Runners-Up

Deep Rock Galactic Fleek Spock Galactic

Votes: 7
Website | OpenCritic: 85 (96% recommend)
Steam | Xbox
Show 2 Reviews

#10
Destiny 2: Beyond Light No title puns for this one, just some actual player names: Eris Has 20/20/20 Vision Ok, O Boomer Mine. I Am A Titan (ed. note: was very obviously a warlock) Nyanbinary Grow THICC From Strength King Torture and the Renegade Princess Fleetwood MAC-11 Ralph Nadir Limit Brecht 15kg of Lasagna Helmet Too Tight George W. Kush Shoutout To Them Pears "+ has departed" "Habanero revived Super Damaged Canadian" (ed. note: relatable) Sorry, eh! Why use when do trick (ed. note: potential friend) Intel® HD Graphics IM NOT USING ROCKET LAUNCHERS (ed. note: during Season of Dawn Iron Banner) Obama-69 "So Confused :D has departed"

Votes: 7
Website | OpenCritic: 71 (45% recommend) | Discuss
Steam

#9
Reviews of Deep Rock Galactic:
Kane
DRG was designed for co-op, but even though I've only played it solo it's still a fun, tense, well-balanced shooter. How many L4D-alikes can you say that about? The strength of its class balance is proved by everyone believing their class is definitely the best. And best of all: customisable beards!
LW
Mildly-irritating character barks aside, it's the best co-op fun I've had in a long time. Just navigating the space as a group is good on its own. So many instances of wondering how a friend died, followed by dying in the exact same way. Buddy system, folks.
Call of Duty: Warzone

Votes: 7
Website | OpenCritic: 80 (79% recommend) | Discuss
Battle.net
Show 1 Reviews

#8
Kentucky Route Zero

Votes: 7
Website | OpenCritic: 86 (83% recommend)
Steam | GOG | Itch.io
Show 2 Reviews

#7
Reviews of Call of Duty: Warzone:
Fysi
This was borderline GOTY for me purely because of the silly amount of hours I've sunk into it. If I'm not playing a single player game, I'm playing Warzone. There are better battle royales mechanically, but there is just something more enjoyable about the chaos that is possible in Warzone.
Reviews of Kentucky Route Zero:
malkav11
A long time coming, but the atmosphere is incredible and the concepts surreal and beautiful. I've rarely played a game with such a unique and strong sense of place.
veerserif
Is it alright to have an aspirational pick? It's alright to have an aspirational pick. The 2020 game that I wanted to play but still haven't. One of my absolute fondest memories is playing the then-new Act III against the sunrise on a night (morning) when I couldn't sleep.
Star Wars: Squadrons The Mon Calamari DLC is Star Wars: Squidrons

Votes: 8
Website | OpenCritic: 79 (79% recommend)
Origin | Steam | Epic

#6
Hunt: Showdown

Votes: 8
Website | OpenCritic: 77 (63% recommend) | Discuss
Crytek | Steam
Show 1 Reviews

#5
Reviews of Hunt: Showdown:
tjhowse
A delicate blend of mud, bees, and sad horsies.
Tony Hawk's
Pro Skater 1 + 2 Guy Who Looks Just Like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2

Votes: 10
Website | OpenCritic: 89 (99% recommend)
Epic
Show 3 Reviews

#4
Teardown

Votes: 11
Website
Steam Early Access
Show 3 Reviews

#3
Reviews of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2:
nat
Call me when you give this stellar remake treatment THPS3, Activision, xoxo
Y2Ken
It's those old games that you know & love - brought back not as they were, but instead as you remember them being. All the later moves of 3 & 4 are here, along with additional goals for the levels in 1 and an expanded progression system to keep you playing long after your first run through.
David
Best nostalgia hit
Reviews of Teardown:
nat
Smash smash smash.
rogue_michael
Makes you play like a child. You know, when they're playing with their toys like it's the most serious and important thing in the world. That'll be you, carefully levelling a path through a warehouse. Maybe it's a good idea. Maybe it's a bad idea. But it's your idea now, so push ahead with it.
doommunky
A really fun sandbox. Figuring out tricky ways to accomplish your goals is great - I lashed two heavy safes to a dump truck using planks, then dragged them to my goal.
Monster Train

