The big exclusive games for PS4, Xbox One and Switch in 2020
We look ahead to the exclusive games of 2020 on the three major consoles...
2020 is shaping up to be quite a big year for video games: not only are we getting brand new consoles with the PS5 and Xbox Scarlett launches, but developers are also trying to squeeze the last few morsels of gold out of the current generation of systems. This means we’ll be seeing some big exclusive games across PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
To help you work out exactly which games to be watching out for in 2020, we’ve put together a little article that breaks down the biggest exclusive titles of the year and which platforms they’ll be on. Whichever console(s) you’re lucky enough to own, then, you’ll know which games are compatible with your specific gaming set-up.
Let’s get cracking, then. These are the massive exclusives that you won’t want to miss on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in 2020…
PS4 exclusives to play in 2020
The Last Of Us Part II seems to be positioning itself as the last massive exclusive of the PS4 era. This zombie-stuffed sequel will launch on 29 May 2020, and we’re hoping it can live up to the heartbreaking brilliance of the original.
Another PS4 exclusive with heaps of expectation on its shoulders will be Final Fantasy VII Remake. It’s the first part in a series of games that will reimagine the beloved original, and you’ll be able to play it on PS4 from 3 March. (In the meantime, we’ve got hands-on first impressions here).
Fans of the Predator film franchise will need a PS4 to play the new tie-in game, Predator: Hunting Grounds, which will launch at some point in 2020. One player gets to control the deadly Predator, while four others control soldiers and try to survive. The trailer looks pretty fun.
Also, Iron Man VR will launch on 28 February, exclusively on PSVR. We enjoyed our time with the demo, which put us inside Tony Stark’s iconic suit of armour (complete with loads of weaponry options).
Speaking of superheroes, there’s no word yet on whether Insomniac will try and sneak in a sequel to Spider-Man PS4 before everyone moves over to the PS5. We’ll be sure to let you know if that does get announced.
Other PS4 exclusives to look forward to in 2020 include Yakuza 5 on 11 February, Nioh 2 on 13 March, and Persona 5 Royal on 31 March. We’ll be sure to update this article if any other big ones get revealed.
Xbox One exclusives to play in 2020
Through its Xbox Game Pass service, Microsoft has been working to make all of its first-party games accessible on PC as well as Xbox consoles. Because of this, all of the Xbox One titles we’re about to mention will also be available on Windows PC. They’re not strictly ‘Xbox exclusives’, then, but they’re the closest thing we’ve got.
The biggest Xbox-centric game of 2020 has to be Halo Infinite, the new instalment in the beloved sci-fi franchise. It will span console generations, meaning you can play it on Xbox One or Xbox Scarlett (or Windows PC). The game will launch around the “holiday” season at the end of 2020, and you can find all the latest news right here.
Another Xbox One/PC title to look out for in 2020 is Bleeding Edge, a real-time strategy game with plenty of action and some beat-em-up elements. Developed by Ninja Theory and published by Xbox Game Studios, it’ll launch on 24 March.
Before that, on 11 February, Ori And The Will Of The Wisps makes its highly-anticipated arrival. The sequel to 2015’s Ori And The Blind Forest promises more Metroidvania platforming fun.
Also, Minecraft Dungeons will launch on Xbox One and PC in April 2020. This action RPG spinoff from the much-adored game will pit cuboid characters against randomly-generated environments.
They don’t have release dates yet, but some other Xbox One games to try in 2020 include a time-loop action game called 12 Minutes, an online shooter called Crossfire X, and the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Nintendo Switch exclusives to play 2020
Without a Mario or Luigi game on the docket as of yet, Nintendo’s 2019 slate is looking a little bare at the moment. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t exciting games to be pre-ordering on your loveable portable console.
For example, 20 March brings the much-anticipated release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch. The fifth mainline entry on the life-simulating franchise has already had a hype-inducing trailer.
There’s also Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training coming on 3 January, with the ‘how old is your brain?’ franchise making its debut on Switch. And there are loads of Switch games for 2020 that don’t have specific release dates yet: there’s a survival horror game called Deadly Premonition 2, a hack-and-slash game entitled No More Heroes III, and a role-playing simulation game called Rune Factory 5.
A sequel to The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild has also been announced with an eye-catching trailer, but we don’t yet know if that one will come out in 2020. It seems plausible, certainly, but the next Zelda game’s release year is yet to be properly announced.
It’s also unclear, now that Pokémon Sword and Shield have been released, whether Game Freak will serve up a sequel (or any other sort of Pokémon game) on Switch in 2020. Our speculation about the franchise’s future is here, though, if you fancy taking a look.
As more console-exclusive games are announced for 2020, we’ll be sure to update this article. And in the meantime, if you’re interested, you can find the top PC games of 2020 at this link.