Originally published in print December 2020.

Let’s face it, this year could have been better in almost every conceivable way, with one exception: video games! Casting aside the additional free time many consumers have had as a result of the pandemic, this year’s skyrocketing video game sales have been driven by a deluge of outstanding games. We sat down to acknowledge some of the best games released in 2020.

 

Best Direction 

Goes to a game with the best realisation of an outstanding vision or concept.

Raji: An Ancient Epic

Developer Nodding Head games is a studio composed of alumni from Ubisoft to Zynga. They have come together to form a studio in Pune in India, and their debut game Raji: an Ancient Epic is steeped in that culture. While some platforming is rough around the edges, Raji is an adventure that is a fascinating jumping off point for learning about a fascinating mythology, with a unique style among games of this profile. I hope it is the first of many games from India to grace our consoles.

 

Best Single-Player 

Goes to the best overall single-player experience

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The meteoric success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a perfect storm of extraordinary circumstances. Upon its release in late March, the world was in the depths of uncertainty. This game provided a personalised digital zen garden in which millions of fans, new and old, quelled their anxieties. If you own a Switch, but don’t have Animal Crossing, you need to fix that. 

 

Best Multiplayer

Goes to the best overall multiplayer experience, local or online.

Good Job! 

In a year where most people were asked to stay home from the office, Good Job! asks you to return to do menial tasks to work your way up the corporate ladder. It is a charming couch co-op game that is perfect for introducing people to video games. Simple tasks, destructible environments, curated levels, and cute hats are sure to bring a smile and laugh to anyone who plays.

 

Best Narrative

Goes to a game with an outstanding narrative.

The Last of Us Part II

Without any spoilers, The Last of Us Part II was all about telling a story, a story that could only be told through a video game. It is heart-wrenching and heartwarming, it is violent and gentle, it is a story of opposition and unity. Every aspect of the game feeds into it: the tension of the stealth, the atmosphere of the exploration. It is truly unmatched in this year or any.

 

Best Indie Dev

Goes to an independent developer that we feel deserves special recognition for a title released this year.

Dreamfeel for If Found… 

Dreamfeel is a small team based right here in Dublin. Their most recent game, If Found… has generated considerable conversation on the worldwide gaming scene, being nominated in the Games for Impact category at the 2020 Game Awards. If Found… is a deeply personal experience rooted in outmoded Irish attitudes, and this cultural context, seldom seen in games, makes it all the more unique. The story of Achill native trans-woman Kasio is one that shows the destructive results of repressing self-expression. This is lovingly rendered through beautiful art and a progressive soundtrack. We would implore anyone to give this truly novel experience a go.

 

Best Music

Goes to a game with an outstanding soundtrack or score.

Hades

This was one of the more hotly contested categories. While If Found…’s gorgeous, atmospheric soundtrack almost cinched it, it had to go to Hades. Composer Darren Korb manages to blend traditional Greek instrumentation with heavy metal to construct the sound of a hell from antiquity that’s as exciting in its first hour as it is in its hundredth.

 

Best Art 

Goes to a game with outstanding art and visuals.

Spiritfarer

Developer Thunder Lotus’ previous game Jotun enamored us with the beautiful fluidity that its larger than life bosses moved. In contrast to that Norse inspired epic Spiritfarer is a personal game about connecting with people passing to the next life and the animation does a lot of work in selling that personal story, everything from how characters snuggle when you hug them, to the playful antics of the adorable Daffodil the cat is lovingly animated in a manner that oozes character.

 

Games of the Year

Goes to a title that excels in all fields of game-making, from programming to level design, music to voice acting and everything in between.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

If Found… 

The Last of Us Part II 

We couldn’t reach a consensus on Game of The Year without plunging into a furious scuffle. Since that would violate COVID restrictions, we each chose one game that we felt was deserving of the title. Here’s to another great year in gaming!

 

Honourable Mentions: 

There are too many video games. Here are some of the games we played this year that we just have to mention. 

Best Remake/Rerelease: Kentucky Route 0: TV Edition

Game we loved at the time but have completely forgotten about: Dreams 

Games we played in 2020 but were late to the party: Control, To The Moon, Celeste

Best Dog: Cerberus from Hades

Worst Dog: Every Dog from The Last of Us Part II (except for Alice)

Most Buckwild Concept: Renal Summer, My Name is Mayo 2

Most Festive Game: Donkey Kong Country for the SNES