The Ten Most Anticipated Games of 2020

2020 is looking to be one amazing year for gaming. Which is saying something considering how well received 2019 was – games like Anthem, notwithstanding.

The end of the eighth generation of consoles is going to be something different though. This is when the biggest games are to be released, assumedly because developers have learned how to get the most out of each console. At least, that’s the way it’s looking based on the games that’s been announced; The Last of Us Part II will mark the end of the PS4, like the first one did for the PS3.

The biggest games will surely capitalize on the Xbox One and PS4’s capabilities. They aren’t the only one’s worth mentioning though. There’s also a handful of exciting games that are poised to offer a nostalgic ride and/or a less graphically taxing experience.

Regardless of size, the notable games seem exciting. I’m really looking forward to playing most of them. So much so, that I decided to share my top 10 most anticipated games of 2020 (in no particular order).

  1. Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection

I am a huge Mega Man fan. Having played just about every title in the Classic, X and Zero series, I was excited to learn about this bundle. Featuring six games – the four Mega Man Zero games, Mega Man ZX and Mega Man ZX Advent – a plethora of interesting features and new modes, it just had to go on my list.

Fans should enjoy revisiting Zero’s old stomping grounds. The classic action/platforming still provides thrills. Original filters and soundtracks lean on nostalgia, while new competitive modes offer a modern twist. Capcom also added a Casual Scenario mode that’ll assist new players as they play through each campaign. Essentially, there’s something here for everyone.

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection will be released for the Xbox One, PS4, and Switch on February 25th. I can’t wait!

  1. Warcraft 3: Reforged

My first taste of RTS came from Warcraft 3. Sporting a great story with amazing characters and solid tactical gameplay, it still sits as one of my favorites. Reforged will have all of those things when it’s released on January 28th.

It’ll also sport enhanced graphics, balance improvements, an updated campaign and more. All well and good. What has me most excited though, aside from solid gameplay mechanics, is the new modding capabilities. The Original Warcraft 3 was known for its great custom game creations. One of them, Dota (which led to Dota 2) became one of the most popular standalone games on PC. Will Warcraft 3: Reforged community bring us the next “Dota”? We’ll have to wait and see.

  1. Final Fantasy VII Remake

People have been waiting for this game for years. Me especially – I remember how excited I was when Square confirmed its existence. That was five years ago! Thankfully, we finally got a concrete release date last June.

Gamers everywhere will be calling in sick come March 3rd. I’m personally taking a few days off. FF is one of my two favorite series and probably responsible for about 20% of my gaming life. So, I’m more than intrigued. Especially considering the new look, reimagined story and updated combat systems. Yeah, I don’t plan on getting a lot of sleep once this drops on the PS4.

  1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing is a game that fans have been waiting a long time for. The last entry in the series was all the way back in 2013 with Animal Crossing: New Leaf. And that was on the 3DS, which for me, was a dedicated Pokémon machine.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is similar to older games in the series, with the player purchasing a home from Tom Nook and having to repay him. This time, however, the game takes place on a deserted island. Players will need to develop/build up a community using old and new gameplay mechanics (like crafting).

I’m hoping Animal Crossing will be something I could use to just unwind after a long day. Sometimes a nice casual game is just what’s needed…

  1. Doom Eternal

On the opposite end is Doom Eternal. Delayed to March 20th, this chaotic shooter has some big shoes to fill after Doom (2016).

Thankfully, Doom Eternal seems poised to deliver. The bits of the campaign shown here and there look promising. The new multiplayer mode seems interesting. It has improved visually. And the nonstop action appears to be entertaining. Basically, I’m looking forward to its release.

  1. Resident Evil 3 (2020)

With the success of the Resident Evil 2 Remake, this was bound to happen. I just had no idea it would be so soon. And the game looks amazing.

Not only is this a full remake of a classic, but Capcom also made Resident Evil Resistance a part of the game. So, while RE2 ended with the campaign, side-stories and unlockables, RE3 is looking to last quite a bit longer with an actual multiplayer mode.

Capcom has been striking gold recently with their last couple of releases. They’re seeking continued success with RE3 when it releases on April 3rd.

