Big New Game Release Dates Of 2019 And Beyond: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.
There are a ton of big new games coming out this year and next. Fortunately, we don't have to wait that long to play some of those games. That's right; you can expect to play games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Pokemon Sword & Shield, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as soon as this year! Wow! There's quite a few coming next year too, but don't worry, the wait won't be so bad.
If the proposition of games releasing in the near future excites you, then you're in the right place. We've compiled the biggest games of 2019 now available, as well as those coming out this later this year and next. Below you can find brief explanations of each game, as well as details on when they're coming out. Check back often as we update this feature with more games and their respective release dates.
All this talk about upcoming games is fantastic, but there's plenty of amazing games out already. For a rundown on the best new games right now, check out our feature highlighting the best games of 2019 so far. You can also read our features compiling the best games on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in general.
Which games coming soon are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments. Otherwise, read on below for every big game coming out this year and next.
Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is the latest installment in the crossover sports games starring the '90s two most iconic gaming mascots. This time around you and friends can compete in sports such as surfing, skateboarding, sprinting, climbing, boxing, horse racing, swimming, fencing, soccer, baseball, hurdles, long jump, and more.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: October 5, 2019
Death Stranding
If you've watched any of the trailers for Death Stranding, then you're probably confused about what the game is. Heck, we're all pretty confounded about it. But if it's anything like its creator famed game developer Hideo Kojima's previous games, then we can expect memorable characters, innovative action, and unique storytelling.
Death Stranding puts you in control of Sam Porter Bridges (played by The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus), a special operative tasked with reconnecting the isolated cities of a fragmented society. Trailers seem to indicate the world you explore has experienced some climactic event that has caused it to be split up into fragments. All the while, you'll meet a colorful cast of characters all played by notable actors both in games and Hollywood.
Sony and Kojima have kept relatively tight-lipped about how the game will play, but we know that it's open world and will include elements from action games with a bit of stealth thrown into the mix. There's also an online multiplayer component, which, according to Kojima, will have you focusing on "creat[ing] new bonds or "Strands" with other players around the globe."
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is the next game from Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Desilets. The concept is ambitious--you play as hominids through different periods of ancestral time.
A single-player, third-person exploration survival game, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey starts in Neogene Africa some 10 million years ago. Over time, you grow and evolve to the Australopithecus--which is popularly known as Lucy. On your way to becoming Lucy, you'll learn new skills and abilities as you take the form of the next subspecies of hominid that would eventually become the human form of today. Based on early footage, you'll be clambering through the jungle and swinging through trees, escaping predators, gathering resources, and attempting to survive to live another day.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 27, 2019 (PC) -- December TBA (PS4, Xbox One)
Astral Chain
All the info we have about Astral Chain came from a Nintendo Direct back in February. The new title from Platinum Games has you inhabiting a pair of special forces soldiers who partner with a living, robotic weapon called Legion for combat and solving puzzles. From the looks of things, Astral Chain will feature some fast-paced combat and take you through a futuristic, sci-fi city.
While we don't know a ton about Astral Chain, we do know about its pedigree. It's the latest effort from game designer Takahisa Taura, who worked on Nier Automata, and it's being supervised by Hideki Kamiya, the creator of Bayonetta. The game is hitting the Switch on August 30.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: August 30, 2019
Borderlands 3
Revealed at PAX East 2019, Borderlands 3 is the long-awaited sequel that many fans of the loot-driven co-op FPS have been waiting for. Featuring a new cast of vault-hunters and apparently more loot than the previous games combined, the next game seems like it's on its way to becoming a solid follow-up to one of the more well-loved games in recent years. With the Borderlands series celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, it's apparent that the real legacy of the franchise is that it sparked the whole 'looter-shooter' craze that became popular following the original's release in 2009.
