What a fucking year, huh?
Below is a list of the games I played in 2020. I’m almost 29 and I find harder and harder to carve out time to play games. It’s even harder to keep on top of new releases. Still, I’m surprised at how many new releases cropped up! Let’s go to the list:
The way everything in this game just works well with each other, it's amazing. After 70+ hours, it’s easy to take for granted how good this game feels. How every weapon and every boon felt useful. I had preferences, sure, but I never felt like there were any fillers, any bad choices, any bad routes. The characters and story were all I needed to finally stick to a rogue-like. After I beat Hades for the first time, I managed to beat him an additional 4 times in a row. The rush of each victory followed by the stress of trying to do it again was exhilarating.
As I was drafting this list, AC was very low on it. Then I remembered all the months I spent tending to my island, logging in every day after work. I remembered the chill and cozy music. I remembered Isabelle’s announcements, Tom Nook's snazzy island outfit. I remembered building up that museum. I miss museums! It’s easy to sour myself on the rough aspects of this game. But this was also my private little island for so much of last year.
Most of the time, puzzles in games feel like an exercise of retracing the intent of the designer, step by step until you figure out the precise way to solve it. In Obra Dinn, I poked and prodded. I listened to people’s voices, paid attention to where they were. It really felt like I was cracking a case. Towards the end, I had a rush of locking in the final 6 people in a row - I'm not sure if that happens to everyone at the end of the game - but it doesn’t matter. It made me feel smart, how many games can actually do that? Not many, I’m a certifiable dummy.
There have been games that dealt with death and loss, but none that quite struck this tone. The mix of melancholy and cheerfulness. How it evoked nostalgia for people and moments in my life. It’s really special. Sometimes the game mechanics got in the way of all that. But, after having played it, the thing I remember most is the cooking, the tender music playing in the background, and the hugs I've given all my passengers.
What every remake or remaster should be. Not the same exact game again, but improved and refined to what it felt like playing it originally.
I feel like I might be the only person who enjoyed Doom Eternal while not caring for Doom 2016 at all. Turns out, the ability to dash was the thing that finally made Doom click for me. Fuck a Marauder though. Worst enemy of the year.
I don’t like lying to people in real life. Turns out, though, playing a game where lying is encouraged? I’m really fucking good at lying. It’s also a lot of fun! Yay lies!!
I bought this game ahead of my 2-week vacation. The first vacation I’ve taken since graduating college 8 years ago. I got really into it, putting around 15 hours on this game. A lot for me nowadays! On Sunday, the last day of my vacation, I opened up the second area of the game. I watched the map, much bigger in size, fill with even more activities to do. I’ve never touched it again. Maybe if I get a PS5 I’ll get back to it.
Far Cry 5 was my podcast game for the year. Just shooting, driving, and flying while listening to my weekly rotation of shows. I didn't keep up with the plot and the little I've seen didn't impress me much. As someone who just played Far Cry 3 and skipped everything else, it felt nice to remember the strong points of the franchise without being overly tired by them.
I got this for 1 dollar! A SINGLE DOLLAR! More commonly known to me as 5 bucks in my local currency. Conversion rates suck! Still, incredibly cheap and great to have at the ready whenever I felt like doing a quick puzzle.
