National Video Games Day 2020: The Generation's Best Games

It isn't often that a new console generation is on the horizon. There have been so many great games to play in the last several years. Each year had so many new and exciting games to dive into. New genres and styles of play were formed as Indie games became more popular, and there is something for everyone coming out every month. Here are some of my favorite games from the PS4 and Xbox One.

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

The launch titles for this generation weren’t the greatest, but Black Flag gave us a huge chunk of the Caribbean Sea to sail and ship to ship battles to engage in. Sailing the open seas while your crew sings their favorite ballads was one of the first experiences that felt like a breath of fresh air on the PS4 and Xbox One.

 

Resogun

The PS4’s best launch game, and one of the best exclusives on the console. Resogun is a stellar arcade shooter where you control a small space ship tasked with blasting away voxel aliens and saving the last humans. Getting high scores was addictive, and the arcade gameplay felt just right.

 

Dragon Age: Inquisition

This was the first game in the generation that felt like a truly epic fantasy adventure. Embarking on quests with the game’s exceptional cast of companions felt great, and the stunning locations you explore in the land of Thedas are still stunning today.

 

Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight took inspiration from tons of classic games and managed to turn out to be just as fun as many of them, if not more so. The incredible pixel-art graphics, superb gameplay, and charming music make it still one of the best platformers you can play today.

 

Sunset Overdrive

Sunset Overdrive turned a zombie-infested city into your playground. It felt like an open world Ratchet and Clank with super colorful visuals, crazy weapons, and hordes of energy-drink monsters to blast away.

 

Batman: Arkham Knight

When Arkham Knight was first announced, it felt like the first game that looked truly next-gen. Gotham City still looks amazing today, and even though it made you drive the Batmobile just a tad too often, it is still a phenomenal superhero game.

 

Rocket League

Rocket League was so brilliantly simple, that it brought everyone together in the Summer of 2015. Soccer with cars, genius. It has since been brought to basically every other platform, is now free-to-play, and continues to be one of the best “sports” games around.

 

Ori and the Blind Forest

Everything about Ori and the Blind Forest brings the player in and never lets go. From the enchanting music, the adorable cast of characters, to the heartwrenching emotion. This action-platformer is one of the most consistently delightful experiences this generation, and its sequel The Will of the Wisps is even better.

 

Destiny: The Taken King

The ambitious shared-world FPS Destiny was originally launched in 2014, but it didn’t truly shine until The Taken King. This massive expansion fixed many of the problems with the original game, and the breadth of content felt vast. Spending late nights raiding with friends, looting weapons, and slaying aliens was an absolute blast. The Taken King is responsible for many of my most cherished multiplayer gaming memories of the last generation.

 

Overwatch

It is hard not to love Overwatch. The instantly recognizable cast of heroes brings you in, but the addictive and rewarding teamwork-based shooter was such a breath of fresh air when it came out in 2016. Still waiting to hear when Overwatch 2 is going to launch.

 

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted 4 feels like the culmination of Naughty Dog’s efforts in the past, finally brought into the modern era. The game is truly the larger than life treasure hunting adventure fans hoped for, with gameplay that finally matched Naughty Dog’s always stellar visuals and characters.

 

Pokemon GO

The Summer of Pokemon GO was one of the most wholesome results spearheaded by a game. Everyone was playing this mobile title, out in the real world cooperating and catching their favorite of the original 150 Pokemon. It was far from perfect then and has gotten much better now, but nothing will ever compete with the game’s first couple of months.

 

DOOM

DOOM proved that single-player shooters could still be enjoyable, and not only that, offer a rich world of stories and lore to discover along the way. Each monster felt unique and challenging in combat, and by the end made the player feel like an unstoppable force with huge weapons and fast movement. This year’s DOOM Eternal stepped it up even further, turning a shooter into a Chess-like game of strategy at the pace of 200 miles a second. 