We recently got to check out some of Borderlands 3, and it's certainly sticking close to what the series has traditionally done best--letting you and a squad of friends wield bizarre and preposterously designed guns to acquire even more weapons.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 13, 2019
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Activision and Infinity Ward released all kinds of information about this year's Call of Duty. We know it's Modern Warfare, but it's not a remake of the 2007 classic--it's a reimagining of that game, geared at being more "relevant" to the current world we live in. While we haven't seen much in the way of multiplayer, we know about two big developments on that front already: First, Modern Warfare will support cross-play between Xbox One, PS4, and PC, so you can play with anyone regardless of their platform. Second, Call of Duty is doing away with the season pass format of selling post-release content, and all multiplayer maps released after the game's launch on October 25 will be free to all players.
On the campaign side (yes, single-player campaigns are back in Call of Duty), Infinity Ward has said it's looking to make a game that asks players how far they're willing to go in a modern war that doesn't have defined battlefields or easily identifiable combatants. It's looking to explore the moral gray area of conflicts, and while you'll fight alongside at least one returning character--Captain Price--you'll also join rebel fighters in a fictional Middle Eastern coverage. You can read everything we've learned about Modern Warfare so far, and you might also check out our interview with studio narrative director Taylor Kurosaki about what Infinity Ward is trying to achieve with the game's story.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 25, 2019
Code Vein
Code Vein is a strange game, but it has still caught a lot of people's attention. It's a post-apocalyptic action-RPG starring a vampire who seems ripped straight from a '90s anime series and feels heavily inspired by FromSoftware's Souls games. Though others that are heavily inspired by the Souls games tend to emphasize isolation, the undead protagonist of Code Vein is partnered up with an AI ally, letting you team up to overcome the various monsters and demons that lurk about in the ruins of the old world. You'll also use a variety of over-the-top weapons and vampiric abilities to slay your enemies, eventually coming to blows with the game's challenging bosses. Even though Souls-style games have become increasingly common, Code Vein's visual style and approach manage to set itself apart from the others.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2019
Control
Control was one of the surprise announcements at E3 2018. As Remedy's first game after the ambitious multimedia project that was Quantum Break, it was exciting to see the studio return to developing a more straightforward experience. Of course, Control is also impressive looking because its world is anything but straightforward, calling to mind bits and pieces from Remedy's previous supernatural-tinged games.
Since the reveal last year, we've been given a chance to try Control for ourselves. The lead character, Jesse, possesses almost superhero-like powers, such as the ability to glide in mid-air and manipulate the environment with her mind. She's an unusual person in an unusual setting: a government facility that houses paranormal experiments gone awry. The building itself is said to shift and change shape, sometimes right before your eyes, with the geometric forms of the brutalist architecture bending, swaying, and twirling to reveal new hallways or even glimpses into another plane of existence. Control looks weird, dripping with odd sights and unexpected surprises, and with the release a mere few months away, we can't wait to get our hands on it.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 27, 2019
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a remaster of the PS1 classic of the same name. It follows in the line of Activision's most recent Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon remasters with vibrant new visuals and revamped control schemes. While Nitro-Fueled contains all of the original's tracks, it'll also include remastered content from later games in the series, such as Crash Nitro Kart and Crash Tag Team Racing.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: June 21, 2019
Daemon x Machina
Coming from developer Marvelous, the same studio behind niche action games like Senran Kagura and Fate/Extra, Daemon X Machina is a noticeable shift from their more playful titles. Announced last year for the Nintendo Switch, this mech action game possesses similarities to From Software's classic Armored Core series, featuring a deep focus on customization, along with a plethora of weapons and abilities to wipe out the opposition. We don't get that many mech-oriented action games these days, so when Daemon x Machina was revealed, it instantly turned the heads of the most die-hard fans of the niche sub-genre.
