Top Five Games of 2020

Written by Michael Richardson

Published 11 April 2021

It is during times of crisis when I truly understand how much video games mean to me. The ability to escape into bustling virtual worlds made the horrors of the past twelve months more bearable, especially when the experience was shared with friends.

When 2020 brought most of the world to an abrupt stop, games kept pushing forward. During a pandemic, numerous developers poured their hearts into projects that pushed the industry forward and brought a smile to millions who needed it most. I seriously cannot overstate how much I appreciate every developer in the gaming industry. Their art continues to inspire me and how they see their projects through to completion, especially during a pandemic, will forever amaze me.

Regardless of which games were my personal favorites, all of the games I played and did not play deserve to be commended for the struggles endured during the past year. 2020 saw blockbuster releases and numerous independent gems that made it a gaming year to savor, and there are more than a few titles not featured on this list that I know will be talked about for years to come.

Just like last year, to qualify for my top five games list, a game I had never previously played had to have been released on a new platform last year. For instance, Demon’s Souls qualifies for my rankings as my first experience with the game was on PlayStation 5, while Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition does not qualify for my list as I had played a portion of the game when it released on the New Nintendo 3DS in 2015. With all that being said, let’s slice to the rankings!

5. No More Heroes

Available on Wii, NS

Imagine trying to drive a car, eat a burrito, play guitar, and dance at the same time. If you somehow were able to do all of those things and make a product out of it, the result would be No More Heroes. Suda51’s cult classic is completely nonsensical, but the game is all the more intoxicating for it. At the heart of the story is Travis Touchdown, an otaku whose quest to become the world’s number one assassin is filled with love, betrayal, and lots and lots of gore. Travis is a deeply flawed character, one who will go from tearing his enemies in half with his beam katana one second and then mow his neighbor’s lawn the next second, but he feels oddly relatable and near impossible not to root for. The world of No More Heroes is filled with personalities that are sure to elicit an emotional response, and those characters are what pulled me through to the game’s climactic ending.

Although combat in No More Heroes is fairly simplistic, it more than makes up for that with thrilling animation and feedback. Slicing enemies with the beam katana feels very satisfying, and I could not get enough of Travis’s quotes during battle (Strawberry on the shortcake!). The open world that accompanies the combat is comparatively lacking in flair, but it helps to boost the games’ unique identity. Thus, No More Heroes is not a game for everyone and often circumvents genre conventions in ways that might come off as egotistical, but for those who want to experience a cult classic that will leave you smiling it is well worth looking into.

4. Ghost of Tsushima

Game developed by Sucker Punch Productions, LLC.

Available on PS4, PS5

Like Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima places a significant emphasis on nature. Grasslands sway in the direction of the wind; birds can often be heard chirping in the distance; vibrant forests breathe with color. Scattered around Tsushima are various shrines and hidden haikus, where the atmosphere is contemplative and quiet, not-so-subtly motivating the player to think about and explore the world around them. It is this unique atmosphere that allows Ghost of Tsushima to stand apart from its open world contemporaries. I loved exploring the island of Tsushima, so much so that I often stopped in my tracks just to take in the sights or snap a photo.

Better yet, I find myself heavily invested in the game’s story. Jin Sakai’s mission to stop the Mongol invasion is far more captivating than I initially thought, propelled by Jin’s fantastic character development. Therefore, seeing how my actions helped bring normalcy back to the island filled me with joy.

The gameplay is satisfying as well, incorporating various techniques with Jin’s katana. I especially love the cinematic standoffs, which allow enemies to be instantly eliminated if sword swings are perfectly timed. While several gameplay mechanics, notably the stealth system lack depth and originality, I still found myself utterly invested in the world of Tsushima. Accompanied by an appropriately subtle and atmospheric Japanese soundtrack, Ghost of Tsushima was a journey that will stay with me for years to come. Furthermore, Sucker Punch has motivated me to visit the actual island of Tsushima one day, which I am certain is as gorgeous as they depict, if not more so.

3. Astro's Playroom

Game developed by Japan Studio

PS5 Exclusive

Astro’s Playroom stands as one of the few games I have played that had me smiling throughout its entire runtime. Granted, Asobi Team’s latest outing takes only five or so hours to complete, but within that relatively short playtime lies a competent and brilliantly polished 3D platformer that leaves a bigger impression than many sixty-hour games.

As a pack-in title for the PlayStation 5, Astro’s Playroom takes full advantage of the DualSense controller. What I did not expect was how successfully the game would incorporate all of the controller’s myriad features. There is a tangibility to every action that made me feel as though I was walking through the world as Astro. The haptic feedback of the DualSense allows for every surface to feel unique, and the adaptive triggers provide a real tension when performing actions such as pulling a wire or firing a rotary cannon. Therefore, Astro’s Playroom fully sold me on the new controller, and I only hope that developers utilize its features to create transformational experiences.

