by Brandon Perkins
Well…this year kinda sucked, huh?
That’s actually what I said (more or less) last year, filled with hope and joy that the following year could only get better.
Well…fuck me for believing any of that nonsense!
Fortunately, we still had some solid games come out this year. Some of them were remastered collections of already bonified classics, and others were the final completed version of great games. All of them were worth playing, and all of them for different reasons.
So, here’s what kept me sane through this absolute dog-dick of a year (and helped tide me over until I can finally get a friggin PS5)…
10. Eastward (Switch)
This odd little RPG about keeping your optimism in spite of all-consuming odds was…oddly thematic.
9. Scarlet Nexus (PS5, PS4, Xbox)
What this game lacked for story, it more than made up for with flashy visuals and entertaining combat.
8. The Silver Case 2425 (Switch)
This collection of early Suda51 projects was one of my surprise favorites this year, reminding me of just why I love the Switch.
7. Fuga: Melodies of Steel
Think a game about a bunch of cute animals piloting a tank is whimsical? It is, but it’s also DARK AS ALL HELL.
6. Cruis’n Blast (Switch)
You know what a lot of modern video games lack? Dumb fun. Know what Cruis’n Blast is loaded with? Dumb, arcadey fun.
5. Mario Golf: Super Rush (Switch)
The game was fun, yes, but honestly it was the soundtrack more than anything that really sold me. Horns + Power Metal? Oh hell yes!
4. Metroid Dread (Switch)
After what feels like an eternity, Samus returns to finish the story arc she started all those years ago.
3. Tales of Arise (PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC)
Namco took a major risk with revamping the Tales series, and they still managed to hit it out of the park. A JRPG should not hit this real.
2. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (Multiplatform)
This reminded me of why I fell in love with the crew of the Normandy all those years ago. Garrus will always be the best wingman.
1. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Multiplatform)
A game about political upheaval, mental illness and murder that is not only deeply moving…it’s also absolutely hilarious.