The last demo released in February on the Nintendo eShop was a decent taste of what's to come in the final release. With your created character and their giant robot, you'll be able to take them on various missions while amassing more resources to customize them further. It was a solid sampler for what's to come, giving you plenty of options to experiment with while cutting your way through a battlefield full of enemy mechs. As big mech fans ourselves, we can't wait to see how Daemon x Machina turns out later this year.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: September 13th, 2019
The Dark Pictures: Man Of Medan
The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan is the latest work from Supermassive Games (Until Dawn, The Inpatient). The game is part of a larger horror anthology series the studio is starting to create. It tells the story of a group of Americans on vacation through the South Pacific Ocean but when an unexpected storm arrives, they find themselves trapped in a sunken ghost ship. Like Until Dawn, Man of Medan has you navigating multiple protagonists through terrifying situations while making decisions that ultimately impact the conclusion of the narrative.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 30, 2019
Doom Eternal
Bethesda's reboot of Doom in 2016 hit like a hammer. The speed and ferocity of combat was almost perfectly in tune with the raucous metal soundtrack, just the way Doom-heads like it. It wasn't too surprising then when Bethesda announced that a follow-up was on the way. Doom Eternal is currently in development for almost every modern platform: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and Stadia--making it one of the few games confirmed for Google's upcoming cloud-gaming service.
There isn't a lot we can say about Doom Eternal at the moment, other than it looks like a worthy successor to the game that wowed us just a few years ago. A familiar feature returning from the old-school Doom games is the gradual visual destruction of enemies as they take damage from your super-powered weapons, which is sure to be a gruesome feast for the eyes. The most surprising new addition to the formula is invasions from other players online in the form of demons. It will be optional, but it will no doubt be a feature to look out for when the game ships later this year.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia | Release Date: March 20, 2020
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Square Enix's critically acclaimed Dragon Quest XI is heading to Nintendo Switch sometime this year. As the "definitive" version of the game, the port is mostly the same as its PS4 and PC counterparts but includes some bonus extras, such as the option Japanese voice audio, an orchestrated version of the soundtrack, and the ability to switch to a 16-bit interface modeled after the visuals from the SNES era of Dragon Quest. Though, fans should recognize that last feature from the 3DS port of the game that never made it to the West. If you've yet to play DQXI, the upcoming Switch port might be the best way to experience it.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: September 27, 2019
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders was an unusual game that turned out rather well, and back in 2016, we praised its mix of Dragon Quest charm and Minecraft-like construction, awarding the game an 8/10. The sequel is on the way to the US and Europe after releasing in Japan late last year.
The biggest additions to the sequel include multiplayer support (both local and online), the ability to fly and swim underwater, and, perhaps thankfully, neither your armor nor weapons will wear out after repeated use. Smaller changes abound, but how they will impact the game will only become clear once we've had a chance to play for ourselves.
Platforms: PS4, Switch | Release Date: July 12, 2019
FIFA 20
EA's FIFA 20 is looking to introduce new changes that elevate its faithful recreation of association football. This time around, there's a larger emphasis and incentive on manual defending, as opposed to allowing an AI to dictate the defense for you. Shooting is also getting a slight revamp, with attackers given greater accuracy. EA says that lots of work is being done on making passing and shooting more realistic.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, PS3, Xbox 360 (Expected) | Release Date: September 27, 2019
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the latest in the long-beloved tactical-RPG series. You will assume the role of Byleth, a former mercenary, and professor at the Church of Seiros' Officer's Academy. While making decisions for yourself, you'll also follow the stories of three students and heirs to three rival nations: the Adrestian Empire, the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, and the Leicester Alliance.
As to be expected, Fire Emblem: Three Houses features the series' classic turn-based battles. However, some new additions are thrown in, such as expanded unit control, deeper character progression, and the ability to freely roam a hub area to interact with units and gather intel.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: July 26, 2019
Gears 5
Aside from Halo: Infinite, Gears 5 might be the biggest upcoming game Microsoft has lined up. Not much is known about it other than its premise, which picks up directly after the events of the previous game. It focuses on Gears of War 4 supporting character now turned main protagonist, Kait Diaz, who is on a journey to uncover the origins of the Locust and her family. As a Gears game, expect tactical cover-based shooting, over-the-top setpieces, and a dash of melodrama.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: September 10, 2019
Judgment
Judgment is the latest from Yakuza developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It's a spin-off of the series' universe that puts you in control of private detective Takayuki Yagami, who's hell-bent on solving the mystery of a serial murder case. While Judgement takes place in familiar locales from the Yakuza series, its story and gameplay are a bit different. As Yagami, you still beat up thugs in traditional over-the-top fashion, but you also investigate crime scenes and gather leads in your case. After several Yakuza games, Judgment is shaping up to be quite a refreshing change-of-pace for Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: June 25, 2019
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was another surprise from February’s Nintendo Direct. The game first launched back in 1993 for the original Game Boy, and now Nintendo is remaking it for Nintendo Switch.
