2020 is here! As we leap forward into a new decade with new adventures, let’s take a look at some of the biggest classics. It’s all about the big video game anniversaries of 2020 – with a lot in store! From the devilish 10th anniversary of Bayonetta, to the mammoth 30th birthday of Final Fantasy, there’s a lot to celebrate this year!
So, why not tuck into our big video game anniversaries of 2020 list? Hopefully some of these key dates will help with your gaming content, videos, snaps & streams!
If there are any games, franchises or hardware missing from the list, do let us know!
January
05-Jan
Bayonetta (Multi)
10th
05-Jan
Darksiders (Multi)
10th
10-Jan
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
15th
11-Jan
Crazy Taxi (DC)
20th
11-Jan
Resident Evil 4 (GC)
15th
13-Jan
Bust-a-Move (SNES)
25th
19-Jan
HuniePop (PC)
5th
20-Jan
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected (Multi)
5th
20-Jan
Saints Row: Gat out of Hell (Multi)
5th
23-Jan
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (DC)
20th
24-Jan
Mario Party 2 (N64)
20th
26-Jan
No More Heroes 2 (Wii)
10th
31-Jan
The Sims (PC)
20th
February
02-Feb
Resident Evil – Code: Veronica (DC)
20th
02-Feb
Star Trek Online (PC)
10th
03-Feb
SpongeBob HeroPants (Multi)
5th
09-Feb
BioShock 2 (Multi)
10th
10-Feb
Vagrant Story (PS)
20th
12-Feb
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
30th
13-Feb
NEW Nintendo 3DS console released
5th
13-Feb
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (3DS)
5th
14-Feb
Star Fox Assault (GC)
15th
16-Feb
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (DS)
10th
16-Feb
Ristar (MD/Genesis)
25th
17-Feb
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (Multi)
5th
18-Feb
Pokémon Shuffle (3DS)
5th
20-Feb
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)
5th
23-Feb
Heavy Rain (PS3)
10th
23-Feb
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (Multi)
10th
24-Feb
Dragon Ball XenoVerse (Multi)
5th
25-Feb
Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty (Multi)
5th
27-Feb
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires
5th
28-Feb
Fight Night Round 2 (Multi)
15th
29-Feb
Dead or Alive 2 (DC)
20th
29-Feb
Pokemon Stadium (N64)
20th
March
01-Mar
Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (Xbox)
15th
01-Mar
Mega Man 10 (Wii)
10th
02-Mar
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (Multi)
10th
02-Mar
Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 (PC)
5th
02-Mar
SpongeBob’s Boating Bash (Multi)
10th
05-Mar
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Multi)
5th
08-Mar
First Nintendo World Championship
30th
09-Mar
Final Fantasy XIII (Multi)
10th
09-Mar
Yakuza 3 (PS3)
10th
10-Mar
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Multi)
5th
10-Mar
Meteos (DS)
15th
10-Mar
Panzer Dragoon (SAT)
25th
11-Mar
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
25th
13-Mar
Pokémon Dash (DS)
15th
14-Mar
Mario’s Picross (GB)
25th
14-Mar
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver (DS)
10th
15-Mar
Silent Hunter III (PC)
15th
16-Mar
Command & Conquer 4 (PC)
10th
16-Mar
God of War III (PS3)
10th
16-Mar
Infinite Space (DS)
10th
16-Mar
Metro 2033 (Multi)
10th
16-Mar
Resonance of Fate (Multi)
10th
17-Mar
Battlefield Hardline (Multi)
5th
17-Mar
Descent (PC)
25th
17-Mar
Nintendo announces Switch console
5th
20-Mar
Game Boy Play It Loud! Series launched
25th
21-Mar
Kirby’s Dream Land 2 (GB)
25th
21-Mar
Wario Land 3 (GBC)
20th
22-Mar
God of War (PS2)
15th
23-Mar
How to Train Your Dragon (Multi)
10th
23-Mar
Red Steel 2 (Wii)
10th
23-Mar
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS)
10th
23-Mar
Thief II (PC)
20th
24-Mar
Mega Man 7 (SNES)
25th
28-Mar
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Multi)
15th
30-Mar
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (DC)
20th
31-Mar
Tekken 5 (PS2)
15th
April
01-Apr
Snake’s Revenge: Metal Gear 2 (NES)
30th
05-Apr
Lego Star Wars: The Video Game (Multi)
15th
08-Apr
Pokémon Rumble World (3DS)
5th
13-Apr
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (Multi)
10th
15-Apr
Mortal Kombat 3 (ARC)
25th
19-Apr
Psychonauts (Multi)
15th
20-Apr
Fire Emblem – Japan (NES)
30th
23-Apr
Satellaview released for SNES (Japan)
25th
26-Apr
Guild Wars (Multi)
15th
27-Apr
Nier (Multi)
10th
27-Apr
Samba de Amigo (DC)
20th
27-Apr
Super Street Fighter IV (Multi)
10th
27-Apr
