As console exclusivity becomes more and more prevalent, it can sometimes feel as though the very best games are always just out of reach. Final Fantasy VII Remake and The Last of Us Part II are just two of last year’s many great games that could only be enjoyed on PS4 while anybody hoping to play the latest Animal Crossing or Mario titles is out of luck if they don’t have a Switch.
Thankfully, however, not every new game that comes out these days is limited to a single system. Sure, exclusives may have made most of the headlines during 2020, but that’s not to say that there weren’t plenty of great cross-platform titles as well. These games can be played on at least three of the four main gaming platforms and can hold their own against most of the big budget exclusives despite typically costing far less to produce.
10 Huntdown
With its striking and stylized visuals and its arcade style controls, Huntdown is a celebration of a bygone era of gaming that many just aren’t quite ready to let go of. Despite it being an ode to the past though, there are elements and ideas here that feel very much at home in the modern gaming landscape.
The controls are surprisingly tight and the soundtrack sounds like something straight out of the eighties. Although they could perhaps do with a bit more variety, the levels are well designed and are complimented by some fantastic boss fights that are sure to get players’ hearts beating a little faster. It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s deserving of a lot more attention and praise than it’s so far received.
9 Desperados III
The Desperados series has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but Desperados III is definitely a high point for the series. It serves as a prequel to the original game, taking a deep dive into the origin of series protagonist John Cooper while also introducing several interesting new characters for players to control.
The story itself may not be all that compelling, but the writing and voice acting are fantastic throughout. The playable characters are all really well fleshed out too and their special abilities help to make each one of them feel truly unique. It’s not the easiest game in the world, but, for those who like a challenge, it’s a solid real-time tactics game that’s more than worthy of the Desperados name.
8 Streets Of Rage 4
Beat ’em up games may not be as popular or as prevalent as they once were, but for as long as games like Streets of Rage 4 continue to be released, the genre will never truly die. It’s the epitome of what a modern beat ’em up game should be and delivers on all fronts; particularly when it comes to rewarding skill and making the player feel like the biggest badass alive.
More than a quarter of a century has passed since the original Streets of Rage trilogy and yet very little has really changed here. Sure, the game looks a thousand times better than its predecessors and it controls a lot better too, but all of the fundamentals have largely been left untouched. Some might see this as a bad thing, but, as the old saying goes, why fix what isn’t broken?
7 Risk Of Rain 2
While sticking with a tried and tested formula does often yield the best results, starting from scratch can sometimes be just as effective. Risk of Rain 2 is a great example of this, with Hopoo Games’ decision to bring the series into the third dimension ultimately leading to one of the best roguelike games ever made.
Many of the elements that made the original so enjoyable can still be found here, but the leap to 3D adds a new dimension to these mechanics figuratively as well as literally. Exploration and combat both feel far more exciting while the improved graphical fidelity helps to differentiate enemies a little better too. One thing that hasn’t changed too much though is the game’s intense difficulty, making it a great title for those who love a good challenge.
6 Kentucky Route Zero
Thanks in large to the many great Telltale Games series and the continued efforts of people like Tim Schafer, there has been a real resurgence in the popularity of point and click titles over the past decade or so. Kentucky Route Zero is one of the best titles to have released during that time and serves as proof that there’s still a place for the genre in the modern age.
With its stylized visuals and beautiful soundtrack, it feels like the natural successor to the wonderful point and click games that so effectively punctuated the end of the twentieth century. Where it really shines though is through its storytelling, which rewards the inquisitive and provides a gripping and thought-provoking narrative from start to finish.
5 F1 2020
Players and critics often bemoan the lack of innovation in annual sports simulation franchises, but that’s not a criticism that could really be levied at Codemasters. The developer has always looked to push the boundaries with its many racing sim games and F1 2020 is yet another prime example of this.
For the first time in a Formula 1 game, players are able to create their very own team from the ground up. This includes everything from finding sponsors and parts suppliers to building new facilities that will help to improve the team’s performance. There’s also the usual bump in visual fidelity, with this years entry really pushing the boat out with its photo-realistic graphics.
4 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Many classic gaming franchises made their returns in 2020, but none did so quite as spectacularly as Tony Hawk’s. Rather than yet another new entry, however, the developers instead opted to remake the series’ first two titles from the ground up. The resulting game is not just one of the best Tony Hawk’s games, but one of the finest sports simulation games ever released.
While it doesn’t play exactly like the originals, Pro Skater 1 + 2 is about as faithful as it could be without feeling dated. The visuals are strong throughout and the controls are incredibly responsive; allowing players to pull off some insane combos if they know what they’re doing. For fans of skateboarding games, they really don’t come much better than this.
3 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Replacing Kiryu was always going to be a tall order for the team over at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, but Yakuza: Like a Dragon‘s main protagonist Ichiban is a more than capable stand in. He’s not the only new addition to the series either, with the game’s combat system being completely revamped to include numerous elements from some of the classic turn-based RPGs of old.
Though a little jarring at first, it’s a system that works surprisingly well and is supplemented nicely with the many environmental weapons scattered throughout the game. The story’s not too bad either, but it’s through the plethora of minigames and side activities that the game really justifies its price tag. As well as the many returning classics, the game introduces several new activities including go-karting and business management.
2 Doom Eternal
Following the hugely successful 2016 reboot, expectations were high for Doom Eternal. As has so often been the case over the years, the team at id Software didn’t disappoint. The game builds on the foundations laid by its predecessor to great effect and just might be the very best Doom game ever made.
The level design is vastly improved while the grappling hook adds an entirely new dynamic to the way in which players can traverse them. There’s also a wider variety of demons to slay and some wonderful animations when doing so. It’s one of the most well optimized games to have released in recent years and although the multiplayer mode falls a little short, its single player experience is right up there with the very best.
1 Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Ori and the Blind Forest surprised a lot of people when it released back in 2015 thanks to its stunning visuals and wonderful gameplay. Its sequel, on the other hand, came not as a surprise, but instead as a confirmation of the brilliance of the development team at Moon Studios.
At its core, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is everything that a sequel should be. It looks better, the combat system has been improved and there are some new gameplay mechanics thrown in there as well for good measure. What’s more, the game does a wonderful job of expanding on the series’ lore through yet another enthralling narrative.
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