It's been a crazy year, but it's also been a huge year for gaming. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X released, my most anticipated game ever, Last of Us Part 2 finally came out, as well as probably the most anticipated game of all time, Cyberpunk 2077.
The usual awards of Game of the Year, which is awarded to a game that I completed for the first time in the year 2020, so a five year older game could win, same rules apply to the following categories. Worst Game, Most Surprising Game, Most Disappointing Game, Best and Worst DLC, and new to this year Most Anticipated Game and Best Co-op Game.
Previous GotY winners
2016: Sunset Overdrive
2017: Uncharted 4
2018: Red Dead Redemption 2
2019: The Outer Worlds
Best DLC: Outlast: Whistleblower
Generally, I'm not a big fan of DLC. I'm always excited when new content for a game I love gets announced, but I'm usually left disappointed and reminded that DLC is rarely ever worth it. Not this time though.
Whistleblower is a whole new story for Outlast set prior to the original game and it's just as enjoyable, bringing in that unsettling feeling and the scares that come with being chased by the creepy inhabitants. Of course it's much shorter, the price you pay for DLC, but as extra content goes, this is an easy sale.
Worst DLC: Hitman 2: Hantu Port
Ugh Hitman, why are you doing this? I have to be careful not to go on a rant about Hitman 2, nevermind the inflated price of the season pass, or the fact you get as many co-op missions as you do single player in it, or the lazy achievement list that didn't even add up to 1000 gamerscore, or that THE FUCKING TERRIBLE EPISODIC METHOD RETURNS.
Hantu Port is one of the new co-op sniper missions, I guess I just enjoyed this less than the other. By all means it's not terrible, it's actually fun co-op, but once it's done, it's done in my eyes. See, that's where these new Hitman games fail, they are amazing, but it's all about replayability, which again they do fantastic, but sometimes I just wanna move on to the next game.
So with that mentality, Hitman sadly fails. You can complete the whole game for the first time in just a few hours. Probably less than ten minutes for this DLC. "But don't you wanna replay Hantu Port for a better time and score?". Not really.
Most Disappointing Game: Days Gone
Runners up: Mafia Definitive Edition, Wolfenstein II The New Colossus
When I first saw Days Gone, I really thought this could be the best game ever made. I had these same thoughts with Watch Dogs and Quantum Break, disappointment followed suit. This looked like it could rival The Last of Us, it looked an open world version, with zombie wildlife and a motorcycle to travel around in.
Sadly, what we got was the longest and dullest story I've ever played. I complain about games being too long more than I do too short now, but Christ, this game never ended. Everytime I thought I was getting closer, I just unlocked a new area.
I liked one character throughout the game, Boozer, he's not even the playable one. Everyone was just kinda unlikeable, I mean I wasn't wishing them death, but I didn't care if they did. Graphics are amazing and there's some fun to be had, but all the story dialogue when talking on the radios and so many cutscenes of telling you what to do, only to be told what to do again as you drive to your objective could've been cut, it literally would've saved me at least 5 hours of playtime.
I will give a lot of credit for the zombie hordes though, being chased and fighting them off is incredible. It's so intense and gives off an adrenaline rush that it's worth playing just for that. Maybe just skip most cutscenes and you'll enjoy it more.
Most Surprising Game: Astro's Playroom
Runners up: Persona 5, Assassin's Creed Origins.
Persona 5 was a shoe in for this until out of nowhere my PS5 arrived and a game called Astro's Playroom was free to play. This game is pretty much a demo for the new controller, as it shows off all the new features. I won't go into much detail on that because it's so much better to try yourself and see how powerful the new Dualshock really is.
This is so much more than just a demo though, it's a really fun, beautiful looking game in its own right. This is a trip down memory lane for PlayStation owners as it goes through the history of all the PlayStation consoles and it's all set inside the PlayStation 5.
Besides the controller features my favourite part of the game are the artefacts you collect throughout the game. It ranges from the consoles, handheld devices, memory cards and pretty much all the PlayStation hardware you can think of in Sony's 25 year history. Even better though, is the countless Easter eggs you'll find from your PS exclusive favourites from Jak & Daxter, The Last of Us, Uncharted and lots more.
Play this, it's free!
Before the Best/Worst game I think I should introduce the new awards!
Most Anticipated Game: Back 4 Blood
This probably won't always go to a game releasing the following year, as most games are announced with no date, but the first one will!
I had a special feeling when this got announced, a feeling I rarely get. I'm a huge Left 4 Dead fan, one of my all time favourite games. So seeing this was big. The game looks fun, the new infected look crazy and I can't wait to be chased by them and see all the new things they do. I hope we see some of the classics like the Hunter, Tank, Witch, Boomer and Smoker, but I sadly doubt that.
This is Left 4 Dead in everything but name, so it is officially Left 4 Dead 3, we just can't call it that. I can't wait to see the new maps and weapons, I hope I can meet some cool people playing online like I did originally, but I don't think I'll find the online with random players this time around, but I'm optimistic!
Best Co-op Game: Human Fall Flat
Runners up: Styx: Shards of Darkness, Castle Crashers
I really cannot believe I only completed this game this year, I feel like I've been playing this for years! It's a fun, puzzle platformer with ragdoll physics. As fun and hilarious this game is, ragdoll physics can also test your patience at times!
What's even better about this game is that the developers are continually adding new content to the game, and it's free! No season pass or battle pass like every Call of Duty and Ubisoft game, and the content is even better!
For the price you would pay for this and all the new content added, this is probably the best deal you can get for a game. And if you have more than one player to play with, it supports 8 players and you can customise your character.
Worst Game of the Year: Albedo Eyes From Outer Space
Runners up: Where the Bees Make Honey, Black Mirror
In truth Albedo and Where the Bees are easily two of the worst game ever made. There is no reason for them to exist, and a good way to avoid a bad game is if the achievements are easy and doable in around 2 hours, STAY AWAY.
Albedo is ugly, difficult to control, clunky, awful Gameplay, terrible voice acting. Nothing is good about this game, it even looks like a PS1 game. Why does this exist? Who tested it? Whose idea even was this? Just why?
Best Game of the Year: The Last of Us Part 2
Runners up, Spyro 3, Yakuza Kiwami 2
What else was it going to be? I don't want to go into too much detail about the story, but this game lived up to the original, although it wasn't as strong and unable to takeover as the best game I've played, I certainly enjoyed it.
Naughty Dog told a daring story and for many it didn't pay off, clearly they are used to the good guy winning and never being put it any danger. It's an emotional roller coaster, you'll feel anger, sadness, relief, love, hate, revenge, forgiveness? However the story plays out, will you feel how the game wants you to?
Playing as the villain is a unique experience as you are told the story also through their perspective. I love this idea, but I hated how it came about. I just wish they could have fit the villains story in better, because the pacing was way off for me. I was ready for what looked to be the end, only to be pushed back to the start of the game as the person I wanted to kill? I just wanted to rush though at the beginning, but the story is interesting enough to change your mind.
The pacing affected the final score, but it didn't stop it from being one of the best games I've played. I'm looking forward to my next play through, especially with not having to play as fast as I can to avoid spoilers. If you think this is a bad game, wow, you are so privileged because you have never played a bad game. Naughty Dog continue to be one of the best developers and I can't wait to see what they bring next.
2021 is going to be a big year I'm sure as the new consoles start to flesh out and we see plenty of games coming. Back 4 Blood, Hitman 3 and The Medium are some of the games I'm expecting good things from to name a few. Even Cyberpunk 2077 which was absent from this year's list, although probably best for their sake. Here's hoping it's playable in the new year.
Happy 2021.
