If you’ve visited this site before, I’m sure you noticed the list of games (and DLCs/story updates) I’ve finished throughout 2020 in the sidebar. They’re all listed in reverse order of when I finished them, with my opinion of them boiled down to a single emoji.
Here, I’m going to try and give a short review for each of them. I’m only going to stick to one paragraph per game (less if I’ve already written a review about them). It’s going to be difficult to summarize the complexity of some of these in a single paragraph, but dang it I’m certainly going to try. Without further ado, let’s get started.
1. The Talos Principle
The Talos Principle is like if someone looked at Portal 2 and thought, “but can we do it with more philosophy?” And you know what, it works. This is easily a solid spiritual successor to the Portal series. Now I just need a sequel (which is in the works).
2. Rime
(Note: I’m talking about the free mobile game.) A simple point-and-click puzzler similar to Myst, Rime tasks you with one thing: escape the room. It makes for a fine distraction, but some of the puzzles felt so difficult that I had to use the hint system (which requires viewing ads to use).
3. Kirby: Planet Robobot
Robobot is bright, colorful, and silly. Solid platforming, cheery music, and gorgeous visuals combine into this funky game. It’s just the thing I needed to set the tone for the year.
4. Party Hard 2
I don’t like stealth games, and I sure don’t like slasher games. That said, this was a lot of fun, with a killer (heh) soundtrack, and a wonderful transition to 3D (from the original’s 2D).
5. Minecraft
Yes, one and the same. I honestly debated whether I should put this on here or not. As you can see, it did make it on the list, because it does have an ending and an end credit sequence, which I did reach in survival mode. I don’t think there’s much I need to say about this; if you haven’t played Minecraft, go play it. It’s still being updated, and it’s great for a wide audience.
6. A Short Hike
I played this at a time in my life that was extremely stressful, so that may have affected my emotions toward this game. Regardless, I enjoyed it a lot. It is an excellent and short game (1-2 hours tops) that you can play to help unwind after a long and strenuous day. It was one of my top chill game picks.
7. DOOM Eternal
I haven’t played a lot of new games this year, but I’m still very comfortable with calling DOOM Eternal my Game of the Year. Virtually everything about it is great: the gunplay, the movement, the upgrades, the soundtrack. Heck, even the platforming isn’t half-bad. (That’s right, I said it.) And I generally don’t even like first person shooters.
8. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Sure, there are some things that AC: Odyssey could do better. (For instance, it would be better without all the crufty side quests). But it gets a lot right; there are plenty of traversal options, and there’s a ton of land to explore. The story is sprawling, but cohesive. And everything is so detailed.
9. becalm
Like the name says, be calm. It’s short (about five minutes), and the colors are a bit trippy, but it makes for a nice distraction. You can get it by naming your price here.
10. GUN GODZ
In the event that you’re craving some classic DOOM gameplay, but somehow don’t want to play classic DOOM, GUN GODZ manages to scratch that itch. It’s difficult, but fun. You can get it free on Steam.
11. Fugue in Void
Fugue in Void is a walking simulator that takes about an hour to complete. Despite the simple aesthetic, the atmosphere of it really drew me in. I enjoyed it. This is another great choice if you want to just sit down and explore.
12. Subserial Network
Games like this don’t pop up very often, at least that I’m aware of. In Subserial Network, you interact with fictional terminals, chat rooms, and forums while doing a personal investigation. I liked it a lot, partially for the story and partially for the novelty.
13. Oikospiel Book I
I feel as if the premise of Oikospiel is a good one, but the execution is supremely flawed. Was that the point? Maybe. But it was not enjoyable as a game, or as… any kind of entertainment.
14. DOOM 64 (2020 Remaster)
If you’ve got the itch to play a classic DOOM game, this certainly works. The atmosphere is a lot more creepy and intense than the original DOOM, but that kept me on my toes. DOOM 64 was a welcome and fun challenge, and it was great seeing a (somewhat) forgotten relic of DOOM history brought back.
15. DOOM 64: The Lost Levels
I counted this separately, as it’s a separate campaign from the original game. That said, it’s more of the same as in DOOM 64, with a higher difficulty and more twists and turns. It was good.
16. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade
The first third or so of this expansion was actually OK. But the more that the story progressed, the more I felt my choices being stripped away. It ended up leaving an awful taste, to the point that I had to hold off on playing Odyssey‘s second expansion. This one is easily skippable.
17. The Ultimate DOOM
(Yes, I was on a DOOM kick this year, can you tell?) It’s old, but it’s gold. After more than 25 years, it still holds up fairly well. Special thanks to GOG for packaging it in a way that runs comfortably on modern machines.
18. Fallout 76: Wastelanders
When I first played Wastelanders, I had nothing but glowing praise to give. Much of that is still warranted. However, I hadn’t delved far enough into the endgame introduced alongside it. The questline was great, if also bullet-spongy. After the main quest, though, there is a long grind filled with arbitrary timers and limits. That in itself was enough to keep me away from the game for a while.