Votes: 17
Website | OpenCritic: 85 (91% recommend)
Steam
Show 4 Reviews

#2
Among Us The Ghost Humongous A Mongoose

Votes: 20
Website | OpenCritic: 82 (67% recommend) | Discuss
Itch.io | Steam
Show 7 Reviews

#1
Reviews of Monster Train:
Noel
Sometimes, card games are elegant machines where everything converges together in one single moment of crystal clarity. Sometimes, you upgrade your big man and make spell go boom. Monster Train is the latter, and it works for me and is surprisingly lore deep and pretty to boot.
LW
Slay the Spire is a highly-tuned performance car; Monster Train is one of those silly monster trucks that always rights itself. I respect the former, but I enjoy the latter more. Also the lore was both weirdly deep and entirely opt-in? Bizarre.
khelzor
A decent deckbuilding game without an economy tacked on. Has all the good bits of a deckbuilder, which is the process of figuring out which most broken and degenerate, but doesn't overstay its welcome by trapping you in a constant grind.
Colthor
Chew chew.
Reviews of Among Us:
Odward Frenry
This was the most fun I had this year. In addition to making new friends through it, it's just been a joy to see the variety of ways to tweak your experience. Whether because of how casually you treat it or by adjusting sliders or using folk rulesets, it's amazing what has come out of the community.
JD
Delightful social subterfuge and deception played out by a cast of adorable astronauts. The rhythm of the different tasks you complete as a crewmate is satisfying, and killing people one by one like a slasher film antagonist is endlessly entertaining. Nobody can be trusted when everyone is SUS.
MaxPoetic
Like Phasmophobia, and unlike most viral "content" games, this game is genuinely great. Everytime I play it I discover some nifty new thing about it, too often for it to be a happy coincidence. This game's quality is no accident, and has been an amazing way to hang out with friends this year!
Soup
The memes almost ruined it. Almost.
Jammy
"If you vote me then we lose" - An Imposter, probably.
Night
No other game has made me so resentful of my "friends". I may never trust them again.
Fysi
I don't think I really need to say anything about this aside from red is sus.


