Like every year, there were far more bad games than good ones in 2019, especially when you consider all the crappy mobile game rip-offs. But there were also, as always, a couple that stood out.
Here, in no particular order, are the best video games I played in 2019.
Resident Evil 2
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
While the original Resident Evil 2 was one of my favorite games back in the day, trying to play it now, with its original controls, was not an option. Which is why I was so excited by this remake, since it adapts the camera and movement controls of this third-person survival horror game to modern standards. That it also changes what happens in the game is a nice touch, too.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Metro Exodus
Developer: 4A Games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Though this had a bunch of technical glitches when I played it — including one bug that trapped me on a train until I deleted and reloaded the game that they’ve hopefully since patched — and it’s not as good as its predecessor, this post-apocalyptic shooter still kept me engaged to the end thanks to essentially being an action version of Fallout 4. And things get even better when you get the crossbow and use stealth to hunt your fellow survivors.
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
The Division 2
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
While they made it a bit harder to play on your own, this third-person, cover-based, shooting RPG was still as engaging and exciting as the first installment. Especially since the move from NYC to D.C. made for more variety in the battlefields, as well as changes in the visibility.
(Click here to read my full review of The Division 2 as a single-player game.)
Far Cry New Dawn
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Admittedly, this sequel to Far Cry 5 isn’t as much of a departure as I would’ve liked. And yet, thanks to some of the changes they did make — and one particularly fun gun that shot saw blades — I enjoyed this Far Cry more than any other since this series went full-on open world. Go figure.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Rage 2
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Bethesda
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
After so many years, I had lost all hope of there ever being a sequel to 2011’s open world, post-apocalyptic shooter Rage. But this sequel isn’t on this list because of wish fulfilment; it’s here because this is an exciting and frantic shooter set in a weird, cartoonishly punk world that sets it apart from other open world shooters (including ones on this list).
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Gears 5
Developer: The Coalition
Publisher: Microsoft
Systems: Xbox One, PC
While this series never stands still long enough to get stale, the additions made to this installment invigorated it the way the changes made to Gears Of War 2 injected new life after the first game. By adding explorable open world sections, and giving your robot some offensive and defensive capabilities, the campaign is as compelling as any we’ve seen from this series. As for multiplayer, while the co-op survival mode “Horde” is largely the same, it gets a worthwhile companion with the new and nicely varied co-op mode “Escape,” while competitive multiplayer adds the cleverly elaborate “Team Deathmatch” variation “Arcade Deathmatch.”
SCORE: 9.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
The Outer Worlds
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Private Division
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Switch
While I’ve never made this complaint myself, I do know some first-person shooter fans who lament that trying to play Fallout 3, 4, and New Vegas as shooters — i.e., without using the strategic targeting system V.A.T.S. — just doesn’t making things fun. But The Outer Worlds fixes this by essentially being a Firefly-esque Old West-flavored sci-fi version of Fallout but with the shooting of Wolfenstein: Youngblood.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Death Stranding
Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Systems: PlayStation 4, PC
Despite that fact that the main action in this sci-fi third-person action / adventure game is walking, and over rough terrain no less, this oddball game still manages to be as compelling as everything else on this list I scored an 8.5/10. It has a unique post-apocalyptic world, Kojima’s patented flamboyant cast, and has unique combat for when you accidentally walk into one of the freaky ghost things that are screwing things up for humanity.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Need For Speed Heat
Developer: Ghost Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
The comeback fans have been hoping for since 2015’s botched, self-titled reboot, this open world street racing game doesn’t just boast solid controls and courses that will test your mastery of said controls, but an interesting day / night cycle that lets you decide if you’d rather run some multi-lap events during the day or run illegal point-to-point races at night.
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Honorable Mentions:
Anthem: Which was fun in a Destiny sort of way for a while, but not long enough.
Days Gone: Which was fun in a Far Cry New Dawn sort of way, but not fun enough.
My Friend Pedro: Which would’ve been better if the Switch used a PS4 or Xbox One controller.
Zombie Beach Party: Which has you leading a conga line…of the undead.
And that’s a wrap on 2019. Here’s hoping 2020 will be better.