19. The Elder Scrolls: Blades
The Elder Scrolls: Blades isn’t a bad mobile game, but it’s not a good Elder Scrolls game. The questlines are fairly basic, but the short dungeons were enjoyable to complete (before I had to grind them repeatedly to finish the main quest). It’s worth trying out, just don’t expect something grand or magical. It’s a mobile game at its core.
20. Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
I can appreciate that Lego Star Wars III tries to do some different things from the previous games in the series… but I don’t like them. If you’re feeling the itch to play a Lego game, there are much better ones out there.
21. Halo: CE Anniversary
I didn’t have nostalgia to carry me through Halo, so I trudged through it. I understand why this game is a classic, but I personally don’t think it aged very well. Still, it works when the game hits its stride. The soundtrack is pretty great, too.
22. The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor
It felt nice to step back into Skyrim. Set roughly 1,000 years before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Greymoor avoids rehashing old stories while delivering them via a familiar (but reimagined) landscape. Oh, and the vampires were cool, I guess.
23. STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order
If you’re feeling discouraged by any of the recent films in the saga, or you’re craving more after binging The Mandalorian, play this game. This is some good Star Wars. The story, the gameplay, the details, the lightsaber combat… all of it.
24. Explore Fushimi Inari
This hasn’t been a great year for travel. If you’re itching to escape, you can spend an hour or two in Explore Fushimi Inari, and explore a photorealistic realm you may not be familiar with. It’s free, and it’s one of my top chill games for this year.
25. Can Androids Pray
It’s a short (30 minute) visual novel about two femme mech pilots at the end of the world. It’s bleak, and it’s harsh. But it’s also thought-provoking. I thought it was good.
26. ISLANDS: Non-Places
ISLANDS is an hour-long chillfest. Players interact with the scenery to move on to the next scene. It’s relaxing, pretty, and intriguing.
27. Celeste
Celeste is a masterpiece. It’s a difficult platformer, but it’s fair. The graphics are wonderful, and the soundtrack is flawless. I was impressed by the sheer number of accessibility options present as well.
28. Wheels of Aurelia
Wheels of Aurelia is alright. It’s a simple game where you’re on a road trip in the 70s, in Italy, picking up passengers and seeing where the road takes you. The controls are a little clunky, and some of the conversation is a bit heavy, but it’s alright.
29. The Sands of Voltark
Despite the harsh colors, it was nice to explore The Sands of Voltark. You can either strip the planet of its resources, or you can choose to explore. I chose the latter, and there is a lot of ground to cover. It’s lonely and quiet, but the colors are brash and the shapes twisted.
30. Wakamarina Valley, New Zealand
Made by the same person who made Explore Fushimi Inari, this game is essentially more of the same: an hour or so of walking through a virtual, nigh-photorealistic version of a real-life location. It was quite relaxing.
31. Risk of Rain 2
Another game that transitioned from the original’s 2D graphics into 3D, Risk of Rain 2 is a celebration of what made the original game great while stacking more awesome on top of it. Easily one of the best games to come out this year. It’s smooth and fun.
32. Marvel’s Avengers
Avengers is a ton of fun when it works. The story is excellent (Kamala is an easy favorite), and the details are astounding. More importantly, though, the gameplay is top-notch; each hero feels just right, which is almost miraculous. (I’ve played too many superhero games where the characters don’t feel heroic or fluid in their moveset.) I’m looking forward to what Crystal Dynamics has in store for this game; there’s a ton of potential here.
33. DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One
Id Software took everything from the base DOOM Eternal campaign – good and bad – and dialed it all up to 11. It was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait for Part Two next year.
34. The Elder Scrolls Online: Markarth
As always, Zenimax Online Studios knows how to deliver a satisfying questline. Set as the conclusion to the year-long Dark Heart of Skyrim storyline, Markarth expands a lot on the lore of the reachmen. And of course, you get to save the world from a hellbent vampire lord. You can read a more fleshed-out review here if you’d like.
35. Fallout 76: Steel Dawn
Bethesda Game Studios did a great job writing a faction that I absolutely despise. I didn’t like Steel Dawn, to put it lightly. You can read my more detailed review here.
36. Marvel’s Avengers: Taking AIM
If the introduction of Kate Bishop to the game is any indication of how the future of Avengers is going to look, then this game has good things in store. Her combat is top-notch, and the story offers a fun glimpse into the future. Some of the base game’s existing problems are still evident here, but this is a step in the right direction.
37. Assemble With Care
Easily completable within 3 hours, Assemble With Care is heartfelt, chill, and relaxing. The puzzles are simple, but engaging enough. The soundtrack is a high point as well. I highly recommend it.
38. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a story about a young activist who tries to save a local wildlife reserve. It’s short, but constantly uplifting and encouraging. It’s a play-at-your-pace game set on a small island that you can explore to your heart’s content. I loved it. We need more games like this.
Conclusion
38 games/DLCs. That’s a new record for me (I finished 37 in 2016). This was a good year for new games, despite the chaos that the year brought.
That said, I’m finished posting for the year (har har). Happy New Year.
All screenshots captured by me.
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