Welcome back to the annual DGAs™️
I’m truly touched that every gamer across the globe voted for me to return as host for the 2020 Dylan Game Awards! On this, gaming’s dyllest night, I’ll run down the best games I played last year, from least-goodest to best of all, giving an appropriate award to each. The list culminates in one exciting award: The Biggest Dyl in Gaming, the game that made the biggest impact on Dyl. It’s all quite a big deal honestly.
Let’s see what last year’s deal was, and discuss the games that affect my life in 2020:
The Mini-Awards Before the Show
Here are some games that I loved in 2020, but don’t have any words for:
Best Zelda – Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer feat. The Legend of Zelda
IDK, It Was Fun While it Lasted – World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Best Audio Design – Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
Pure Nostalgia – Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
Best Superhero Game – Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Best Pandemic Date Game – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
First Gacha I Fell Head Over Heels For – Dragalia Lost
And now, let’s talk in-depth about a handful of others.
Finally Kickstarted my YouTube Binge – Slay the Spire and Enter the Gungeon
This is the first year where let’s-play style YouTube videos have influenced my year-end thoughts on a game. As a pandemic swept the nation, I went back to class, and wanted to dig into a game I could get lost in for dozens of hours. Something that wouldn’t really change or end. I turned to Enter the Gungeon for a whopping 10 hours, and Slay the Spire for more like 25. And honestly, I don’t have any qualms with either game, I just lost the time to keep playing them. The reason they’re here, rather, is because they led me to Northernlion, a YouTuber who specializes in roguelikes, Soulsbornes, and dumb, witty commentary.
I fell asleep to Northernlion, spent lunchtime with him, and discussed his dumb jokes with my friends. His Spire and Gungeon runs propelled my skill when I did play, and when I didn’t, they were some of the most enthralling content I’ve ever watched. These two games helped me come to terms with “games that don’t end,” and that it’s okay to play a game simply because the game feels good to play or watch for 30 minutes. Slay the Spire and Enter the Gungeon made me love roguelikes and YouTube content, at the same time.
Best Atmosphere – The Last of Us Part II
Between 2013 and 2016, I spent a lot of time thinking about The Last of Us. Those thoughts kicked up a lot of internal monologuing and analysis that eventually drove me to try my hand as a freelance video game journalist. I don’t believe that its sequel affected me in quite the same way. In fact, while a few story beats make perfect sense within its world and tale, they also peppered some extra misery on my year. Yet I’m a total sucker for atmosphere, for characters, and for engaging gameplay, all of which were handled phenomenally in The Last of Us Part II. So many scenes had me on the edge of my seat, had me thoroughly combing every inch, or just left me in awe of their technical accomplishment. And while most moments felt tense, miserable, or even horrific, I remember my overall time fondly, and question whether I could handle similarly stressful (or downright scary) games in its wake.
Funnest World – Paper Mario: The Origami King
The newest Paper Mario was missing much of what I loved in its predecessors: unique characters and boss fights, a familiar turn-based combat system, and an interesting overarching plot. Yet despite being filled with multitudes of non-descript Toads, Bob-ombs, and Shy Guys, Paper Mario: The Origami King managed to craft a world that’s simply fun to exist in. I adored looking for crumpled-up Toads and filling bottomless holes with confetti—I think both were fun ways to interact with the environment. Previous installments had interesting set pieces, but no reason to take your time and explore them. And while the story beats could sometimes fall flat, The Origami King excelled in writing small character moments, one-off jokes, and snarky dialogue. It arrived in a particularly dark time during my summer, rekindled my love of quirky, colorful worlds, and taught me that even games with glaring flaws have something fun to offer.
The One That Made Me Like Online Games Again – Destiny 2
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands made me think I don’t like MMOs or service games.. In contrast, Destiny 2 (not even any specific expansion) defied that. While yes, Destiny 2 had a lot of MMO rigmarole, it was presented mostly as a loot-based shooter. Those shifts in gameplay loops, storytelling devices, and camera perspective were exactly what I needed. Something about mindlessly killing shit in World of Warcraft was not fun to me. It felt like twiddling my thumbs, waiting on food to finish in a microwave. Something about mindlessly killing shit in Destiny was absurdly fun, by comparison. Instead of microwaving, I was cooking over an open flame. I spent most of my time playing older expansions by myself, and hopefully 2021 sees me playing newer Destiny content alongside real people. But more importantly, I hope the night-and-day difference on my feelings between these two games will allow me to realize when I’m just not enjoying a game, and let me walk away from it.
Best Pandemic Game with Friends – Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Every Game of the Year list I read applauds Among Us for allowing us to play a good, mindless game with friends during unprecedented times. Every single list is glossing over Fall Guys, which launched 2-3 weeks before Among Us took off, is infinitely more mindless, and allows you to talk to your friends mid-match, rather than asking them to mute themselves and lie to each other. Fall Guys gave everyone a cute, awkward-physics-fueled dopamine injection to the heart at the tail end of a sad summer, and in return, we dropped it like steaming shit as soon as a more boring multiplayer game came along. You deserve much, much better, Fall Guys. In your blaze of glory, you reminded me that multiplayer games, Discord calls, and late-night laughs matter.
