2020. What a hell of a year. It was easily the longest and shortest year of my life. It was a year full of stress, heartbreak, anger, paranoia, and fear. Throughout all of the suffering and uncertainty, there was one bright spot: video games. And with all things considered, 2020 was a pretty damn good year for gaming.
That brings us to my list of top ten games for 2020. It was a difficult list in that it was hard to figure out where to place certain games due to developer narrative or which I truly felt was deserving of the spot thrust upon it. Without further ado, enjoy.
10. Streets of Rage 4
Twenty-six years and many consoles later, who would have thought that the world would get another sequel to one of the most iconic beat ‘em up IPs of all time? The fact that this game came out is a testament to the weirdness of 2020, but I digress. Streets of Rage 4 was a polarizing game for many people because of the art style change implemented by Lizardcube. After the initial impressions, the art style grew on me.
The game brings back many characters from the first three games while introducing a few new ones. While some of the fighting mechanics feel a bit archaic for no reason, the sublime music and stylistic boss fights kept me coming back to beat the game again and again.
9. Doom Eternal
The sequel to the 2016 ultra-gory shooter arrived after being delayed from an initial 2019 release, and it arrived on the sound wave from a 9-string guitar-shredding face. Doom Eternal drops the player right back into taking control of the Doom Slayer.
The combat is a lot more hectic, with many new mechanics that make killing demons that much more exciting. With more guns, bigger enemies, and grander levels, there is a ton of fun to be had here.
While the integrated story is dumb and never takes itself too seriously, some enemies are not fun to face off in this game. Also, with some platforming integration in each level, some people may be left scratching their heads, wondering who asked for it. I enjoyed the platforming elements, and I generally relished getting to pump some lead into some demons.
8. Cyberpunk 2077
Yes, I know; before I hear, “How could you put an unfinished game on your top 10 list, especially after all of the controversy surrounding its release?” let me tell you why it gets a spot on this list.
Despite all of the game’s glitches and shady release, I had a lot of fun with Cyberpunk. I loved wandering around in Night City. The grimy, dingy vibe of the city’s heart mixed with the calmer suburbs on the outer part made the city feel lively. Walking through the city and happening upon random missions, such as a sentient gun, made me want to explore continually.
While the main character, V, often falls flat as an avatar, many of the side characters that encompass the Cyberpunk experience are fascinating and well-written. With a lot of fine-tuning and work towards goodwill from CD Projekt Red, I hope that this game gets the major facelift that it needs to be a great game. The blueprint exists; let’s see if it can be completed.
7. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Never in my lifetime did I think that I would ever see a brand new Crash Bandicoot game that is good and fun to play (yes, I’m looking at you random PS2 and PS3 Crash games). After Crash N Sane Trilogy’s success, it left me hoping that we would get another installment into this world. Crash Bandicoot 4 did not disappoint.
The artwork and scenery is lush and vibrant. Each level has been meticulously crafted, making each one stand out. There is a ton of variety in the levels, with each zone acting as a thematic link. Many characters also return, playing a part in the silly and enjoyable story. Crash 4 also introduces playing as other characters besides Crash and Coco, his sister, which is a first for the main series.
Tons of fun for newcomers and fans of the old games, tons of replay value, and an endearing parade in the middle of the game made this a must-play for me this year.
6. The Last of Us 2
Placing this game was one of the most challenging tasks I had at Sword Chomp this year.
On the one hand, this game is a technological marvel. The graphics are unparalleled to date. The amount of detail in the environments is exquisite. The mechanics are insanely accurate (yes, I love you, rope physics). The accessibility with menu and difficulty options makes it so anyone can pick this game up and have fun with it. It also tries something bold with making you play as a controversial deuteragonist.
On the other hand, the pacing of the game is off. You have excellent character development that feels natural and engaging…only for it to be interrupted with you looting tape and scissors again for the thousandth time. For me, you took a character from the beloved first game, shook up their identity and character, and made them frequently unenjoyable to play as. And lastly, the most consistently enjoyable moments were buried in flashbacks between the first and second games.
All of that being said, I did enjoy this game despite some elements not hitting their mark. There were excellent moments in this game that I continued to think about as 2020 went on.
