As the calendars roll over I’ve been reflecting on this once in a lifetime year, a year that saw the human race get knocked on their arses by a creature we can’t even see. With so many of our freedoms being temporarily restricted we had to batten down the hatches and stay home more than we would normally. There is something about me that has made this infinitely more tolerable; I’m a gamer. In fact, being locked in my house for weeks on end is probably my idea of heaven. Of course, homeschooling and having to provide support to my parents has kept my feet firmly on the ground. Like me, if you are reading this it is likely you are also a gamer and have also found this incredible hobby very handy over the last twelve months.
Many sectors of the world have seen a dramatic recession but most facets of gaming have thrived thanks to people looking for fun things to do while at home (yes apart from that). Even the events that we usually attend in person have adapted with admirable efficiency. However, many studios have also felt the effects of the virus with staff working from home and as such we are starting to see more titles being hit with Covid related delays. However, with the release of a brand new generation of consoles as well as the new line up of GPUs, it is also a very exciting time. As is now a tradition here at Rigged for Epic, I would first like to acknowledge five games that while didn’t make my game of the year, still stood out and are certainly worthy of your attention. So before you skim down to the bottom (you mean you haven't already?) I will just say I hope we all have a healthy 2021 and we send that little bastard virus packing.
Five of the best
Death Stranding
When the man responsible for one of the best stealth/espionage games ever made told us his next game was about delivering mail; people thought Hideo Kojima was joking. I remember watching the PS4 version getting dissected by the gaming media, nobody really knew what to do with it. In a game that has you essentially delivering packages across a rocky and barren landscape could on paper sound dull. However, that description doesn’t even come close to the sumptuous experience that lies under the surface. Hideo uses realism as a tool to settle you into the world, with the main character having to consider every rock in his path. Sam can also use his bodily fluids as a weapon and essentially can’t die. Yes, this is a true Kojima game.
This dance between hyperrealism and pure fantasy is one way that Death Stranding creates the sparks that for many ensnared them into the fantastical world. The cast of actors who bring the games main characters to life have done an exceptional job and the soundtrack is to die for. As I said in my review, this is certainly not a game for everyone and some might even consider the minutia involved with each trek boring. However, I think if you drop all of your preconceptions at the door and step into the well-worn boots of Sam; there is a stunning and unique experience waiting for you in Death Stranding. Check out my review to see why this game was very nearly my game of the year.
Developer: Kojima Productions
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
It is always a risk when you release your game early in the year, that is if you wish to snag a few awards at the year’s end. Well here at Rigged for Epic our memory isn’t so short and Ori certainly deserves a place in this list. The first Ori game did for side-on platformers what Pixar did for CGI. With impossibly beautiful levels, busting with colour and fluid animation it was certainly one of the best looking games to come out in recent years.
This sequel, while pushing the visuals even further, did also make some changes to the core gameplay. With inspiration from games like Hollow Knight, we now see a more combat-focused game and that will undoubtedly ruffle fans of the original formula. These combat mechanics are well designed and fair so even if this sounds like it might not be your cup of tea; I would still give it a chance. I won’t mention the story here for the sake of spoilers but, like its predecessor, this emotional yarn might also have you shedding the odd tear. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is, in my opinion, the best modern platform game out there and given it is on PC game pass you have no excuse not to have a gander. Check out my full review below.
Developer: Moon Studios
Microsoft Flight Simulator
If you ever wanted a title that had PC gaming running through it’s very DNA you could do a lot worse than the Flight Simulator series. This latest iteration isn’t just an update, it represents a monumental leap in flight sims and world simulation in general. Asobo Studios have fused a number of technologies together and effectively given us the world. You can literally visit any location on our planet, at any time of day and in any weather condition. This sounds remarkable enough but when you actually see it running it beggars belief how this is possible. It isn’t perfect of course and when you visit places you know well there can be some glaringly obvious mistakes, but with a few big updates, these are already being replaced and improved. There has always been a healthy modding community around this type of game and here is no exception.
This is the first game I have ever included in this list that I hadn’t already reviewed in the year. While certainly worthy of a review don’t feel that my current system has the horses to run this game as it should be played and so it didn’t seem fair to review it. With that being said I have watched endless videos of people visiting various locations around the globe as well as having a nosey myself. In the new year we are expecting to get a new rig that will be more than powerful enough to run this demanding simulation at its full potential; so expect a review of the game as it is then.
I was really pleased to see Microsoft is also releasing on their new console and as well as giving full support to VR. Obviously, if you are rocking a powerful rig with all the trimmings this is where you will find the penultimate Flight Sim experience. I have always loved to travel and due to my health can’t do as much these days. So having the ability to soar over any location in the world from the comfort of my gaming room is a gift. This game is one to watch over the next few years.
Developer: Asobo Studios
Cyberpunk 2077
It’s funny (and serves me right in a way) that I just assumed that Cyberpunk 2077 would be game of the year for everyone. I was even considering having a separate game of the year as it didn't seem fair that all the others would just miss out. Yeah...