The Best Games of 2020

#11
Factorio
Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 3
Website
MetaCritic: 90 (100% recommend)
Buy Direct | Steam | Humble
#10
Death Stranding
Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 9
Reviews: 3
Website?
OpenCritic: 83 (79% recommend)
Steam
CannedLizard
Bought it in February, played it a little bit but it didn't quite click. Then came quarantine.... Part of the joy of the lore is that describing any one part of the vocabulary or visuals naturally spirals out in a fractal pattern to reveal the whole game's lore at once.
mrwonko
Liked 👍
Hannez
What a strange game! It's great and I like that through all the weirdness there are beautiful themes that are explored via the game mechanics.
#9
A Monster's Expedition (Through Puzzling Exhibitions)
Game of the Year Votes: 3
Runner-Up Votes: 9
Reviews: 5
Website
Steam | Itch.io
Odward Frenry
With all the hallmarks of a Draknek game—clean, charming visuals, tight puzzle design in a world of branching explorations of variations on the main theme, and scenarios that teach incrementally—the meditative world of Expedition adds stellar writing for a whole that will leave you grinning giddily.
Noel
I am really not smart enough to be good at this game but the slick way it teaches you the ins and outs of those tricky trees is remarkable. Plus, it has the best writing in a puzzle game I've ever seen!
velleic
Perfectly constructed puzzling, funny and thoughtful writing, and a lovely chill atmosphere. I'm not sure there's a game as meticulously constructed as this one. Plenty of brilliant eureka moments.
stieg
The premiere log punching simulator and beach at sitter.
Night
Wonderfully charming, brilliantly funny and super slick! Really enjoyed my little trip around the islands, and making new friends is always a delight :)
#8
Cyberpunk 2077
Game of the Year Votes: 4
Runner-Up Votes: 11
Reviews: 3 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 76 (61% recommend)
GOG | Steam | Epic
Night
Despite the occasional bug Night City has been a great place to spend my evenings. I can only imagine it getting better and given the quality of the Witcher 3's expansions, I'm excited to see where they take us in the future.
JD
Despite its abundant bugs and highly vocal toxic parts of its fanbase, Cyberpunk 2077 was always going to be in my top 5. It has (mostly) delivered what I wanted from it: a big RPG with good writing and interesting, complex characters in a sunny dystopia. Give it 6 months, and it'll be even better.
doommunky
A gorgeous open world RPG with lots of story, a decent open world full of stuff to find, and combat encounters that work like simple Deus Ex missions. Some really good encounters, some amazing first-person storytelling, and a lovely world. There's a lot that's underbaked, like the skill system.
#7
Outer Wilds Outer Worlds The Outer Wilds The Outer Worlds
Game of the Year Votes: 5
Runner-Up Votes: 3
Reviews: 1
Website
OpenCritic: 86 (85% recommend)
Epic | Steam
Bollox
So good it breaks my pet hate of time travel stories.
#6
Disco Elysium
Game of the Year Votes: 5
Runner-Up Votes: 9
Reviews: 3 | Discuss (Spoilers!)
Website
OpenCritic: 92 (97% recommend)
Steam
CannedLizard
I would rather die than disappoint Kim Kitsuragi.
tjhowse
Please don't disappoint Kim.
veerserif
Winner of "Most Persistent Yearlong Brainworm". It's by no means perfect and has plenty of rough edges, but it is so obviously unique in this space. So many of its quieter moments have taken permanent residence in my skull. I wait impatiently for the generation of games inspired by this one.
#5
Animal Crossing:
New Horizons
Game of the Year Votes: 5
Runner-Up Votes: 16
Reviews: 4 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 90 (99% recommend)
Stores
velleic
Like all ACs I stoppped playing after a few months, but those few months were a fun, relaxing little routine. The most wonderfully polished installment yet, and great fun to hang out with friends in.
veerserif
A predictable safe choice - but isn't this just the game for security and comfort? A game that is content to run on its own cycles, it was a major crutch for me for most of the year. Now it and I visit occasionally just to see what we're up to. A good companion to have.
stieg
I like to imagine that everything in Animal Crossing is the dillusion of a stranded loner amongst some woodland creatures and piles of leaves arranged into various furnishings. Or maybe that's just what I actually was while playing this game.
Jammy
I catch the bugs.
#4
Half-Life: Alyx
Game of the Year Votes: 6
Runner-Up Votes: 4
Reviews: 2
Website
OpenCritic: 92 (97% recommend)
Steam
CannedLizard
Once I got over the natural magic of VR, the sheer shock of playing what is unmistakably a new Half-Life game in 2020 is worth the price of admission alone.
tjhowse
An ode to Jeff: "Please no. Please don't make me. No no no. Not that, not again. Please. Oh god."
#3
Crusader Kings III
Game of the Year Votes: 7
Runner-Up Votes: 10
Reviews: 5
Website
OpenCritic: 91 (98% recommend)
Paradox Plaza | Steam
kronatherm