Best Characters and Lore – Hades
I don’t consider Hades to be part of my roguelike renaissance, mostly because, in my mind, Hades wasn’t a roguelike. It was played in runs, sure, but it was also so much more. Part visual novel. Part action game. Part strategy. It pays close attention to its characters and world, and tells an enthralling story. Most roguelikes are replayed solely for the mechanics, so you can hone your skills and say you won. Hades was played for the unfolding narrative, the context-aware dialogue, and the relationships Zagreus held with everyone in his life. Hades was built with a rougelike-like structure, but used those bones to create something entirely unique. Most importantly, it continuously reminded me that knowing people and hearing their stories are ten times more interesting than living life alone.
The Eye-Opener – Ghost of Tsushima
For a good week or so before launch, I was inundated with takes saying that Ghost of Tsushima was hot garbage, actually. After watching a few streams, and becoming obsessed with Tsushima’s “guiding wind” mechanic, I bought it and never looked back. Sure, the second half of the game had a shoddy story and overstayed its welcome, but for the most part, Ghost of Tsushima was an absolute delight. Traveling through picturesque landscapes to stealthily take down bases, upgrade cool gear, and duel other samurai? Sign me up, for life. And as I expected, the “guiding wind” ended up being a really unique idea to guide players, while also letting me feel like a mindful explorer.
I don’t think people who disliked Tsushima were wrong, liars, or performative. We just have different tastes. That’s something I lose sight of, when following a ton of great industry journalists: some people will sing praises for games I’ll dislike, or air grievances with games I’ll love. It affects my purchasing habits and personal enjoyment all too often, and I need to control that in 2021.
Best Nintendo Game – Astro’s Playroom
If you own a PlayStation 5, or plan to grab one, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you skip Astro’s Playroom, the free 4-6 hour experience that comes loaded on the console. It served mostly as a demo for the PS5’s quick SSD load times, social features, graphical fidelity, and new DualSense controller. But god, it was just a really solid, cute platformer. I’m already a sucker for a good platforming game, but Astro paid homage to just about every PlayStation game and hardware you can think of. It was the closest Sony has been to unifying their IP into a Nintendo-esque packaging, and was nostalgic in all the right ways. The only life lesson I got from this one is that I have a larger attachment to the PlayStation brand than I originally thought.
Best Reminder to Take it Slow – Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition
I’ve played Dragon Quest XI S on and off since its 2019 release, and technically still haven’t finished it. The game itself is exquisite; the characters were lovely, the story was whimsical and interesting, and the world changed in noticeable and compelling ways. The ending of Act 2 and beginning of Act 3 combine to be one of the coolest setups I’ve seen in a JRPG.
But something that sticks with me is the manner in which I played Dragon Quest: piece by piece, slowly, here and there. I came back to it three different times in 2020, and each time, I whittled away more of the story. I tend to no-life every new game, playing it in a quick week or two before moving on to something else. Dragon Quest taught me to slow down, savor the experience, and even play other games in-between play sessions.
Best Discoveries – Spelunky 2
If Slay the Spire and Enter the Gungeon kicked off a roguelike obsession, Spelunky 2 was my first real test for the genre. I played the original Spelunky solely as a multiplayer endeavor, and never devoted enough time to actually get good at it. The sequel changes things. I consumed dozens of hours of YouTube and Twitch videos upon release. I talked about it for three weeks with friends, mining its secrets and cheering on their runs. I wax and wane on playing it solo, testing the knowledge base I built watching others. And I return every few weeks, just like I did with Dragon Quest, to unlock a new character or to play with my closest spelunkin’ buds.
On top of it all, Spelunky 2 is as much a masterclass in game design as I’d always heard of its original. There was a sense of wonder, confusion, joy, and curiosity you felt each time you found a new area. Every enemy was met with pure terror, with a cry of “What in god’s name is this thing going to do to me?” And more often than not, those answers ended in death, chuckles, and titillation. Everything in Spelunky 2 influenced everything else, and it was so fun to figure out and memorize those interactions.
Spelunky 2 was a damn good time, and some of my happiest moments this year came from its multiplayer antics and content binge. Even though it was simply “Spelunky but more,” it also showed just how far new secrets, discoveries, and content can take a series.
SURPRISE!
Two games have tied for 2020’s Biggest Dyl in Gaming!
One of 2020’s Biggest Dyls in Gaming – Yakuza: Like a Dragon
I started Yakuza: Like a Dragon on Christmas, and played it mostly throughout January 2021. But January felt like December 2, to me, so it’s staying on the list.
