I sit here on the first day of the new year looking back on how gaming fared in 2019. There were some big highs with some pretty low lows mixed in, but overall 2019 was a stellar year for gaming. We had some fantastic new games fueled by both AAA studios and indie devs, and there were also some new installments in some of our favorite game franchises. Whether you agree or disagree on 2019 being a bumper crop of gaming goodness, the slate has been wiped clean and 2020 is an open book. Not wanting to waste a second of our gaming time, the staff here at GameSpace has already begun looking through the games slated for arrival this year, and today we present you with our most anticipated games of 2020 (Some of the games listed don’t have official release dates but hopes and dreams will run high at the beginning of a new year, please forgive us). I’m sure our readers have already started marking their gaming calendars with their top picks for the new year as well, so be sure to let us know down in the comments what other games we should be on the lookout for.
Robin Baird and Chris Bowman
- Game: Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Developer: Square Enix
- Platform(s): Play Station 4
- Release Date: March 3, 2020
Robin B
Look, Final Fantasy is the franchise that showed me games could actually tell real stories that could enthrall me and make me eager to see how things turned out the same way books do. I honestly don’t know if I’d love games nearly as much if it wasn’t for that. FFVII may not be my favorite Final Fantasy but it was a dang good game. The remake looks incredible and I love everything I’ve seen of the combat update as well. Plus, they are expanding the story so we can experience more of all the things… there’s just really no way this wasn’t going to be my most anticipated game.
Chris B
I am a huge FF7 Fanboy and I can’t wait to roll through the streets of Midgar.
Kelley
- Game: Sims 4 (Ongoing Updates)
- Developer: Maxis
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Release Date: September 2, 2014
So many! Next to Cyberpunk 2077, I look forward to seeing where the Sims 4 goes, all this year’s updates have been incredible which has me hype already for Sims 4 2020. The same goes for No Mans Sky! 2020 going to be FIRE!
Scott Wiley and Ralph Whitmore
- Game: Cyberpunk 2077
- Developer: CD Projekt RED
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
- Release Date: April 16, 2020
Scott W
Love the genre, love the developer and I love everything I’ve seen of the game so far. While Wasteland 3 is also up there I don’t think I’ve been more excited for a game in a long time.
Ralph W
I just love the cyberpunk genre.
Suzie Ford
- Game: Watch Dogs: Legion or Gods & Monsters
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Xbox series X, Nintendo Switch (Gods & Monsters)
- Release Date: March 2, 2020 (Watch Dogs: Legion), February 25, 2020 (Gods & Monsters)
While there are a lot of games I’m generally interested in like Cyberpunk 2077, Diablo 4 and so on, I’m a bit more interested in a pair of games coming from Ubisoft. For me, it’s a toss-up between Watch Dogs: Legion or Gods & Monsters. The former is a new take on the long-running series with some gameplay elements that, if done well, can become paradigm shifts in the industry. The latter is a new IP with a promising setting. I mean, who doesn’t love messing about with the Gods? That said, the real caveat is how well Ubi manages to capture each one’s potential. I’m also keeping an eye out for a new Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry game.
Scott Jeslis
- Game: Diablo IV
- Developer: Blizzard
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Release Date: TBA
Most anticipated game of 2020 and why – Is it too soon to say “Diablo IV”? I was late to the ARPG movement when Diablo 1 and Diablo 2 came out. I never invested time into an ARPG until Diablo 3 came out, and of course Marvel Heroes Omega. I’ve played several, probably all the ARPGs on the market since and none have the story or “loot-splosion” adrenaline I get, still today, playing Diablo 3. I’m hoping Diablo IV is more of the same.
Lori C “Dkonen”
- Game: Path of Exile 2
- Developer: Grinding Gear Games
- Platform(s): PC,
- Release Date: TBD, possible Beta in “very late 2020”
Most anticipated game of 2020: I should say Pantheon since I’m a founder and all, but honestly? Path of Exile 2. I have picked POE back up, and I’m having a blast. I don’t feel right choosing it as a favorite (despite hours played) because it really is just my “brain done, want fun” kind of game. Still, I am very excited about POE2, and really happy with what GGG is continuing to offer.
Kevin C “Xevrin”
- Game: Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Developer: Hardsuit Labs
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Release Date: TBA
My first choice is Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen but realistically I am expecting it only to officially release after 2020. A very close second is Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. I played through the first two games repeatedly and was involved with The Camarilla fan club/LARP as a coordinator. Looking forward to seeing where Paradox and Hardsuit Labs goes with the story/setting.
Ed “Screenager” Orr
- Game: Doom Eternal
- Developer: id Software
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
- Release Date: March 20, 2020
Honestly, I’ve got to say Doom Eternal. It’s not going to be critically acclaimed, it doesn’t scratch that genre itch, and it won’t drown me in a world I couldn’t have imagined before. What it will do is tick every box I expect. Visceral bloody action with lots of firepower. This is the one that I know will deliver and in spades.
Mitch Gassner
- Game: Baldur’s Gate 3
- Developer: Larian Studios
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
- Release Date: TBA
Like many of the others here, I am pretty excited about Cyberpunk 2077 but there is a nagging feeling that it won’t live up to the hype surrounding it. I will still be playing it on day one, but I have my sights set on another RPG for my most anticipated title of 2020: Baldur’s Gate 3. There hasn’t been an official release date announced for Baldur’s Gate 3, and developer Larian Studios has been pretty quiet since BG3 was announced back before E3, but am still hopeful for a 2020 release. It is slated as a Google Stadia launch title after all.
My love for D&D games go all the way back to the Gold Box series, and the Baldur’s Gate series contains some of my favorites. The last big D&D game I played was the forgettable Sword Coast Legends, so here’s to hoping that Baldur’s Gate 3 will bring another fantastic adventure in the Forgotten Realms.