The Sims if it weren't obsessed with consumerism, Total War if its overworld were well-designed and Civ if it could be remotely interesting after the 50th turn. No other game gives players so many options for pursuing user-oriented goals, whilst blindsiding you with unforseen consequences.
Fiyenyaa
It's like the last game, but better! And the last one was already great! Wow! The game does the seemingly impossible by improving the core feature of the game - the interpersonal relationships. Now you are incentivised to do things that go with your character's personality, now you can keep secrets!
doommunky
One I want to play more, but when in the right mood this is simply glorious. Look up stuff in the wiki that you don’t understand, but for your first game or 3, just try to play your ruler and treat it like a story generator, not a game to “win”
Jammy
Fuck the Pope, literally.
Soup
CK2 goes on diet, replaces feature bloat with a sexy new interface. Hope you like looking at maps!
#2
Spelunky 2
Game of the Year Votes: 7
Runner-Up Votes: 15
Reviews: 5 | Discuss
Website
OpenCritic: 88 (93% recommend)
Steam
Noel
The sequel to one of the greatest games of all times is, as it turns out, still pretty damn good. Plus, it was a special pleasure to watch the secrets be discovered in real time as opposed to Spelunky HD, which I came to about 10 years too late.
Y2Ken
A better Spelunky? Impossible. Yet somehow they did it, and without invalidating the original. Spelunky 2 initially feels like More Polished SpHD, and then goes to so many places I couldn't have imagined. It's tougher, but more forgiving in a way that meant I was able to reach higher heights.
Odward Frenry
I used to think I'd play Spelunky forever. But now that prediction has to be for Spelunky 2. In many ways, I still think Spelunky HD to be the better (perfect?) game in its precise and simple design, with no extraneous fluff. While 2 isn't as focused, it's smoother enough that I just can't go back.
Zoetrope
More than iteration on a theme, 'lunky 2 is harder and more expansive the lunky HD. Its burrowed into my brain and I need just one more game. Please help.
Jammy
Moles can eat my entire ass.
#1
Hades
Game of the Year Votes: 39
Runner-Up Votes: 40
Reviews: 16
Website
OpenCritic: 94 (100% recommend)
Steam | Epic
veerserif
The roguelike for people intimidated by roguelikes. It radiates the most powerful 2020 aura in games: try to get out of your house and away from your Bad Dad. My girlfriend, who never played action games before, to beat it on EM4. And if nothing else, reward it for its sheer commitment to writing.
Kaytza
How to make dying in a roguelite feel less bad? Make it a reward because you get to chat with everyone! An idea that's so simple and executed so well you wonder why you haven't found an example of it earlier. Peak dysfunctional family Olympians. Music's great as always.
Y2Ken
Hades feels like the culmination of everything Supergiant has made to date: the fast action of Bastion, the interweaving narratives of Pyre, and the multi-layered skills that combine and interact in unique & interesting ways from Transistor. Its stories make great use of the roguelike structure.
JD
I'm not a big roguelike player, but Hades had me hooked immediately. The combination of highly compelling skill based action, great relationship based story, and neat progression mechanics made this one of the most fulfilling and exciting games I've played in years.
velleic
Count me as one of the "I don't like action/roguelikes except for this one" crowd. Perfectly paced goals to progress with throughout your quest, and a real feeling that you're getting better as you go, at the same time as the upgrades make it easier.
Noel
This godlike beatemup is a masterful execution of the roguelite formula. Brilliant characters, super fun gameplay, gorgeous art, and one seriously bad dad. Disclaimer and also brag: my name is in the credits.
Fiyenyaa
Music is perfect, artwork is perfect, voice acting is perfect. The game feels fast and furious and fabulous. My only criticism is that I suck and am too proud to go down to the easier difficulty. But it's still a beauty of a game.
LW
I found the music less memorable than in their previous efforts, but it's made up for by the gorgeous art, slick gameplay, excellent characters, and satisfying progression. It's good; play it.
mrwonko
I love the ludo-narrative consonance of setting a game where you die a lot in the underworld. Having multiple storylines that progress over many runs keeps this rogue-like interesting.
khelzor
It's not often you find a game where every design decision you encounter is so obviously the correct decision. It is, perhaps, the best of all possible roguelikes.
tjhowse
Who knew repeatedly murdering your own dad could be so wholesome?
Fysi
Gods, what a game. What can I say that hasn't been said umpteen times by people far more qualified than myself other than its a nigh on perfect game?
Spad
Stupid sexy Greek gods.
MaxPoetic
Miss Megaera is very mean and that's pretty sexy thank you.
Bollox
Hades more like Zeitgeistes
David
Best dating sim disguised as a roguelike


