21 years after its release, Resident Evil 3 was remade from the ground up to terrify a new generation of gamers and fans of the original. It’s arguably the best horror game of 2020 blending genuine scares with tense gameplay presented with an incredible level of polish. Let’s hope a remake of Resident Evil 4 is not too far away.

Twenty-three years after its release, Final Fantasy VII was remade from the ground up to remind gamers why it is considered one of the greatest games of all time. Iconic characters returned to familiar locations with rich detail and a new combat system. The result is a solid Final fantasy that should satisfy legacy players and newcomers alike.

Fast, fluid and ultra-gory, DOOM Eternal is an absolute blast and should be played by everyone (18 years and older). The gameplay presented here blends old school level design with modern gunplay, with Mick Gordon’s synth-metal score providing an incredible soundtrack for the slaughter. This was easily the best first person shooter of 2020.

In a year when most of us were stuck at home, Animal Crossing: New Horizons provided a much-needed virtual escape and charming interactions for all ages. It’s a highly addictive life sim elevated by the real world celebrities who encouraged us to visit their islands – Brie Larson, Elijah Wood and Danny Trejo, to name a few.

Fans had been craving a new Half-Life for over a decade and we finally got one in the form of a virtual reality shooter which set heaps of benchmarks for the immersive technology. It’s not Half-Life 3, but certainly the next best thing. The familiar headcrabs have never been so frightening.

The highly anticipated sequel wasn’t what we were expecting and wasn’t necessarily what we wanted. But there’s no denying that TLOUII delivered a memorable experience that will be analysed, dissected and critiqued for years to come. It lifted the medium to brutal new heights, and as a result, it cleaned up at The Game Awards 2020.

Getting roped into moving furniture is a sure-fire way to ruin a weekend, yet this indie gem turns the world’s worst job into the ideal way to spend a few hours indoors. Get the family together, and it won’t take long to see why Moving Out made the list of the best video games of 2020.

In our review, we said 2019 Father’s Day Gift Guide – The Gamer has “broken new ground and given fans and newcomers alike a true reason to pick themselves up a copy. Hands down this is the best F1 game in the franchise so far, while it’s also one of the best racing games of any type ever made.”

Anyone who fondly remembers SEGA’s heyday will find a lot to like here. Streets of Rage 4 blends style, a killer soundtrack and gorgeous art with familiar and addictive gameplay. If this old school inspired game proves anything, it’s that the beat ‘em up formula is timeless.

Ghost of Tsushima is my personal pick for the best video game of 2020. First off, it’s gorgeous. Then there’s an incredible open-world for you to explore and liberate through stealth and Kurosawa-inspired swordplay. The story and acting is also top notch. If Japan isn’t on your list of potential holiday destinations, it will be after a few hours with this PlayStation exclusive.

Two of the most iconic skateboarding games ever made were bundled together and rebuilt from the ground up in HD. Even with familiar skaters, locations and tunes, the new Tony Hawk’s offered so much more than nostalgia. It’s actually a quality competitive game that feels fresh despite originally releasing over two decades previous.

During the pandemic, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout raced to the top of the charts and became the most-watched game on Twitch. It’s an impressive feat for Mediatonic, the UK-based indie developer who set out to make a colourful and accessible game for people who typically don’t do multiplayer. And they succeeded.

With 37 thousand airports, 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, plus real mountains, roads, trees, rivers and more, Microsoft Flight Simulator provides that much needed hit of escapism that currently can’t be achieved elsewhere. Real-time atmospheric simulation and live weather are the icing on the cake. We hadn’t expected a simulator to become one of the best video games of 2020, but here we are.

This tough as nails indie gem offers a fresh take on the rogue-like genre with gorgeous hand drawn art and fast-paced gameplay. Technically, Hades launched in early access back in 2018, although the full launch came a few months ago. For those holding off, we can confirm Hades was worth the wait.

If you’re open to the idea of turn-based combat against street flashers, sumos and Japanese mobsters, we suggest checking out this latest entry in the long-running Yakuza series. If this doesn’t sound appealing, we suggest you work on becoming more open-minded. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a blast!

Anyone who played 2018’s Spider-Man will feel right at home here. But then the experience is elevated with killer graphics and ray tracing, an inspiring soundtrack and a plethora of new web-slinging abilities. This sequel/spin-off is a lot shorter than its predecessor, but much more focused and overall, a slight step up when compared to the previous wall-crawler outing.

Surprise, surprise, the latest Call of Duty is really good. Black Ops Cold War has one of the best COD campaigns in years with a solid story supported by impeccable presentation. Multiplayer shines, like always. Zombies is enhanced with faster gunplay and level progression. Overall, this year’s Call of Duty lives up to the franchise’s immense reputation.

Star Wars fans are invited back to the cockpit for cinematic starfighter combat and an authentic piloting experience. Best of all, Squadrons can be played in VR. That’s the campaign and multiplayer, which are both quite impressive. All around we’re looking at the most immersive and one of the most visually impressive Star Wars games to date.

What sets Valhalla apart from the 22 other Assassin’s Creed games is its engaging story and fleshed out characters that continued to impress across its lengthy campaign. Beyond that, there’s a vast open-world brimming with activities inspired by one of history’s most interesting and bloodthirsty periods. Enough said!

Rounding out our list of the best video games of 2020 is a game that only arrived this month. It was seven or eight years in the making. But if that’s what it takes for a game like Cyberpunk 2077 to realise it’s full potential, then it was well worth the wait. I can confirm that this highly anticipated RPG does not disappoint. Expect it to consume your summer, and then life from here on out.