The upcoming adventure retains the 2D, top-down view of the original, but with a tweaked art style to bring it more in line with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, the 3DS follow-up to A Link to the Past. It isn't the first remake the game has received since its original launch: an updated color version, dubbed Link's Awakening DX, came out in 1998.
Unlike most other games in the series, it isn't set in Hyrule, but rather the mysterious Koholint Island. After being shipwrecked, Link washes ashore and can only escape by retrieving eight magical instruments and waking the isle's guardian, the Wind Fish.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: September 20, 2019
Luigi's Mansion 3
Nintendo fans should be pleased that there's Luigi's Mansion 3 on the way. Since the 2001 release of the Gamecube original, the series has managed to garner a cult following throughout the years. The latest game once again stars the easily-frightened plumber who's on an adventure through what looks to be a haunted hotel. Nintendo hasn't discussed too much about the game, but early footage showcases elements from previous games, like ghost-sucking vacuums, spooky corridors, and plenty of wacky ghosts.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: October 31, 2019
Madden 20
This year's Madden is making some exciting new changes to the formula. The most interesting addition comes from the Superstar X-Factor mechanic, an all-new progression system that allows you to utilize special abilities on the field if specific objectives are met. A new story mode called Face of the Franchise is also introduced, where you create and build up the career of your own NFL Quarterback from college to the professional league. As you progress, a new Scenario Engine generates personalized playable scenarios, events, and dynamic challenges that build the story of your career.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 2, 2019
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
When's Marvel? Well, July 2019. The Marvel Ultimate Alliance series hasn't seen a new game in about a decade, but with Avengers: Endgame still fresh in the minds of the pop culture zeitgeist, there's probably never going to be a better time to bring it back. Developed by Team Ninja (of Ninja Gaiden, Dead Or Alive, and Nioh fame) exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, this four-player action RPG will let you choose from dozens of Marvel characters and wreak havoc on countless villains and enemy grunts.
If you've played previous games, or anything resembling Diablo, you'll know what to expect from Ultimate Alliance 3. Each character will have up to four flashy special abilities on top of regular and ultimate attacks, and will emphasize synergizing them with your teammates. You'll have a squad of four at all times (AI will substitute for real players when playing solo), and your abilities will be enhanced if all your characters are, for example, Spider-People, women of Marvel, or wise-crackers. But the real joy will be seeing just how much fan service they can stuff into this game.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: July 19, 2019
Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is follow up to the much-adored platformer Ori and the Blind Forest. Announced at E3 2017, the game is coming to Xbox and PC.
In Will of the Wisps, you'll once again guide Ori through a visually splendorous, Metroidvania-influenced 2D world, fighting enemies and solving puzzles along the way. It will seemingly feature more of everything from the original: a new upgrade system, special abilities, enemies, impressive bosses, and new NPCs--the two previous E3 trailers depicted an owl as one of Ori's new friends. Together they'll attempt to "discover the mystery beyond the forest of Nibel, uncover the hidden truths of those lost, and unravel Ori's true destiny."
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: February 11, 2020
The Outer Worlds
From the creators of the Fallout series and Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind (arguably) the best contemporary Fallout game (New Vegas) comes The Outer Worlds. It's an intricate, first-person role-playing game that adopts a lot of Fallout's beloved characteristics, both classic and modern. The space-faring adventure takes place in a far future where mega-corporations rule. It will feature mechanics like a real-time combat system with a Fallout-style slowdown mechanic, endearing AI companions, a large variety of dialogue options and approaches to the game's many problems, and a dark sense of humor.
