{"id":18790,"date":"2021-01-20T06:00:20","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?p=18790"},"modified":"2021-01-20T10:00:39","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T15:00:39","slug":"2020-games-of-the-year-and-then-some-joshs-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?p=18790","title":{"rendered":"2020 Games of the Year (And Then Some) – Josh’s Picks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is it over? Is the trainwreck that was 2020 finally over? Let’s hope so, and that 2021 turns out much better for everyone involved. However, although 2020 was a disaster on pretty much all fronts, it wasn’t all bad. There were many awesome games out there for people to take their mind away from all the troubles. I wasn’t able to get to all of them (I’m looking at you games like If Found…, Spelunky 2, Hades, and so many more), but I know what I’ve marked down to try in the future. Currently playing Monster Sanctuary and it’s really good! As much as I’m enjoying it, I’m hesitant to add it to my 2020 games of the year this soon though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do want to note that some games don’t appear on my list but should be acknowledged. Games like Fall Guys<\/em> and Animal Crossing: New Horizons <\/a><\/em>both hit it big and deserved all the love they received. Fall Guys<\/em> was pure dumb fun and Animal Crossing: New Horizons<\/em> was the perfect game to drop right as the pandemic started. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2<\/em> was a return to form and proved that people still want a damn good skating game. Even something like Genshin Impact<\/em> was huge. Personally – had more fun with it than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild<\/em>. Yeah…I’m one of those people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enough with the runners up though, it’s time to bring on my top five 2020 games of the year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5 – Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Insomniac Games<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is a game everyone wanted to play after watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse<\/em>. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales<\/a><\/em> lets you play as the titular character, and while a bit different from the movie and comics, Insomniac makes the character their own as well. While I preferred the length of the game to its predecessor, the plot had me less engaged although the pacing was better. However, the personal relationships that Miles has with everyone in this game exceed those that Peter has in the first game, though the Peter\/Otto friendship is up there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insomniac also made the Morales powers feel unique and mixed up the gameplay enough to differentiate it from Peter’s in the original game. The side quests felt less bloated and the idea of adding in a Spiderman app to locate these and random acts were brilliant. The biggest downfall this game has isn’t it’s the length or limited villains; it just feels more of the same. It’s only been two years since Marvel’s Spider-Man <\/em>and while there were changes, there were a TON of similarities from what you do in random missions or the plot of a corporation coming in with their own personal army. Still…it’s a Spider-Man game. A great one. I just hope Insomniac gives it some breathing room so the next one hits harder for me than this one did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4 – The Last of Us Part II<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Naughty Dog<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I was one of those people who said I didn’t want to see a direct follow-up to The Last of Us<\/em>. There’s a part of me who still wishes it didn’t happen, but now that it has…it still works. I think the pacing has some issues and I really wish the ending played out differently than it did, but overall, it’s still Naughty Dog doing what Naughty Dog does best. They’ve tightened the gameplay while experimenting with narrative in a way that works splendidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel they also told a story that actively tried to counteract a common complaint with their games. Usually, we know nothing about the random enemies the “good guy” typically kills in each game. In The Last of Us Part II<\/em>, they decide to let you peek behind the curtain. Nobody is a “good guy”. However, everyone can have motives that paint them in a certain light depending on how you look at them. It’s a really smart way to tell a story, especially when you do it so well as Naughty Dog does. Add in their typical grade-A work with characters, interactions, world-building, and more; there’s no reason The Last of Us Part II<\/em> wouldn’t make my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 – Paradise Killer<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Kaizen Game Works<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hot damn. Paradise Killer<\/em> was the game this year I had never heard of, tried it at a whim after seeing some comparisons to games I love, and now here it is at number three. This game is a banger. Not only because of the vaporwave aesthetic both in appearance and music but because it’s a fantastic detective game. I love games like Phoenix Wright<\/em> and Danganronpa<\/em>. However, those series have some limitations when it comes to the discovering clues aspect that Paradise Killer <\/em>throws out the window. It’s better because of it too and I hope it inspires future games in this genre to do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While games like Phoenix Wright<\/em> and Danganronpa <\/em>lean heavily on the visual novel side of games, Paradise Killer<\/em> leans into an open-world aspect. Giving the player the option to try and solve the mystery at any point by sacrificing possible clues, if not flawed in its approach here, is fantastic. The island isn’t so big that