Let’s face it: 2020 was a very unpredictable year for gaming. Between the expiration of a major console generation, followed by its inevitable successors, and the COVID-19 pandemic, things just went by too jerkily. In a normal year, the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X would garner much more appreciation for their standardization of SSD’s, high framerates, and raytracing. After all, these previously PC exclusive features came to average console games. Furthermore, we saw the new Nvidia and AMD graphics cards make 4K at high refresh rates possible.
However, one area that didn’t get justice is the matter of the games themselves. There have been numerous releases in the past year, ranging wildly in quality and reception. However, we feel that not all of them get the appreciation they deserved at launch. More specifically: let’s talk about the games that aren’t being nominated for the Game of The Year Award at The Game Awards.
Each of these games is still great and doesn’t need awards to prove that
Isn’t it a tad frustrating how greatness sometimes goes overlooked? Everywhere you look, the main praise and talk go to the same few names. Not that they didn’t earn any acclaim, but hearing the gushing over Cyberpunk 2077, The Last of Us 2, and Spiderman Miles Morales is getting dull. It’s time to focus on the actual merits and enjoyment of a game, rather than hype.
The games we discuss here were either too underrated, missed the cutoff for the 2019 awards, or simply eclipsed by something more popular. Note that these are in no particular order of ranking, and not a countdown. Here are the top 5 games that should have been nominated for TGA Game of The Year in 2020.
5) Fall Guys
This game enjoyed a great reception upon its release on the PS5 and PC. Then, approximately 2 moments later Among Us kicked off and people moved on to that game. Despite this, Fall Guys still has a steady player base and good post-launch support. The game stands out for its creative concept (think Baymax from Big Hero 6 competing in Takeshi’s Castle) and colorful visuals, but multiplied by a hundred. A true party game, it deserves a spot next to the latest Mario Party or Splatoon.
4) Resident Evil 3 Remake
The Resident Evil franchise is horror at its finest. Similar to the way fans rave about Silent Hill: PT, the Resident Evil fanbase loves its entries. Featuring high-resolution textures, cleaner interfaces, and a good update to the classic’s gameplay, this remake is probably one of the very best remakes ever.
3) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
This game should have won last year, but the November 15 release date made it miss cutoff dates. The game offers stellar visuals and voice acting, coupled with challenging combat. Playing as a Jedi hasn’t been this fun in years, especially after the disappointing previous games. May the Force be with you, and may they release a sequel to Cal’s story.
2) Half-Life: Alyx
Virtual Reality (VR) gaming hasn’t really caught on yet, not the way we hoped back in the ’90s and early 2000s. Still, if there is one reason to pick up a VR headset, it’s this game. Featuring a gripping storyline, great visuals, strong physics, and engaging gunplay, Alyx’s adventures suck you right in. Now, hopefully, they mention Half-Life 3 at the 2021 Game of The Year awards, right?
1) Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Blind Forest was one of the best platformers we’d seen for a very long time. So, the expectations were quite high for its sequel. Ori and the Will of the Wisps though managed to not only meet those expectations but surpassed them. The game brought many new mechanics and abilities to the arsenal and is hands-down one of the most visually stunning games of this generation.
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