Despite Xbox Game Studio's acquisition of Obsidian Entertainment, announced in November 2018, the game is published by Take-Two's Private Division label and will come to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (exclusively via the Epic Games Store) sometime in 2019.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 25, 2019
Pokemon Sword and Shield
Pokemon Sword and Shield are the latest iterations of the storied pocket monster franchise, and the first new mainline Pokemon games to arrive on Nintendo Switch. While 2018's Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee were reimaginings of the classic Pokemon Yellow, Sword and Shield will take place in an all-new UK-inspired region of the world, on top of introducing a brand new generation of Pokemon to the already staggering catalog. Sword and Shield will see a return to the more familiar Pokemon mechanics, as opposed to the variations that the Let's Go games introduced, such as wild Pokemon battles and Gyms.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: November 15, 2019
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is the highly-requested sequel to the cult-favorite platformer starring Raz, a young boy gifted with psychic abilities who dreams of joining a top-secret government agency known as the Psychonauts. After the events of the first game, Raz becomes a fully-fledged agent and is tasked to rescue Psychonaut Grand Head Truman Zanotto--a mission that began in Psychonauts 1's conclusion and continued in bridge-sequel VR game, Psychonauts and the Rhombus of Ruin. As Raz, you'll once again delve into the minds of others while overcoming treacherous platforming challenges and gaining new powers along the way.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2020
Sea Of Solitude
First revealed in 2015, Sea Of Solitude was announced at E3 2018 to be the newest entry in the EA's Originals program, which is home to titles like unique titles Unravel, A Way Out, and Fe. You play as Kay, who suffers from loneliness so powerful that it consumes her in the form of darkness. You'll explore a submerged apocalypse in a boat, traversing the environment, changing water levels, and generally deciphering puzzles related to the world and the shadowy monsters that inhabit it.
Kay's ultimate goal is to find out what happened to her and how she can fix it, but part of that also involves finding out more about the creatures, too. Sea of Solitude has a pleasing watercolor aesthetic, complemented by an ominous "dark world" of sorts that invites comparisons to Studio Ghibli animations and Silent Hill.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: July 5, 2019
Shenmue III
Announced to a standing ovation at PlayStation's E3 2015 press conference, the long-awaited Shenmue III went on to successfully raise over 7 million dollars on Kickstarter and has been in development ever since. Headed up by series director Yu Suzuki, Shenmue III will conclude the story of protagonist Ryo Hazuki, whose quest to avenge his father's death started back on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999.
The game will take place in the mountains of southeast China, and though we haven't seen a comprehensive gameplay demo, we can assume that a lot of the trappings that define the Shenmue series will return, including a semi-open world whose citizens run on clockwork, a Virtua Fighter-style melee combat system, and hopefully, endearing characters.
Platforms: PS4, PC | Release Date: November 19, 2019
The Sinking City
The Sinking City is the latest from Frogwares--a studio that's known for its work on the cult favorite Sherlock Holmes adventure games. Set in the fictional flooded city of Oakmont, Massachusetts during the 1920s, you play as Charles Reed, a troubled WW1 veteran and private investigator traveling in search of a cure for his persistent hallucinations. In The Sinking City, you'll investigate crime scenes, navigate tense social issues, and fend off mysterious creatures threatening Reed's sanity.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: June 27, 2019
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Respawn Entertainment, the talented EA studio behind innovative first-person shooters like Titanfall, and Apex Legends are trying their hand at a Star Wars property. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be a single-player, third-person action game that takes place after Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which means that Jedi have been eradicated from the galaxy.
In Fallen Order, you take control of a Jedi Padawan (novice) called Cal Kestis, as he tries to evade capture and avoid being noticed as a surviving Jedi. Expect social stealth, a droid companion, force powers, and lightsaber combat. The game's story team includes Aaron Contreras, who worked on Mafia III, as well as Chris Avellone, who's famous for several Obsidian RPGs, among many other things.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: November 15, 2019
Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 was a big surprise when it was announced during February's big Nintendo Direct presentation. It is, of course, the sequel to the 2015 Wii U game Super Mario Maker--although this did later come to 3DS, too.
