2020 has been a fantastic year for games. While the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc with many developers, CD Projekt Red being the worst hit from the looks of Cyberpunk 2077, some developers had the advantage of being incredibly well prepared before 2020 even started. The Last Of Us Part 2 is proof of that, though that’s not why it’s my game of the year. This game is one that I’ve been looking forward to for years. It’s the sequel to one of my all-time favourite games, and a title that completely changes up the survival horror genre for the better.
There are a lot of aspects of The Last Of Us Part 2 to like. I personally love how much work has gone into it, because it shows. Everything, from the way the characters breath differently depending on how you move, to the sound and character design is top-notch. There’s no more polished game that’s launched in 2020. The only one that could have stood against it was Cyberpunk 2077, but we all know what happened there.
The characters are another aspect of this game that make it my game of the year. They’re real, they’re flawed, and to a degree, you even hate playing as them. After playing as Ellie, I was massively uncomfortable when playing as Abby. I felt that same discomfort when the game switched back again towards the end. The gameplay and story intertwine to deliver emotions and experiences that have never been achieved in games before, and I’d be surprised if any game other than The Last Of Us Part 3 ever achieves them again.
Overall, it’s an experience that I’ve actually had to ration. As someone who lost a parent suddenly, though not as horrifically as Ellie did Joel, I regularly feel the same sense of loss and anger that the game brings up. For me, it’s an extremely personal experience, and I know that’s not going to be the case for everyone. That makes this a very subjective game of the year entry for me, but it’s one that I’ll stand by. I don’t care about what others think of the game. For me, it’s the best one that we’ve had in 2020.