2013 feels like forever ago, an era slowly fading away that included many iconic single-player narrative stories, a time before ongoing shared-world experiences existed, before the rise of loot boxes and microtransactions; an era where not every game was an open-world experience with RPG elements, before every game with backtracking was referred to as a “Metroidvania.” The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era was a simpler time, and yet, here we are again on the cusp of the next generation of consoles, where cloud-based gaming is the hot new trend, and everyone has their own game streaming service. With that being said, 2020 might be the biggest year we’ve had in video games since 2007 (which saw the release of BioShock, Halo 3, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Super Mario Galaxy, and The Orange Box – which included Portal.)

We take a look back at the biggest games of the last year of the last generation, 2013, and compare them to the last year of this generation, 2020. Note that at point of writing we don’t know all the big games coming out next year, but if this initial list is anything to go by, it’s going to be a fantastic year for video games.

2013:

Tomb Raider

Originally released: March 5, 2013

Square-Enix’s gritty 2013 reboot of the acclaimed Tomb Raider series was an origin story for the young Lara Croft. This iteration of the franchise was much more about Lara as a survivor, and imbued her with more humanity than in previous installments to great critical acclaim. It was so successful that it received two more sequels, 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider – arguably the best Tomb Raider game of all time – followed by 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider, concluding Lara’s story arc in the modern trilogy.

BioShock Infinite

Originally released: March 26, 2013

The third game in the series, BioShock Infinite moved away from the underwater setting of Rapture to Columbia – the beautiful city above the clouds. BioShock Infinite was praised for fantastic storytelling and steampunk atmosphere, with review scores averaging 94% on Metacritic. And, just like the previous games, BioShock Infinite featured a great twist at the end that sparked plenty of discussions amongst fans.

The Last of Us

Originally released: June 14, 2013

Regarded as a modern masterpiece, The Last of Us raised the bar in the single-player space with its gritty, brutal story that bucked against expectations in many regards. The Last of Us was universally acclaimed, receiving a 95% average review, with many heralding it as one of the greatest games of all-time. It went on to sell over 17 million copies in its lifetime. The long-awaited sequel to the game is set to release in 2020 – and it looks to be bigger than ever.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Originally released September 17, 2013

The success of GTA V can’t be understated, as it has gone on to become the best-selling game over the past 20 years with over 90 million units sold – and over $6 billion in revenue generated. Much of its success can be attributed to GTA Online, which debuted just two weeks after it initially launched, and has grown into an entire game of its own over the past seven years, recently adding an entire casino. It’s inevitable that Rockstar will release GTA 6 some day, but at the rate that GTA V keeps selling, it’s going to have some stiff competition.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Originally released: October 29, 2013

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag took the previous formula from Assassin’s Creed III and opened the world up even more for players, allowing them to explore at their pace from the very beginning. It essentially laid the groundwork for modern Assassin’s Creed games, and it seems Ubisoft has committed to that formula going forward with CEO Yves Guillemot recently stating that they aim to have smaller experiences wrapped up in large, open-world games.

2020:

The Last of Us Part 2

Expected release date: February 21

Following the events of 2013’s The Last of Us, Part II takes place five years after the original game and stars an older Ellie as the main character. Major details were uncovered during Sony’s recent State of Play announcement, including a February 21, 2020 release date, and the confirmation that Joel will be making a return.

Check out our extremely positive initial reactions after getting two hours of hands-on playtime with The Last of Us Part II.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Expected release date: March 3, 2020

Final Fantasy 7 Remake has been in development for many years now, and it was announced at E3 that it will be released as multiple entries that make up the original story, beginning with the story of Midgar. The game features updated, modern graphics, an overhauled combat system, all-new cinematics, as well as a story that expands on the original PlayStation game.

Can’t wait? Here’s 15 minutes of uncut footage of Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

Expected release date: March 6, 2020

Watch Dogs Legion, the third entry in the hacktivist series, takes place in London and looks to move the series forward in a very big way. Instead of controlling a single protagonist, Legion allows you to recruit and control any character in the world, including this 79-year-old woman – complete with their own unique backstory, personality, and skill set. These characters can be assigned one of three classes: Enforcers, Hackers, and Infiltrators, each with their own perks and traits that vary gameplay. However, if any characters you control die, they are gone for good – so don’t get too attached.

Cyberpunk 2077

Expected release date: April 16, 2020

2020’s biggest release just might be 2077, Cyberpunk 2077, that is. The incredibly ambitious open-world gameplay features decision-making that impacts not only the story but the entire world around you. You’ll partake in a variety of missions, engage in plenty of combat, customize your character with unique cybernetic implants, and more. It’s hard to believe this game was announced over seven years ago and now we’re so close to being able to see it fully realized. Oh, and did we mention Keanu Reeves is part of the cast?

Here’s 14 minutes of deep-dive gameplay for Cyberpunk 2077.

Marvel’s Avengers

Expected release date: May 15, 2020

Marvel’s Avengers is a shared-world cinematic experience that allows players to play as a variety of iconic superheroes, including Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, and Black Widow. Taking place five years after the tragic events of A-Day, you must reassemble Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and stop the evil A.I.M. organization. Players will be able to customize their superheroes play styles with different abilities and skill trees, as well as their appearance with plenty of cosmetic options. Marvel’s Avengers will feature a robust single-player campaign, as well as online multiplayer stories. Square-Enix aims to support the game for many years to come with frequent updates, characters, and story additions.

Check out all the new information we learned during Gamescom 2019.

Halo Infinite

Expected release date: Holiday 2020

The upcoming sixth entry in the Halo franchise is being described by developer 343 as a ‘spiritual reboot’ of the series. Revealed during E3 2018, not much is known about Halo Infinite, but we do know that it will feature 4-player split-screen gameplay once again after being absent in Halo 5: Guardians. Master Chief is also expected to play a much more central role this time around. Player customization, inspired by Halo Reach, also makes a return to Halo Infinite. The game is confirmed to be a launch title for Xbox’s upcoming Project Scarlett console, which is expected to debut Holiday 2020.

Watch Master Chief in this gorgeous cinematic trailer from E3 2019.

Of course, there’s sure to be some unexpected surprises, but if this is the lineup thus far, 2020 is sure to be an incredible year for gaming – and this is only the first half! What are you most excited about that is coming out next year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Matthew Adler is a freelance journalist who can’t wait to get lost in the world that is Cyberpunk 2077. You can chat with him about it on Twitter @matthewadler.