 

Superhot

This generation is home to many simple ideas executed very well. In Superhot, time only moves when you do. Manipulating time to defeat enemies and clear stages felt unique, and Superhot VR quickly became a favorite game for virtual reality.

 

Mario Kart 8: Deluxe

Mario Kart 8: Deluxe might have been a rerelease of a Wii U game, but the portability of the Nintendo Switch made it the social game to enjoy with friends. A wonderful collection of race tracks with perfect driving controls, even when your friend blue-shells you and takes first place away from you.

 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Before Breath of the Wild, open-world games were starting to fall into very familiar territory. Zelda removed so many of the restrictions and offered an open-air exploration experience where the massive world became so much more fun to explore thanks to the ability to climb almost any surface and glide from massive heights. It is surprisingly one of the darkest Zeldas yet, as Link explores a Hyrule that is all but destroyed by Ganon. Can’t wait to see how it all went down in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

 

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon was another one of the early games shown off that was a jaw-dropping showcase of what these consoles were capable of. The massive mechanical beasts, breathtaking world, an endearing hero, Aloy, made for one of the best PlayStation 4 exclusives. But now PC players can try out Horizon too!

 

Super Mario Odyssey

There are very few games that are sheer compressed joy like Super Mario Odyssey. Every world you visit, puzzle you solve, and tricky jump you nail just feels like such a warm gaming hug. The main story is exceptional, but the challenges waiting for the best players afterward prove to be tough for even the most seasoned Mario players. I hope Nintendo announces a follow-up soon, until then we have 3D All-Stars to look forward to.

 

Injustice 2

For many years, excellent single-player experiences were hard to find in fighting games. Injustice 2 featured a gripping story starring many of your favorite DC Comics heroes at the most extreme. Superman rules the world, and it is up to Batman and his band of resistance to end his tyrannical reign. That is before Brainiac shows up, and the heroes must once again join forces.

 

Fortnite

Fortnite in a way defined this generation. For better or worse, it is the game that made the most waves. From starting as a cooperative, tower-defense like game to the world’s most popular Battle Royale game, to a concert and movie trailer venue? Anything is possible in Epic Games’ massive game.

 

God of War

No game from this generation captures the feeling of being center stage in a tale of mythological proportions quite like God of War. As you embark on what begins a simple journey for the God of War Kratos and his young son, Atreus, the father and son duo become intertwined with forces beyond their control. The display of Nordic myth with larger than life action and deep emotional connection make this game still one of the best games of the generation.

 

Marvel’s Spider-Man

There have been a ton of Spidey games over the years, but Spider-Man proved that the best was yet to come. Insomniac Games made not only the best Spidey game yet but also the best superhero game since the Batman Arkham games. Can’t wait to see more in Miles Morales on PS5.

 

Celeste

Celeste is an emotional journey that tackles so many of the subjects that everyone goes through in their lives. It is also a masterful platformer. A brilliant marriage of story and gameplay, and a game that everyone should play.

 

Red Dead Redemption 2

There is something incredibly cool about video games’ ability to transport you to a different time or place. Red Dead 2 sends you back to 1890’s America, complete with Cowboys, train heists, gunfights, and a cast of lovable but flawed characters. The game stops at nothing to make sure you are completely immersed in the wild west fantasy and is breathtaking at times.

 

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The biggest crossover event in gaming history. Every character from every Super Smash game came together to battle it out for one final bash. That was it, fighting games can’t go anywhere from there.

 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

This year’s Animal Crossing arrived exactly when it needed to. This year has been hard for many of us, and Animal Crossing offered the wholesome escape that so many needed. The deep customization of your island, its inhabitants, and teaming up with other players made this game one of the highest sold Nintendo games to date, and it is easy to see why. It’s just cozy, and sometimes that is all you need.

 

Share Your Thoughts

What do you think? What is your favorite game from the past few years that wasn’t on this list? Let us know below!

By Noah Friscopp