S2 Finale- Top 10 Video Games of 2020

 Welcome back to Thrak Attack! What's your adventure! Well we made it through 2020 and one of the best aspects this year was the amount of video games that were released, and the amount of time I could play those games! The video game industry was one of the few that benefited from this year. Full disclosure on this list, I couldn't get my hands on either of the next generation consoles but I did get to play a lot on Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Google Stadia. I will also not be including any rereleases (sorry Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Persona 5 Royal, and Xenoblade Chronicles) So without anymore rambling, here are my Top 10 Video Games of 2020

10. Watchdogs: Legions (Stadia) is a great concept that didn't deliver. I love the beginning of the story and I love where the story went but something stopped me from enjoying the game from having an entire city to explore and the chance to recruit anyone but it doesn't take long to realize that it's the same couple voices and characters and the same few missions. 

9. Trials of Mana (Switch) is a remaster of a classic 90's JRPG. The concept of having 3 main characters out of 7 and each story being different is a fantastic way to create a game you can play multiple times. The visuals are great, the music is fantastic, and the enhanced gameplay makes this a must play for the year!

8. Clubhouse Games (Switch) is a great package of 51 games. And yes I know there is nothing much to this game but the fantastic presentation and sound design made this the perfect summer game for traveling on the switch. 

7. Cyberpunk 2077 (Stadia) is one of the biggest games of the year that had one of the worst releases in video game history. The visuals, acting, and RPG elements make this one of the most compelling games of the year but it's rushed development and botched gameplay make it one of the most polarizing gaming experiences in the year. 

6. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (Switch) is a prequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild with a completely new game style. In the style of Dynasty Warriors, seeing Link Zelda and many other fan favorites from the game. Even though the game was repetitive, it was still enjoyable to play through!

5. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 (PS4) is a remaster of the first two Tony Hawk Pro Skater games. The series has been in a rut for a few years so they're going back to their roots. The controls are tight and clean, the levels are more detailed, but I'm glad they didn't touch the iconic soundtrack. The gameplay loop was fantastic and I felt myself getting better after each 2 minute round!

4. Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4) is another complete remaster from the 90's built from he ground up. Part 1 of 3 that fleshes out the first act of the original game and completely reinvents the gameplay. It's visually stunning and the characters are beautifully crafted that creates a beautifully realized world. Even though some of the teases of the next game don't make sense and parts of the game feel tacked on or drawn out it's still a fantastic game!

3. Ghosts of Tsushima (PS4) is one of the most beautifully crafted stories in gaming this year. The story is crafted beautifully with major quests continuing each characters story arcs within three distinct section of the games. The atmospheric gameplay and the most beautiful game of the year is only dampened by the odd animations and easy boss battles. 

2. The Last of Us Part 2 (PS4) is one of the most important games of the year including the most intricate stories in video game history. The acting in this game is fantastic, the game design is fantastic, and the story is heartbreaking yet compelling. Some of the most iconic moments in gaming this year come from this game and it made me think about my actions in the final fight. 

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) is only game that I went back into after the credits rolled. Like many people this year, this is the game that got me through the pandemic. With updates releasing every few weeks this game keeps changing and giving you something new to do every time you turn it on!

All the Best, Ross