id Software, Bethesda Softworks
2019 was a pretty solid year for first-person shooters.
Respawn Entertainment air dropped Apex Legends onto unsuspecting gamers and provided them with one of the best battle royale games of the year. Call of Duty returned to its most memorable sub-series with a Modern Warfare reboot. And popular franchises in the genre, such as the Metro games, Far Cry and the latest incarnation of the Wolfenstein series, added its own sequels to the FPS mix. Now that we’ve entered the new year, it’s time to take a peek at all of the first-person shooters that are set to hit the gaming landscape. DOOM is giving us even more demons to kill, Halo is heading to “infinity and beyond” with its next entry and plenty of newcomers/genre stalwarts are throwing their hats into the FPS mix.
So without further ado, let’s break down all of the awesome first-person shooters that will land in our laps come 2020.
DOOM Eternal
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Google Stadia
Release Dates: March 20 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia), December 8 (Nintendo Switch)
DOOM (2016) thankfully took it back to basics and ultimately succeeded! It brought back all of the elements that made the original games so memorable while adding a new level of gore that made each kill as satisfying as the last. The Doom Slayer’s work was seemingly done back on Mars, but it turns out his mission is far from over.
Hell’s forces have invaded Earth, which means it’s time to reload your BFG and send them back to where they came from. DOOM Eternal is set to offer the same high fun factor featured in the last game thanks to new melee weaponry, increased maneuverability, new demons, and a unique asymmetrical multiplayer game mode. Retro FPS fans and newcomers alike should be ready to do damage as the iconic Doom Slayer once again.
Half-Life: Alyx
Developer: Valve
Publisher: Valve
Platforms: PC (Virtual Reality Headsets – Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest and Windows Mixed Reality)
Release Date: March 23
Once again, it appears that Valve seemingly hates the number three when it comes to video game sequels. But they’ve still gone and done the unthinkable – they’re choosing to develop another game in the highly-regarded Half-Life franchise. It won’t just be a traditional FPS, however – it will be a full-on VR title that’s built from the ground up for the evolutionary gaming hardware.
Half-Life: Alyx has all the makings of a dream scenario come true for diehard Half-Life fans – it places fans in the role of Alyx Vance during her and her father’s crusade against the Combine, which places it right before Gordon Freeman’s arrival in Half-Life 2. That means this VR game’s tale will play an integral part in the franchise’s overall history and hopefully answer a lot of unanswered questions. Hopefully, the VR gameplay is strong enough to deliver the answers fans have been waiting years for in a fun and interesting manner.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Half-Life: Alyx on PC.
Warface: Breakout
Developer: Allods Team
Publisher: My.Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: May 26
It’s such a pleasant surprise when a new game is released on the very same day that it’s first shown off to the gaming public. Warface: Breakout followed the Apex Legends playbook by pulling that very same move and giving PS4/Xbox One owners a brand new tactical FPS to sink their teeth into. This Counter-Strike inspired shooter takes place in a dark future ruled by war and big corporations. Mercenaries are given most of the dirty work and they’re either associated with the Wardens or Reapers factions. The bomb planting/defusing matches you’ll participate in as a member of either squad takes place across five maps. And you’ll be blasting and maneuvering through all the PvP chaos with over 30 weapons at your disposal. Warface: Breakout could possibly be your next FPS addiction.
Buy a PSN Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase Warface: Breakout.
Buy an Xbox Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase Warface: Breakout.
Valorant
Developer: Riot Games
Publisher: Riot Games
Platform: PC
Release Date: June 2
So it turns out that Valorant’s mix of Counter-Strike inspired tactical gunplay and Overwatch-like superpowered hero characters works like a charm. Riot Games (League of Legends) is expanding its horizons by producing a first-person shooter that could be a major part of the eSports scene as time goes on. Valorant is the type of shooter that truly separates the pros from the casuals – you’ll need to keep abreast of your surroundings at all times as you put your marksman skills and character’s special abilities to good use during intense firefights. Find your favorite Agent and prepare to cover every corner of the battle map with your Valorant squad in two. Riot Games might have another smash hit on their hands with this one.
Disintegration
Developer: V1 Interactive
Publisher: Private Division
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: June 16
V1 Interactive’s offering a unique take on the FPS genre with the clever inclusion of real-time strategy elements. Disintegration offers up a traditional package that includes a thrilling single-player campaign and a deep PvP multiplayer suite, but its approach to gameplay is anything but. Players will take the commander role as they stay airborne on their trusty Gravcycle and send out their ground troops to dominate the opposition. As you blast anyone unlucky enough to speed across your path, your troops will put in work right alongside you and your crew of fellow Gravcycle riders. Disintegration is an intense game of rival pilot crews and troops going to war that looks to offers a fresh take on the FPS genre.
Buy a PSN Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase Disintegration.