After playing Yakuza 0 and a smidge of a spinoff, Judgment, I was already worn-out on the series’ format. I figured maybe I didn’t like Yakuza after all. But in the end, Like a Dragon cemented the series as one of the best out there. It was a rare game in its own right, with a slew of likable characters (both main and supporting), a litany of funny side quests, an engaging battle system, and a stellar story.
In addition, it allowed me to put my Dragon Quest lesson into practice: play slowly, take breaks, try other games. This ascended its status as yet another 2020 comfort game. Ichiban Kasuga’s unyielding kindness and willingness to better the world is inspiring. In a tumultuous year of a month, it was so refreshing to hop into Isezaki Ijincho and radiate positivity by helping people who were simply doing their best.
It helps that Ijincho, itself, was a character. The city streets became old friends, and its landmarks now house the memories of each substory I completed nearby. I remember the traffic light near Isezaki Road where I met an old woman, and the back alley in Koreatown where I stumbled upon a horror movie murderer. I wasn’t just doing quests for gear, I was doing them to explore the fully realized town and its quirky repertoire.
I’m immensely sad to say that, like all things, Like a Dragon did end. I’m devastated by the void it’s left behind. As I look for something else to dive into, I can only think of one thing: I want to put Kasuga’s kindness back into the real world.
One of 2020’s Biggest Dyls in Gaming – Final Fantasy VII Remake
The original Final Fantasy VII was one of the best games of all time, but I’m not one to replay games, re-watch shows, or re-read stories. That’s why Final Fantasy VII Remake holds such a special spot in my heart: it found a way for me to fall in love with the same story all over again.
Perhaps it was the new coat of paint, or perhaps the added story elements. In a year where I just needed comfort—something familiar yet exciting—Final Fantasy VII Remake delivered. My favorite cast of characters were reunited, showing new angles and aspects of their stories in a shinier version of the cyberpunk-esque city that I can never stop imagining. I got to see the Midgar I know, yet discover a new one; see the characters I know, but hear brand new dialogue.
It was a joy to hear the original soundtrack played by a full orchestra. The same songs I listen to on an overwhelming day, on a sad evening, or before job interviews—they were even better when paired with the PS4 Pro’s visuals. Although the intro was fundamentally the same as it was in 1997, it managed to take my breath away. The opening shots of Aerith, Midgar, a Mako Reactor, and Cloud’s entrance all sent shivers down my spine. The color palette and models were simply amazing through the entire game.
And like many others, my mind is reeling to think of all the ways a sequel might turn this familiar story on its head. FFVII Remake was a retelling, a fleshing-out, and an overhaul; it truly challenged the meaning of “Remake.” Midgar was an impressive, albeit short, portion of the larger FFVII story, and it was impressive to see how Square Enix added to it while retaining the atmosphere. Maybe there were a tad too many sidequests or shoddy slum back alleys. But then again, there were brilliant character moments hidden here, and some vibrantly fleshed out districts. In a way, Midgar felt as much a character as Ijincho did in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
FFVII Remake made me pause and reflect on the characters, lands, stories, and things I love most in life. In a world where memories fade into melancholic dust, it gives reason to look back fondly when you can.
But also, it reminded me that even if those memories fade, and I yearn for something once gone, I can always find something new. An untouched path in the woods, a newly released co-op game to play with friends. When I move, a new street to walk daily with my partner. When I’m sad, a fresh album to stare at the ceiling to. When I don’t want to replay a beloved JRPG, a beautiful, imaginative retelling. There’s always something to look forward to.
On Our Way
2020 was a sad year, even without the pandemic. I cried and worried, I changed my path in life. I felt like I lost my identity. I listened to a lot of Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher, Taylor Swift’s folklore, and LOONA. I clearly wasn’t okay. But I want to remember the good, the games I loved, and the details I’ll carry with me.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Final Fantasy VII Remake both deserve 2020’s grand honor. Both were long, beautiful games that I played over the course of an entire month each—which could be difficult at times, given that I tend to play games in a week or two then move on.
But I’d also be remiss if i didn’t point out that both games were played in the presence of my partner, Angie, and that she made both experiences something worth treasuring. She would watch cutscenes with me, cheer on my fights, comment on lame jokes, and awe at beautiful scenery. Having someone there—to share the experience with, to laugh with, to hype me into playing on sad days, to talk through my emotions or thoughts on a twist—elevated every play session into a moment worth remembering. And that extends beyond simply gaming, too.
Every day I spend with Angie is a treasure, and as we take new steps in our relationship, I’m eternally thankful I found her. 2020 was a year of many things, but I hope to look back on it as the year we were there for each other, and made life better.
Memorable Games from 2020 That Didn’t Make It – Kingdom Hearts III: ReMind, Temtem, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
Games to Play in 2021 – Persona 5 Royal, Ooblets, Kentucky Route Zero, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, The Pathless, Cloud Gardens, Disc Room, Haven, Mýrdalssandur Iceland, Supraland, Genshin Impact
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