At The Game Awards last week, The Last Of Us Part 2 was crowned as the game of the year for 2020. I have a lot to say about this game, and I quite often do on this site, but I know that many people were disappointed because of this award. I understand why they were disappointed. It seems like everyone thinks that anything Naughty Dog does is amazing. I’d argue that this is because they’ve been consistently putting out great work for years now, but I know others won’t see it that way. Many people will see this as pandering to the masses, and that’s a valid point. I do still believe that this game was worthy of the Game of the Year award though.
The Last Of Us Part 2 does a lot for games. It’s pushed the medium to breaking point, and helped us recover thanks to a lack of multiplayer mode to keep us invested. The story is visceral, and physically and mentally affected me. It’s like watching an incredibly realistic movie, but it’s worse because you play a part in that movie. You’re doing everything bad, and everything good, but not all the decisions seem like your own.
Outside of the story, which I know bugged a lot of people, the game is technically amazing. It looks astounding, like no other game I’ve ever played. That’s still true against the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and other next-gen titles. It’s just a breathtaking visual experience. That, combined with the solid acting that makes the game feel so real, is a big part of why this game is worthy of such an award.
Outside of all of that though, this game was a moment in the industry that many will remember. Whether it was for the leaks or the love or the hate, this game defines 2020. The fact that it also stars a pandemic will intrinsically link it with this year forever. That’s not a good thing, but it’s certainly relevant.
Overall, I believe that this is still the best game I’ve ever played. I know many others don’t believe this, but it’s true to me, so I think it should have this award.