Buy an Xbox Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase Disintegration.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Disintegration on PC.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR
Developer: Camouflaj
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS4 (PlayStation VR)
Release Date: July 3
The House of Marvel has been going all-in on its video game efforts in recent years. 2020 marks the arrival of an AAA-action/adventure Avengers game that’s built up tons of hype and anticipation. As for Marvel’s resident iron-suited hero, Iron Man will give fans the chance to step into his famous suit of armor in Marvel’s Iron Man VR. Players will fly through the air as Tony Stark’s alter-ego and put his repulsor hand blasts to good use against all types of mechanical foes. The reliance on virtual reality mechanics will do a big part in presenting Marvel’s Iron Man VR as the most immersive Marvel Comics game fans have ever experienced. PS VR owners should definitely add this one to their “make sure to play this in 2020” checklist.
Buy Marvel’s Iron Man VR here.
SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
Developer: SUPERHOT TEAM
Publisher: SUPERHOT Team
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: July 16
The mind-bending, time stopping FPS that blew everyone’s minds is getting the “bigger, better, and badder” treatment with this follow-up. SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE adds more lore to the game’s minimalist setting, throws in a host of new skills/weapons, and incorporates a number of mechanics that encourage different approaches to each puzzle-like battle encounter. This non-VR take on the original SUPERHOT allows for a more traditional controller-based experience, which means you’ll be treated to a longer playthrough without having to worry about VR headset headaches and fatigue setting in.
Buy a PSN Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE.
Buy an Xbox Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE.
Hellbound
Developer: Saibot Studios
Publisher: Nimble Giant Entertainment
Platform: PC
Release Date: August 4
Hellbound isn’t DOOM, but it still honors the legendary FPS series by allowing you to take a trek through Hell to blast a whole heap of rampaging demons. This brand new IP harkens back to the days of Quake and other shooters of its ilk by adopting retro 3D visuals and fast-paced gunplay. The usual weaponry you pick up and wield in most modern FPS games are visible in this title with their own visual stylings. Thankfully, the expected devastating impact that comes from shooting and applying pressure with melee weapons remains intact. Hellbound is a throwback that offers a mixture of old school FPS mechanics and new school genre advancements.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Hellbound on PC.
Hyper Scape
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: August 11
A ton of big-name publishers has thrown their name into the battle royale hat. And now Ubisoft has decided to become a part of gaming’s biggest trend at the moment. The Ubisoft Montreal developed Hyper Scape is a more futuristic take on the popular sub-genre – players command the high-flying abilities of their avatars while wielding imaginative weaponry and maneuvering through bright urban locales. Three-player squads compete to be the last team standing – each team’s survival can even be impacted by those watching their live games via Twitch. That innovative feature and the implementation of clever in-game hacking tools play a huge part in how you’ll overcome the competition in Hyper Scape.
Buy a PSN Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase Hyper Scape.
Buy an Xbox Gift Card here so you can digitally purchase Hyper Scape.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Hyper scape on PC.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
Developer: Awe Interactive
Publisher: Awe Interactive
Platforms: PC, Consoles TBA
Release Dates: September 15 (PC), TBA Consoles (TBA 2021)
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is patching together two popular sub-genres of gaming together into this FPS package. Development studio Awe Interactive is going with rhythm-game based mechanics alongside roguelike elements for its action-packed dungeon shooter. As you wade through randomly generated dungeons, you’ll need to stay in tune with the game’s booming rock soundtrack as you match up your offense with enemies’ dancing patterns. The chaotic action from BPM will push you as hard as possible and make sure you’re in tune with the danger-filled world around you at all times.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing BPM: Bullets Per Minute on PC.
Serious Sam 4
Developer: Croteam
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia
Release Dates: September 24 (PC, Google Stadia), TBA 2021 (PS4, Xbox One)
Sam “Serious” Stone is back! And this time, his latest foray into the world of bombastic FPS action will delve into prequel territory as it recounts his early days as a member of the Earth Defense Force. An alien invasion has ravaged humanity, but Sam and his EDF cohorts have stepped up to blast all those extraterrestrial baddies to bits. Sam will come armed to the teeth with all sorts of big guns as he takes on Headless Kamikazes, Beheaded Rocketeers, Kleers, Scrapjacks, and so much more. You can choose to go it alone or tear through the alien menace with three other friends for some co-op madness. Serious Sam 4 looks to be a playable adrenaline rush that retains everything that made the last three games so memorable.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Serious Sam 4 on PC.
