As 2020 (thankfully) comes to a close, the DualShockers staff is coming together to share their personal favorite games throughout the year. Unlike our official Game of the Year Awards, each of these lists is meant to reflect which games stood out personally to each of our staff members. Additionally, any game – not just 2020 releases – can be considered in each Top 10 List.
For me, 2020 was a year where smaller games (in terms of team size) ruled my headspace, which makes a ton of sense looking back. Of my most anticipated games for 2020, there weren’t many that were as big in scope as something likeThe Last of Us Part 2andFinal Fantasy 7 Remake. Instead, I found myself looking forward to smaller games likeFall GuysandDesperados 3.
Fortunately, almost every game I was looking forward to was able to knock it out of the park. However, as you’ll see below, there is one major title that stands out well above the rest. Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised. They might be surprised at where I rank it among the best games ever though. For that, you’ll have to check it out below. That’s what we, in the biz, call a tease. On to the list.
Honorable Mention: Abby (The Last of Us Part 2)
I don’t particularly likeThe Last of Us Part 2. In fact, I almost put the game aside during the first half because I’ve never liked a Naughty Dog game and wasn’t invested in either Joel or Ellie. I know that’s controversial, but I don’t care. Like, I’m sure it’s great for you to see two characters you love back on your TV screen. They have never done anything for me. However, when the game flips and you start playing as Abby, everything changed for me. It’s not that her portion of the story is better written or anything so simple. Instead, it’s all about how much of a badass she is.
Too often in media, women aren’t allowed to be strong characters like their male counterparts. Sure, you have characters like Ellie or Lara Croft who are tough, but always in a way that keeps them feminine. For whatever reason, women can’t have that “take-no-prisoners” attitude. Abby throws that away immediately.
From the second you start to control her, you can tell that this girl is built different. Her walk has a swagger to it that instantly made me know she wasn’t going to be your typical female lead. Instead, she’s likeLinda Hamilton inTerminator 2; All about taking names and laying waste to everyone in her path. As I moved her story along, I felt myself start to embody the character. Abby doesn’t need stealth. She’s here to bust some ass. So, I went into each encounter with that same bombastic attitude. As far as characters go in 2020, Abby might be the most important one in my books.
So, while I don’t thinkThe Last of Us Part 2is that great of a game, I feel like I have to call out Abby as a character. She’s something that we don’t often see in our entertainment and I hope that changes.
Check outDualShockers' review ofThe Last of Us Part 2.
10. Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise
Look,Deadly Premonition 2is a flawed game. It doesn’t perform well technically and the story has its issues. That said, I continue to be endlessly charmed by the excellent cast Swery has created. We already knew York as the most loveable jerk in video games, but the citizens of Le Carre are the real stars of the show. From the girl who invented Uber, to the bowling grandma, to your sidekick Patrica, this game is full of memorable characters that I fell in love with.
Check outDualShockers' review ofDeadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise.
9. Murder by Numbers
My wife plays a lot ofPicross. Like, so muchPicrossthat there are months where I don’t even see our Nintendo Switch because it’s become aPicrossmachine instead. That means I’ve seen a ton ofPicrossgames over the years. Not sincePicross 3Dhave I seen a game push the genre forward likeMurder by Numbersdoes. Adding an engaging and fun story might not seem like a big deal, but it is. Plus, it looks fantastic.
8. Desperados 3
Mimimi Games are quietly becoming a tactics powerhouse. After dropping the excellentShadow Tacticsback in 2016, they’ve only built on that formula withDesperados 3. It is so tightly put together and incredibly fun to play. The way the game handles stealth is phenomenal and the Showdown mechanic lets you set up some truly spectacular shootouts. This is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Check outDualShockers' review ofDesperados 3.
7. Spelunky 2 & Ori and the Will of the Wisps
I’m sorry. I can’t separate these two exceptional sequels. Both of them captured my attention in a big way this year and more than surpassed their predecessors.Spelunky 2is a case of bigger and better, which Derek Yu and his team knocked out of the park.Oriis gorgeous, has a stunning story, and brings some of the best movement in a 2020 game. And sticking them together also lets me getDeadly Premonition 2on the list. A win-win for everyone.
Check outDualShockers' reviews ofSpelunky 2andOri and the Will of the Wisps.
6. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
I think that if you asked me in August what my Game of the Year would be, I probably would’ve gone withFall Guys. I absolutely love this game. It’s just so joyous to play whether I win or lose, and it perfectly captures that feeling of the weird Japanese game shows I watched as a kid. Unfortunately, there have been tons of great games that came out in the last few months, soFall Guyshas dropped for me just a bit.
Check outDualShockers' review ofFall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.
5. Half-Life: Alyx
Now we’re getting to the big dogs, especially in terms of pushing gaming forward.Half-Life: Alyxis understandably not being talked about much by the masses due to it being only available on VR. However, I really hope costs in that space keep going down so more people have the chance to experience the most immersive game I’ve ever played. This is a game that the industry will study and copy for years in their quest to match up to what Valve has done here. This is the next level of VR. If you have a chance, please give it a try.
