The first time I sat down to compile this list, I wrote down two tracks and then sat down and thought for a while what else I was playing. I think this year got my whole mind on some weird funk because I couldn’t even name 10 games that I had played let alone loved.
But I look at my previous posts Kotaku Because of my various successes on Xbox and PlayStation, I was able to compile this list of great games that made me forget about in 2020. And when I remembered her I said, “Oh yeah … the game was great!” I could even reinstall some of these games and play them again!
As usual, this list is in no particular order until the end of where I’ll be listing my game of the year.
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Eternal fate
It feels like Eternal fate landed with a big splash, then quickly faded into the background. Part of the problem Forever is this Downfall 2016 was surprisingly good and seemed like the perfect way to bring back the classic shooter series. How are you following this up? Forever just adds a ton more to the formula. But maybe … too much? It’s a fair complaint that Forever feels more arcadey and bloated than the sleek, mean demon killing machine of 2016. But it was still one of the best games of 2020 and I can’t wait to play it again in the future.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
I recently passed the 110 hour mark as I write this list Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. And I still enjoy it. It’s not something that many games can do. Valhalla I just clicked so it was a perfect game for me to ramp up a couple of hours each night. I’ve reviewed this game and I’m still playing it, which is not often. I usually move on to other things or feel so exhausted with a game after checking it that I won’t return. But with ValhallaI just can not get enough. Turn on the DLC. I want more Viking action.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
If you know me you will know how strange it is for me to put one Final Fantasy Game on this list. And yet it is here. I didn’t expect that at all. I’ve played a couple Final Fantasy Games but usually only for a few hours and then I just lose interest and move on. But the fight, the story and the looks of FF7 remake could tie me up like no one else Final Fantasy Game. So not only FF7 remake One of my top games of 2020, it’s the first Final Fantasy I finished game in my life.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2
Play Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 Earlier this year was what I brought closest to time travel. In my eyes, the original games just looked and played that way. I know it doesn’t, but because that’s how I remember things, playing this new remake collection felt like throwing myself back to the late 90s. Even after years of bad and mediocre Tony Hawk Title, this latest remake felt like a miracle too. I need them now to release one THPS3 Expand as soon as possible.
Spirit of Tsushima
I haven’t finished this yet because I’ve got swept away by at least a dozen other games. But recently I played Spirit of Tsushima Let me tell you something on my PS5 and my people. This game at 60 fps feels 10x better, which is impressive as it already felt great to play on PS4. Cant wait to find some time to finally go back and finish this game. But even after just playing Half of it I’m ready to put it on my 2020 GOTY list.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
This was the first game I ever played on my PS5 and what a start the next generation. Miles Morales has since offered one of my favorite Spider-Man stories In the spider verse. But it looks and feels amazing on PS5 too. The way the triggers tense as you swing through the snow-covered streets of NYC feels like the next generation. And with a recently released update, you can now play the game at 60fps with ray tracing enabled, which makes me feel like it’s time to start a new game soon.
Gear tactics
Here’s the thing Gear tactics: You don’t have to enjoy or worry about it Gears of war to like at all. If you’re into things like Locust, COG, Pendulum Wars, and other lore, you’ll love all of the references and recalls. But what does Gear tactics The work is so good that at its core it is a simple but challenging turn-based strategy game that should appeal to people who, like me, will never get through Xcom Games because they get too frustrating
Immortal Fenyx Rising
Stupid name, good game. Take the Assassin’s Creed It was an interesting choice to fill the formula with more puzzles and jokes while making exploration and combat easier at the same time. And yes, that’s very Ubisoft’s take on a Breath of the wildlike an open world game but guess what, it works. And it’s different enough to justify its own existence. Besides, I don’t care Zelda
Astros playroom
Astros playroom is possibly the wildest entry on this whole list as it is a free pack-in game for the PS5. But look, we’re not getting a lot of big budget 3D platformer. And seldom are they as creative and charming as Astros playroom. Sure, it’s short and not super difficult. But it’s just a joy to play with, especially with the new PS5 controller and its fancy triggers and haptic feedback functions. I smiled ear to ear as I played and watched this game. It is wonderful. Don’t buy a PS5 to play this game. BUT when you buy a PS5, take a few hours to play one of the best games of 2020.
And finally, my favorite game of the year …
Half-life: Alyx
I understand that for many Half-life: Alyx fills them with anger and frustration. It’s a VR-only game that requires a decent PC and a separate VR headset. It’s not cheap to play. I was lucky enough to borrow a Vive headset from a friend to play with. And I’m so grateful that I got to play it. It’s awesome.
Half-life: Alyx has amazing writing and creative action and puzzles. It also really feels like a next generation VR game. The way you use your gravity gloves to pull things towards you feels so natural that after playing all week I tried to rip things off in the real world. It was also released when I and others in the US started staying indoors due to covid-19. Sure, the world after the alien invasion of Alyx is hellish, but it was nice to escape my Covid-19 filled world nonetheless when things went bad.
Half-life: Alyx is emulated and studied by developers working on VR games in the years to come, much like developers emulated Half-Life 1 in the years following its release. And VR is getting cheaper and the specifications are up and running Alyx I am hopeful that more people will get the chance to play the best game of 2020.
My top 10 games of 2019
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