A quick glance at our list below proves that hindsight is, indeed, 20/20. This year will herald the return of many a venerable series with roots that span decades. One of the games below dates its first entry all the way back to 1982!
Fans have been waiting years for the release of some of these titles. But whether these names are new or familiar, it’s clear that 2020 is a year to get excited about.
2016’s DOOM proved that the series’ trademark trigger-happy, dopamine-doused approach to slaying demons is just as exhilarating today as it was in the ‘90s. DOOM Eternal seeks to up the ante, introducing new devices like the “Meat Hook,” a shotgun attachment that pulls the Doom Slayer towards enemies.
With November 2019 — the date that infamously appears on a title card at Blade Runner’s beginning — in our rear-view mirror, you’d think cyberpunk would be an artifact of the past. Yet Cyberpunk 2077, replete with fun, familiar lingo like “NetRunner” and “Braindance” and set in a megacity full of mercenary cyborgs, is still at the top of our list of must-play 2020 games, thanks in part to the incredible pedigree of its developers at CD Projekt Red.
In 2004, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines entranced players with its intricate storyline, nuanced character relationships, and willingness to engage mature themes. The long-awaited Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 takes the player to Seattle, where a new narrative is brewing: chaos ensues as factions of vampires vie for power.
2020 could finally be the year that all the “Half-Life 3 when?” are laid jokes to rest — sort of. Half-Life: Alyx, set in between Half-Life and Half-Life 2, was designed from the ground up for VR and features the series’ latest groundbreaking in-game device: gravity gloves. Who could have predicted that by 2020 we’d be swatting away headcrabs in VR?
Marvel’s Avengers appeals to the starry-eyed comic book nerd in all of us, who longs to join the Marvel heroes portrayed on both page and screen in their fight against evil. The game puts the players in the shoes of each one of the game’s titular coalition of heroes, each unique in their playstyle and deployment of superhuman skill.
One could argue that all grand strategy games involve some level of “scheming,” but few codify the process of plotting against individual characters as directly as Crusader Kings 3 will. Whether your aim is blackmail, seduction, or outright murder, Crusader Kings 3 is full of creative ways to advance your dynasty.
Contrary to what you might think, Windows isn’t Microsoft’s longest-running line of software; it’s Microsoft Flight Simulator, which has been lauded for its realism and meticulousness since its first installment in 1982. 2020’s Microsoft Flight Simulator will incorporate a host of new technologies (photogrammetry, AI powered by cloud computing, real-world data) to push the simulator even further.
Last year’s Resident Evil 2 remake saw Capcom’s long-running horror franchise revitalized by looking to its past. 1999’s Resident Evil 3 is the next target for a remake, featuring an updated control scheme, a redesigned cast of characters and animations, and a new asymmetrical multiplayer mode.
Anyone who’s played Kentucky Route Zero has likely been struck by the game’s singular mood, at once surreal and meditative. The point-and-click adventure game, split across five acts, tells the magically real story of a group of travelers as they span Kentucky’s mysterious Route Zero. This year, the game will finally receive its final act.
2019 was a monumental year for PC Halo fans, and 2020 will be no different. The incremental release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PC will be joined by the release of Halo Infinite, the latest entry in the series. Master Chief is back, as is the game’s sophisticated map editor, Forge, and the robust armor customization system featured in Halo: Reach.