Check outDualShockers' review ofHalf-Life: Alyx.
4. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1set the bar for what legacy board games can be. Since then, no other game has been able to match it; until now.Pandemic Legacy:Season 0builds on the excellent foundationSeason 1set while taking things up a notch. Outside ofGloomhaven, this is probably my favorite board game of all time. Obviously, it’s quite the commitment (doubly so in the middle of an actual pandemic); however, if you want to see what makes board games special,Season 0is more than worth your investment.
Check outDualShockers' review ofPandemic Legacy: Season 0.
3. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Rarely, some games come along that couldn’t be translated to any other medium. Sure,The Last of Us Part 2is a solid enough video game, but that could easily be a movie. In fact, in many ways, most of the games held up as the “best narratives” in video games almost feel more like failed films than anything. For me, they just don’t take advantage of everything interactive that video games can do to tell their story.
13 Sentinelsis one of the rare games that does the opposite. I won’t spoil anything for you here, but know that–likeNieR: Automata–you can’t get this kind of experience anywhere else. I can’t remember another game this year getting me more hyped with some of its bigger moments. Add in some awesome mechs and a wonderful cast of characters, and you have one of the best games of 2020.
Hadesprobably should be in my number one slot. Roguelikes are my favorite genre, and Supergiant’s latest does so much to push that genre forward. I mean, for the first time ever a roguelike has a good story? And the art, music, and voice acting are top-notch. As far as looks,Hadeshas the most (and best) style of any game in 2020. Each weapon is lovingly crafted and a joy to use. And the roguelike ramp-up is sublime. Supergiant has made several great games, but this is their magnum opus.
Check outDualShockers' review ofHades.
1. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
And now we’re here. You’d think I’d learn at this point, but after playingHades, I didn’t see how any game could take my top slot. I know I’m one of the biggestYakuzashills on this staff, but even I didn’t think Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio could top Supergiant’s latest. Then I started playing it.
The first thing that has to be mentioned is thatYakuzais an RPG now because I guess people really likedthat April Fools joke in 2019. The crazy thing is that it works. RGG has done such a good job capturing the feel of a street brawl with aPersona-like battle system. All the characters shuffle around as you fight, which means you have to constantly pay attention to positioning if you don’t want to get demolished. At higher difficulties, the system feels even more well-realized because you have to start using your full repertoire to get through each battle.
However, I don’t come toYakuzagames for the combat; it’s all about that crime drama. In a year filled with great casts, none of them compare to Ichiban and his crew. Ichiban, on his own, is the best protagonist the series has ever had. Kaiji Tang absolutely nails that Goku energy and perfectly matches the series' ability to swing from serious to ridiculous without missing a beat. Filling Kiryu’s shoes is a big ask, but Ichiban more than does it.
But the really impressive part is that the rest of the cast stands right there with him.Yakuzagames have memorable side characters, but they’re almost never as fleshed out as your crew inLike a Dragon. Sure, you have standouts like Majima, but nothing on this level. Each character is fully realized and as you build up your bonds, you slowly learn about what makes each of them tick. In some respects,Yakuza: Like a Dragonis the bestPersonagame I’ve ever played.
On top of all that, the main narrative is so incredibly excellent. RGG Studios have made good stories before, but nothing has been as touching and effective asLike a Dragon. They’ve also perfectly toed that line between dumb and heartfelt; however,Like a Dragondoes it so expertly. I won’t spoil anything for you here, but of my top 5 moments in theYakuzaseries, four of them happen inLike a Dragon.
It’s also worth noting that RGG Studios does open worlds better than anyone in the game. Yokohama is so jam-packed with varied and good side content that it’s frankly ridiculous. Where most games litter the map with collectibles and call it a day,Like a Dragonbuilds a lived-in, wonderful city full of things to do and quirky characters to meet.
Look, I don’t have a bad thing to say aboutYakuza: Like a Dragon. The gap between it andHadesfor me might as well be an entire ocean. It is far and away my favorite game of 2020 and slots in as my fifth favorite game of all time. It’s the best the series has ever been, and I am so excited to see what RGG does next. Ichiban is number one!
Check out the rest of theDualShockersstaff Top 10 lists andour official Game of the Year Awards nominees:
December 23:Lou Contaldi (General Manager)//Ben Bayliss (Features Editor)
December 24:Grant Huff (Senior Staff Writer)//Camilo Olmedo (Associate Staff Writer)
December 25:Kris Cornelisse (Staff Writer)//Ricky Frech (Reviews Editor)//Ryan Meitzler (Editor-in-Chief)
December 26:Michael Ruiz (Contributor)//Mehrdad Khayyat (Senior Staff Writer)
December 27:Sam Woods (SEO Editor)//Peter Szpytek (Video Editor)
December 28:Scott White (Video Editor)//Justin Kucharski (Associate Staff Writer)
December 29:David Gill (Staff Writer)//Allisa James (Senior Staff Writer)
December 30:Rachael Fiddis (News & Culture Editor)//Cameron Hawkins (Staff Writer)//Charlie Wacholz (Staff Writer)