it’s daunting, and making it more vertical is a wonderful way to get the lay of the land as well. Characters are fascinating as too is the greater mystery and lore at large. I don’t know how well a sequel can work out in this series, but I’m so intrigued to see what Kaizen Game Works goes from here. Paradise Killer<\/em> is just so damn cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 – Spiritfarer<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Thunder Lotus Games<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I have a feeling anyone reading this has lost someone. Someone they cared about and miss on a daily basis. I know I have. Spiritfarer<\/em> speaks to those people. Looking past the Studio Ghibli-like style, the sweetness that exudes through the dialogue and animations, and even the management aspects that are quite robust for such a limited space like the boat; Spiritfarer <\/em>has the ability to draw you in with characters before tearing them away in an emotional tug-of-war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming to terms with loss is what Spiritfarer <\/em>is all about. Not only about your own mortality, but the mortality of others. It doesn’t matter whether they are rich or poor. Good or bad. Old or young. People will die. Coming to grips with that is never easy. Spiritfarer <\/em>knows this and uses it to great effect. Whether it’s characters like Stanley or Alice, I found myself weeping openly with how these stories played out. But…they need to go. They need to pass on. It’s your duty as the spiritfarer to make sure it does. Heart-wrenching but absolutely worth playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 – Final Fantasy VII Remake<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Square Enix<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Was there ever any doubt that this would be my number one game? If you’ve followed me at all this year, I’ve sang it’s praises <\/a>since I saw the credits roll<\/a>. I’ve said it once, and I’ll repeat it: I can’t stop thinking about this game. Not only what I played, but what is still to come. They shook up my expectations for what I wanted in Final Fantasy VII Remake<\/em>. They were ballsy, and while some didn’t like how it turned out, I loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I wanted a game that was simply a one-for-one remake. Give me the exact same game just prettier. They said, “Screw you. We’ll do one better,” and proceeded to take my breath away. Seeing all of the characters and environments in their current-gen glory gave me goosebumps. The voicework did nothing to deter my impressions. The music is still some of the best the gaming industry has ever heard and the combat is incredibly solid. However all of the plot content, and I’m not going to spoil it, is what made me almost cry. Not only do I have my nostalgia making me love this game, but now Square Enix is giving me a whole new reason to love Final Fantasy VII<\/em>. It’s for those reasons and more that it’s my favorite game of the year, and quite frankly, near the top of games of the generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That’s it for my games of 2020. However, I did play more than just 2020 games! As my retroactive pre-2020 games I played this year, the next page will have my top five I played for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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While the back half of the year was packed for me, the first and middle were more sparse for the most part. So I took it upon myself to catch up with some games I previously missed. Here are five games I really dug that came out prior to 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5 – Donut County<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Ben Esposito<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes all you need is a chill game, and you don’t get much more chill than Donut County<\/em>. The game has a humor to it that most games don’t succeed in reaching and the idea behind it is goofy and fun. You take a big old hole, you move it around, and swallow everything up. It’s “Sinkhole: The Game”, except this sinkhole is controlled by a raccoon who just wants a cool drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m not one for puzzles typically, as I don’t have a mind for it, but I’ve seen Donut County<\/em> considered a puzzle game. If so, it’s a puzzle game in the loosest way, though there are certain parts of the game where it shines in that regard more than other areas. To make the game even better, it’s only a few hours long. It doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, and in an industry that strives to give the player an unending amount of content, it’s always nice to have something short and sweet. This was the perfect game for me to follow up my playthrough of Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4 – Sea of Solitude<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Jo-Mei Games<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sea of Solitude<\/em> was one of those games where the trailer struck me upon seeing it, but I didn’t see anyone really talking about it when it released. Since it was on EA Play, I decided to give it a shot and I’m glad I did. The game hits close to home in many respects as it deals with emotions and events that many probably feel. Except it’s done in a way that includes a flooded city and giant shadow creatures that keep you on your toes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned in the previous game, I’m not a fan of puzzles and they are prominent here as well. However, the deeper message of the game was worth pushing through the puzzles although emotionally I may have regretted it in the long run. I found myself being bummed out on too many occasions, but that’s not a slight on the game at all. It’s just how impactful it is. The gameplay doesn’t exactly seem up to par with the story and the world built around it, but Sea of Solitude<\/em> is absolutely worth playing