2020 shook the entertainment industry to its core, making video games more relevant than ever. With that in mind, we present our Top 10 Video Games of 2020. Check out our list below!
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While COVID-19 may have slowed the production and release of our favorite television shows and moving, gaming has largely stayed the course. Now more than ever, people are playing games and watching streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. The gaming community might be one of the few groups strengthened by quarantine. That said, a handful of fantastic video games were released this year, the following are the ones we consider to be the very best both because we enjoyed them and their impact on the industry.
Disclaimer: Cyberpunk 2077 (PC) didn’t make this list because of how upset the person writing is about his experience playing it on PS4 (one of the consoles for which it was advertised).
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Which of our Top 10 Video Games did you enjoy the most? What are some other games not included in our list that you feel deserved to be? Let us know in the comments below!
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10. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the 22nd game set in the Assassin’s Creed Universe (the 12th major installment). That said, it can be easy to take Ubisoft Montreal’s prolific ability for granted—quality over quantity? Still, for a game as big as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (albeit plagued by sporadic technical issues), its beauty is impressive. With hundreds of hours of game time (driven by story, choice, and consequence), Assassin’s Creed Valhalla never feels too watered down. Playing the role of Eivor may feel like a standard AC outing at times but there are enough surprises—including a compelling take on Norse mythology and less of a focus on the “present-day” storyline— to keep fans intrigued.
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9. The Last of Us: Part II
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II was one of the most (if not the most) controversial games of the year. From “deceptive” marketing and NG’s supposed crunch culture to a story that had (some) fans of the first game up in arms, you can’t talk 2020 gaming without touching on Ellie v. Abby…minus Joel. Regardless of how you feel about its narrative, one can’t deny The Last of Us Part II’s ambition, stunning visuals, improvisational gameplay, and level-of-detail. Much like its predecessor, Part II makes the most of the PS4.
8. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons released in March, right when the world went into lockdown. The game broke Nintendo Switch’s console record for most digital units sold in a single month (5 million copies) and has since become the 28th best-selling video game in history. Maybe all of this is because Animal Crossing: New Horizons is just what we needed. The life simulation—which puts players in charge of their own customization deserted island—is a blissful (and highly-addictive) escape from our reality and the nihilism of other games. On top of that, you can invite friends/family to visit your island or go to theirs, providing a solely-needed bonding experience as well.
7. Demon’s Souls
Bulepoint Games’ remake of FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls (2009) is pretty much everything you could want from a next-gen Souls experience. Not only does it play better than the original (without sacrificing the series’ notorious difficulity) but improves the world’s lighting and other technical aspects. The game also has new armor, weapons, items, and environments, making it more than just a carbon-copy remaster.
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6. Doom Eternal
Doom is up there with Halo and Call of Duty as one of the greatest shooters of all-time. That said, Doom Eternal delivers. It takes the first game’s mechanics and injects new weapons, skills, limited ammo, and smarter AI. It’s a difficult game—fast, furious, and rewarding as hell.
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5. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
As the follow-up to Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), Spider-Man: Miles Morales is smaller, more intimate. You could write it off as merely a spin-off but that would be a mistake—its story, following Miles’ relationship with the mantel of “Spider-Man” and the city of Harlem is crucial to Sony’s franchise. Spider-Man: Miles Morales doubles down on the series’ ability to tell a resonate story while simultaneously improving traversal and combat. Also, as a premiere next-gen experience, it’s breathtaking.
4. Hades
These days, role-playing games are overtly concerned with making the experience as life-like as possible—from the look to the feel. Supergiant Games’ Hades proves that millions of dollars don’t need to be spent on world-building to create an immersive experience. The game follows Zagreus, son of Hades, as he tries to escape Hell and reach the surface. Every time the player dies trying to reach the surface, they are sent back to their base-like home; where the Zagreus develops his relationships and buys crucial upgrades. This approach to death makes the player feel like they’re in a constant state of progress and the game’s frantic combat, differing enemies, and art style make reaching the surface seem like a moot point.
3. Half-Life: Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx’s story takes place between Half-Life (1998) and Half-Life 2 (2004), the latter being the last time there was an installment in the franchise. Half-Life: Alyx’s use of virtual reality (compatible with almost any headset), puzzles, combat, “gravity gloves,” and exploration makes it well worth the wait. On top of its top-tie level design that makes the game feel non-linear (even though it’s linear), the game’s thrilling action sequences make it one of the year’s best shooters—VR or not.
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2. Final Fantasy VII Remake
Square Enix’s remake of one of the greatest RPGs ever made lives up to the hype because of its innovation—turning 5 hours of the original game into 30 and implementing an adjustable combat system. Also, the game is gorgeous. There’s something fresh here for long-time Final Fantasy fans and newcomers alike.
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1. Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is the underdog game of the year. Its 13th-century open world sets a new standard for art design. Its story, following one of the last surviving samurai fighting back (via unconventional and less honorable tactics) against the Mongol Empire as it invades the island of Tsushima is universally acclaimed. On a technical level, the game is the most cohesive game of the year, hitting every mark. A great soundtrack, excellent stealth mechanics, and combat equatable to that of the Arkham series make Ghost of Tsushima a great way to say farewell to a generation of gaming.