Much like the first Super Mario Maker, the Switch game allows users to create and share their own custom Mario levels. As before, the stages can be made in the style of the original Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, or New Super Mario Bros. U, and this time around Nintendo has also added Super Mario 3D World assets to the suite of options.
That isn't the only significant difference in the upcoming sequel. Unlike the original, Super Mario Maker 2 gives players the ability to create slopes and angled surfaces. Other improvements include the ability to customize how auto-scrolling levels scroll, and an assortment of new tools such as on/off switches and more.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: June 28, 2019
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint is the follow-up to 2017's Ghost Recon: Wildlands, though developer Ubisoft is taking a different approach this time around. Breakpoint will have a darker tone, the developer says, in its new fictional New Zealand-esque setting, Aurora.
Aurora is home to Skell Technology, a corporation specializing in AI drone tech. When communication with the company ceases, you're sent to the archipelago to investigate. When you arrive, however, you find yourself not in the role of the hunter, but the hunted.
Throughout Breakpoint, you'll encounter a paramilitary group known as the Wolves, who Ubisoft says are just as skilled on the battlefield as the Ghosts. Because of this, the game places a greater emphasis on stealth. You'll be able to employ drones and hide the bodies of any enemies you kill. Similarly, you can avoid detection by crouching in foliage or covering yourself with mud. The game also features some survival elements; any injuries you sustain need to be treated, and you need to maintain your weapons.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: October 4, 2019
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Wolfenstein: Youngblood was unveiled at E3 2018, promising a co-op trip through Paris, set in the 1980s. It's a sequel of sorts to the most recent game in the series, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and it stars series protagonist BJ Blazkowicz's twin daughters, Jessica and Sophia, who are working together to continue the fight against the Nazi regime.
In Wolfenstein: Youngblood, BJ has gone missing in Nazi-occupied Paris. It's not clear whether Youngblood is the third game in the series--the devs previously stated that they viewed the series as a trilogy--or a separate game in the vein of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: July 26, 2019
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The new Animal Crossing finally has a name! Titled Animal Crossing: New Horizons, this latest game will start with players boarding the Nook Inc. charter, which will ferry them to a deserted island where they'll set up a tent and establish their town. As you settle into your new home, you'll do traditional Animal Crossing activities, such as shaking trees and catching fish. You'll also be able to craft tools and furniture using the materials you collect on the island at Tom Nook's workbench.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: March 20, 2020
Commander Keen
Command Keen is a free-to-play mobile game and successor to the classic '90s PC game of the same name. You play as Billy and Billie, who are the children of the original Commander Keen. It's being described as a 2D tactics-based game where you will use a variety of gadgets and powers to overcome various threats. The game features a single-player mode, well as real-time PvP combat.
Platforms: iOS, Android | Release Date: Summer 2019 (Soft launch)
Cyberpunk 2077
Ever since the fantastic gameplay reveal last year, CD Projekt Red's new open-world sci-fi action-RPG has become one of the most hotly anticipated games. Based on the well-loved tabletop RPG series, Cyberpunk 2077 puts a lot of emphasis on letting you create your character and forge a path that's all your own in the bustling setting of Night City.
When compared to the developer's stellar action-RPG The Witcher 3, it's immediately apparent that Cyberpunk 2077 a different beast--trading out swords and sorcery for guns and high-tech cybernetics. The neon-lit metropolis of Night City is undoubtedly a far cry from the forests of Spitfire Bluff, which should make for an incredibly exciting space to explore.
