2020 has been a transformative year for everybody; but for the games industry, it was a swan song for the previous console generation and a transitional period to the next one full of tons of surprises. Ready to clear out the closet for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, developers everywhere busted out a fine competition of new games and beloved franchises to create some real highlights for a dreary year.
Some have gilded their time with great content and fond memories. Others consumed the zeitgeist by just being viral or newsworthy. With so much to look back on, this year’s games certainly helped make 2020 a memorable year for the industry; hopefully, a few upcoming games can do the same for 2021.
10 2020: The Last Of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it did more than a great job of making an impression. And given its narrative ambition, that’s probably a sweet spot for the developers. The Last of Us Part II sparked some of the most impassioned and divisive conversations about player choice and expectations, the likes of which haven’t been seen in the community for a while.
Some people enjoyed the game for being different. Some hated it for its brutal, narrative changes. A few thought that it didn’t do enough to innovate. However one may feel, Part II’s sales, recent critical reception, and technical achievements all served to prove how impactful video games can really be.
9 2021: Halo Infinite
While Microsoft undeniably did a solid job of creating a next generation console to live up to next generation expectations, their PR work leading up to its release has been a mixed bag. Though they could recite”12 Teraflops” all they wanted, all gamers really wanted to hear was what their next gen lineup was going to be, and for the most part, it seemed like Halo Infinite was going to be their one, glowing offering. Even then, that wasn’t the case.
After years of waiting and hype, fans finally got to see gameplay for Halo Infinite; and while the footage shown would’ve arguably impressed if it was shown last year, it didn’t appear anywhere near as spectacular as fans were hoping for a next gen game. Such a fiasco would lead Microsoft to delay the game until 2021, hopefully meaning the game will have a fine enough polish to make a more positive reaction next year.
8 2020: Doom Eternal/Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Doom Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons each made a huge impression on the gaming community within their own right. While some didn’t like a few creative decisions, Doom Eternal was still a massive evolution of the modern Doom franchise that didn’t skimp on the gore. Animal Crossing: New Horizons managed to meet all expectations and more by letting people move around furniture as cute animals.
However, the strongest impression from either of these games came when it was revealed that they would both be coming out on the same day, a massive, aesthetic difference that media outlets everywhere made sure to point out and take advantage of.
7 2021: Final Fantasy XVI
Sony’s PlayStation 5 media events arguably did much better than their Xbox counterparts. They managed to impress with specs, first-party games, and plenty of third-party surprises, with one of the biggest ones being the reveal of Final Fantasy XVI. While its predecessor, Final Fantasy XV, became viral for its long development cycle, Final Fantasy XVI doesn’t seem, at the moment, to be plagued by the same, in-house issues (though that’s something people may have to wait for in 2021).
As it stands, Final Fantasy XVI seems to be the Final Fantasy game to introduce the community to the next generation and hopes to be as memorable and mystifying as the titles that came before it.
6 2020: Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is a new, first-party IP for the PlayStation that made a huge splash on its debut. And, in all honesty, it made huge waves before it. Set in feudal Japan and colored by beautiful art design and direction that played close homage to Japanese, samurai films, Ghost of Tsushima is a grand example of how beautiful games can really be.
However, it didn’t just have looks going for it. Ghost of Tsushima had a large world to explore, plenty to do, and some fun combat. It was a fresh experience from the same developers behind the Infamous games, and one that people will eagerly await for its next installment.
5 2021: Psychonauts 2
The original Psychonauts game was a cult hit among 3D platformers. Beloved for its surreal world, quirky characters, and strong level design, Psychonauts had the makings of the next, big franchise akin to Mario or Banjo-Kazooie. Unfortunately, its developer, Double Fine, didn’t have the funds to make it one.
With little funding to actually make the sequel, it took years and some crowdfunding support to really get Psychonauts 2 off the ground. The game itself is already starting to impress longtime fans and looks to bring a new, mind-bending adventure to 2021.
4 2020: Cyberpunk 2077
In terms of the positive, there has been plenty of hype surrounding the game given its studio’s legacy and the incredible amount of content and detail that the gameplay trailers and media events have been revealing. In terms of the negative, a lot of bad press has been coming out of its initially gilded development cycle.
A game already famous for its long, seemingly uncompromising development, Cyberpunk 2077 has made headlines several times for its studios’ use of crunch time as well as delay after delay being announced just as the game nears its supposed release. For all that the fans know, Cyberpunk 2077 may very well be a game that defines 2021 more than 2020.
3 2021: Deathloop
Deathloop is the next game to come from Arkane Studios, the acclaimed, Bethesda subsidiary famous for producing the Dishonored games as well as the modern revival of Prey. The studios’ iconic art style, detailed gameplay, and extensive level design are all that the fans can hope for as the studio looks to bring their adventures to a time travel-esque premise.
The game on its own already seems plenty memorable. The player controls an assassin stuck in a time loop; and if they ever hope to escape it, they must kill eight targets before midnight unless they risk repeating the entire game again. There will even be a fun, albeit optional, multiplayer element where online players can interfere in a game to actually protect the time loop.
2 2020: Among Us
Among Us is technically a 2018 game, but everything about its current legacy is quintessentially 2020. During a time when people started to feel disconnected and lonely, Among Us arrived with just the right amount of accessibility and affordability to bring people together again…only to separate them once more when sus started getting thrown around.
In a space-themed adaptation of Mafia, Among Us has most players play as Crewmates just trying to get through tasks within an area. However, blending in with them is an Impostor whose entire goal is to wipe out everybody. Having to balance regular work with detective work, Among Us made some of the most intense, gaming moments this year.
1 2021: Resident Evil 8: Village
Resident Evil 7 made a strong impact on the gaming community when it finally brought the beloved horror franchise back to its horror roots. Since then, Capcom has just been releasing a series of remakes for its already established properties without any word of an original game in sight, that is, until one of the PlayStation 5 events.
In Resident Evil 8, the previous game’s Ethan Winters will come face-to-face with Chris Redfield, as they lead them to a mysterious village full of its own surprises and horrors. Resident Evil 8 will be the biggest test of the franchise’s recent revival that will let players know whether or not the acclaim surrounding 7 was just a fluke.
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