And so, after 87 long months, 2020 is finally coming to an end! Just like we did in 2019, we’ve put together a list of the best gaming experiences we had this year. Let's get to it:
THE LAST OF US - PART 2
Brennan: Level Designer
"The Last of Us 2 was easily the most engaging, challenging, and stand-out game experience I've ever had. An admittedly bumpy roller-coaster that ultimately tore all of my emotions to shreds and left me reeling by the ending. Despite its polarizing reception, this is an experience I'll never forget, would never trade, and will continue to recommend to everyone who enjoyed the first one."
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Bruno: Community Developer
"Isolation was the name of the game in 2020, and to me, nothing tackled this feeling better than the latest Yakuza. Like a Dragon sends players into a huge adventure where there's so much to do, it's easy to get lost with your new friends and foes. The game doesn't take itself seriously, and its humor was really appreciated in times like these. Running around Japan's streets felt amazing, and it made me even more excited to visit the real thing soon!"
Minecraft
Carl: 3D Artist
“The cool thing about Minecraft is how it keeps growing even after all these years. 2020 saw lots of Streamers and YouTubers going back to it, and I ended doing the same! Simply put, this game is just so much fun and relaxing that it was natural for me to get back into it. The latest updates were great, and I found myself spending countless hours exploring and building all sorts of things in this crazy world!”
Cyberpunk 2077
Charles: 2D Artist
"While it's not quite as good as the original EverQuest, and a little bit buggy, it definitely delivers depth and immersion within the genre of cyberpunk fiction. The visuals are great (on PC), and all the visual lore expansion via illustrated ads and general attention to detail keeps me immensely entertained. I'm also a massive fan of Cyberpunk's UI!"
The Last of Us
Corey: 3D Artist
"After skipping all PlayStation consoles since the PS2, I was lucky to get a PS5 and catch up on their exclusives. I must say, I wasn't prepared for the emotional impact the game would have on me. The animations and voice acting are so masterfully done that you connect with the characters almost immediately. Their attention to detail brought this experience to an almost surreal degree. TLOU delivers a story that brought me to tears more than once."
Red Dead Redemption 2
Hanseul: Gameplay Programmer
"Not many games satisfy both quality and quantity like Red Dead Redemption 2. This game made me completely forget about the real world and pulled me right into the Wild Wild West! Personally, I love the fact the RDR2 doesn't tell you how you should live your life nor limit your freedom, even though it keeps the whole experience simple: Jump in, play, and enjoy. This is definitely the best thing I played this year!"
Half-Life: Alyx
James Anderson: Game Director & Programmer
"When I first discovered Alyx was going to be a VR game, I was curious to see how Valve's magnum-opus would translate to this setting. To my surprise, this must be the most immersed I've ever felt in a videogame. The Half-Life universe remains intriguing, and the core gameplay, despite being on a vastly different platform, stays truthful to the classics! Alyx gives a fantastic glimpse into what full immersion video gaming could be like in the future."
Inside
James Watkins: Audio Designer
"This is definitely not a 2020 game, but Inside was for sure the most memorable gaming experience I had this year. I'm a huge fan of Playdead, and oh boy, what a fantastic game they have here! I usually seek Indies to check their art and sound approach but was utterly blown away by this game's setting and story. It's the type of experience that stays with you for a while and the one that gets to be my #1!"
Persona 5 Royal
Jonathan: QA Tester
"Persona 5 was already my favourite game ever and, when I heard of Royal coming out, I couldn't wait to go through that experience again! They say perfect things can't get better, but they clearly don’t know this game. P5R keeps all the excellent stuff from the base game, such as its incredible art style and OST, while solving pacing issues, adding new stories, and expanding the game's world. This game didn't only change my 2020, it changed my life!"
Battletech
Justin: 3D Artist
"My favourite game this year was BattleTech! Being a huge fan of turn-based strategy games, I literally had a blast with this one. Managing Mechs is a lot of fun, and the pacing is on point throughout the whole experience! I was itching for a great single-player experience, and BattleTech worked like a charm. I mean, who doesn't love giant Robot battles with an equal amount of strategy and explosions anyway?"
Doom Eternal
Louis-Alex: Concept Artist
"This game is a pure power trip of annihilation and destroyism. It's extremely simple but so much fun! All of its mechanics are ultra-polished, and the gameplay is the best example of easy to learn, hard to master. The combination of DOOM's world, the crazy creature designs, and the heavy music just get you pumped like no other games can. Again, the power fantasy is so juicy that I can only say one thing: RIP AND TEAR!"
Dawn of Man
Marc: Technical Director & Programmer
"The city-building game Dawn of Man was the best thing I played in 2020. It's a simple game where you don't have 20 upgrades for the same function; it keeps things tight and manages a good balance between micro and macro-management. The feeling of building your own thriving community is there, and you really feel fulfilled when you build your first bronze sword after hours of play. I liked it so much I completed 100% of the achievements, which is a first for me."
Hades
Simon: Programmer
"Hades is drop-dead gorgeous, has great character design and writing, and boasts beautiful music and sounds. Most importantly, the game does everything a roguelite should do well when it comes to gameplay. It offers a lot of replayability in the form of upgrades, relations with various godly characters, and "renovations" that can transform the game's environment. There is something in Hades for everybody, yet nothing feels tacked on or out of place."
Super Mario Odyssey
Vivian: CEO & Producer
"A really fun game I got to play this year was Super Mario Odyssey. Like any other Mario title, it's super simple to pick up and play but can be challenging to master! The game has tons of variety spread around all the different worlds you visit, and it's almost impossible to resist its charm. It is the perfect experience for someone that doesn't have time for long gaming sessions but wants an exciting adventure to dive into!"
Did your favourite game make the list? Tell us what you think in the comments! And here's to a new year filled with excellent new games for us to play!