5. Hades
It felt bizarre placing this game so low on my list because I played this game a ton this year. Getting it on the Switch was the right choice, as I could go through a quick run while on my train commute home from work if I felt like getting my derriere handed to me.
Hades has some of the most unique storytelling I’ve ever seen in a game. With most roguelikes setting up challenges for you to die and learn from past mistakes, Super Giant decided to reward the player for their multiple failed attempts by giving them more story about the characters involved. That, paired with all of the materials you get for upgrading, often makes you want to keep playing, whether you escape or fail.
With it being a roguelike, I felt a bit discouraged after playing for many hours before I finally managed to escape my first time, but I didn’t want to put the game down once I did.
Super Giant has a stellar track record, and they managed to outdo themselves yet again. Hades is fun as hell.
4. Final Fantasy 7 Remake
When I tell you that I have been waiting half of my life for this game, it’s not an exaggeration. After being told for years and years that this game would be made, we all had our doubts. It was only until I loaded it up and saw the title screen that I finally allowed myself to believe that this game truly existed.
It’s hard not to gush and be hyperbolic when one of your favorite games of all time gets a massive upgrade and overhaul. But seeing the opening sequence leading into Bombing Mission was unlike anything I’ve ever felt as a gamer. Seeing characters that I loved as a child brought to life again was more impactful than words can describe.
When the resources were put in, the graphics and art style are some of the best I’ve ever seen. There are some fascinating, both good and bad, changes made to the story that have us wondering what will happen in the eventual sequel. What held this game back from being higher on my list were some questionable story choices (and Roche; I hate you). However, I am on pins and needles as I wait for the next installment.
If you never got to play the original, or it is too dated for you, FF7R does the original justice while also setting itself apart.
3. Ghost of Tsushima
I expected Ghost of Tsushima to be a “summer blockbuster” game full of fun, mindless samurai action. What I got was a thought-provoking and essential experience.
Jin Sakai is a protagonist who is set in his way of being an honorable and dutiful samurai in the service of his country and his uncle, Lord Shimura. As the story unfolds, Jin begins to develop into a completely different character. Match that character progression with many other characters who have equally compelling character development, and you will have a game that keeps you holding the controller wanting to find out what’s going to happen next.
The fun combat, the stylistic art, and the engaging environmental puzzles scattered throughout the game hit the right notes. The most affecting lessons from this game were those of humility, peace, nature, and much more that found you at the most unexpected moments. 2020 was a challenging year for all of us. Having those small reminders kept me sane and allowed me to shape who I want to become as a person in my life.
2. Ikenfell
Ikenfell is the game that I never expected to make my list. It was a game I had barely heard of, and when I first tried it, I wasn’t sold on it. It seemed like a cute indie game with a lot of charm despite a slow start, but nothing jumped out at me. After a few hours and getting a meaty chunk of the story, I realized how wrong I was.
A thrilling mystery packed into twenty-plus hours of the game, I could not put this game down. With constant twists and turns, I wanted answers to the story developing before my eyes. What made the story even better were the lovable characters. It’s hard to pick one favorite character from this game because they are all so delightful.
The entire soundtrack is an earworm. The retro art style hearkens back to NES Zelda, which makes the game feel like home. The tactics style combat becomes addictive once you learn the rhythms and patterns. And you save by petting a freaking cat. What more could you want?
1. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
I’ve saved all of my hyperbole for this moment. This game is a masterpiece.
Following Ori and the Blind Forest, I didn’t know how Moon Studios could top themselves. They took their gorgeous art style and upped the ante both in terms of graphics and design. In other words, they took a diamond and made it sparkle even more while also bringing out more gleaming edges.
They also added an overhauled combat system to make it one of the smoothest combat experiences I’ve ever played in a Metroidvania style game. Being able to slash to double jump to bash in multiple, equally rewarding combinations was something I never got tired of.
For a story with minimal dialog, it has to rely on cut scenes and music to pull the extra weight. The mellifluous music orchestrated by Gareth Coker does the job beautifully. The simple and compelling story will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings and make you want to call your family to tell them that you love them.
I loved this game from start to finish, and I cannot think of a game I would recommend more. If you have made it this far into my list and have not played this game, go to whatever console you play on and rectify it immediately. I promise that you won’t regret it.
Author: Shea Layton