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – Japan (N64)
20th
28-Apr
Super Bomberman 3 (SNES)
25th
30-Apr
Excitebike 64 (N64)
20th
May
01-May
First E3 Expo held in LA, California
25th
01-May
Pokémon Emerald (GBA)
15th
01-May
Sega Saturn released in the US
25th
05-May
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Multi)
15th
05-May
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (Multi)
5th
11-May
Lost Planet 2 (Multi)
10th
18-May
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (Multi)
10th
18-May
Red Dead Redemption (Multi)
10th
19-May
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Multi)
5th
22-May
Perfect Dark (N64)
20th
23-May
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
10th
25-May
Blur (Multi)
10th
28-May
Bomberman 64: The Second Attack (N64)
20th
June
04-Jun
Space Channel 5 (GC)
20th
05-Jun
EarthBound / Mother 2 (SNES)
25th
10-Jun
Xbox 360 S console released
10th
10-Jun
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)
10th
13-Jun
Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)
15th
17-Jun
Deus Ex (PC)
20th
21-Jun
Battlefield 2 (PC)
15th
21-Jun
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Multi)
15th
22-Jun
Transformers: War for Cybertron (Multi)
10th
23-Jun
Advance Wars: Dual Strike (DS)
15th
23-Jun
Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4)
5th
25-Jun
Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition – Japan (3DS)
5th
29-Jun
Diablo II (PC)
20th
29-Jun
Jet Set Radio (DC)
20th
July
01-Jul
Virtual Boy released in Japan
25th
07-Jul
Final Fantasy IX (PS)
20th
07-Jul
killer7 (Multi)
15th
11-Jul
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS)
10th
11-Jul
Former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata passes away
5th
12-Jul
Final Fantasy (NES)
30th
12-Jul
Virtua Tennis (DC)
20th
21-Jul
Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES)
25th
21-Jul
Mario Tennis (N64)
20th
27-Jul
Dr. Mario (Multi)
30th
27-Jul
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty (OC)
10th
29-Jul
Worms 4 (Multi)
15th
August
04-Aug
Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (Multi)
15th
05-Aug
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island (SNES)
25th
11-Aug
Paper Mario (N64)
20th
17-Aug
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (Multi)
10th
22-Aug
Advance Wars: Dual Strike (DS)
15th
22-Aug
Nintendogs (DS)
15th
25-Aug
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS)
15th
29-Aug
Mario Superstar Baseball (GC)
15th
30-Aug
Spider-Man (Multi)
20th
31-Aug
Castle Crashers (PS3)
10th
31-Aug
Metroid: Other M (Wii)
10th
September
01-Sep
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Multi)
5th
01-Sep
PS1 console released in the US
25th
01-Sep
Rayman (Multi)
25th
07-Sep
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (PSP)
10th
07-Sep
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (Multi)
10th
10-Sep
Super Mario Maker (Wii U)
5th
12-Sep
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (DS)
10th
13-Sep
Burnout Revenge (Multi)
15th
14-Sep
Halo: Reach (X360)
10th
14-Sep
The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest (Multi)
10th
15-Sep
PlayStation Move launched
10th
18-Sep
Pokémon Black and White – Japan (DS)
10th
19-Sep
Game Boy Mico console launched (US)
15th
20-Sep
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PS)
20th
21-Sep
Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn (PC)
20th
21-Sep
Pokémon Puzzle Challenge (GBC)
20th
22-Sep
Ultimate Spider-Man (Multi)
15th
26-Sep
Another Code: Two Memories (DS)
15th
26-Sep
Wing Commander (PC)
30th
28-Sep
Mega Man 3 (NES)
30th
29-Sep
PS1 console released in Europe
25th
October
01-Oct
Game Gear Colour console released in Japan
30th
01-Oct
Time Crisis (Arcade)
25th
03-Oct
Wii Party (Wii)
10th
04-Oct
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (DS)
10th
04-Oct
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (DS)
10th
04-Oct
Shantae: Risky’s Revenge (Multi)
10th
05-Oct
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (Multi)
10th
05-Oct
Skies of Arcadia (DC)
20th
11-Oct
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (Multi)
10th
12-Oct
Medal of Honor Reboot (Multi)
10th
15-Oct
The Secret of Monkey Island (PC)
30th
17-Oct
Kirby’s Epic Yarn (Wii)
10th
18-Oct
F.E.A.R. (PC)
15th
18-Oct
Shadow of the Colossus (PS2)
15th
19-Oct
Fallout: New Vegas (Multi)
