5 Games I played in 2020 (Plus 6 rapid fire reviews cause I played a lot)

 I played a lot of games in 2020. It's hard to say if I played more than other years but I wouldn't doubt it if I did. In a year when we were all stuck inside with little to do, Video Games provided a way to escape and relax.

 There were so many great experiences that got me through the year. Today I would like to share some of these game with you, and how they helped me through this wild year.

The only requirements I made for this selection are that I have to have either started a game, or finished the game. 

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue team DX

Rescue team DX was released in February of 2020. It was a remake of the first Pokemon mystery dungeon games, blue rescue team and red rescue team, acting as a fusion of the two versions. It came after 5 years without a new mystery dungeon game.

I could not imagine a better start to the year than this. I have loved Pokemon for as long as I can remember and the Mystery dungeon series is my favorite spin off series. To see it return is such a beautiful fashion was one of my favorite things to see in 2020.

The entire game attempts to invoke the style of the original game's concept art in its graphics and art design. It looks like the world and Pokemon came straight out of those sketches, merging grainy paper-like filters with 3d environments and character models to get a style all its own.

The game stars you after you take a quick personality quiz and turn into a Pokemon. You meet your partner and form a rescue team with the aim of helping as many Pokemon as possible. 

The gameplay holds up just as well as ever. You traverse randomized dungeons on a grid. every time you move, attack, or use an item everything else on that floor also gets to act.   

I adore this game. It remakes the original games almost flawlessly and provides an enriching, heartfelt story about friendship and nature. Each playthrough is different and the fact your personality decides what Pokemon I am effectively places me in the world. It was the happiness before the trials that would await us all.

Persona 5 Royal

If there was a game to embody the word 'Style', this would be it. Persona 5 Royal (also known as Persona 5R) was released on the last day of March 2020 to unanimous praise. In fact, Persona 5R was the highest rated game on Metacritic in 2020!

I played the original Persona 5 in 2019 and fell in love with it almost instantly. Ever since then I kept a close eye on the series, waiting for new chances to play more. Persona 5R is an enhanced version with even more content, characters, and modes to explore. A pure improvement on Persona 5 and the definitive version of the game.

The game is a JRPG about a teenager who got put on probation for trying to protect a stranger. He gets thrust into a new school and discovers the power to change wicked hearts and unleash his own will of rebellion.

The gameplay consist of two halves that affect each other. One side has you fighting in turn based battles, exploring dungeons (coined as palaces in this game), and stealing hearts in traditional JRPG fashion. The other half has you form bonds with friends and doing everyday tasks to increase stats both in and out of dungeons. Everyday life is tied to combat and vice versa.

The duality of the gameplay gives a great sense of pacing. When you get tired of fighting, you can go hang out with your friends while still powering up. Once you're rested, you can go back stronger and more prepared.

The combat itself has a satisfying flow to it. Your goal in any given fight is to knock down enemies with their weakness to gain 1 more turn. Once every enemy is down, you can negotiate with them or take them out with one of the most stylish super moves in gaming.

Persona 5R is a game close to my heart. It was exactly what I needed at the time. A rich and in depth story with satisfying gameplay and almost 100 hours of content. It was a great addition to one of my favorite games. I could escape into the world and take on evildoers with style. 

Among Us

This is likely the most popular game on this post. Among us was an uncommon success story. Published in 2018 by the people behind Henry Stickman, InnerSloth. It exploded in popularity in late summer 2020. Streamers showed off the simple and cute characters playing this game of deception and the world took notice. It's a wonder that a game released 2 years ago gained such a following so fast. A testament to the power of streaming as a marketing tool.

 

In Among us you take control of a crewmate or an imposter. Your goal as a crewmate is to either finish tasks or find out who the imposters are and vote them out. As the imposter your goal is to kill every crewmate without getting caught.  

This game came at the perfect time of the year. When I was getting fatigued from not seeing my friends I could invite them to a game of among us. It allowed me to be closer to people than before. It also just let me be in a new role where deceiving was encouraged to win the game. Figuring out who to trust is thrilling when it's a game. Without among us, loneliness would have been a bigger problem than it ended up being.

Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy was re-released in 2020 as a part of the Super Mario 3d All Stars collection. Because of this I had an excuse to replay this game. It's just a great as ever.

