1. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
One of Bandai Namco's biggest titles next year may be something we've experienced over
and over again, but they promise it'll be as awesome as the first time. First introduced
to us as Dragonball: Project Z, its new name Kakarot suggests we'll be taking on the shoes
of Goku in one of the most popular arcs of the series. We won’t get much surprises
in terms of story, but there's still a lot going for the game thanks to its revitalized
visuals and action RPG gameplay.
Other than Goku, we'll also get to see other favorites in action, either as support to
help in battle or actual playable characters. Bandai Namco has been showcasing all of them.
Last time, we got a sneak peek of some sweet Super Saiyan Vegeta gameplay and more recently,
a brief look into the Majin Buu Arc.
Luckily for us, CyberConnect2's Dragonball Z: Kakarot is coming soon to the PC, PS4,
and Xbox One on January 17th
2. Final Fantasy VII Remake While everyone loved the narrative and gameplay
of Final Fantasy VII despite its old low-polygon looks, Square Enix is bringing it back not
just with a new makeover, but a ground-up restructure. We’ll be reliving the same
battle against evil that Cloud and his friends had. But, this remake will present it with
a seamless blend of modern action and traditional turn-based combat.
Gather up power with the Active Time Battle meter and use it all up to get into tactical
mode that slows down time and lets you choose spells and combat maneuvers. Aside from combat,
their recent TGS trailer also suggests that they're dedicated to keeping all the weirdness
that made Final Fantasy VII great. That means we'll get to see Honey Bee Inn Cross-Dressing,
and an expansion of the squatting minigame.
The first chapter of the renewed adventure will be coming out exclusively on the PS4
on March 3rd, 2020
3. NiOh 2 Despite all the new competition in the world
of Japanese action RPGs, Nioh attempts to one up their original game's stellar execution.
With almost everyone praising the detail and action of Nioh, Team Ninja expands on their
gorgeous world of Yokai by going back a few years.
In Nioh 2, we'll be faced with a new standalone story where we play a customizable character
that's part human and part Yokai. Together with him, we venture through the Dark Realms
to fight a new selection of mythical monsters alongside the great warlords of Japan's history.
It’s still essentially a singleplayer experience. However, the improved multiplayer which allows
up to three players will definitely make the Yokai battles that much easier.
Their open beta was available from November 1 through 10, and it looks like changes might
be necessary after one player defeated all the bosses with not even one upgrade. We'll
see how it goes for the rest of us when Nioh 2 comes out exclusively on the PS4 this March
13th.
4. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Vampire: The Masquerade the tabletop RPG has been going since 1991. But, with the last
full videogame release dating back to 2004, this upcoming sequel is a breath of fresh
air for fans of the two cult classics.
Continue your vampiric adventures in the 21st century and settle into underworld gloom of
nighttime Seattle. Getting your fangs wet with blood might still be important, there's
also plenty of whacking, hacking, and shooting. As long as you make sure you got enough silver
bullets.
Whoever you are, where you're from, and whatever you choose remains a massive part of Vampire's
gameplay. And, it's all gonna look even better with Nvidia's real-time ray-tracing tech,
if you can live without your own reflection, that is.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is coming out on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in
March 2020.
5. Cyberpunk 2077 on PC, PlayStation 4, Google Stadia, and Xbox One
When it comes to discussing RPGs, you can't miss out on CD Projekt Red's new IP, Cyberpunk
2077. After their send-off to Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher 3--a game known for its grand
scale and immersion--CD Projekt Red is moving on to an even bigger scale with a world of
dystopian science fiction.
While it's being lauded for the rugged beauty of its open-world environment and the variety
of its population, Cyberpunk is at its core an RPG. As such, you'll be able to customize
everything about the main character V. Not just in terms of appearance and body modifications,
but also their origins through things called Lifepaths.
Give them Street Kid backgrounds and they'll be able to weave through gangs easier, but
if you choose a Corporate background, you'll have advantages in the thinking and operations
of the various corporations. All that, plus the satisfying battles and the romances too,
will ensure Cyberpunk will be the timesink we expect it to be.