10th
23-Oct
TimeSplitters (PS2)
20th
24-Oct
Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix (GC)
15th
24-Oct
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PSP)
15th
24-Oct
Mega Man Legends 2 (PS1)
20th
24-Oct
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (PS)
20th
25-Oct
Call of Duty 2 (Multi)
15th
25-Oct
Civilization IV (PC)
15th
25-Oct
Soul Calibur III (PS3)
15th
26-Oct
Fable III (X360)
10th
26-Oct
Rock Band 3 (Multi)
10th
26-Oct
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (Multi)
10th
26-Oct
Tekken Tag Tournament (PS2)
20th
30-Oct
SSX (PS2)
20th
November
01-Nov
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (Multi)
15th
02-Nov
James Bond 007: Blood Stone (Multi)
10th
04-Nov
Microsoft Kinect launched
10th
05-Nov
GameFAQs website launched
25th
07-Nov
Guitar Hero (Multi)
15th
07-Nov
Mario Party 7 (GC)
15th
08-Nov
Fatal Frame III: The Tormented (PS2)
15th
09-Nov
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Multi)
10th
09-Nov
Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (Multi)
10th
10-Nov
Fallout 4 (Multi)
5th
10-Nov
Steam Machine released
5th
14-Nov
Mario Kart DS (DS)
15th
16-Nov
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (Multi)
10th
16-Nov
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Multi)
10th
16-Nov
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (Multi)
10th
16-Nov
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Multi)
15th
16-Nov
Sonic Colors (Multi)
10th
17-Nov
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (X360)
10th
17-Nov
Tomb Raider Chronicles (Multi)
20th
20-Nov
Banjo-Tooie (N64)
20th
20-Nov
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest (SNES)
25th
21-Nov
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
10th
21-Nov
F-Zero – Japan (SNES)
30th
21-Nov
SNES console launched in Japan
30th
21-Nov
Super Mario World – Japan (SNES)
30th
22-Nov
Dragon Quest VIII (PS2)
15th
22-Nov
Xbox 360 console launched (US)
15th
24-Nov
Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)
10th
24-Nov
Nintendo reveals N64 at Spaceworld, Japan
25th
29-Nov
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS)
10th
30-Nov
Epic Mickey (Wii)
10th
30-Nov
Sega Mega Drive released in Europe
30th
30-Nov
Super Meat Boy (PC)
10th
December
01-Dec
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (SNES)
25th
01-Dec
Final Fight 3 (SNES)
25th
01-Dec
Worms (Amiga)
25th
05-Dec
Mario Tennis: Power Tour (DS)
15th
05-Dec
Super Mario Strikers (GC)
15th
05-Dec
Xbox 360 console launched (EU)
15th
07-Dec
Mario Party 3 – Japan (N64)
20th
07-Dec
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm (PC)
10th
09-Dec
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (PC)
25th
14-Dec
Commander Keen (PC)
30th
14-Dec
Pokémon Crystal – Japan (GBC)
20th
15-Dec
Tales of Phantasia (SNES)
25th
21-Dec
Phantasy Star Online (DC)
20th
22-Dec
Kingdom Hearts II (PS2)
15th
22-Dec
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (PS2)
15th
29-Dec
Dead or Alive 4 (X360)
15th
Big video game anniversaries of 2020 – Game Highlights
I feel old! Some games feel as if they came out yesterday, but these iconic gems were released over a decade ago. Nintendo greats like Super Mario Galaxy 2, Donkey Kong Country Returns and even Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver turn 10 this year.
Some of the other big video game anniversaries of 2020 include the 25th anniversary of iconic SNES RPGs EarthBound and Chrono Trigger – two adventures that cemented their place in turn-based history. Enjoy destroying friendships with multiplayer party games? Pokemon Stadium turns 20 this year. That’s right, we lept over hurdles with rattata two decades ago.
This year we’re also celebrating franchises that started something new. Year 2000 was all about the simulation. Two greats – Virtua Tennis and Mario Tennismade their debut 20 years ago, joined by the life simulator – The Sims.
Of course, it’s great to dive right back through the years, but what about more-recent hits? The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Super Mario Maker and Fallout 4 turn 5. Awww, so young!
Big video game anniversaries of 2020 – Console Releases
Of course, gaming is all about the games! But 2020 will also be a year for celebrating big console birthdays! The Mega Drive and SNES hit big milestones, as well as the Virtua Boy and PS1 console!