if you want to have an experience most games don’t provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 – Moonlighter<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Digital Sun<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I’m always a little hesitant to try out a rogue-lite\/like game, but Moonlighter <\/em>has a premise I couldn’t pass up. You’re a shop-keep trying to get materials to sell at your store. That’s awesome. The management lover in me would eat this up. Thankfully, the rogue-lite elements of Moonlighter <\/em>didn’t turn me away once playing, though it limited my ability to make it too far into the game. Made it partly through the third dungeon and decided I experienced enough to make me happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m not saying that because the game gets bad or boring – I’m just awful at rogue-lite\/like games. The style of the game is beautiful and the enemy designs are cool. Maintaining the shop was my favorite thing though, as I knew it would be, and that part of it was great as well. If you have even the slightest twinge of needing to play a rogue-lite game and need one desperately in your life, give Moonlighter <\/em>a try. It’s incredibly solid, easy to get into, and has the additional store management perk to mix it up in a genre more and more indies have gravitated to over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 – Outer Wilds<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Mobius Digital<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After hearing a couple of friends on staff praise this game to no end, I finally gave it a try. Well deserved praise. Outer Wilds<\/em> is amazing and I don’t even know where to begin with talking about this game. Do I start with the incredibly cool idea of the time loop that resets everything but your knowledge? How about the vastly different worlds you can explore? The greater mystery at play about what went wrong that caused everything to go haywire in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game is so damn ambitious for what would appear to be a small scale game. I don’t know how many hours I put into this game but I feel like I stumbled across something new each loop and I’m sure there was plenty more out there I couldn’t find. The only gripe I had with the game was the flight controls and would be the thing keeping me from finishing the game, but that’s it. Even to this day I still want to jump in and explore this universe because of how fascinating it is. Outer Wilds<\/em> is damn cool. If a sequel comes around, that’s a day one purchase for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 – Control<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credit: Remedy Entertainment<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I didn’t like Alan Wake<\/em>. There…I said it. While the narrative of the game was great, I thought playing the game was an absolute slog. Control <\/em>took my favorite parts of Alan Wake<\/em> but gave it gameplay worth experiencing. I’m a sucker for Creepypasta-like horror stories and Control takes those elements and builds a world around them. It’s Twilight Zone meets The X-Files. Except, in this case, the Scully of the game (Jesse Faden) is a woman trying to figure out what happened to her brother after a weird Twilight Zone<\/em> incident in her little town. Sucks me right in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The combat is what worried me, but that was absurd by the time I finished the game. The different gun layouts mixed it up enough and that was only bolstered by the awesome powers Jesse would receive throughout the game. It leads to chaotic but fun fights throughout the game giving the player freedom to experiment in certain aspects of the combat. Control <\/em>is the game I wanted to finally experience from Remedy Entertainment. I know the sales weren’t the best, but hopefully it was enough to give them a reason to dive back into that world. Until then, I’ll continue to blast “Take Control<\/em>” by Old Gods of Asgard<\/a> in my car. Banger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And with that, 2020 is a wrap. I know everyone is hopeful that 2021 isn’t the nose-dive to hell that 2020 was, and here’s hoping for the best. Even if it’s bad, I’m sure there will be plenty of great games to play. If anything, those games can take us away from our lives even if for a little bit at a time. Video games are great. Maybe at one point, we’ll be able to say the same about the community as a whole around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take care and happy new year!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is it over? Is the trainwreck that was 2020 finally over? Let’s hope so, and that 2021 turns out much better for everyone involved. However, although 2020 was a disaster on pretty much all fronts, it wasn’t all bad. There were many awesome games out there for people to take their mind away from all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129950412,"featured_media":18813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[682621100,682626066],"tags":[682626059,682626058,682625894,321213,6891373,682626060,682626065,682625463,682626064,682626063,682626062,682621700],"class_list":["post-18790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-of-the-year","category-goty-2020","tag-2020-games-of-the-year","tag-2020-goty","tag-prime-3","tag-final-fantasy-vii","tag-final-fantasy-vii-remake","tag-miles-morales","tag-paradise-killer","tag-spider-man-miles-morales","tag-spiritfarer","tag-the-last-of-us-2","tag-the-last-of-us-part-2","tag-the-last-of-us-part-ii"],"yoast_head":"\n2020 Games of the Year (And Then Some) - 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This week\u00a0Emmett Watkins Jr\u00a0and\u00a0Allan Muir are talking about the games they've played over the last few days, and then Emmett takes over the special segment to mull over his favorite 100 games of all time. 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