2019 saw many new, bold games grace our TVs (and monitors). From large multiplayer games to unique single-player games, this year saw many new video games that pushed the boundaries of traditional gameplay. In any case, here’s our list of the best games that came out this year:
Apex Legends
Let’s start off with the game that no one saw coming. Apex Legends was released by EA with virtually no marketing. It kinda came out of nowhere. But with battle royale games being as popular as they were at the time, Apex Legends quickly rose to not only be one of the best in the genre but one of the best games of the year. Respawn Entertainment proved once again how capable they’re as developers, by taking the successful elements of Titanfall and moulding them into a battle royale.
Metro: Exodus
Metro: Exodus was one of the most visually impressive games of the year. While the game was held back by consoles, it’s true potential was unlocked by PC (or at least, the ones with an RTX card). While we’ve gushed over Exodus‘ RTX-enhanced visuals for quite a while, the game itself was very satisfying in itself. Tight gunplay mixed with an immersive open-world gave us Artyom’s best adventure yet.
Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding
Yes, the actual game doesn’t include Kojima’s name in the title but if we’re being honest, it should. This is a game which, in pure Kojima fashion, was outlandishly weird. From its high-concept story to its polarizing gameplay, it was something that nobody saw coming. While the reception to the game wasn’t as universally great, it certainly made a mark in the industry. Death Stranding defied conventional gaming expectations and gave us something boldly unique if a little hollow at times (subjectivity folks). That said, we’re looking forward to the game’s debut on PC when it launches on that platform next year.
Devil May Cry 5
Talking about weird games, Devil May Cry 5 is certainly up there. The game was a sequel to the previous DMC games and not the revered reboot. As far as hacker-slasher games go, DMC 5 is certainly one of the best games in the genre right now. It was also, much like its predecessors, a uniquely single-player game that wasn’t afraid of anything, be it funky gameplay mechanics or loud music. The game also ran beautifully on consoles and PC alike. For a game to be that good looking to perform well on the aging consoles is commendable.
Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3, much like the previous 2 installments, is a ton of fun. While it didn’t do much in terms of changing up the gameplay, it did make up for it by packing as much loot in it as any game can. In our review of the game, we said: “It’s more Borderlands, and there’s no such thing as too much Borderlands”. But in a looter shooter landscape that Destiny and Anthem now call home, Borderlands 3 leans just a bit too much on the past to really differentiate itself.
Halo: Reach
Don’t lie- As soon as you read Halo, this popped in your head, didn’t it? As far as shooters go, Halo is probably the franchise that legitimized its place on consoles. Or should we say, 1 console – the Xbox. So to see Halo: Reach, and in essence, the entire Master Chief Collection coming to PC is a big deal. The rest of the games will make its way to PC on Steam throughout next year, but Reach is a damn good place to start.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
When it comes to From Software titles, you can’t really point to any which have disappointed. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a punishing game. It requires you to actually learn its mechanics instead of button mashing. It can also make you throw your controller (or keyboard) at the screen for not doing so. But once you learn its mechanics and beat that boss in your 42nd attempt, there’s no feeling quite like it. Except when you die immediately after while fighting a giant ape. Thank you, From Software and Activision. But it’s still one of the best games of the generation, second only to Bloodborne in this regard.
The Outer Worlds
If I had to describe The Outer Worlds in one line, it’d be “It’s Fallout, but good.” It’s certainly one of the best RPGs of this year, and it’ll take you many hours before you realize how drastically your decisions can affect its story. The game presents its quests in a natural and meaningful manner, with the player agency being its top priority. You can start or end a quest in multiple ways, and that’s always a good thing. Check out more of our impressions on the game here.
Control
Developed by Remedy Entertainment, Control is a unique mind-bender which is the gaming equivalent of a Christopher Nolan movie mixed with a little pinch of David Lynch. That is, to say, it can mess you up. The game is visually gorgeous (#RTXOn) and also runs poorly on consoles. But don’t let that stop you from playing it. We suggest playing it on an Xbox One X or a beefed-up PC for a joyful experience.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Another Respawn title on our list, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the best the franchise has ever been in gaming. It has everything from epic lightsaber battles, to unique Force abilities, to a captivating story. And to think this was published by EA is almost a cherry on top (of the seemingly bad pie). Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order proves to be one of the best games in the franchise, while simultaneously proving yet again that single-player narrative games are here to stay. While it does take a lot of inspiration from many other classics, it manages to carve out a unique identity. Check out our review of the game here.
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