If we are being fair, most of the issues facing Cyberpunk 2077 (and CD Projekt Red) are associated with the last generation consoles. Even on high powered rigs, this game is in need of optimisation as well as many bug fixes. However, the technical problems are actually not my biggest issue with the game. If you look at all the trailers and PR statements regarding Cyberpunk over the last few years there has been a huge downgrade here. Not so much in the visuals but gameplay systems, cut content and missing features. So much that I am now planning to do a piece on this in the new year. The rumours are that whole swathes of content were removed because investors wanted an earlier release. An unofficial source also claims many of the missing pieces of content are being worked back into a new version of the game and we could see it as soon as June this year.
The reason why I have still included the game in my top five is that if I forget all the issues outside of the game, this is one of the best titles I have played this year. The individual missions are mostly well made, full of interesting details and have various paths depending on your skills. This game has been a huge disappointment and will continue to hurt CDPR until they can show they are dedicated to fixing the issues. However, I do feel like CDPR have earned our trust over the years and that should be considered, so let us see if they can now right their ship and turn this into a new start for the developer.
Developer: CD Projekt Red
XCOM: Chimera Squad
It is no secret that X-Com is my favourite game of all time. I also adore the newer XCOM games from Firaxis as they have captured that wonderful turn-based goodness of the originals while also adding new and exciting gameplay. XCOM 2 was a very welcome sequel as it was built from the ground up for PC which meant beautiful visuals and that clean precision we love on PC focused games. With the fantastic War of the Chosen DLC installed, this right now is the quintessential XCOM experience.
Chimera Squad came right out of left field with an XCOM experience that in many ways broke the mould. I will admit I was very wary of Chimera at first, with its individual characters and more skill-based combat. Yet, very quickly it won me over with the same great tactical prowess as its forbearers. I will admit that when we do see XCOM 3 I would like to see a more traditional offering but there is no doubt that some of the features used here could be introduced into the next game. If you love XCOM or turn-based tactics game in general, then this is a very easy recommendation.
Developer: Firaxis
Best Indie Award
Among Us
Every so often a game will come out of nowhere, no hype, no billion-dollar ad campaign or eight-year development cycle. In all likelihood, you will hear about this type of game from a friend or group you play with. That is exactly how I came across Among Us. I was practically bullied into downloading it when a few friends wanted a change from Overwatch. As I sat there sulking it suddenly occurred to me how much fun I was actually having.
I have no doubt that the worldwide lockdown had something to do with this games blisteringly fast rise in popularity. That is not to say Among Us isn’t a great game, it is, but it was also here just when we needed it. With other successes like Fall Guys having the team based games sorted, Among Us gave us chance to vent some of those frustrations on the people we love most: by firing them into the void of space. The game is a very simple concept; when you spawn in you are either crew or an imposter. Crew members are tasking with completing a number of simple jobs to win and imposters have to scupper this effort. The obvious way is to murder the crew members until the imposters have the greater number. Once you have been slaughtered in some spectacular fashion (and repressed the urge to scream bloody murder) you can then carry on with your tasks as a ghost while also watching how your fellow crewmates are getting on.
The real magic of this game is learning (to your horror) how good your wife, brother or any other trusted family member can lie. I have managed to convince my friends to fire innocent people into space all while knowing I was the one doing the murderings. It was clear that the developers were not ready for the success Among Us has enjoyed as servers were initially very up and down. However, things now seem stable and the game is playable on many devices with cross-play working perfectly.
With such a monumental success I would like to award Among Us the Rigged for Epic indie game award for 2020.
Developer: Innersloth
Game of the Year Award
Assassins Creed Valhalla
I adore the Assassins Creed series for many reasons, but mostly for the journey it has taken me on. The Animus uses biological memories to prise open history itself and allow someone to experience these time periods first hand: what an awesome concept. As I have set out in my review, there are two distinct eras of Assassins Creed, all the games up to and including Syndicate are the first. The second era has shifted to a more open-world formula where combat and RPG mechanics have been sprinkled into the mix. This change has come with some benefits such as campaigns having a far broader scope than before and the combat can be legitimately fun. However, many players also lamented the loss of a more intimate city experience and Odyseey especially felt like it had been spread way too thin.
Assassins Creed Valhalla now takes the series to the rain-soaked shores of England. In these dark times, the Romans had all but disappeared and it was now the time of the Viking’s. While not being a big fan Eivor initially, over my hundred and thirty hours with the game I’ve come to rate her as one of the best protagonists in the series yet. The campaign is orientated around Eivor gaining allies and ensuring here clans survival in these unstable times. As your settlement grows, so too does your power, abilities and arsenal of weapons. This is a truly beautiful game that includes many of the sights you might expect to see such as Stone Henge, The White Cliffs of Dover and the early foundations of London. I think where this game succeeds where Odyssey failed is on the pacing of the story and also the way it compartmentalises each one in its own region. The world also feels far more handcrafted and less cookie-cutter in terms of places and terrain.
So it gives me great pleasure to say Assassins Creed is once more heading in the right direction and I give Assassins Creed Valhalla my game of the year award for 2020.
Developer: Ubisoft