At this point I barely need to explain how Mario Games work. However this one distinguishes itself by shooting Mario across the stars. With the help of Rosalina and the Lumas, Mario goes off to save Princess Peach from Bowser.

The space theming elevates this game's aesthetic to astounding heights and with the HD touch up in 3d All Stars it looks even better. I've always had a soft spot for a good space aesthetic.

The music of Galaxy is even better than its art direction. It hits all the right notes for a Mario game except bigger and far better. The bosses sound more epic, the stages more vast, the emotional moments more potent, the playgrounds more playful and happy. It's hard to find a soundtrack as fitting and grand as this one.

This is a game that is close to my heart as it was one of the first games I fell in love with. I adore the space theming, the fantastic controls, varied moveset of Mario, an absolutely BREATHTAKING soundtrack, heartfelt backstory, and honestly so much more. Revisiting this game in the middle of the year was comforting, something I hope everyone can experience from time to time.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

 

This is a game that came out of nowhere for me. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a JRPG that came out in late 2017 to generally positive reception. It's about a boy named Rex and his blade Pyra as they journey to the mythical land of Elysium. 

My own personal history with the series is complicated. I started with Xenoblade X on the Wii U and liked it, then I got my sister Xenoblade 2 in 2017 since she also liked X. We both bounced off Xenoblade 2 every time we tried it. It wasn't until this year that I decided to try again. After watching a Xenoblade 2 Lets Play from Chuggaconroy I finally understood the combat and could enjoy the game fully.

And what a game it is. Once I got past the steep learning curve and slow beginning I found a truly magical experience waiting for me. Xenoblade 2 is wonderful. 

The game looks great. It has vast landscapes to traverse with varied environments and rich wildlife. The cities are appropriately big and the monsters are fierce. The game is set on the continent like creatures called titans swimming in the cloud sea. Each one has you going to new biomes and seeing beautiful sights.

 The music is one of the game's strong points. It is incredible how much I've been thinking or humming the tunes in this game after playing it. Some music might seem odd in a few places but it's never bad. It always enhances the atmosphere of the world or scene.

My personal favorite part of the game is the characters. Rex is a wonderful protagonist who just wants what's best for everyone. Prya is complex and a ties everyone together. Nia is just the best. I could go on and on. I ended up liking everyone by the time I got to the final boss. I can't say the same for most games I've played.

This was one of the last games I played this year and what a way to send it off. Xenoblade 2 is a wonderful ride.

Rapid Fire Games

I want to list some more games I had fun with this year without going super in depth. Lets goooooo.

Hades

A rogue-like action game that sees you escaping the underworld. This game is super pretty and polished. The gameplay is satisfying and the characters are really interesting. They use every death as both a learning experience and an opportunity to gain abilities.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

An action JRPG that remakes the classic Final Fantasy VII. This is a remake I was skeptical about since it changes the combat to action rather than turn based but it works so well. This is the best action RPG I have played. It both looks and plays like a dream.

Persona 4 Golden

After playing Persona 5 I looked for more persona to play. The opportunity came when Atlus ported Persona 4 Golden to steam summer of 2020. I spent the beginning of my summer playing it. While the combat and experience gain is less refined than Persona 5, the story and characters are up to the standards set by those games. It was a great start to the summer.

Nier Automata

If I was giving games awards, this one would win best introduction. Nier Automata is an action game with some RPG elements. Those two elements flow together seamlessly. teaching the basics with ease. Nier effortlessly flows between its different gameplay styles and presents an intriguing world with a compelling plot and characters.

Minecraft

I beat the Ender Dragon in Minecraft for the first time in 2020. It was a blast learning all the new things that were added since I played it as a kid. I played it with my cousin and his friend and it was amazing.

Sea of Thieves

This was another game I played with my cousin and we are still sailing the seas to this day. Sea of Thieves lets you fulfill you and your friends' pirate dreams. Sailing to find treasure, battling sea creatures and other ships, or just figuring out how fishing works.

It was an exciting trip out to sea. 

There are so many games I played that I didn't even mention above. Animal Crossing New Horizons, Phoenix Write Ace Attorney, and Super Mario Sunshine to name a few. All of these games helped me get through the year. 

Despite everything that has happened, I'm thankful for these experiences that helped me and many others survive this year. I hope you had something similar to help you through the year. Cheers to 2021 and all the awesome games we get to play! Have a wonderful day!