Ultimate Guide to All Major 2020 Video Game Releases: Full Timeline and What to Expect
The year 2020 proved to be a monumental time in gaming history, ushering in a wave of groundbreaking titles that catered to virtually every genre and gaming platform. As the final full year before the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X entered the market, developers pushed the limits of current-generation hardware with stunning releases like Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last of Us Part II, and Marvel’s Avengers. From massive RPGs to innovative indie gems, 2020 was nothing short of a feast for gamers.
In this extensive guide, we break down all the major video game releases of 2020, organized by month and quarter. Whether you were waiting for AAA blockbusters or niche strategy games, this list had something for everyone.
🎮 January 2020 Game Releases: A Strong Start
The new year kicked off with big launches across RPG, action, and adventure categories. Here’s what January had in store:
- Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (PC) – January 9
Capcom brought the much-awaited Iceborne expansion to PC, offering hunters massive new monsters and locales. - Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – January 17
A retelling of Goku’s legendary journey with RPG elements and immersive combat mechanics. - Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (Switch) – January 17
A stylish blend of Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem, revamped for the Nintendo Switch. - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition – January 23
A nostalgic return to the GameCube cult classic with online multiplayer support. - The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners (VR) – January 23
One of the most immersive zombie survival games in virtual reality. - Journey to the Savage Planet – January 28
A colorful first-person exploration game that blends humor with alien discovery.
🎮 February 2020 Game Releases: RPGs, Fighters, and More
February brought even more diversity, from gory zombie shooters to dreamy sandbox titles.
- Zombie Army 4: Dead War – February 4
Nazi zombies return in Rebellion’s gruesome co-op shooter. - Granblue Fantasy: Versus – February 6
Arc System Works’ anime-style fighting game debuted in Japan to great fanfare. - Ori and the Will of the Wisps – February 11
A beautifully animated Metroidvania that continued Ori’s heart-wrenching tale. - Yakuza 5 Remastered – February 11
The fifth installment of the acclaimed crime series made its way westward. - Darksiders Genesis – February 14
A top-down hack-and-slash prequel set in the Darksiders universe. - Dreams (PS4) – February 14
Media Molecule’s game-creation platform finally exited early access. - Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold (Switch) – February 14
A quirky RPG dungeon crawler with a humorous tone. - Street Fighter V: Champion Edition – February 14
A comprehensive update with all previous DLC fighters included. - Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late – February 20
A sleeper hit in the fighting community with a new balance overhaul. - Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection – February 25
Classic handheld Mega Man titles re-released for modern platforms. - Iron Man VR (PSVR) – February 28
Suit up as Tony Stark in this action-packed VR flight simulator. - One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows – February 28
A 3v3 fighter featuring the most powerful hero of all time—Saitama.
🎮 April 2020 Game Releases: Survival Horror Meets Cyberpunk
- Resident Evil 3 Remake – April 3
A complete reimagining of Jill Valentine’s terrifying escape from Raccoon City. - Cyberpunk 2077 – Originally slated for April 16
CD Projekt Red’s much-hyped sci-fi RPG was later delayed, but anticipation soared. - Trials of Mana Remake – April 24
Square Enix’s beloved SNES action RPG received a gorgeous 3D makeover. - Minecraft Dungeons – April TBD
A dungeon-crawling spinoff set in the blocky universe of Minecraft.
🎮 May 2020 Game Releases: AAA Highlights
- Marvel’s Avengers – May 15
A superhero action-adventure game letting players step into the shoes of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. - Wasteland 3 – May 19
The post-apocalyptic RPG made its long-awaited return with co-op support and tactical depth. - The Last of Us Part II – May 29
Naughty Dog’s haunting sequel captivated players with its emotional narrative and brutal gameplay.
🗓️ Q1 2020 (No Specific Dates): Indie Surprises and Niche Titles
Several notable titles dropped in the first quarter with flexible release windows:
- Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories
- Heart of the Woods
- Eastward
- System Shock (Remake)
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York
- Session (Skateboarding sim)
🗓️ Q2 2020: Anticipated Sequels and New IPs
Quarter two of 2020 brought a mix of experimental titles and long-awaited sequels.
- Battletoads (Reboot)
- Disintegration
- Dying Light 2
- Empire of Sin
- Kerbal Space Program 2
- Grounded (Survival adventure)
- Sports Story (Sequel to Golf Story)
- Streets of Rage 4 – A modern revival of the classic beat-‘em-up franchise.
🗓️ Q3 2020: Crossovers, Remasters, and Cult Favorites
Third-quarter releases leaned heavily into PC ports, experimental RPGs, and narrative adventures.
- Death Stranding (PC Port)
- Axiom Verge 2
- Griftlands
- Outriders (Co-op shooter)
- Tell Me Why (From the creators of Life is Strange)
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood
- Planet Coaster: Console Edition
🗓️ Q4 2020: The Grand Finale
As 2020 wound down, the last quarter teased the next generation while capping off the current one with quality content.
- Halo Infinite
Master Chief’s return was poised to lead Xbox’s next-gen charge. - Guilty Gear -Strive-
A stunning evolution of the anime fighting series with groundbreaking visuals. - Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
The popular cooking sim turned up the chaos in a food truck road trip.
🕹️ Games Without Official 2020 Dates (But Still Expected)
Many highly anticipated titles were announced but didn’t get pinned to a specific release date within the year:
- 12 Minutes
- A Total War Saga: Troy
- Crusader Kings III
- Digimon Survive
- Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- Little Nightmares II
- Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (VR)
- Psychonauts 2
- Predator: Hunting Grounds
- Rust (Console)
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated
- Tales of Arise
- Watch Dogs: Legion
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
- Oddworld: Soulstorm
- Gods and Monsters (Later renamed Immortals Fenyx Rising)
📉 Delays and Fiscal Year Shifts
Some major titles initially scheduled for 2020 faced delays due to development challenges and the global pandemic. Notably:
- Watch Dogs: Legion
- Rainbow Six Quarantine
- Gods and Monsters
Ubisoft announced that these games would be moved to its next fiscal year starting April 2020, meaning they’d likely drop in late 2020 or early 2021.
🏆 The Legacy of 2020 in Gaming
With titles like The Last of Us Part II taking home multiple Game of the Year awards, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons (notably missing from the original list) dominating global conversations, 2020 cemented itself as a landmark year for video game culture.
From emotional storytelling and technical milestones to breakout indie successes and nostalgic remasters, 2020’s gaming slate was a reflection of how far the industry had come—and a preview of the incredible things still to come in the next generation.
💬 Which 2020 Release Was Your Favorite?
With so many genre-defining games packed into one year, it’s hard to choose a single favorite. Whether you were slicing through Night City in Cyberpunk 2077 or shedding a tear with Ellie in The Last of Us Part II, 2020 was a historic celebration of gaming excellence.
Let us know your top picks from 2020 in the comments!