BEST VIDEO GAMES OF 2020
Plenty of competition as players look to escape reality
From laid-back life simulators to an anticipated sequel that scrutinized cyclic violence, the gaming world was replete with options for anyone who wanted to get their minds off the consistently grim reality around them. The reintroduction and reimagination of the classic Final Fantasy VII highlighted the early spring, while the November debut of the Playstation 5 ushered in a next-generation hero the gaming world both needed and deserved. There was no shortage of worthy contenders for Game of the Year.
Game of the year: Hades
The best game of 2020 found incredible solutions to long-standing pacing and narrative issues not just within its chosen “rogue-like” genre, but within the medium as a whole. Designers made inevitable failure not just the core of the story, but something to look forward to. They recognized that realistic casual conversations are fleeting, and not repeating, so every character has thousands of dialogue options they would say only once and never again. They transformed tired Greek god clichés into characters so unique that entire fandoms are built around their mannerisms and personal qualities.
All this innovation came on top of a crackling, non-stop action game that could blister the thumbs of the most hardened players, all the while providing options to make the game easier to play for just about anyone intrigued by its art style and story.
Finalist: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The newest entry to Nintendo's popular life simulation series was an instant hit when it released in March and became a phenomenon as the pandemic spread. Animal Crossing: New Horizons also offered excellent distractions in single-player mode, providing routine to many of us struggling to find the rhythm of our new normal. Players could spend hundreds of hours building their towns, decorating their homes and scavenging for items to display in a museum. Though the gameplay may sound monotonous, it's wrapped inside an addictive gameplay loop.
Finalist: The Last of Us Part II
A divisive game among gamers and critics, The Last of Us Part II continues the original game's story from Ellie's perspective as she grows into a 19-year-old woman. Ceaselessly dark but equally heartfelt, the sequel weaves a narrative about loss of purpose, tribalism and the deep cost of revenge. This multi-faceted story and its diverse cast challenged gamers to reconsider their initial perceptions of the heroes and villains, when moral compasses are muddied by a
harsh, kill-or-be-killed world. Incredible storytelling is complemented by thoughtful gameplay.
The Last of Us Part II is also a technical marvel.
Finalist: Marvel's Spider-man: Miles Morales
This action adventure gives Miles an excellent array of new powers, like pounding enemies with an electric punch and the ability to turn invisible for a period of time, which brings a fun new layer to stealth.
Arguably the best part of it is the story, bringing in familiar villains from Marvel Comics like the Tinkererer and the Prowler, but with an original spin.
Finalist: Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker Punch Studios must have really studied the openworld games of the last several years before creating this swan song for the Playstation 4. While its many ideas and features — from combat to exploration — weren't new, they were finetuned to mechanic perfection. That's not to say that the game didn't fill a void in the industry. There's actually been a dearth of samurai-themed games over the years. Save for an uneven campaign narrative, Tsushima almost completely satiates that appetite.
Finalist: Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4 shows why the beloved and once-abandoned series remains the final boss of the genre. The game adds enough finesse in its combat to make it just a bit deeper, the animations transitioning just a bit tighter to keep each two-to-three second fist fight feeling frantic and fresh. The legendary dance tracks have been updated with today's electronic beats. It's still the perfect brawler.
Finalist: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
It can't be overstated just how good it feels to traverse the lush, sprawling map of this Metroidvania. The way the game allows you to chain together Ori's jumps, glide and air dashes gives the player a sense of grace and fluidity not found in other platformers. Will of the Wisps is
absolutely gorgeous. A sweeping orchestral soundtrack provides the cherry on top.
Finalist: Call of Duty: Warzone
Warzone took the crowded battle royale genre and not only made it bigger by upping the player count for its main mode to 150, it made it better by introducing new ways to keep defeated players engaged. It wasn't the first game to allow fallen players a second life, but it was the first to offer a 1v1, Thunderdome-style mini game that allowed the winner to return to the fray. It's easy to see why 85 million players have played the game since its March debut.
Finalist: Half-life: Alyx
Although the new console cycle kicked off this fall, nothing offered a taste of gaming's future quite like the virtual reality-based Half-life: Alyx. The first Half-life game in 13 years casts players such as 19-year-old Alyx Vance, a resistance fighter on a mission to stop a super weapon from falling into the possession of an alien army. Sure, the story is forgettable, but Half-life: Alyx sets the standard for VR adventure games with its best-in-class visuals and tactile gameplay. Using Alyx's gravity gloves, players can fling nearby objects into their hands with the snap of a wrist, which sets the stage for some incredibly satisfying gameplay loops. Expect to enjoy tense combat sequences that will make you duck and twirl about the room as if you were an action star performing in front of a green screen. If ever there was a video game worth rearranging your furniture over, it's this one.
Finalist: Final Fantasy VII Remake
For years, this game was a myth among the ranks of Half-life
3. It seemed a remake would never come. But in 2020, fantasy became reality. And it more than met the colossal expectations.
The updated combat system is a perfect combination of RPG system micromanagement and reflex-oriented action. Each character feels uniquely useful, incentivizing you to switch frequently. The overall experience is a cinematic marvel that never feels overwhelming.
But the crowning achievement is the storytelling. The superb voice acting from almost every character elevates a script that seems made for western audiences, as opposed to the typical wonkiness most Japanese-translated approximations receive. And while the game's controversial ending will be a turnoff to audiences that wanted a 1-to-1 retread, Final Fantasy VII Remake takes the story in a bold new direction, teeming with possibilities.