The fall gaming rush typically comes to an end in December, as most game publishers try to get their biggest games out in time for the holiday shopping season. This is no different for December 2020, which still has a lot of games coming out, but not nearly as many games as November did.
But while December 2020 may not have quite as many new game releases as November, there will still be plenty for fans to check out, including what is arguably one of the biggest game releases of the entire year. It will also some of the biggest last-generation games make their way to next-generation consoles with enhanced ports that take advantage of the beefier hardware in the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
From Cyberpunk 2077 to Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, here are the 12 biggest new video game releases for December 2020.
Chronos: Before the Ashes (December 1)
Remnant: From the Ashes was a sleeper hit for 2019, with developer Gunfire Games releasing a game clearly inspired by Dark Souls, but with a bigger focus on ranged combat and co-op play. While Remnant seemingly came out of nowhere, it was actually the second game set in its creepy post-apocalyptic universe, with the first being the 2016 virtual reality game Chronos. With Remnant enjoying surprising success, Gunfire Games has decided to repackage Chronos, stripping out the VR element to make it more accessible to a wider audience. The original Chronos earned strong reviews at the time of its release, so it will be interesting to see how the non-VR version fares with critics.
Chronos: Before the Ashes will be available on PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.
Twin Mirror (December 1)
Dontnod Entertainment has been busy. Earlier this year, it launched the episodic adventure game Tell Me Why, which earned somewhat mixed reviews by critics, but was praised for tackling subject matter typically avoided by video games, like gender identity. Tell Me Why isn't the only game Dontnod is looking to launch in 2020, though. On December 1, Dontnod is releasing Twin Mirror, which will very likely appeal to fans of the studio's previous work. Instead of being episodic like Life is Strange or Tell Me Why, though, Twin Mirror is the complete package right off the bat.
Twin Mirror will be available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Empire of Sin (December 1)
John Romero is one of the most well-known video game developers of all time, with his studio Romero Games Ltd. having released some smaller scale projects over the last five years. Now Romero and his wife Brenda are working together to launch the turn-based strategy game Empire of Sin, which is all about mafia warfare and Prohibition in the the 1930s. Taking its cues from some other turn-based strategy games of recent years like Firaxis' XCOM reboot series, Empire of Sin could very well be a surprise hit for December.
Empire of Sin will be available for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Worms Rumble (December 1)
Worms Rumble is the latest entry in the long-running Worms franchise, and will mark the series' debut on next-generation consoles. In Worms Rumble, players will have access to standard Worms multiplayer modes from previous games, along with an ambitious new battle royale option. What makes Worms Rumble of particular interest, though, is the fact that it is a part of the free PS Plus games for December 2020 lineup, serving as the PS5 offering for next month.
Worms Rumble will be available for PC, PS4, and PS5.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (December 1)
Some of the biggest live-service games are going to keep going strong, even with the debuts of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, including Rainbow Six Siege. Instead of making a brand new Rainbow Six game from the ground-up, Ubisoft is opting to port over the popular Rainbow Six Siege to the new consoles, which will include a variety of graphical improvements and other upgrades.
Rainbow Six Siege is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions on the way.
Immortals Fenyx Rising (December 3)
Speaking of Ubisoft, the company has multiple releases set to drop in December, including the brand new IP Immortals Fenyx Rising. Immortals Fenyx Rising has been compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but with an aesthetic and storyline inspired by Greek mythology. Early Immortals Fenyx Rising reviews have admittedly been somewhat mixed, but the game should still appeal to fans of Breath of the Wild.
Immortals Fenyx Rising will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Madden NFL 21 (December 4)
EA's annual sports games have been technically playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X since those consoles launched, but in their proper next-gen forms. That will change soon when the next-gen version of Madden NFL 21 launches its "NXT LVL Edition," bringing with it a host of upgrades for owners of the new consoles to enjoy. Whether or not these upgrades will be enough to shift public opinion about Madden NFL 21 remains to be seen, but football fans don't have to wait much longer to find out.
Madden NFL 21 is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
Call of the Sea (December 8)
Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure game where players are searching for their missing husband in an H.P. Lovecraft-inspired world. What's been shown of the game so far has been impressive, so it will be interesting to see if it lives up to the hype. Console-exclusive to Xbox systems, Call of the Sea will be on Xbox Game Pass the day it releases, so subscribers can give it a try without any kind of big financial commitment.
Call of the Sea will launch for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Destiny 2 (December 8)
Bungie's Destiny 2 is easily one of the biggest looter-shooters available, and it will soon be making its way to next-generation consoles. Destiny 2 on PS5 and Xbox Series X will enjoy the typical upgrades that most upgraded games do, and it should be especially enticing for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The entirety of the Destiny 2 experience, including the Beyond Light expansion, will be available to Xbox Serie X owners with Game Pass soon enough.
Destiny 2 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions on the way.
Doom Eternal (December 8)
Doom Eternal has been available for PC, PS4, and Xbox One for some time now, with the game earning rave reviews from critics and getting a Game of the Year nomination in the process. Nintendo Switch owners will soon be able to see what all the fuss is about, as Doom Eternal will be coming to Nintendo's home console/handheld hybrid early next month. Doom Eternal on Switch will sacrifice some of the impressive visuals found in other versions of the game, but it may be a worthy trade-off if it means getting to play the game on the go.
Doom Eternal is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X versions in development.
Cyberpunk 2077 (December 10)
Easily the biggest new game release of December 2020 is Cyberpunk 2077. Fans have been waiting years to get their hands on CD Projekt Red's ambitious open world game, and its launch is practically an event in and of itself. There is a great deal of hype surrounding Cyberpunk 2077, and it will definitely be interesting to see if it is able to live up to those lofty expectations. CD Projekt Red's track record for producing quality gaming experiences speaks for itself, though, so fans should be able to look forward to another solid open world adventure.
Cyberpunk 2077 is in development for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions coming later.
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (December 11)
Most of the big games coming in December 2020 are for traditional home consoles, but one major exception to that is Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. A virtual reality game developed by Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Titanfall studio Respawn Entertainment, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is shaping up to be one of the finest and most-impressive VR experiences of the year. It has a big task in reviving the dormant Medal of Honor franchise, but if any studio can get it done, it's Respawn.