Cyberpunk 2077 set to release on the PC, PS4, Google Stadia, and Xbox One on April 16th.
6. Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
2020 is gonna be a big year for tabletop RPG masters, White Wolf Publishing. Not only will
there be a sequel to Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, but Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood
is also coming to light as the next videogame adaptation. The world has had its share of
vampire games, but this may be one of the few games that will give us a look into the
complicated lives of the mythical half-wolf, half-man.
In the lore of White Wolf's World of Darkness, Werewolves show a deep connection to nature
as warrior protectors of Gaia. Earthblood keeps faithful to the premise, putting us
in the shoes of a banished Werewolf fighting a Vampire-led corporation and the pestilence
they bring.
There isn't a lot of gameplay out at the moment, but Cyanide Studio is looking to play at the
natural inner turmoil as you balance between the heavy metal rage of the wolf, and the
sober reason of man.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood is coming out sometime in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of
2020.
7. Persona 5 The Royal The Phantom Thieves may have stolen our hearts
back in 2017 but three years later, Atlus seems to have a lot more up their sleeves
and they're taking it all out for this definitive edition. Although it's not entirely a new
game, the features that its packed with are enough to give even old players a whole new
experience.
Persona 5 The Royal includes a new Phantom Thief, an entire semester of new gameplay,
brand new locales, and a personal palace you can customize as you see fit. As relationships
play an important part of Persona 5's DNA, The Royal also offers new ways of developing
them.n For one, phone calls have been expanded to allow for making actual conversations.
And on another note, you'll also be able to give gifts to your male confidants too.
The Japanese version has been available for a while now, but Western fans will have to
wait for Persona 5: The Royal to drop sometime in 2020.
8. Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon SEGA's latest installment to their RGG/Yakuza
series is oozing with JRPG love and it’s as wild a ride as ever. Ryu ga Gotoku's Yakuza:
Like A Dragon introduces a new protagonist in Ichiban Kasuga who gets his first taste
of freedom after taking the fall for his boss and spending 18 years in prison.
Acting as a parody of JRPG tropes, this installment comes with a few gameplay changes. Particularly,
its controversial switch from the series’ real-time combat to something more akin to
turn-based battles. The JRPG inspirations don't stop there. There's also the Persona
5-like interface, and getting to pick between an array of job classes that offer varying
abilities. It's just the kind of crazy hijinx you'd expect from the Yakuza series, and it
even comes complete with a twist on Mario Kart.
Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon will be out in Japan by January, but Western fans will have to
wait further into 2020
9. Baldur's Gate III on PC and Google Stadia Larian Studios has been climbing up the ranks
as one of the leading makers of RPGs since their Divinity series began. Now, they're
given the daunting task of reviving one of the most iconic role-playing games ever.
Baldur's Gate III won't be a direct sequel to the original. It will, however, stay faithful
to their roots. Having been borne out of the Dungeons and Dragons universe, this third
entry will be the first to adapt 5th edition D&D rules. This means there will be more than
a few changes in abilities, dice, and things like advantages/disadvantages which will feel
unfamiliar to those who haven't played D&D since the 4th edition.
With that said, we still don't know whether it’ll be going for Divinity's turn-based
system, or Baldur’s Gate's original real-time with pause. Considering Larian Studios' repertoire,
it might not matter either way.
There's no confirmed release date Baldur’s Gate III yet, but it's set to release on the
PC and the Google Stadia.
10. Diablo IV on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Blizzard hasn't been having a great time with the press and this surprise, despite being
a massive franchise, was still met with some trepidation. With a 9-minute trailer that
introduces the blessed Mother Lilith, there was some excitement around their awesome cinematics.
But, they didn't stop there. We were also treated to 24-minutes of gameplay of their
Barbarian which showed off their new dark and gritty visuals.
Diablo is one of the more established names in the RPG business and as such, with this
4th installment, they're hoping to bring in features and classes from older titles like
Diablo 2, as well as pay homage to the soundtracks of the original game. From what we’re seeing,
it seems like it's gonna be a simpler, more online experience.
While we're not gonna be getting the full release any time soon, the recent leaks suggest
we'll be getting a closed beta for Diablo IV in 2020.