Many people became hardcore gamers in 2020 due to BOSH COVID-19. With many parts of the world on lockdown, playing games was a great way to be entertained, pass the time, and retain a bit of sanity. Thankfully, there were tons of great games to play. For me, the best game of 2020 was Final Fantasy Remake.
Before I get into why FFVII Remake was my choice for best game of 2020, let’s discuss an honorable mention. I’m super late to the party, but I’ve been enjoying a little bit of Hades recently and aim to play more of it in 2021. This action-RPG is made by one of my favorite independent studios, the outstanding Supergiant Games, and is the ultimate realization of the company’s style. It’s a delightful game with thoughtful storytelling that’s perfect for long sessions and equally excellent for when you want to slay a bunch of baddies for a few minutes. Well done Supergiant!
Now getting back to Final Fantasy VII Remake, it was a brilliant mélange of wonderful gameplay and outstanding storytelling. As I’ve mentioned several times on the site, I liked — but didn’t love — the original FFVII for PlayStation. Its PSP prequel, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, is one of my all-time favorite games. FFVII Remake advances the gameplay of Crisis Core, adds a lot of clarity to some of the original’s plot points, and spins it in an all-new direction. The end result is one of the best works of interactive entertainment I’ve experienced in years and my choice for best game of 2020.
It’s certainly not for everyone. While the narrative makes much more sense than the original’s, it’s still weird in that special 90s Japanese RPG way. Some of my friends found the gameplay too hack-and-slash-y. Both of those are valid points and neither of them mattered to me. For more reasons why I loved this game, please check out my not-a-review of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
How about you guys and dolls? What was the best game of 2020 in your esteemed opinion? Leave your choice in the comments section (please!).