The PC has been a staple of the video game industry for decades. Consoles come and go, talk of new generations pop-up every handful of years, and companies continue to try to get in on the nostalgic classic console scene, but the one constant that remains is that you’ll never be able to experience the best gaming has to offer unless you have a PC.
That isn’t going to change in 2020. As we prepare to say goodbye to one generation of consoles and hello to two new console releases, the PC remains a source for some of the most innovative and essential gaming experiences.
So far, the PC games of 2020 include trips through the woods, cyberpunk free-running, and supervillain simulators. If you can’t find a PC game releasing in 2020 that doesn’t get you excited, you may be in the wrong place (try our more general list of upcoming 2020 game releases). For everyone else, here are the PC games you need to play in 2020:
Age of Empires 4
TBA | Relic Entertainment
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There’s a pretty good chance we don’t have to tell you what Age of Empires 4 is. For years, strategy fans have asked Microsoft to return to the strategy series that got many people into the RTS genre in the first place. We may not know much about Age of Empires 4, but the fact that we’re finally getting another entry in the long dormant RTS series is enough for us to confidently say that this game should be somewhere on your radar.
Chivalry 2
TBA | Torn Banner Studios
The original Chivalry was one of the most surprising games of the last decade. Few titles have attempted to do multiplayer medieval combat on a large scale, and none of them before Chivalry did it as well.
Chivalry 2 will attempt to pick up where the brilliant original left off by offering the kind of large battles that have previously been limited to film and television. If you’re looking for a multiplayer Game of Thrones or Braveheart simulator, then the bloody and big Chivalry 2 might be your game.
Crusader Kings 3
TBA | Paradox Development Studio
The Crusader Kings series has achieved internet infamy for its grand strategy gameplay that allows you to build a medieval empire via subterfuge, sabotage, negotiations, and old-fashioned warfare. It’s basically a Game of Thrones simulator minus the dragons and bad writing.
Crusader Kings 3 brings back everything great about the revolutionary second title in the series while streamlining some of the franchise’s clunkier elements. We fully expect it to please franchise fans and possibly attract some new admirers.
Evil Genius 2
TBA | Rebellion Developments
Look, we’ve all wondered what it would be like to be a James Bond villain or Saturday morning cartoon cackling madman. In 2004, Evil Genius helped us realize those dreams by offering a fascinating – if flawed – strategy management experience that let you control a supervillain empire.
Evil Genius 2 retains the promises of the original game but looks to elevate that concept to new heights. Thanks to mechanics like an improved henchman management system and better grand strategy elements, Evil Genius 2 might just have what it takes to become the supervillain simulator that gamers have waited decades for.
Ghostrunner
TBA | One More Level
You might think that Cyberpunk 2077 is the only cyberpunk title you need in your life in 2020, but continuing to think like that is a good way to miss out on one of the year’s most intriguing projects: Ghostrunner. This game combines cyberpunk atmosphere and story with Mirror’s Edge free-running and Superhot-style action sequences. The result is a buttery smooth and impossibly cool action experience that looks like the perfect game for those craving an action experience that doesn’t ask you to slow down.
Read More: 25 PC Games That Changed History
Half-Life: Alyx
March | Valve
Few people could have guessed that we’d finally get a new Half-Life game in 2020. We’re willing to bet that fewer still would have guessed that the new installment would be Half-Life: Alyx, a VR title. Unsurprisingly, the game stars Alyx Vance, Gordon Freeman’s partner during the Half-Life 2 series of games. This time around, Alyx is on her own and on a mission to save her father from the Combine. The game is set between Half-Life and Half-Life 2, which means that Valve will have plenty of space to tell a fresh story. In fact, the experience is said to be about 15 hours long, the length of a traditional Half-Life game. That’s exciting!
Whether or not Half-Life can successfully make the transition into virtual reality is certainly a concern, but some fans are spending more time wondering whether the modern Valve still has what it takes to make a compelling Half-Life experience in any format. The good news is that we’ll soon find out.
Halo Infinite
Winter | 343 Industries
Well, well, well. As if Halo Infinite weren’t already one of the biggest upcoming games in the world, anticipation for the title has only grown following the announcement that it will be a launch title for Xbox Scarlett.
