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Feb 12, 2010 · So begins Shutter Island, an impeccably assembled genre thriller from Martin Scorsese that lets the Oscar-winning filmmaker pay painstaking homage to the Hollywood film noirs of the ’40s and...
- Freelance Writer
Dec 13, 2021 · Over the last month, GamesRadar+ staff has voted and debated on the best games of 2021 and we believe that our top 25 ranking is a great reflection of the year.
Metacritic aggregates music, game, tv, and movie reviews from the leading critics. Only Metacritic.com uses METASCORES, which let you know at a glance how each item was reviewed.
Feb 18, 2010 · Picture trying to pick up a dozen wooden matches while wearing mittens and you’re envisioning something less frustrating than wrestling with Shutter Island‘s controls.
- Overview
- Best Virtual Reality Game
- Best Mobile Game
- Best Action Game
- Best RPG
- Best Online Multiplayer Game
- Best Action/Adventure Game
- Best Racing/Sports Game
- Best Fighting Game
- Best Narrative Game
News
By TechRadar Staff
last updated 15 January 2021
Introducing our Game of the Year award winners
(Image credit: Sony)
2020 has been an exciting (and somewhat turbulent) year for gaming. This year we ushered in a new console generation, in the form of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and saw the release of some big hitter games we’ve been waiting years for - along with some dark horses.
Half-Life: Alyx
It’s no stretch of the imagination to say that Half-Life: Alyx redefined AAA VR games in 2020. It set a new standard for immersive gameplay while simultaneously extending a bridge back to some of PC gaming’s most vaunted games. It was a tough task but, after years of work, Valve created a sequel to its groundbreaking franchise in a new medium that is fresh, innovative and completely deserving of all the praise it’s been getting this year.
Honorable mention: Star Wars: Squadrons
Read more: Half-Life: Alyx is a watershed moment for virtual reality.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is everything mobile gaming hasn’t been in the last decade: it’s expansive, it’s cutting-edge and it rarely begs you to fork over your wallet. While some have called it a Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild clone, Genshin Impact finds its footing as an online action RPG with fast combat, varied spells and, of course, recruitable allies.
The combat is simply a joy to be a part of and while we don’t love the end-game loot grind, the beginning segments are exceptionally good - especially if you’ve got three friends to play alongside. If you haven’t played it yet, there’s nothing to lose by giving it a shot. Worst case scenario, you lose a few hours and the best case is that you’ve got a fun, free new game with a ton of content to sink your teeth into.
Honorable mention: Legends of Runeterra
DOOM Eternal
After 2016's Doom, you might've expected ID Software to do a big and better version of the same wave-based demon combat in Martian environments. Instead, Doom has been retooled into a hybrid of FPS, platformer and resource management game, building on the 2016 game's knockback-finisher combat to create an intense arcade shooter where you're constantly balancing ammo, health and shield needs.
It's a real treat, and one of the most cathartic games ever made – it's a heavy metal album cover come to life. Its secrets are actually fun to find, too, which so many developers don't seem to understand when they're filling a game out with collectibles.
Honorable mention: Hades
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Anticipation for Final Fantasy 7's remake was out of control – and the first part of Square Enix's revamp doesn't entirely live up to it, with a truncated-feeling Midgar and a sometimes overstretched main story. That said, it looks incredible in places, recaptures the tone of the original perfectly while making some choice updates, and the hybrid of turn-based and real-time combat means the battles are tons of fun. It bodes well for the next few chapters of the remake, which are looking like they'll be more than a simple retread of the original's plot beats.
Honorable mention: Demon’s Souls
Check out our full Final Fantasy 7 Remake review.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and World of Warcraft Shadowlands
Is it a cop out to pick two games for the award for the best online multiplayer game of 2020? Yes it is. And yet, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and World of Warcraft Shadowlands did something special for their respective online communities this year and both deserve the recognition.
Fall Guys from developer Mediatonic became a smash success practically overnight by mixing a game show-style battle royale with the cute aesthetic of blobby, floppy avatars. The chase for a crown was maddening and addicting, but the taste of victory was always worth the struggle.
Shadowlands, on the other hand, gave something new to one of the most loyal communities of online gamers with exceptional endgame systems and new graphics tech makes the game look more modern than ever before. It’s right up there with Wrath of the Lich King and Mists of Pandaria as some of the best expansions the game has ever seen, and deserves a spot on any self-respecting game of the year 2020 list.
Read more:
Fall Guys tips: 8 pointers to help you take home the crown
Ghost of Tsushima
Yes, the comparisons to Assassin’s Creed are valid, and yes, Jin was a bit of a dull protagonist. But those two elements aside, Ghost of Tsushima was a sweeping and dramatic adventure. It’s katana combat is precise and bloody (stylish, one-hit-one-kill standoffs should appear in all games from here on in), and its recreation of feudal Japan lush and dreamy. One of the PS4’s best-looking games, it’s a fitting swansong for the console and a new series that we can’t wait to see more of in the future. Akira Kurosawa, eat your heart out.
Honorable mention: Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Check out our full Ghost of Tsushima review.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
Can we kick it? Yes, we can! Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a sublime remake of the two classic titles, and a wonderful reminder of why a generation of gamers were so infatuated with popping Ollies, kickflips and racking up crazy score combos all those years ago. With sumptuous new visuals and excellent quality of life additions from later entries in the series, like the ‘revert manual’ mechanic from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, the satisfying gameplay that these great skateboarding games pioneered certainly haven’t.
Honorable mentions: MLB The Show 20 and DIRT 5
Check out our Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 review.
Streets of Rage 4
More than just a retro throwback, Streets of Rage 4 brings the classic Sega series kicking and punching into the modern era. Stylish cartoony graphics meld with bone crunching action, with a faster, smoother feel to the combat than the series has ever had. This is the Streets of Rage you’ve been playing in your head since you were seven years old, come to life.
The Last of Us: Part II
We waited seven years for the sequel to the critically acclaimed The Last of Us - but the wait was certainly worth it. The Last of Us: Part II is an emotional, captivating (and sometimes uncomfortable) title that explores themes of vengeance, tribalism, and the gray areas of morality. It’s hard to describe this stunning sequel without spoiling the game’s story, but Naughty Dog has done a stellar job of building on the relationship players had developed with the series’ characters and implementing twists and turns that sometimes had us shouting at our TVs or squirming in our seats.
Honorable mentions: Cyberpunk 2077
Check out our The Last of Us 2 review.
Feb 16, 2010 · Shutter Island game is a hidden objects game where players will take on the role of a U.S. Marshal as they attempt to locate patients that have escaped Ashecliffe during a recent hurricane.
Jul 3, 2020 · Scorsese’s now-classic 1991 remake of Cape Fear is perhaps its closest cousin, a lean, mean psychological thriller with disturbingly good lead performances and a incisive commentary on the ...
