a brand-new console generation for the PlayStation and Xbox platforms. There will be highly anticipated remakes and sequels. 2020 will also give us brand new IP’s to look forward too, as well as new entries into franchises that need a little revitalization. When you look back on how great a year was, it is ultimately judged by the games that came out in those 365 days. So, here is a list of our most anticipated games for 2020.
Resident Evil 3 Remake
With the success of Resident Evil 2 Remake, it was obvious that Capcom would have more coming down the pipeline. I never played the original Resident Evil games, so these remakes are a great thing for me. They allow me to experience the game like people did back when these games first came out. If you try and play the original games, it’s a tough task to try and ask someone to do. The games are slow and clunky, and just all around not very fun. Resident Evil 2 Remake was so good that I have complete faith that Capcom will nail their next attempt at recreating one of their beloved games. Resident Evil 3 remake looks to be another excellent addition to the survival horror genre.
Cyberpunk 2077
This original IP developed by CD Projekt Red is likely the most anticipated game of the year. It is a game that even under the worst circumstances, will still be some people’s game of the year. CD’s last game, The Witcher 3, set the bar extremely high for them. The Witcher 3 is looked at now as one of the best RPG’s ever made. Now, 5 years later, CD plans to release a futuristic open world RPG that is even bigger than the Witcher 3 was. This time they are developing the game to take place from the first-person perspective, something that they aren’t known for. Nevertheless, the trailers and gameplay have done nothing but increase the hype around the game. The world looks to be sprawling with unique characters and wacky side quests. Considering the fact that the source material is a role-playing board game, it is miraculous how much Cyberpunk 2077 looks to change the way video games are thought of. Let’s hope that our hype won’t set impossible standards that even CD Projekt Red can’t live up to.
Halo Infinite
This is a franchise that desperately needs the next game to work. Halo 5 was a huge letdown in the campaign department. The multiplayer was great, but the campaign really left a sour taste in fans’ mouths. It failed to have a satisfying ending with an obvious ploy to set up its sequel. For the majority of the campaign you didn’t even play as the Master Chief, but instead, you play most missions with the monotonous Spartan Locke. You expect some epic showdown between these two characters, but it ends up being some measly fistfight that last 15 seconds, 15 seconds in which you don’t control anything. You also fight the same boss that appears no less than a dozen times throughout different stages of the campaign. This being only half of what was wrong with Halo 5.
Halo Infinite looks to be a sort of spiritual reboot for the franchise. The multiplayer won’t need much work, as the formula for 5 worked out very well. 343 will just have to go all in on the campaign this time around, there is no playing it safe either. Microsoft needs Halo to be at its best, seeing as how Halo Infinite is set to be a launch title for the next generation of Xbox. It is possibly the most important game in the history of the Xbox. There is no other game that is integral to a series that is scheduled to release this year.
The Last of Us Part 2
There isn’t much to say about TLOU2, who isn’t excited about it? The first game made us rethink what video games could actually do. It reshaped the way that games could tell a story. With almost a perfect ending, you wonder why even make a sequel? No one was really asking for one, but now that we know there is one, most of the gaming culture is giddy with excitement. The trailers have been extra violent and gritty, with more proof that this game will likely be a heart wrencher. Although there is no multiplayer this time around, Naughty Dog says this will be their biggest game yet. With their pedigree as a development studio, I believe them fully. Just be ready for when this game comes out, it will be one of the most important releases of all time. Just be ready for an emotional roller coaster that in all likelihood, won’t end on a positive note.
Doom Eternal
Doom (2016) for lack of a better term, was badass. This is how you take a reboot and turn it into something special. Doom (2016) had such a perfect balance of new and old mixed into it that future developers need to take notes. Right from opening tip the game is nuts. Now, with Bethesda coming off quite a tough year, Doom Eternal needs to get it right. You would think making a game with such a simple story and gameplay loop would be simple. Turns out, making a video game is never simple. This is especially true when it’s the next iteration in a 30+ year old franchise. While id Software struck out on Wolfenstein Youngblood, I find it unlikely that they will get Doom Eternal wrong. It’s too important for both id and Bethesda. The importance is ratcheted up with the game being an early release in the year. While I am incredibly excited about Doom Eternal, I am equally nervous. I loved their last Doom release, and I only hope that they can stick to what made that game successful for the release of Doom Eternal.
Dying Light 2
The first Dying Light was a pleasant surprise at a time where zombie games were flooding the market. The game mixes Mirror Edge’s parkour, with Dead Islands melee combat. The story in the first one was generic, but the open world and crafting system really helped the game stand out in the early days of this generation. Dying Light 2 looks to be bigger and bolder. Judging by the trailers we have seen, it’s a whole lot prettier this time around. The sequel will take place 15 years before the first one, and humanity is just as big a problem for you as the undead. We are looking at a Spring release date as of right now, and if you haven’t tried the first one out yet, I highly recommend it. Dying Light 2 can succeed by keeping it simple and stick with the formula that made the first game work.
Little Nightmares 2
Here is a game that any horror fan can get behind. Little Nightmares is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer where a child in a bright yellow raincoat is the main protagonist. You traverse a world full of disgusting chefs that try and hunt you down to feed to the high-class freaks of the game. The setting is ominous and nauseating and one of a kind. The sequel looks to be larger in scope. The trailer also shows off a little bit of combat, something the first game lacked entirely. If you were a fan of the first one, it’s a safe bet that Little Nightmares 2 is something to look forward to in 2020.
Session
Session has been available in beta for a few months now on pc, and it has had an up and downtime while on early access. With fans like myself clamoring for a Skate 4, this appears to be the closest thing we will get to that for a while. Session is trying to be even more realistic than Skate was, and from what I have watched so far it appears to be on track for that. Skate was relatively realistic, but you could bust off crazy combos and manual for as long as you wanted to. Session appears to be more of a skateboarding simulation that true fans of the sport will enjoy. Session also plans to come to console in 2020 which is great news for the console players out there. While we might not be getting a Skate any time soon, Session looks promising to carry on the mantle for skateboarding video games. We have been deprived of a good skateboarding game for so long, let’s just hope Session can scratch that itch.
Minecraft Dungeons
It is rare that a spin off video game winds up successful. With that being the case, I’m holding out hope for Minecraft Dungeons. It takes the blocky art style of Minecraft that we all know and loves, then it throws in a Diablo inspired gameplay loop, to come together and make a fun for all age’s RPG. While it isn’t a game that people asked for, I believe it has the potential to become one of the sleeper hits of 2020. Minecraft Dungeons will also be coming to Xbox Game Pass on the day of release, making it perfect for people who are on the fence. Minecraft Dungeons will at some variety to the slew of games releasing this Spring. Microsoft has done right so far for Minecraft, and Dungeons looks to be the next step in Minecraft’s decade of pop culture dominance.