Halo Infinite is positioned as something of a soft reboot of the franchise. It will continue the series’ story but will re-imagine certain concepts a la God of War. It’s also the first confirmed next-gen title and the most exciting Halo game since Bungie left the franchise.
Humankind
TBA | AMPLITUDE Studios
For years, the historical 4X strategy genre has been dominated by the Civilization series. Few games in any genre match its legacy of quality or the scope of its achievements. However, Humankind may just prove to be the genre challenger that Civilization needs to keep things fresh.
By adding new ideas to the Civilization formula, such as the ability to lead multiple cultures and blend their technology together, Humankind may just raise the bar for historical epic strategy games. In any case, it’s going to keep Civilization on its toes.
Kerbal Space Program 2
TBA | Uber Entertainment
The original Kerbal Space Program remains one of the essential indie experiences in modern PC gaming. It tasks players with building a rocket that is capable of reaching the moon and beyond. Despite its cutesy aesthetics, the game’s hardcore physics system ensures that only the smartest and most patient players will ever get further than the launch pad.
Kerbal Space Program 2 may be led by a different studio, but it seems to retain the elements that made the original such a creative classic. We hope it proves to be more than just an elaborate expansion of the first game, but even that would be enough to get excited about.
Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlords
March | TaleWorlds Entertainment
The original Mount and Blade is widely regarded as one of the absolute best grand scale medieval adventures. With its seemingly impossible amount of options and large world, Mount and Blade was a few layers of polish away from being a dream gaming experience.
Mount and Blade II will hopefully add those layers of polish. The footage released so far teasesn a better looking and smoother sequel packed with possibilities. If the game turns out to be half as good as it looks, it could become one of the most talked-about titles of 2020.
Phantasy Star Online 2
Spring | Sega
Phantasy Star Online 2 is one of the most popular games in Japan, but Sega has never truly made the effort to bring this title to the West. Fortunately, American gamers will finally be able to try the sequel to Phantasy Star Online when it comes to Xbox One and PC in 2020. Fans of the original game and those looking for a new MMO to lose a few hundred hours in will want to keep an eye on this one.
Songs of Conquest
TBA | Lavapotion
Years ago, the Heroes of Might and Magic series offered a compelling blend of turn-based strategy and role-playing that was innovative at the time and has survived through the years thanks to a surprising lack of notable imitators. Well, the developers of Songs of Conquest are not shy about comparing their project to Heroes of Might and Magic.
While we don’t know much about the finer aspects of Songs of Conquest, the promise of Heroes of Might and Magic-style gameplay with Total War scale is enough to get us excited about this beautiful strategy game and the possibility it may revive some design concepts that should have never faded away.
Read More: PC Gaming Innovations That Changed the Way We Play
Starship Troopers – Terran Command
TBA | The Artistocrats
Starship Troopers was met with a lukewarm reception upon its 1997 release, but recent years have seen the once-maligned sci-fi title become a cult classic. Its clever political commentary and undeniable style clearly elevate it above the legion of similar big-budget action films that were released at that time.
Terran Command turns some of that film’s (and the series’) large-scale conflicts into a dynamic strategy experience that combines resource management, position defense, and other notable genre elements. With developer The Aristocrats promising to capture the various elements that make Starship Troopers as notable as it is, there’s actually reason to hope that this will be more than just another licensed cash-in.
Witchfire
TBA | The Astronauts
Developer The Astronauts certainly showed it knows how to create incredible worlds and engaging stories in its debut hit, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, but that game’s “Walking Simulator” designation left some describing it as “boring.” Well, Witchfire looks anything but boring.
A throwback to pure FPS games like Painkiller, Witchfire is shaping up to be one of the fastest and most furious action titles of 2020. This game may just give the Doom reboot a run for its money as the king of modern action-oriented FPS titles.
Way to the Woods
TBA | Anthony Tan
Way to the Woods initially drew quite a bit of attention when it was revealed that it was being developed by a teenager. Years after the hype of the game’s origins died down, though, Way to the Woods still looks like one of the most intriguing games on the horizon.
The game sees you control two deer on a fairy tale journey through various environments. While much of the project’s gameplay remains a mystery, the beauty of the game’s artwork and the snippets of its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack we’ve heard thus far hint at a worthwhile adventure for those seeking a dreamlike experience.
Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014.