New year, a new list of game releases to look forward to. With 2020 being the last year that the PS4 and Xbox One are the industry leaders, the games that release in the coming months will push each system to its full potential. Heck, some of these games may possibly be the best we’ve seen since this console generation started in 2013. As such, here’s a brief list of games you should not miss when they launch this year. That is if we don’t see any delays…
Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon
If there is one thing the DualShockers staff learned during our game of the year deliberations for 2019, it is to not sleep on Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Yes, the makers ofJudgment, our surprise game of the year winner for 2019, is making the next iteration of its popularYakuzafranchise:Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon.
However, unlike pastYakuzagames, this will not feature the action-adventure gameplay you’ve become accustomed to since the first entry launched back in 2005. Instead, it completely deviates from its action-heavy roots,featuring turn-based mechanics. It will also star a new protagonist, Kasuga Ichiban, rather than Kazuma Kiryu. If you haven’t played any of the previousYakuzaentries,Yakuza 7: Like a Dragonmay be a perfect introduction since it is seemingly wholly different than its predecessors.
Granblue Fantasy Versus
If you’ve followed my ramblings on DualShockers, you will know I am a fighting game nerd.Mortal Kombat 11,Samurai Shodown,Dragon Ball FighterZ, andTekken 7are among my favorite games of the generation. So, it makes sense I would addGranblue Fantasy Versusto this list.
It’s hard not to be excited about a new Arc System Works fighting game. BetweenBlazblue: Cross Tag Battle,Guilty Gear Xrd, andDragon Ball FighterZ, the Japan-based developer have put out some bangers in the fighting genre. With its 2.5D animation, at the very least, it will be a gorgeous game as you get stomped during all those online matches. I’m not speaking from personal experience. Not at all…
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Okay, this wouldn’t be a DualShockers list without a Square Enix RPG. So, I present to youFinal Fantasy VII Remake.
To be quite frank, the game speaks for itself.Final Fantasy VII Remakeis a retelling of one of the most beloved and influential games of all time. However, rather than the turn-based gameplay of the original, this remake will be much more action-oriented. This will allow you to control Cloud Strife and his fellow rebels more deliberately. Along with its gorgeous visuals, this will surely be one of the biggest titles in 2020.
This first release will not cover the game in its entirety. Yes,there will be multiple parts toFinal Fantasy VII Remake. Where this first entry will leave off is still unknown. However, if I were a betting man, I would say it ends when you escape Midgar. (Sorry to spoil a game that is over 20 years old.)
Doom Eternal
Remember when I said this wouldn’t be a DualShockers list if it didn’t include a Square Enix RPG? Well, it also wouldn’t be a DualShockers list if a newDoomgame was not on the list. There is an unusual amount of love for the first-person shooter at DualShockers. By ‘unusual,’ I mean totally warranted sinceDoom(2016)is arguably one of thebest games this generationand theDoomfranchise is the most influential shooter ever created. This is not bias. This is a fact.
Joking aside,Doom(2016) is a technical marvel. It is such a brilliant showcase with great graphics and frenetic gameplay that rarely hitches, even on consoles. Along with its killer soundtrack, it is one of the best shooters of this console generation. A follow-up to that game is incredibly exciting. Also, who doesn’t want to slay demons to the sweet sounds of Mick Gordon’s rippin' and tearin' metal riffs?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
On the same day the demon-slaying first-person shooterDoom Eternalreleases, Nintendo Switch players may opt to commit to an entirely different hell. I’m talking about forkin' over that cash to Tom Nook inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
Nintendo’sAnimal Crossingseries may not be on the same mainstream popularity level as theSuper MarioorThe Legend of Zeldafranchises. Still, it is immensely popular among Nintendo players. Perhaps it’s because it allows the player to escape from their real-life woes by living a second, more carefree life. Maybe it’s just because they like interacting with cute animals, even if that means having to pay a massive debt to a raccoon. WithAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsbeing the newest mainline entry sinceNew Leaf(let’s not count the mobile version), along with some cool new features, Doom Guy may have finally found his match.
