It seems like an endless loop to keep hearing how much 2020 was a write-off in so many ways to so many people. And while undeniably true, I am a big believer of New Years inspiring us to look back at the year past rather than just looking forward and moving on.
In that vein, where 2020 left me quite socially deprived, it did give me a lot my time to engage in activities that I previous considered luxuries; Things that could only be done as a reward for getting work done, or in those few and far between moments when I was not feeling the societal pressure to ‘hustle’.
With everything slowing down considerably, past hobbies were revived in an effort to find enjoyment, and not as a way to pass the time through boredom.
One of those activities for me was gaming. My family house has always had a console or two since before I can even remember. I grew up watching my brother play the Resident Evil and Final Fantasy games. My younger years were filled with the adventures of Spyro and Rayman.
In many ways, 2020 was allowed me to reconnect to gaming wholly as an adult and I played more this year than I have in the last 5 years combined. To me, and I know for many gamers, it was not a waste of time but a childish delight rediscovered.
Enough rambling, without further ado, here are my favourite games I played in 2020.
The Sims4 (PC)
I am unabashed to say that I am a Sims fiend. I have more expansion and game packs than I should and yet cannot seem to stop myself. Yet specifically because of the situation we were put in, unable to travel, meet friends or go into work, playing the Sims filled that absence in some small way. If I couldn’t go hiking in South America, my Sims sure as hell would!
On a more technical note, the latest expansion packs have offered some great features. Some of the newer expansion packs, such as Island Living, offer both new interactive elements within the new worlds and new methods of building. Other packs, such as Eco Lifestyle and StrangerVille, had huge changes to the gameplay that let you interact, not only with the people but the world at large, incorporating full storylines to uncover.
The latest releases have changed the Sims play from the simple build, live, manipulate gameplay to include more dynamic elements that take full advantage of the different system features.
Assassin’s Creed Origins (PS4)
I’ll be the first to admit that I lost a bit of interest in the Assassin’s Creed franchise in the middle. As much as I am a fan of history, the French Revolution or Victorian London did not hold the same sway for me as Rome or Constantinople. My opinion should be taken with a grain of salt, however, as I admit to not having fully played some of the middle games.
However, Origins held my interest instantly! The setting in Ancient Egypt took the storyline further back than any other game had and introduced a completely refresh gameplay mechanism, where skill development was vital to the gameplay as you moved through a sprawling world.
On the side of the characters, the protagonist Bayek was refreshingly well developed and, I say this with so much emphasis, interesting. While the world of Assassin’s Creed is undoubtedly exciting and intriguing, some of the characters have fallen short.
Up next for me is Odyssey!
The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt (PS4)
This one comes with a caveat as I have yet to finish The Witcher, but even with only ten hours under my belt, I am obsessed. I find myself daydreaming about the world during my work days.
Part of this intrigue comes from the reintroduction of the series and story with the Netflix show starring Henry Cavill half a decade after the game was released by CD Projeckt Red and 15 years since the world of Geralt of Rivia was created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.
The real selling point of this game that keeps it relevant five years after its release is the great balance between the overarching storyline and the quests that drive the character forward. Not only does the titular character, Geralt, have a great development arch, but the numerous supporting characters add so much intrigue to an already challenging gameplay.
Spider-Man (PS4)
The last game I played in 2020 (and unfortunately left unfinished for the moment), I was blown away by Spider-Man. The game, which was named Game of the Year in 2019, was everything that I would have wanted it to be. A comic book nerd myself, I was thrown back to the nostalgia of the Spider-Man animated show from the early 2000s and comic book history from which the game was inspired. Indeed, it was incredibly refreshing for the game to take a step away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So much attention had been placed on the web swinging mechanism that it was pretty much flawless, leading to a smooth gameplay for both all out combat and the stealthier takedown occasions.
While the plot was at times predictable, the mix of side quests, puzzles and personal errands that have you webbing up and down NYC, the game genuinely has you feeling like Spider-Man. Combined with familiar faces, it was impossible for me not to like this game.
Beyond: Two Souls (PS4)
It took me two years to work through this incredibly dynamic game. Different from the rest of the list, Beyond uses an interactive drama to lead the player through a film-like gameplay. While still challenging at times, Beyond had me feeling almost like a passive player, simply moving through an already determined order of events.
Beautifully rendered with familiar faces, such as Eliot Page and Willem Dafoe voicing and providing their likeness for the characters, the interactive storytelling is a joy to watch, making up for the less involved gaming.
Reminiscent of2010 interactive drama, Heavy Rain, there is a real emphasis on cinematography, which made this an intriguing and relaxed play, while nevertheless keeping you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of where the story would go next.
Super Mario Party (Nintendo Switch)
Last, but oh so definitely not least, Mario Party. This might seem like the lesser of the Mario games, namely the obsession of Mario Kart that had the Nintendo Switch selling out across the world. However, Mario Party was the perfect game that got my siblings and I (all of whom had returned to my parent’s house for the first lockdown) reverting to childhood and connecting us in frivolity in between the days of remote working.
While the game has not changed so much since it’s days on the Nintendo Cube, the motion detector on the switch controllers offered a much more physical and dynamic game experience. So much so that the majority of my work outs in the first month of lockdown came from this game.
Another nostalgic game, Mario Party was a breath of fresh air and a wonderful opportunity to game with the family.
Featured Image by Sean Whelan on Unsplash
