We’re past the halfway point of 2020 (thank god) and it’s been an interesting year, to say the least. While there’s a lot to talk about when it comes to this odd start to the new decade, let’s just focus on what’s most important: the best games of 2020.
There are still some big releases yet to arrive, but some amazing titles have already come out that many will likely consider the best game of this year. From games where the fate of the world rests on your shoulders to games where you’re just trying to gather enough fruit to pay off your mortgage, here are our selections for the top contenders to 2020’s GOTY, so far.
Animal Crossing: New Horizon
If you own a Switch there’s a fairly good chance that this game has come into your possession. Had it released at any other time it would have still been a worldwide phenomenon, but thanks to COVID-19, millions of gamers were stuck inside their homes looking for a way to connect with friends and family. Animal Crossing: New Horizons offered people a way to digitally travel even when they couldn’t physically go outside. Players could spend their time shaping their island to their own specifications and then show it off to fellow Switch owners or head over to other islands to see what they made.
It takes the established Animal Crossing formula and tweaks it just enough to feel fresh and new. While it may not feature the high octane action of some of the other games on this list, it’s the one that many connected with the most during one of the most trying periods in recent human history.
DOOM: Eternal
In one of the greatest examples of counter-programming ever, DOOM: Eternal came out the same week as Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Thus, gamers had a choice: play the cuddly-cute game where you hang out with anthropomorphic animal folk on an island paradise or blow off demon heads with a double-barrelled shotgun that has a grappling hook attached to it. No matter which choice you made it was the right one.
DOOM: Eternal is an absolute blood-soaked blast where you’re constantly running around ripping and tearing through enemies like a hellfire scorched knife through demon butter. It takes everything from the 2016 reboot and ups the ante until the screen is covered in gore and viscera. If you like utter destruction and you haven’t played this, then you’re letting the Doom Slayer down.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
For many, Final Fantasy VII Remake was less of a game and more of a nostalgia bomb. Seeing Cloud, Aerith, Barret, Tifa, and creepy old Hojo rendered with updated modern graphics was something we thought we’d never see. Yet, for all the awfulness that 2020 has brought us, at least FF7 Remake was finally set loose upon the world after several years of anticipation and hype.
FF7 Remake was a major departure from the original game. There were significant new additions and changes to the plot, and the game operated more like a Kingdom Hearts title than a Final Fantasy. It was a frenetic experience with plenty of fast-paced combat and more than enough strategy. It certainly isn’t a perfect game, but as the first installment of a multi-part remake series, it hits a lot of the right notes. Let’s just hope the next game doesn’t take another 5 years to come out.
Half-Life: Alyx
The mere fact that a new Half-Life game came out this year is proof that we’re living in some truly strange times. After well over a decade of radio silence from Gordon Freeman and friends Valve finally dropped a new game in the series, although you did need a fancy piece of virtual reality hardware to play it. That proved to be a turn-off to the many gamers who didn’t own a VR helmet, but for those who did, Half-Life: Alyx is undeniably one of the best games to come out in the still fledging world of virtual entertainment.
It takes a little getting used to the new voice actors, but the game tells another great story in the Half-Life universe while also adding in some new wrinkles to the well-established plot. Half-Life: Alyx also proves that it’s entirely possible to make a full-fledged video game in VR without sacrificing story or graphics. It’s arguably one of the most realized titles made for any headset and could wind up being a revolutionary game for virtual reality as a whole.
The Last Of Us Part II
Finally, there’s the game that’s seen a nearly endless parade of controversies as of late. From the allegations of severe crunch time for Naughty Dog employees, to the plot leaks that caused many fans to preemptively freak out, to the overblown (and frankly stupid) reactions to Abby, The Last Of Us Part II has been the subject of so much debate that it almost feels like people just want to talk about the game rather than actually play it.
While our own Sam Watanuki liked but didn’t necessarily love it, there’s no denying that many critics and players have found The Last Of Us Part II to be a harrowing yet exciting adventure. Getting to step into the shoes of an adult Ellie as she begins her quest for vengeance can be terrifying, stressful, and enthralling. Many may consider it a topic of discussion more than a game, but The Last Of Us Part II is something every PS4 owner should experience.
And There’s Still More To Come
These may be the top contenders for game of the year so far but there’s still a few more titles coming that could wind up taking the prize. Ghosts Of Tsushima’s release date is mere weeks away, Marvel’s Avengers is out in September, and then there’s the potential juggernaut that is Cyberpunk 2077. And who knows, maybe Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing In Disguise will end up being an even weirder masterpiece than the original was. 2020 has been a bizarre time, so it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the year will play out.