Second Extinction
Developer: Systematic Reaction
Publisher: Systematic Reaction
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release Dates: October 13 (PC – Steam), TBA (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One)
Mutated dinosaurs have claimed Planet Earth and the only way to right that wrong is by joining up with two other resistance fighters to shoot ’em down. Second Extinction’s simple premise gets right to the point and lets you go in guns blazing against an army of electric raptors and even larger T-Rexes. You’ll need to efficiently back up your fellow resistance fighters as hordes of vicious dinos attempt to rip off everyone’s heads across varied locales. Keep in mind that your efforts become a part of a global offensive that determines the course of the online player war against Second Extinction’s rabid reptiles.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Second Extinction on PC.
Due Process
Developer: Giant Enemy Crab
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platform: PC
Release Date: October 27
Due Process takes procedurally generated maps, incorporates tactical FPS mechanics, and lets players battle it out in a 5v5 format. The unique art design gives it some extra oomph, plus the pre-match planning phase element makes it even more of a deviation from games of its ilk. Both teams (the Argus Enforcers and the Defenders) are armed to the teeth, so you’ll need to aid your alliance as much as possible by executing their plan to perfection. Over the course of three rounds, you’ll have to battle it out across dynamic maps and put your teamwork skills to the ultimate test. Due Process is different enough to be worth a try.
Pick up a Steam gift card here if you’re looking to start playing Due Process on PC.
XIII
Developer: PlayMagic
Publisher: Microids
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, MAC
Release Dates: November 10 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, MAC), TBA 2021 (Nintendo Switch)
This entry is one of the most surprising cases of a video game remake we’ve seen in 2020. Originally released in 2003, XIII earned itself a cult following due to its cel-shaded visuals, comic book panel presentation, and tightly woven narrative. This new and improved reintroduction of the game will once again offer a memorable single-player campaign and a brutal multiplayer mode suite that you won’t want to pass up if you missed them the first time around. After the assassination of the president, your amnesia struck character wakes up on a deserted island and eventually discovers that he’s tied to that major incident. He also comes to find out that he has top-notch combat skills and is marked by an “XIII” tattoo, which adds even more intrigue to this game’s mind-bending mystery. If all that sounds exciting to you, then playing XIII is a must.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Developers: Raven Software, Treyarch
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: November 13
The next Call of Duty is heading right into the Cold War era for some explosive espionage action. And as a direct sequel to the very first Black Ops series entry, longtime fans should be more than pleased to get back into the arena. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will feature a full-fledged campaign that puts you in the role of a CIA officer who’s out to take down a dangerous Soviet spy. Besides the single-player theatrics, Cold War will feature the usual Call of Duty multiplayer suite that comes with new modes. Plus Zombies is making a comeback with a brand new plotline and the same high fun factor fans have become accustomed to. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is sure to keep current- and next-gen gamers entertained with its 80s take on international warfare.
Buy Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War here.
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publishers: Electronic Arts, Oculus Studios
Platform: PC (Virtual Reality – Oculus Rift, SteamVR)
Release Date: December 11
The last time gamers got their hands on a Medal of Honor game, it was all the way back in 2012 with the disappointing Warfighter. The WWII shooter franchise is finally emerging once again, but this time it’s reviving itself with a focused foray into virtual reality. And with Titanfall development studio Respawn Entertainment at the helm, it looks like we’re in for a quality return to Medal of Honor’s emotionally charged WWII gunfights. In Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, you’ll step into the uniform of an agent of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) as you look to bring down the Nazi forces that oppose the French Resistance. Expect lots of big story moments that tug at the heartstrings and some big action setpieces to compliment them.
And here’s a few first-person shooters that were released years prior, but are now making their way to certain consoles for the first time in 2020:
• Metro Exodus (PC – Steam): February 15
• Hunt: Showdown (PS4): February 18
• Metro Redux (Nintendo Switch): February 28
• Borderlands 3 (PC – Steam): March 13
• DOOM 64 (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC): March 20
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, PC): March 31 (PS4), April 30 (Xbox One, PC)
• Serious Sam Collection (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia): April 8 (Google Stadia), November 17 (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
• Void Bastards (PS4, Nintendo Switch): May 7
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Halo 2: Anniversary (PC – Steam, Microsoft Store): May 12
• Ion Fury (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch): May 14
• Project Warlock (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch): June 9 (PS4), June 11 (Nintendo Switch), June 12 (Xbox One)
• XIII – Classic (PC – Steam): June 12
• Titanfall 2 (PC – Steam): June 18
• Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour (Nintendo Switch): June 23
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Halo 3 (PC – Steam, Microsoft Store): July 14
• Crysis Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC): July 23 (Nintendo Switch), September 18 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Pistol Whip (PlayStation VR): July 30
• Insurgency: Sandstorm (PS4, Xbox One): August 25
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Halo 3: ODST (PC – Steam, Microsoft Store): September 22
• Apex Legends (PC – Steam): November 4
• Bright Infinite (Xbox Series X|S): November 10
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection – Halo 4 (PC – Steam, Microsoft Store): November 17
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