From Avengers to Halo Infinite to Animal Crossing, these are the games we can't wait to play.
2019 may not go down as one of the best years in gaming, but hey, at least we got Untitled Goose Game. The 2010s, however, represented a large step forward for the industry, with titles like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Batman: Arkham series, and Last of Us raising the bar for the medium overall. Now, we’re heading into a new decade. The console market is quickly shifting. The Xbox Series X is bringing heavy-duty tech that rivals the power of even the strongest PC towers. But offerings like the Nintendo Switch are showing triple-A companies that gamers don’t always want to be tied down by their big console boxes. Google recognized that and just established the first competitive console offering that is virtually console free, Stadia; it's completely web-based. So there’s really no telling where the industry is heading in the coming years.
2019 may not go down as one of the best years in gaming, but hey, at least we got Untitled Goose Game. The 2010s, however, represented a large step forward for the industry, with titles like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Batman: Arkham series, and Last of Us raising the bar for the medium overall. Now, we’re heading into a new decade. The console market is quickly shifting. The Xbox Series X is bringing heavy-duty tech that rivals the power of even the strongest PC towers. But offerings like the Nintendo Switch are showing triple-A companies that gamers don’t always want to be tied down by their big console boxes. Google recognized that and just established the first competitive console offering that is virtually console free, Stadia; it's completely web-based. So there’s really no telling where the industry is heading in the coming years.
Thankfully, regardless of where it goes, we already know that there are some fantastic video games in our near future. Between forward-thinking VR titles, indie games, long-anticipated triple-A franchises, and a new Animal Crossing (!!), 2020 looks like it’s going to be a good year. Even considering all the delays. And who knows, we may even get a Breath of the Wild 2.
Iron Man VR
Release Date: February 28
Platform: PSVR
Platform: PSVR
Everybody’s getting into VR games these days. Marvel has tried it a few times before, but Iron Man VR looks like it could actually make some noise. The idea just feels right. With the helmet and two handheld devices, it’s as if VR was meant for Iron Man.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Release Date: March 20
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Platform: Nintendo Switch
A new Animal Crossing! In 2020! For the Nintendo Switch! Gamers will rejoice over this. It will be a cultural revelation. It will inspire a new holiday, called National Gamer’s Day. Once a year, gamers will celebrate the glory that is Animal Crossing.
Doom Eternal
Release Date: March 20
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
I don’t know how many times the world needs to be saved from demons, but apparently the infestation still has not stopped. Luckily this one is a direct sequel to the very fun Doom reboot from 2016. So it’ll likely be a hell of a good time (sorry).
Resident Evil 3
Release Date: April 3
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Resident Evil games continue to get made and remade, again and again, over the years. Capcom’s latest recreation takes aim at the 1999 PS2 game. This time, the zombies look even spookier than before. Somehow after all these years, these games are still good and seriously spooky.
Final Fantasy VII
Release Date: April 10
Platform: PS4
Platform: PS4
The seventh entry into the Final Fantasy series is one of the most cherished video games in the history of the industry. We’ve waited years for a remake, and it’s finally here. Let’s hope Square Enix can actually pull it off.
The Last of Us Part II
Release Date: May 29
Platform: PS4
Platform: PS4
The Last of Us is one of the most influential games of the past few decades. Not only has it changed the landscape of the industry—but it’s also legitimately moving. Anticipations are high for this one.
Marvel’s Avengers
Release Date: September 4
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
This is the game that may finally break gaming. Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics’ new Avengers title is going to release on May 15...and then continue to be updated...indefinitely. And not just with little DLC updates either. It is going to receive new characters, stories, and missions, so there will be no reason to make a sequel. This could change the way the whole industry works.
Cyberpunk 2077
Release Date: September 17
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Keanu Reeves is in this game. Keanu Reeves. He’s in this game. Who’s in this game? Keanu Reeves!!!
Halo Infinite
Release Date: Winter 2020
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC
Hey! They’re still making Halo games! It’s still a thing! The classic shooter that first brought you and your friends into the world of online gaming is coming back for a sixth entry into the main series. Just when we thought it was time to say goodbye to the franchise, Microsoft will unveil yet another promising sequel that will have fans saying “Halo!” (sorry again).
Destroy All Humans!
Release Date: 2020
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
In most video games, you are saving the humans. In this game, you are killing them. With a ray gun. The remake of the THQ romp will allow you to, once again, ruin the world as a wisecracking little alien dude. It’s about time.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Release Date: 2020
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Somehow, after all these years, LEGO continues to make the best Star Wars games. Their little toybox adventures are fun, dumb, and irresistible—just like the movies. This game boasts a comprehensive story that’s set to tell the tale of the Skywalker family from start to finish.
No More Heroes 3
Release Date: 2020
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Platform: Nintendo Switch
It’s been 10 years since the last No More Heroes game. The stylized franchise is coming back, and it looks cool as hell, but I actually have no idea what this game is about since whenever I went to my high school friend’s house to check it out, he’d never let me play. I hope it’s good. He always seemed to be having fun.
Watch Dogs Legion
Release Date: 2020
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Finally hackers have their very own video game franchise. This open world co-op game looks to be the hackeriest title ever made. You can hack everything in sight—and it lets you play as a wide variety of hackers from all over a dystopian London surveillance state. I can’t wait to hack!
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Release Date: TBA
Platform: PC, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Platform: PC, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Hollow Knight is one of those indie games that all your cool indie gamer friends always tell you to play. It’s the kind of game that, when you actually end up buying it, makes you mad, because the game is as good as they said it is, and you hate when they’re right. Anyway, this one’s the sequel to the first one.
Overwatch 2
Release Date: TBA
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
What is Overwatch 2? We have no idea! It looks just like Overwatch 1! It seems like there’s finally going to be a single-player campaign in this one, so that’s exciting. Fortnite stole a big part of Overwatch’s fanbase, so maybe with a more dedicated single-player focus, the OG whimsical shooter can win some fans back. Hopefully. Fortnite is getting annoying as hell. 2020 cannot come sooner!