Hey, it’s ya boy, Jesse Vitelli, A.K.A Young Elmo. I’m here to run down my top ten games of the year, but I’d like to say a few words before we do that.
While it’s been an excellent year for video games, it’s also been an incredibly stressful and difficult one for the people who make them. My heart goes out to all the developers who were laid off, treated unfairly by their corporate overlords, or never saw their incredible project cross the finish line. As much as we celebrate the games of the year, we celebrate your hard work and dedication despite insurmountable odds.
Thanks to the GB Staff for having me and welcoming me into their slice of the internet, my friends for helping me through a tough year, and to all the weird little freakos in games this year that I will also celebrate below.
10. Nour Play With Your Food
Sure, it’s an oddball pick in a year so stacked with games, but I’m not kidding you when I say Nour Play With Your Food is one of the best games I played this year. Harnessing your inner child, Nour asks you to metaphorically color on the linen tablecloth with crayons. There is something primal about tossing a hot dog across the table or putting your hand in a bowl of noodles and feeling them squeeze between your fingertips. Nour encourages this and creates a sandbox for expression through food.
Each level centers around a different theme, whether that is a meat grinder filled with gummy bears or a Bento Box with oversized meat. You can focus on creating the perfect table setting or use this moment to let loose the inner chaos of your imagination.
It’s a quick, breezy game, running about 45 minutes to an hour, but it’s one well worth the price of admission. Food can be art, food can be work, but above all else, playing with your food can be fun.
Best little Freako award for Nour goes to: The weird Jellyfish that ate my corn.
9. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter has been in a rut for a while, and I forgot what it’s like to have a truly excellent installment in the series. While SFV under-delivered in nearly every aspect, we saw glimpses of what could be by the end of its life cycle. However, Street Fighter 6 came in hot and kicked down the door.
Proving that the franchise still has great ideas and even better execution.
I’ve put more time into Street Fighter 6 this year than any other fighting game in my usual rotation. The roster, vibes, and overall feeling of “one more round” permeates every facet of its graffiti-littered streets. Whether I’m getting my face kicked in by Marissa or running rampant as Blanka, it’s been a blast to run sets with friends and newcomers alike.
Best little Freako Award for SF6 goes to: Blanka, my forever main.
8. Remnant II
Remnant 2 is the sequel I never thought we would get. Remnant: From The Ashes is one of my favorite games of 2019, and despite the lackluster name, it was the cooperative third-person shooter I had been begging for.
So many games are interested in being live-service loot-driven experiences that we often forget just how incredible it feels to get boss-specific weapons and armor from a difficult fight, not an RNG roll.
Remnant 2 expands the ideas of the first game with more bosses, unique areas that feel distinct from one another, and satisfying combat. All while allowing you to experience and uncover the secrets with friends. It’s been a truly staggering year for releases, and Remnant 2 is one you shouldn’t miss.
Best little Freako in Remnant 2 goes to: The Small Golems in the Labyrinth that are always stanced up waiting for their turn on the Xbox.
7. Slay the Princess
I first saw Slay the Princess at PAX East this year, and let me tell you, I had no idea what I was looking at. It’s a visual novel adventure with unsettling artwork and a vibe I couldn’t shake. The less you know about Slay the Princess going into it the better off you are. It’s a journey that stuck with me long after I finished. If you enjoy a lot of flowery prose and contemplation about the space we take up in this universe, check out Slay The Princess.
Best little freako in Slay the Princess goes to: The Nightmare variant of The Princess, where she's an evil doll who gave me nightmares for a week.
6. Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI is a game of peaks and valleys. The jump back to high fantasy is a welcomed change, and while it often gets caught up in its Game of Thrones plotline a bit too much, it has moments of pure brilliance.
FFXVI fires on all cylinders when it wants to do Final Fantasy ass anime bullshit. The Bahamut sequence is hands down one of the best moments I’ve seen in a video game this year and the switch to hard-action combat is a nice reprieve from other combat styles we’ve seen in the series’ past.