While 2020 was the worst year in recent memory, there were some bright spots, and not all of them involved Fleetwood Mac and fruit juice. There were some good video games as well.
Here, in the order I played them (more or less), are the best games I played in 2020.
Zombie Army 4: Dead War
Developer: Rebellion Developments
Publisher: Rebellion Developments
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC)
While every year is a good year to kill Nazis, it was especially satisfying in 2020. Double so since, in this game, they’re also zombies. And while this didn’t give me as many chances to snipe them a far as I would’ve liked (the Zombie Army games came to life as a spin-off of the Sniper Elite series), it made up for it by having hordes of the undead coming at you from all directions as you tried to save Europe from the scourge of living-impaired bigots.
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
DOOM Eternal
Developer: iD Software
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Systems: (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Switch, Stadia
By requiring you to perform Mortal Kombat-like finishing moves to get much needed supplies, this normally simple sci-fi first-person shooter series evolved in a way that keeps the fast and frantic feel of the original and its sequels but added an interesting wrinkle.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Resident Evil 3
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Just as the original Resident Evil 3 wasn’t as good as Resident Evil 2, so too is this remake of Resident Evil 3 not as good as the remake of Resident Evil 2. But they are similar in how it improves upon the original, and is a compelling survival horror game in its own right. And while yeah, it is a bit short, it’s fun enough that you’ll want to play it twice.
What The Golf?
Developer: Triband
Publisher: Triband
Systems: Switch, PC, Apple Arcade
In some ways, this simple but effortlessly fun game is like playing a giant mini golf course if the owner was rich enough to make every hole crazy and weird and, in some cases, physically and financially impossible. And the same goes for the balls, which aren’t always balls, sometimes they’re office chairs, piles of golf club, or even some guy who may have just passed out from having too much fun.
SCORE: 8/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
The Last Of Us Part II
Developer: Naughty Dog
Publisher: Sony
Systems: PlayStation 4
While the end of the first game pissed me off, at least they put it to good use in this sequel. Which, admittedly, did take way too long to get going. But once it finally did, this third-person stealth action survival horror was as engaging and exciting as it was tense and harrowing. Getting to explore a bit of post-apocalyptic Seattle was a highlight, as was getting to play the bulk of this as the scrappy Ellie.
Marvel’s Avengers
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Square-Enix
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Though it’s not as good as either Spider-Man or the last two Avengers movies, this third-person action-RPG is still rather engaging thanks to its fun and frantic fights and how the different characters take them on. Not the least of which is Ms. Marvel, whose stretchy, flailing arms make her like Kratos from God Of War if he was more plucky than prickly.
(Click here to read my full review.)
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Developer: Toys For Bob
Publisher: Activision
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4
While it does add some new ways for our furry friend to get around — and interesting ones at that — at its core, this is still very much a classic-style Crash Bandicoot game…and is all the better for it.
(Click here to read my full review.)
Project CARS 3
Developer: Slightly Mad Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Though longtime fans of this series were super annoyed that this wasn’t as serious and realistic as its predecessors, it’s more arcade-like approach — especially where the controls were concerned — made it much more engaging than the more authentic installments. And while yeah, it lacks some depth, and the guy constantly encouraging you is annoying, the taut controls and numerous race types more than make up for those missteps.
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Pacer
Developer: R8 Games
Publisher: R8 Games
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
No two ways around it: this futuristic and combative racing game was a blatant rip-off of Wipeout. But it was also a really good rip-off of Wipeout, thanks to its solid controls, twisty tracks, and surprising depth. (Though, admittedly, it didn’t hurt that we haven’t gotten a new Wipeout in years.)
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
DIRT 5
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
Systems: Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
As with Project CARS 3, fans of this series were just as annoyed that this deviates from the norm. Rather than be a realistic rally racing game, this instead has you driving multi-lap races as well as point-to-point ones, and has you racing other drivers and not the clock. Though what makes it worthy of being on this list is its fluid and intuitive controls, coupled with tons of fun options, which helped make it the best racing game this year.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony
Systems: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Though it’s essentially 2018’s Spider-Man, just with a black Puerto Rican kid replacing a white man — which is why it’s as much fun — the change in leading men does make some small significant differences that keep this from just feeling like a replay of the first game. Especially since some of Miles’ new abilities make the mismatched fights in the first game feel a lot more balanced, and thus a lot more fun.
SCORE: 8.5/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Systems: Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
By setting this installment in the 1980s, the developer not only changed what kind of guns people could use throughout, but in the campaign, it also changed the tone, making this a bit of a spy thriller than just an explosive action game. Though, yeah, there’s a lot of the “boom boom,” too. Together, it made for the most engaging Call Of Duty installment in a while (and I say that as someone who enjoyed the last couple games).
SCORE: 9.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Borderlands 3
Developer: Gearbox Software
Publisher: 2K Games
Systems: Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
While it does have some interesting new mechanics, Borderlands 3 is essentially Borderlands all over again. Which means this first-person shooter RPG had more of the super addictive action, looting, humor, and crazy sci-fi goodness as the original and, well, every sequel that followed. But it was actually some of the newness — and the environmental / locational variety gained by having you visit different worlds — that made this the best Borderlands since the first.
Note: After I posted this piece, someone pointed out that Borderlands 3 originally came out last year, it was only the Xbox Series X /S and PS5 versions that came out this year. But since that’s the version I played, I’m leaving it in. Plus, they said it like a jerk so :-p
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
Developer: Criterion, Stellar Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
It’s funny, but I didn’t really remember anything about the 2010 original when I first sat down to play this remake, let alone if I liked it. But I thoroughly enjoyed this new version, which has smooth controls, twisty tracks to test them on, and a good variety of race types that include being a cop trying to stop illegal street races, and being a racer who doesn’t care if it’s illegal, he’s gonna race even if it means knocking cops off the road.
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
Cyberpunk 2077
Developer: CD Projekt Red
Publisher: CD Projekt
Systems: Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia
If you try to play the Xbox One and PS4 versions of this futuristic Grant Theft Auto V on those systems, you’ll run into so many bugs and glitches that you may just give up and quit (hence why this will also be on my Worst Games Of 2020 list). But if, like me, you play those versions on an Xbox Series X or S, or PlayStation 5 — or on a really good PC for that matter — you’ll see why this easily hooked me with its rich world, wide variety of missions, frantic shooting, and opportunities to hang out with a smug and jaded Keanu Reeves.
SCORE: 8.0/10 (Click here to read my full review.)
And that’s a wrap on 2020. Here’s hoping 2021 will be better.
