I know, I know, the start of this new decade has barely begun and we’re already wishing away the months until the release dates of some incredibly sought-after titles finally arrive. Of course, with so many games on offer, which ones are truly worth your excitement as you count down the days? Well, we’ve done the research for you in the form of our certifiable top picks for 2020.
FF7 Remake (PS4)
Yes, it will have been well over two decades since Square’s seminal PlayStation RPG Final Fantasy VII was first released, but that hasn’t quelled the excitement over this remake. Unlike many re-releases, they’ve completely remade the game from the ground up, including the option to ditch the turn-based battle system for a real-time one similar to that found in Final Fantasy XV. Though various trailers have drip-fed information over the past years, we’ll still need to sit down with the real thing to see if they’re managed to recapture the magic of Cloud and co’s story. (April 2020)
Half-Life: Alyx (PC)
Valve don’t do things by half measures, and despite being hounded by gamers to release a sequel to Half Life 2, there was nothing but silence from the creators of Steam for what seems like an eternity. And then, completely out of the blue, they announced a new addition to the Freeman story – in the form of a new Virtual Reality (VR) game called Half-Life: Alyx. VR games are still in their infancy, and despite a few decent attempts, no one has really pulled of great use of VR, great graphics, great gameplay and great story all in one game. This may be Valve’s time to shine (again)! (March 2020)
Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
When CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt became the break-out mega smash of 2015, fans were eagerly salivating over the next release from the Polish studio. And while it isn’t a fantasy adventure, the first person sci-fi game has been the talk of the town with its incredible graphics, expansive open world, and even the addition of Keanu Reeves as a main character. (April 2020)
Last of Us Part II (PS4)
It’s been quite some time since we last journeyed through a post-apocalyptic USA with Joel and Ellie, but the anticipation for this follow up hasn’t died down at all – unlike the monstrous fungal Infected you encounter! But it’s not just the same old story, there’s new mechanics and enemies, as well as finally some clarity on the original game’s ending. (May 2020)
Marvel’s Avengers (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
Ok ok, it may not have the original likeness and voices from the Marvel cinematic universe cast you’ve all grown to love and adore over the years, but don’t let that stop you enjoying getting to throw Mjolnir, zoom around in an Iron Man suit, or wield Captain America’s trademark shield. (September 2020)
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
The cult White Wolf RPG series returns over 15 years later with a sequel that aficionados had long since given up on. One of the geniuses behind the 2004 RPG, Brian Mitsoda, is back and we’re extremely excited to see what tricks he’s got up his sleeves. The original game had an incredibly witty and funny script, with inspired mechanics, but was a bit lacking in the battle/fighting system, so hopefully they’ll remedy that this time around. (Q2/3 2020)
Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
The maestros at PlatinumGames seem to be able to do no wrong recently, with hits like Nier:Automata and Astral Chain under their belt, so their latest entry in the Bayonetta series is definitely going to be one to beat in the slash ’em up genre. With more campy action fun than you can shake a high heeled shoe at, Bayonetta’s return is going to be something special. (TBC 2020)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC/Switch)
What was originally conceived as a DLC/add-on to the original Metroidvania gem Hollow Knight has now become a fully-fledged sequel in its own right. With its unique art style returning, the follow up takes Hornet on an expansive adventure with a story you’ll no doubt be hooked on from the start. (TBC 2020)
Ooblets (PC/Xbox One)
This charming indie game collects up all your favourites and chucks them in a digital blender that you won’t be able to put down. Ooblets takes Harvest Moon (yay!), Pokemon (woo!) and Animal Crossing (OMG!) with a sweet adventure that lets you farm, collect adorable creatures and mosey about socialising with your fellow villagers. And it’s all been created by just two people, yes, just two! (TBC 2020)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (Switch)
The sequel to undoubtedly one of the greatest ever launch titles for a console, Breath of the Wild 2 has some big shoes to fill, but we’re hopeful it’ll astound us just like the prior game did back in 2017. While information is sparse, it seems the game will re-use the original world, but with addition of lots of new areas, story and mechanics. The trailers suggest a darker tone than the original, with some definite nods to the 2006 Wii Classic of Twilight Princess – an underrated classic in our opinion (TBC late 2020)