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At the beginning of every year I like to write a blog about the games I’m looking forward to in that coming year, so here we are again with games I’m looking forward to in 2020!  Now keep in mind that these aren’t ALL the games I’m looking forward to.  More will be announced at E3 and such I’m sure as the year goes on.  And there are some games that I’m looking forward to that have been announced, but I’m not sure they’ll really come out in 2020, like Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4.  But you never know.  But here are a list of 2020 games that I’m PRETTY sure are coming this year and I’m looking forward to them.

Pac-Man Tomagotchi

This isn’t necessary a video game, but it combines two things I like: Pac-Man and virtual pets.  2020 is Pac-Man’s 40^th anniversary, and Bandai Namco has been sending me lots of info on Facebook on what they plan to do.  Like make Pac-Man Timex watches, clothes lines from Champion, and more.  Now before you say Pac-Man is selling out, just remember how many Pac-Man products there were in the 80s.  So he’s always sold out.  But only because of the Bandai and Namco merger could they make a virtual pet out of Pac-Man.  I just can’t wait to see how they’ll do it!  One other good thing about this year being Pac-Man’s 40^th anniversary is that we might get a new game, too!

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics

Jim Henson and Muppet related stuff was a huge part of my childhood, and I’m a big fan of most of Henson’s works.  I wasn’t as big into The Dark Crystal, but it was still very creative and memorable.  A few months ago, I watched the prequel series on Netflix and LOVED it.  I don’t usually binge watch things, but I watched four episodes of it one day when I was off work (two in the morning and two in the afternoon).  Around the same time they announced a tactics game based on the series.  I don’t like tactics games, but I loved the series so much I wanted to play it!  It was originally supposed to be released late last year, but got delayed.  Hopefully the delay won’t hurt the game, as having it release this long after the series came out might make some people disinterested.  I got to demo this game last year at PAX and found out the folks who make it are very close to where I live!

Psychonauts 2

I loved the first Psychonauts.  I named it my Game of the Year in 2005 when it first came out.  So I’m really looking forward to the sequel.  It’s a point and click adventure cleverly disguised as a 3-D platformer, at least the first one was.  And it has a kind of Nightmare Before Christmas style to it.  I’m glad I got to check out the sequel at PAX.  I was worried that since Microsoft bought Double Fine that it would end up being an Xbox exclusive, and I don’t have an Xbox One.  But they told me at PAX that they plan to release it on all the systems they originally made it for, like the PS4, so I’m happy about that!

Trials of Mana

One of my favorite games this part year was the Mana Collection.  It had the first three games in the Mana series on the Switch!  But the big deal was it had Trials of Mana, the third game that never came out in the US, so that was a real treat for 16-bit Square fans like myself.  Only problem is that after playing it, I can see why it was not released in the US.  It’s not near as good as Secret of Mana was before it.  But they’re making a 3-D remake of Trials of Mana that looks really nice and I hope it plays better, too!

Streets of Rage 4

I never had a Genesis as a kid, and very few Genesis games really impressed me.  But once I got a chance to play Streets of Rage 2, I was an instant fan.  It was so well done!  I’m looking forward to this long awaited sequel, too.  I enjoyed what I played of it at PAX.

Windjammers 2

The first was such a fun game on the NEO GEO.  It’s like a great update to Pong with a flying disc beach theme.  This sequel adds better graphics and more characters.  I played it at the same booth where I tried Streets of Rage 4 at PAX!

Shantae and the Seven Sirens

I’ve been a huge fan of the Shantae 2-D platformers ever since the first one on the Game Boy Color (which I still have).  This one seems to streamline Shantae’s transformations, and looks just as fun as ever. 

Shovel Knight Dig

I’m also a big fan of the Shovel Knight game, but I do wish that they’d make a new game instead of just the same game with different characters (well, it’s not that bad).  Even though Shovel Knight Dig uses the same graphics, at least the gameplay seems a little different.  You actually use your shovel to dig down deep in wells and avoid obstacles.  Kind of makes me think of Mr. Driller in a way.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

Me and Bubble Bobble go way back.  I just love this game series, and the puzzle version of it (Bust-A-Move) is one of my top three favorite puzzle games ever.  I used to enjoy playing the first game with my brothers, and I’m so glad another sequel is coming!  I’m glad to see Taito still making games.  They have just as much history behind them as Nintendo and Namco!

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection

I’m not as big of a fan of the Mega Man Zero games, but I do like game collections and it looks like they added some neat new features so I’ll probably get it at least just to have.

Psikyo Shooting Stars Collections

NIS is releasing a couple of collections of Psikyo 2-D shooter games.  I’m not sure what’s going to be on them, but I bet Gunbird 1 and 2 are good candidates.  I don’t know if I’ll get these games right away, but I’ll keep my eye on them, because as I said before, I do like classic game collections.

Rune Factory 4

This is a Switch remake of a 3DS game.  Rune Factory is like Harvest Moon except you can fight monsters in dungeons.  They streamlined a lot of things to give you time to do that, and I like Rune Factory better than Harvest Moon because of that.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Of course I saved the best for last!  Those of you who know me well, know that I love Animal Crossing games.  The first one on the GameCube is one of my top five favorite games of all time.  Heck, I still even play the mobile game!  So I’m really excited about the new Switch entry.  It’s also a family affair and I can’t wait to enjoy it with my mom, brothers, and online friends!  We all love it!  March can’t come fast enough!

And that’s all for now!  In the comments section, let me know what you think of my list, and tell me YOUR most anticipated games of 2020.  Further along in this month, I’ll have my Game of the Year 2019 Awards Show blog!  Later!  --Cary