  1. Cyberpunk 2077

Everyone on the Planet is seemingly waiting to get their hands on Cyberpunk. CD Projekt Red knows how to make great action RPGs. The Witcher series is proof of that.

RED wasn’t shy about showing in-game footage; fans were given a 48-minute demo back in 2018. From the mission structure and gunplay to the immersive world and intriguing story bits – everything looked amazing. The more recent video was even better.

Like the Witcher before it, I fully expect Cyberpunk 2077 to eat hours of our lives. Here’s hoping its April 16th release date isn’t pushed back.

  1. Marvel’s Avengers

I was a big fan of Marvel Heroes. The comic book characters and the MMORPG – I started playing when it was in Beta and finished the day the servers were shut down. Since then, I’ve been waiting for a game that would allow me to wield Thor’s hammer, Captain America’s shield and the Hulk’s…umm… fist?

Unfortunately, Ultimate Alliance 3 wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. It was fun, sure. But when I compared it to the MMO (or even the previous Ultimate Alliance games), it came up lacking.  That’s one reason why Square and Crystal Dynamics’ game is currently on my radar.

The other reason has to do with how the game is shaping up. It looks like a lot of fun. I’m curious to learn more about the multiplayer modes; the overview video released last October wasn’t enough. That said, with the Beta coming this year, we’re bound to get a flood of information on what’s to be expected.

  1. The Last of Us Part II

When I bought my PS4, the Last of Us was on sale; I didn’t get a chance to play it on the PS3 so I wanted to see what the hype was all about. I disappeared from everything social for about 3 days…

There aren’t many single player games that drew me in like TLoU did. I expect to be even more enthralled with Part II. Continuing Joel and Ellie’s story will be a highlight of the year. Assuming the game is good.

It will be of course. Nearly everything Naughty Dog makes is great and I expect no less from The Last of Us Part II.

  1. Halo Infinite

I know this isn’t one of the end-of-a-generation games – it’s supposedly going to be available for the Xbox Series X and Xbox One. That said, it is a major 2020 title.

Halo is the reason I owned an Xbox. When factoring what it did for console shooters and online gameplay (thanks to Xbox Live), there’s no arguing that it’s one of the most important gaming series of all time. That said, that last few entries haven’t been that good; I wasn’t a fan of Halo 5 at all.

I’m desperate for 343 to do something great. We haven’t seen anything at all on Halo Infinite but, I’m already all in. Given what came before and the power of the Series X, it’s possible that this Halo will be one of the best shooters released this year.

Those are the ten games I’m really looking forward to in 2020. It would be criminal if I didn’t throw in some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

Minecraft: Dungeons looks like a ton of fun. I’m not necessarily a fan of Minecraft but I am a fan of Action RPGs and Minecraft Dungeons looks like a competent one. I would be lying if I said the trailer wasn’t intriguing. I’m definitely giving MD a shot upon its release in April.

My Hero One’s Justice 2 isn’t something I would normally get. To be honest I can’t see this game doing anything groundbreaking at all. I am a big fan of My Hero Academia though. Good or bad, I’ll mostly likely be Detroit Smashing people online come March 13th.

Like I mentioned earlier, Final Fantasy is one of my two favorite franchises of all time. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles features a Final Fantasy styled story and throws in local co-op. The remastered version (with enhanced graphics, updated gameplay mechanics and more) is coming later this year.

Ori and the Blind Forest Captured the hearts of many when it was released; it’s considered an instant classic to some. With top notch storytelling, visuals and music I was instantly drawn in. I can’t wait to check out the sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

If you saw the Video Game Awards last month, chances are you saw the Xbox Series X announcement and reveal of Hellblade 2. When that trailer was playing, I had no idea what was going on. It wasn’t until I saw a (seemingly) crazed Senua that I knew it was a sequel to Ninja Theory’s hit title. If that trailer looks anything like the game once it is released then it’s going to be one of the best-looking games of all time. I can definitely see myself getting a Series X just to play Hellblade 2.

Again, 2020 is looking to be a big year for gaming. This isn’t even all the games I’m interested in. With two new consoles coming and a plethora of cool sounding games, I’m going to have to pick up a few extra days of work. And rob a bank.

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