Honourable Mentions

Strong contenders that just didn't make it into the top 20.
(Click underlined items to see reviews.)
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection
Control
Doom Eternal
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Satisfactory
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
The Last of Us Part II
XCOM: Chimera Squad
Dishonored 2
HITMAN 2
Horizon Zero Dawn
Noita
Paradise Killer
Raft
Sea of Thieves
A Short Hike
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Hardspace: Shipbreaker
Persona 5 Royal
Phasmophobia
Risk of Rain 2
Slay the Spire
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Umurangi Generation
Wide Ocean Big Jacket
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Blaseball
Cloud Gardens
Desperados III
Escape from Tarkov
Genshin Impact
Ghost of Tsushima
No Man's Sky
Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
SnowRunner
Subnautica
Total War: Warhammer II
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Wilmot's Warehouse
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Apex Legends
Baldur's Gate III
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Carrion
DARK SOULS III
Dark Souls: Remastered
Demon's Souls
Destiny 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2
DOOM
Dota 2
Elite: Dangerous
Europa Universalis IV
Fallen London
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy XIV Online
Gears Tactics
Griftlands
Halo 3: ODST
Immortals Fenyx Rising
Into the Breach
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Mindustry
Minecraft
Parkitect
Persona 4 Golden
Red Dead Redemption 2
Ring Fit Adventure
Rocket League
Runescape
Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm
Squad
Star Renegades
Stellaris
Stormworks: Build and Rescue
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Watch Dogs: Legion
What Remains of Edith Finch
Yakuza: Like A Dragon


Special Consideration

Wonderful games recommended by just one member of the community.
Titles in bold were that member's Game of the Year!
(Click underlined items to see reviews.)
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Arma 3
Ashen
Caves of Qud
Chris Thursten's Photoshopped Face
Creaks
Dicey Dungeons
Endless Sky
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy
Hearthstone Battlegrounds
iRacing
Legends of Runeterra
Megaquarium
Mutazione
Night in the Woods
Ooblets
Portal 2
Project Hospital
Project Wingman
Return of the Obra Dinn
Tenderfoot Tactics
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel IV
Thirty Flights of Loving
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition
8800 Blue Lick Rd
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
Armoured Commander II
Bastion
Beat Saber
Besiege
Black Mesa
Blade and Sorcery
Bloodborne
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
Bugsnax
Captain Forever
Carto
Cities: Skylines
Cloudpunk
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
Creeper World 4
CrossCode
Cultist Simulator
Daggerfall Unity
Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45
Darksiders Genesis
Dead Cells
Deadside
Don't Starve
Dragon Age: Inquisition
DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2
Dungeons and Dragons Online
Dwarrows
Eliza
Elsinore
Far Cry New Dawn
Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
Football Manager 2019
Football Manager 2021
Forza Horizon 4
Generation Zero
Guild Wars 2
Gunfire Reborn
Gunpoint
Halo: Reach
Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV: Kaiserreich
Heaven's Vault
Hell Let Loose
Hexcells Infinite
Homeworld
If Found...
Ikenfell
In Other Waters
Lair of the Clockwork God
Last Oasis
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Mars Horizon
Marvel Puzzle Quest
MO:Astray
Möbius Front '83
MOLEK-SYNTEZ
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Monster Hunter: World
Mordhau
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Murder by Numbers
Nauticrawl
Necrobarista
Nioh 2
Observer: System Redux
Opus Magnum
Ori and the Blind Forest
Oxygen Not Included
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Pantry Tetris: Home Edition
Pathologic 2
PGA Tour 2K21
Pillars of Eternity
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Pistol Whip
Pokémon GO
Post Scriptum
Post Void
Prey
Raging Loop
Remnant: From the Ashes
Resident Evil Revelations
Rocksmith 2014 Edition
Root
Sagrada
Saints Row: The Third
Shadow Empire
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Sid Meier's Civilization VI
Sonic Mania
SpeedRunners
Spiritfarer
SquareCells
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Stardew Valley
Streets of Rage 4
Superliminal
Tabletop Simulator
Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1
Tetris Effect: Connected
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
theHunter: Call of the Wild
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Norwood Suite
The Pedestrian
The Sexy Brutale
The Textorcist: The Story of Ray Bibbia
Toby's Nose
Total War: MEDIEVAL II
Townscaper
Trackmania (2020)
Transistor
Two Point Hospital
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Unexplored
Universal Paperclips
Untitled Goose Game
Valorant
VirtuaVerse
Warframe
Wasteland 3
What the Golf?
World of Warships
Wurm Unlimited
Yakuza 0
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Your Future Self