Moreover, Astro’s Playroom plays like a game built by fans for fans. There are dozens of beautifully animated references to PlayStation’s heritage that left me giddy, ranging from 1998’s Metal Gear Solid to last year’s Ghost of Tsushima. The platforming is also second-to-none, always putting the player in control of their actions. Finally, the levels are bursting with creativity, constantly finding new ways to entertain.

I cannot speak enough good about Astro’s Playroom. It is a wonderful game that understands what makes PlayStation special and moves the industry forward with its astonishing use of the DualSense controller.

2. Final Fantasy VII Remake

PS4, PS5 Timed Exclusive

Final Fantasy VII Remake is both a faithful re-imagining of the 1997 classic and a remarkably innovative RPG. Combining the turn-based battle systems of yesteryear with the hack-and-slash of Final Fantasy XV, Remake’s combat is incredibly fun and satisfying. All of the four playable characters feel distinct and powerful, and they are deeply customizable. The combat especially shines during Remake’s screen-shattering boss fights, which require knowledge of each character’s abilities to emerge victoriously. I could not get enough of Remake’s combat and I am extremely excited to see where they take it in the future.

Although Remake only takes place in Midgar, the game is a complete package. It took me approximately thirty hours to reach the end credits, which allowed me to soak in the world in its entirety. Moreover, it was my companions throughout the journey that made it worthwhile. The backstory of Cloud and the Avalanche crew has been deeply expanded, allowing for moments that did not exist in the original game. These scenarios attached me to the characters in ways I thought impossible; I even opened up to Cloud, who I felt was an empty husk in the original game. Thus, Final Fantasy VII Remake is going to stick with me for a very long time, not just for its visceral combat, but for its deeply personal cast.

Doom Eternal

Available on PS4, PS5, X1, XSX/S, PC, NS, Stadia

Doom Eternal takes lessons from the entire gaming industry to form something unique and special. The shooting is not just on caliber with the most well-known shooters out there, but the act of eliminating enemies is more fun since Eternal requires that players stay on their toes and move around as much as possible to avoid getting ambushed. The Doom Slayer can now double jump, grapple, and dash forward, which makes the very act of moving around exciting. Yet even when the Slayer is not wiping the floor with demons, Eternal does not let up. Taking notes from the Metroidvania genre, each level is filled with collectibles that are given out at a breakneck pace, ranging from simple action figures to weapon upgrades that sometimes require a puzzle to figure out. There are a ton more inspirations on display, and they all contribute to Doom Eternal’s one-of-a-kind identity.

Most surprising about Eternal is how it makes the first game look tame by comparison. Everything about the sequel has been ratcheted up to one hundred. Aside from more methods of locomotion, the game is longer than Doom 2016, the levels encompass more biomes, the enemy variety has been increased, and the story has been greatly expanded.

At the end of the day, what I want from games is to have fun, which Doom Eternal provided in spades. Every aspect of the game’s design, from the relentlessly intense shooting to the over-the-top presentation to the nonsensical story, coincides to create one of the most fun and adrenaline-pumping gaming experiences out there. Moreover, the game shines with purity the likes of which are rarely seen in gaming, similar to the original Super Mario Bros. or Pac-Man. Uncompromising in its vision, Doom Eternal is utterly fantastic.

Honorable Mention -- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Available on Wii, Wii U, N3DS, NS

Although Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition did not qualify for my list this year, I will take any opportunity to give it a shoutout. The Xenoblade Chronicles series comprises some of the greatest games ever made, and this is the one that started it all. The Bionis and Mechonis are still one of the greatest video game settings ever created, encompassing numerous vast, beautiful environments that consistently took my breath away. The people that inhabit the world of Skulk and company are fully realized, and the story is full of twists and turns that coalesce into a simply remarkable narrative. In between story sequences are battles that are always engaging, requiring that players use a wide assortment of arts to take down the biggest baddies.

Furthermore, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is one the greatest remasters in recent memory. Not only did Monolith Soft update the Wii version’s flat facial models to be more expressive, but they made Xenoblade Chronicles far more approachable with better quest management systems, custom difficulty options, a revamped user interface, and so much more. As if that was not enough, Definitive Edition includes an optional epilogue chapter that adds another ten hours to an already meaty game. Therefore, do yourself a favor and play Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. It might feel intimating going into a one-hundred JPRG, but the payoff for the experience is second-to-none.

Congratulations to id Software and all of the other games that made my list! 2021 is already looking like a great year for the gaming industry, with Horizon Forbidden West and Halo Infinite slated to release as first-party system sellers for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, respectively. While 2021 might be a slower year due to the effects of the pandemic, I am certain that many games will come out to catch the interest of millions of gamers. And who knows, maybe Hollow Knight: Silksong will launch this year.

Here’s to a great 2021 and a new decade of gaming!

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Written by Michael Richardson

Published 11 April 2021

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