Before E3 2018, Cyberpunk 2077 was one of those games that was announced far too early and was seldom seen--often finding itself on most-anticipated lists several years straight. However, it seems the long wait was well worth it. So far, Cyberpunk 2077 manages to check all the boxes when it comes to presenting a compelling sci-fi experience and we can't wait until it comes out next year.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: April 16, 2020
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Aside from Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy 7 remake is probably the most highly anticipated remake in a long time. However, it's going to look and play a whole lot different from the 1997 original. The game will follow a more modern design, featuring a third-person camera and real-time combat. Updated character designs ride a line between realistic and stylized art. Though, the most interesting detail about the remake is that it's going to be released as multiple games.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: March 3, 2020
Gods & Monsters
Gods & Monsters came as a surprise at the end of Ubisoft's press conference. It's being developed by the same team that brought you Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The trailer on stage showed protagonist Phoenix, who is recruited by the gods to help them deal with dangerous monsters and other issues. It appears to have a painterly art style similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You can learn more in our in-depth Gods & Monsters preview.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia | Release Date: February 5, 2020
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite continues after the events of Halo 5: Guardians and will see the return of Master Chief as the main protagonist. We still know little about the story, but it appears that UNSC has lost and the world needs saving. Halo Infinite will also see the return of local split-screen, a feature that many Halo die-hards have eagerly requested in a new game for years.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Q4 2020
Just Dance 2020
Just Dance 2020 continues the long-running series' now 10-year legacy as the market's premier dancing game. Expect the latest pop songs and choreography.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, Stadia, Wii | Release Date: November 5, 2019
Contra: Rogue Corps
The Contra franchise returns this year with Contra: Rogue Corps. It's a third-person, behind-the-shoulder title that also features moments that are presented from a top-down perspective and the side. You can play solo or with friends via online or local multiplayer.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: September 24, 2019
Marvel's Avengers
Marvel's Avengers is a highly-anticipated game based on Earth's mightiest heroes from Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics and Deus Ex: Human Revolution studio's Eidos Montreal. You get to play as Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk, and Thor. Ant-Man also appears, but it hasn't been confirmed whether you can play as him.
From early footage, it seems Marvel's Avengers is played from a third-person perspective. According to Crystal Dynamics, the game will introduce a universe you can play in for years to come.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia | Release Date: May 15, 2020
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is an entirely new Lego game that condenses the events of all nine of the mainline films. In the debut trailer, it's interesting to note that the characters appear to no longer have voice acting--a feature introduced in recent games in the series--relying instead on the silent comedy of earlier Lego games.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: TBA 2020
Trials of Mana
Trials of Mana is a remake of the third game in the Mana series. Unlike the Secret of Mana remake a couple of years back, this one is being remade from the ground up as a third-person action-RPG.
Platforms: PS4, PC, Switch | Release Date: TBA 2020
Developed by Bulletstorm studio People Can Fly, Outriders is a dark cooperative shooter. According to the game's creative director, Outriders is set in a brutal and unforgiving world. While we got to see a brief glimpse of the game, there's still so much we don't know about it.
Platforms: TBA | Release Date: Summer 2020
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine
Rainbow Six Quarantine is an upcoming spin-off of Rainbow Six Siege. It resembles Outbreak, a popular limited-time three-player co-op PvE mode that fans of Siege have long requested to return. It looks like they finally got their wish!
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Early 2020
Roller Champions
Roller Champions is a free-to-play 3v3 competitive game where up to three players compete to do laps around an elliptical arena to gain speed and rack up points. The goal is to score five points, which can only be done when the goal opens after doing a lap around the arena. After a single lap, a score through the goal nets one point, but if you make two or three laps, you score three and five points respectively. However, if the opposing team tackles you or your teammates and possesses the ball at any time as you're building up laps, the potential points you can earn will reset.
