Danny O'Dwyer is an expert in European sport and he makes video game documentaries at Noclip. You can follow him on Twitter.
Hey duders. In recent years I’ve struggled to put together five appropriate games for my Giant Bomb list, but it turns out a global health crisis is the type of thing that gives you a thirst for escapism. So here are my top ten ways to keep my mind occupied in 2020, with a few bonus adventures listed at the bottom. Let’s get into it…
10. Microsoft Flight Simulator
I’ve always wanted to be Drew Scanlon, but I’m a bit afraid of flying. So this year I took the plunge, bought a USB yoke, and dove into the life of a “simmer”. And once I got over the many technical aspects of setting up and operating this sim, I’ve really enjoyed my time with it. I’m a sucker for a good view, and love exploring in real life, so I’ve relished the experience of sitting down at my PC, plotting a course and pointing my nose at the destination. It’s pure escapism. Assuming we can fly this summer, it’ll have been two years since my parents saw their granddaughter. So being able to jump in a Cessna and buzz over my parents' house, or take the short flight to Dublin or London to check in our family and friends has helped a little bit on the nights where I’ve needed a little bit of help.
Like a handful of the games on this list I also created a documentary about it on Noclip which you can check out here.
9. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to get into the Yakuza series. But try as I may they always push me away. I wondered if it was a backstory I didn’t know, or the treacle-like pace these games unravel their plots, or the combat system--in truth it was probably all of these things and more. But for some reason, Yakuza: Like a Dragon had me hooked from the very beginning, and 30+ hours into it I feel like it was one of my essential 2020 games. Maybe quarantine has made me more patient. Perhaps these days I don’t enter every game assuming I’ll play them to completion. Whatever the reason, I’ve had a blast sitting down in the evening with a glass of whisky and going on ridiculous adventures with my rag-tag group of friends. If nothing else, it’s given me a deeper appreciation of adult friendships, and the tapestry of life playing out in the city outside my door. And dudes who like to dress up as babies. Those guys are alright.
8. Astro’s Playroom
There was a time when buying a new console involved playing a handful of games that had been curated specifically for that new machine. Exclusive games with novel ideas and flashy graphics that warned off the dreaded demons of buyer's remorse. Astro’s Playroom--like Astro Bot Rescue Mission before it--is a tech demo with ideas above its station. Like Wii Sports, a bonus pack-in that ends up being an essential experience for anybody with the system. The game is fun enough as a standard platformer, but the utilization of the DualSense controller, coupled with a genuinely wondrous tour through the history of PlayStation, made it an absolute joy. For decades PlayStation has struggled to create a “mascot” for their brand--because Crash, Sly, Ratchet and Sackboy had little chance to reach the gameplay zeniths of a Mario or Sonic. Astro, on the other hand, has arguably achieved this twice now. This is the best platformer of 2020, and it came packed onto the console. Terrific.
Here’s a video of me singing its praises.