Dying Light 2
This is actually the game I think people are going to sleep on, and regret not picking it sooner once they play it in 2021. Out of any game on this list – maybe except forCyberpunk 2077– Dying Light 2 has to be the most ambitious game on this list.
I likedDying Light, but it didn’t really leave a lasting impact on me. Just fromthe footage I saw at E3 2018, I am still excited to see how Techland’s newest zombie adventure pans out. Games have had branching paths before, butDying Light 2seems to be taking this to the extreme. From the looks of it, depending on the outcome any given quest can change the world significantly. Not just from the look, but how these last remaining groups of survivors interact with one another. It really does look incredible.
Axiom Verge 2
The firstAxiom Vergewas such an awesome surprise whenit launched back in 2015. Even within a crowded genre, developer Thomas Happ not only managed to make a great “Metroidvania,” he arguably made the best one released this generation. It’s H.R. Giger inspired art, fun gameplay, and exciting sci-fi world madeAxiom Vergeso much fun to play.
Witha sequel now slated for this year, this is definitely a game to look forward to.Axiom Verge 2was revealed during Nintendo’s Indie World showcase with a new trailer. Deviating from its 8-bit inspired art style in the first, the sequel will have a much brighter look and a completely different pixelated art style that still impresses. IfAxiom Verge 2is equally as good as its predecessor, this will be a game you will not want to miss.
Ghost of Tsushima
The last time we saw a proper game from Sucker Punch was in 2014 when the studio launchedinFAMOUS: Second Sonfor the PS4. Depending on who you talk to, it was either a solid showcase for the PS4 at the time or not the studio’s best work. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be excited about their next game:Ghost of Tsushima.
This is the first time Sucker Punch will be working on a new IP sinceinFAMOUSlaunched back in 2009. While there isn’t much known about the upcoming game,Ghost of Tsushimalooks incredible. Just look at that trailer above. It is unreal that those visuals will be coming from a PS4. The same wayThe Last of Uswas sort of the pinnacle of PS3 titles, I thinkGhost of Tsushimawill be that for the PS4.
Look, beggars can’t be choosers. The much-demanded follow-up to EA’sSkatefranchise doesn’t seem to be skating its way to consoles any time soon, if at all. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t great alternatives to the beloved skateboarding simulator. That is whereSessioncomes in.
Developed by Creature Studios (stylized as creā-ture Studios),Sessionreally embraces its simulation gameplay. WhileSkateis more approachable, with a control scheme that takes about 30 minutes to get comfortable with,Sessioncan be incredibly challenging to play. However, that doesn’t make it bad, by any means.From the few hours I’ve played, every moment is a learning experience. The real-life grind of skating a single spot for hours to hit a line perfectly is exceptionally exemplified, which will either entice or scare people. As someone who used to skate regularly, this is what I’ve been looking for.
Cyberpunk 2077
Last, but certainly not least, we haveCyberpunk 2077. Developed CD Projekt Red, the Polish studio’s newest adventure looks unbelievable. In many ways, this is the game I’ve been waiting for since I first watchedBlade Runner. Dingy dystopian setting? Check. A protagonist with a cool jacket? Check. Androids? Also, check. And that is really all you need to intrigue me.
Cyberpunk 2077seems so vast. And if it’s any larger thanThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it will be almost intimidating for me to even start. That being said, this game is going to be a spectacle and something I cannot possibly miss. IfCyberpunk 2077can maintain the quality the studio is now known for, it will be a solid “swan song” for this current console generation.
Of course, these are just a few games you may not want to miss in 2020. Essentially, once March begins, we are going to be bombarded with a ridiculous amount of potentially quality titles. Some of which may have been exempted from this list. Which begs the question, what games are you looking forward to this year? Let us know in the comments below!