Platforms: PC | Release: Early 2020
Spongebob: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated
Spongebob: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated is an upcoming remake of the 2003 licensed platformer of the same name. Much like Activision's work on the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon remakes, Battle for Bikini Bottom will have completely redone visuals, textures, and character models. Also, it will feature a new multiplayer mode and new content cut from the original.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: TBA 2020
The Last Of Us Part II
There is a huge amount of hype for Naughty Dog's next big game, The Last of Us: Part II. You play as Ellie this time around, not Joel. She has a vendetta to fulfill this time around against a violent cult.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: February 21, 2020
Watch Dogs Legion
Watch Dogs Legion is the latest game in Ubisoft's hacker-centric open-world franchise. It's set in London, and you're once again a part of DedSec--a secret hacker organization that is seeking to liberate London from political and corporate corruption. You're in control of multiple protagonists, who you recruit as you play the game, but one of the most interesting elements of it all is everyone you enlist into your resistance can literally be anyone in the world. To learn more about the game, you can check out our in-depth Watch Dogs Legion preview.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: March 6, 2020
Vampire: The Masquerade--Bloodlines 2
Vampire: The Masquerade--Bloodlines 2 has been a long time in the making. The first game--an RPG based on tabletop game Vampire: The Masquerade--launched way back in 2004.
The game is mostly played from a first-person perspective, though you'll switch to third-person when performing specific actions. When you begin this sequel, you can choose from several different classes and backstories for your vampire. Within those classes, there are various "disciplines" to choose from, which will determine your combat abilities and other attributes. Developer Paradox says these classes were adapted from the Vampire: The Masquerade pen-and-paper RPG. The Chiropteran discipline, for example, "calls on the vampire's strong affinity to bats" and allows players to summon swarms of them and move through the air. Vampire: The Masquerade--Bloodlines 2 launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2020, so it's still quite a ways off.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: March 2020
Dying Light 2
In the sequel to the first-person apocalyptic survival shooter Dying Light, players will have plenty more chances to practice their sweet parkour while killing zombies. However, this time around, player choices will have real effects on the world and push the story down different paths.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: Spring 2020
Age of Empires II Definitive Edition
Age of Empires II Definitive Edition is a remaster of the critically acclaimed second entry of the Age of Empires series. It'll have updated graphics, 4K support, remastered sound, smoother UI, and a new expansion called The Last Khans.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Fall 2019
Blair WItch
Blair WItch is an upcoming horror game based on the cult-favorite '90s found footage film of the same name. It's being developed by Bloober Team, the studio behind Layers of Fear and Observer.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: August 30, 2019
Crossfire X
Crossfire X is an upcoming western adaption of faction-based multiplayer first-person shooter Crossfire, which is massively popular in Asian territories. If it's anything like the original, it'll feature tactical combat, vehicular combat, and more.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2020
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons is a dungeon crawling spin-off of the massively popular survival game. It maintains that Minecraft charm while pushing it towards a genre not generally associated with the series. The game supports cooperative play up to four players both locally and online.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Spring 2020
Phantasy Star Online 2
It didn't seem possible, but we're actually getting Phantasy Star Online 2. Microsoft announced the Sega-developed MMORPG would be coming to Xbox One and PC next year. Originally launched in Japan in 2012, Phantasy Star Online 2 has been highly requested for years by fans of the Dreamcast original.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Spring 2020
Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer crosses the management systems of Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing with a supernatural, heartfelt story about loss. If that sounds like your kind of time, then Spiritfarer will likely not disappoint.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: TBA 2020
Tales of Arise
Tales of Arise is the latest game in Bandai Namco's tenured action-RPG franchise. It looks to be taking a step in a new direction with the series. While previous games had action-RPG combat systems, this new game seems to be leaning further into those systems, resembling games like Monster Hunter World or God Eater with seamless combat and no trace of separate battle encounters. Another interesting difference is that there seems to be a greater focus on exploration with a larger open world to run around.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2020
Panzer Dragoon Remake
The cult favorite Sega Saturn game Panzer Dragoon is getting a remake. Based on early footage, it will retain the classic rail-shooting action the original known for, but with a bold new visual upgrade.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: Winter 2019
No More Heroes III
No More Heroes III is the highly-requested sequel to the cult-favorite action series by famed Japanese developer Suda 51 and his team at Grasshopper Manufacture. The first trailer didn't offer much on the specifics of the story or scope of the game, but we do know that Travis seems to be returning into the fray after a long hiatus.
Platforms: Switch | Release Date: TBA 2020