Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the game that got me through 2020. While not the most action-packed, going outside, visiting friends, and building a life on a remote island came along at just the right time. I wholly enjoyed the laid-back pace of the game where the only pressure is whether your turnips will yield a good profit. I don’t visit my big blue house nestled on the top of a cliff next to a waterfall as much as I used to, but I still return from time to time to harvest my trees and visit with my neighbors.
By Heather E. Houston.
This year, choosing my GOTY was quite easy. I played and completed several games, but only one stands out: Ghost of Tsushima (PS4). It has everything I love in a game: a rich open world that is large, but easy to traverse; collectibles that are fun to find; graphics that fully highlight the power of the console/system (PS4 Pro); and a protagonist that is flawed but inspirational.
By Joe Barhoum
When I think about game of the year for 2020, only one game comes to mind; The last of Us Part II. Naughty Dog’s latest entry defines what gaming can be, and it sets the standard for narrative games. The Last of Us did the impossible by making me hate the main protagonist and make me fall in love with the “enemy”, and for that alone, this game deserves to be my Game of the Year. The overall gameplay is immersive in a way that no other game is. It was hard to pick up another game right after playing this masterpiece because everything else felt subpar. Like the cordyceps, TLOU 2 infiltrated my mind and will continue to live there for years to come. If you were someone that slept on this title, don’t go into 2021 without playing this must-play exclusive.
By Jimmy Montoya
I never thought a trip to the underworld could be so much fun until I played Hades. Hades is not only of the best indie games I have played, but it’s one of the best games 2020 had to offer. The art style and music are stellar, but it’s Hades gameplay that keeps you coming back for more. What caught me off guard the most is how Hades uses its characters to tell a story; this is not common in a genre where storytelling is almost nonexistent. Every character has their personalities, and they will stick to you long after you are done playing.
By Jimmy Montoya
