My 10/10 Games of the 2020s So Far...
Hades (2020) - Supergiant Games
Hades innovated on the rogue like genre by making death a form of narrative progress. No rogue like before or since has been able to match the level of quality that Supergiant has achieved with this game. Top notch art, well realized characters with incredible voice acting, and Darren Korb does it once again and provides one of the best soundtracks of the 2020s
Elden Ring (2022) - FromSoftware
There's not much else to say about this one that hasn't already been said. I have my issues with the game, mostly to do with some bosses being reused too much, but no other game this century has exceeded expectations to the degree that this game has. It was a genius decision from FromSoftware to obscure the map's size, making the game feel like it's a piece of paper that keeps unfolding, and unfolding, and unfolding...
Lies of P (2023) - Round 8 Studio
2023 was a standout year for video games, and the game that won me over was one I did not expect to. Lies of P made me feel like I was playing Bloodborne for the first time again or a sequel to it. Moment to moment gameplay is on point, being able to mix and match weapon heads and handles was a fun twist, and the levels while linear have a satisfying ebb and flow to them.
South of Midnight (2025) - Compulsion Games
Hands down some of the best writing and music put in a video game. Beautiful art direction to accompany a compelling story with great characters. The way the music weaves it's way into the foreground and background at just the right moments is just such a feat, Olivier Deriviere is just on another level. This game is a treat for the eyes and ears.
Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) - Nintendo EPD
If there's one thing that I love about Nintendo, it's that sometimes they surprise you with something you didn't know you wanted. This is Nintendo at their best, flipping the platforming genre on its head while also providing a great story and relationship between DK and Pauline. As someone who wasn't that into Mario Odyssey I was trepidatious about whether I would like this game, but it fully exceeded my expectations. Bosses are improved substantially, all of the levels are really interesting and each provide unique challenges that utilize the core mechanics effectively. And the music, some of a Nintendo's best I dare say.