Here is my list of the best video games of 2020, separated by genre and ending with my favorite game of the year. As always, certain genres like sports and visual novels were left out because they are too similar and I like to spotlight creativity by favoring games that are more diverse in their gameplay.

Best Side-scrolling Platformers

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Shantae and the Seven Sirens

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2

Panzer Paladin

Carrion

Spelunky 2

Super Meat Boy Forever

Best 3D Platformers

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time!

Ghostrunner

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Astro’s Playroom

Best Adventure Games

The Last of Us Part II

Ghost of Tsushima

Röki

Tell Me Why

Welcome to Elk

Going Under

Watch Dogs: Legion

Bugsnax

The Pathless

Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Best Role-playing Games

Nioh 2

Paper Mario: The Origami King

Wasteland 3

Hades

Ikenfell

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Cyberpunk 2077 (the PC version)

Best Tactics and Strategy Games

Gears Tactics

Desperados III

Othercide

Crusader Kings III

Iron Harvest

Star Renegades

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

Best First-person Shooters

Doom Eternal

Deep Rock Galactic

Best Beat ’em Up

Streets of Rage 4

Best Hack and Slash

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Best Flight Combat

Star Wars: Squadrons

Best Survival Games

The Survivalists

Amnesia: Rebirth

Best Battle Royale

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Best Sandbox Games

Dreams

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Spiritfarer

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Sakuna: Of Rice and Rain

Best Puzzle Games

I Am Dead

Disc Room

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

Best Rhythm Games

Fuser

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

Best Virtual Reality

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners

Half-Life: Alyx

Best Remakes

Persona 5 Royal

Resident Evil 3

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Trials of Mana

Mafia: Definitive Edition

Demon’s Souls

Eli’s Favorite Game of 2020

The Last of Us Part II

The original The Last of Us for PlayStation 3 told a satisfying and self-contained story. Which makes the story told in this sequel all the more impressive, thanks largely to the incredible acting, unpredictable narrative and three-dimensional cast. I never saw video game characters come to life and feel like real people so well before, and the gameplay is interwoven into the narrative naturally enough to make your actions feel significant which in turn makes you even more emotionally involved in the gut-wrenching drama. Neil Druckmann and Halley Gross’ script is masterful and the enemies, environments and your choice in how to approach them as you navigate a world of infected zombies make the experience even more memorable.