Yesterday marked Pure Xbox staffer Daniel Hollis's turn to share his top five Xbox Games of the Year, and today's roundup comes courtesy of news editor Fraser Gilbert (don't forget to check out our official Pure Xbox GOTY as well!).
2020 has seen the launch of two new Xbox consoles, as well as an array of fantastic games that have resonated with us in multiple ways. So without further adieu, here are Fraser's top five picks for 2020.
5. Football Manager 2021: Xbox Edition
I'm certainly biased with this one, because I love the Football Manager series on PC, and it's great to see the game finally back on console. Admittedly, the control scheme feels quite clunky in its current state, so it's not the perfect recreation by any means, but the core experience of the "Touch" edition of FM remains intact, and the match engine works well. It's definitely not for everyone, but I'll be putting a lot of hours into this one in 2021.
4. New Super Lucky's Tale
The beauty of Xbox Game Pass is that you can download a game that you weren't necessarily interested in, and have it become one of your top favourite titles of the year. That's exactly what happened to me with New Super Lucky's Tale back in August - an enhanced version of the original title from 2017 (which I never played) - drawing me in with its intelligent platforming, colourful visuals and charming characters.
3. Immortals Fenyx Rising
I don't think I was alone in losing a lot of hype for Ubisoft's Immortals Fenyx Rising throughout the year, but when it finally arrived earlier in December, it blew me away. I'm not massively taken in by the actual story, but the gameplay is enjoyable in all aspects, and its world is magnificently realised with countless things to do, without any of it feeling like a grind. The brilliantly designed Vaults of Tartaros are a highlight.
2. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
The wait for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 was agonising in 2020 after so many years of disappointment from the franchise, but when it finally arrived, it brought the series back to its best. The gameplay feels authentic to the original two games, all the levels have been polished, and the soundtrack is still incredible. Plus, the ability to replay the solo tour has finally now been patched in, so I'm still playing this one regularly.
1. Microsoft Flight Simulator
It might not be on consoles yet, but Microsoft Flight Simulator was still released via Xbox Game Studios on Xbox Game Pass for PC earlier this year, and despite all the hype that preceded it, it didn't disappoint. The world really is your oyster, not just in the places you can go, but also in how you choose to play the game, from simulating the challenges of a real-life flight in single-player, to grouping together with friends, exploring monuments up-close and trying to land in ridiculous locations. It's such an enjoyable 'game', and the only downside is the high barrier to entry in terms of PC requirements, so I can't wait for it to arrive on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in 2021.
What are your personal top five games of 2020? Let us know down in the comments below.
Comments 16
I have New Super Lucky's Tale Switch version so i don't need the XBOX ONE version as i can double dip again from PS4 version.
Issue i have with Super Lucky Tale is that it doesn't have multiple saves. My kids are playing it so i don't want to play it and finish it for them. If i could have my own save I'd be able to play it myself.
No Ori?! Blasphemy I say haha.
Such a shame I'm still waiting for Flight Simulator to come to console... The summer can't come fast enough on that one.
@pip_muzz Ori was originally in fifth place, and I'm kind of regretting taking it out now
I've enjoyed what I've played, but admittedly it's not really my type of game, and I haven't played enough of it (yet).
@FraserG Always the issue with Top 5. Narrowing the list down is so tricky. Quite a lot of good games this year came out. I also particularly enjoyed Wasteland 3 and I'm looking forward to giving Gears Tactics a go on the Series X next year as well.
For me Ori is my game of the year across all three consoles, I enjoyed it that much.
Edit: I've just clocked your sub header is the Public Enemy/Anthrax song from THPs
Glad to see someone like me who actually really enjoyed immortals Fenyx rising, deserved to do better, can't wait for the dlc
I just don't know what Flight Simulator could be other than flying around without aim? I really enjoyed No Man's Sky because of it's relaxed pacing but it still had a story and goal. Are there missions to get from A to B? I also enjoyed Farming Simulator briefly but its 'go from A to B' got a bit boring fast. Wondering if Flight simulator could be a combination of these two games?
But to be the best game in a whole year it must have something epic about it other than just flying from A to B?
@StonyKL It's definitely a game where you make your own fun, so if you're looking for a structure, you won't (really) find it.
It's my personal favourite game of the year because it's a technical marvel, it constantly leaves me in awe at its stunning recreation of the entire world and how it adapts to real-life weather conditions, time-of-day, things like that.
I can fly from my local airfield to literally any location in the world... I can visit my favourite football team's stadium along the way, visit the Pure Xbox offices (or at least a representation of them), and that sense of possibility and exploration is what really appeals to me.
I'm interested to see what you think of it next summer!
Great list, Haven't played Flight Simulator or Football Manager yet.. Glad you included New Super Luckys Tale that game is so underrated and doesn't get enough praise..
Awesome list. New Super Lucky's Tale is a game I'm currently going through, and loving every minute of it. I also can't wait for Flight Simulator to hit consoles!
Immortals: Fenyx Rising is such a good game. It's a straight up breath of the wild clone in every way and makes no apologies for it at all, but it's just great all the same. I feel bad for Ubisoft, and us. Fenyx is the first creative non realistic game they released in ages and it flopped. Legion is a fantastic gameplay-first stealth sandbox... It flopped harder than fenyx. Only Valhalla had a strong launch. It's seems that most "gamers"and "critics" today really do just want interactive movies with annual installments. A game that isn't a movie flops critically and financially. At this point if i were Ubi, why would i make anything other than narrative cinematic installments of one or two series?
I truly hate this new games-as-an-extension-of-Hollywood reality. The masses aren't gamers after all, they just want more involving film series.
@StonyKL flight simulator is literally that. A simulator for aviation fans that can't afford their own Cessna and flight lessons. If you're not a wannabe pilot or know someone who is or was wapilot, it's probably not appealing
@Krzzystuff doesn't it have saves for each of their accounts?
@NEStalgia uhhhhh can i have multiple accounts under one gamepass subscription?
@Krzzystuff yep.
Your account is the home XBox account. Your gamepass subscription works for everyone logged into their account on your console. Otherwise they don't get their own achievements etc
@NEStalgia GTF outa here!!!! I gota set that up
@Krzzystuff Lol, this here ain't PlayStation!
Live gold also works the same, so on one console, one gold and and one gamepass sub covers everyone. If you had two consoles, you could play your library and services on a second console logged in as you, while they play on your primary as themselves, as well (PlayStation does that, more or less as well with ps+ but i don't believe so with Now. Nintendo NSO as of the past 2 years works like that with libraries, but NSO has to be a family plan with 8 users added to the plan... Because Nintendo.)
@FraserG Think its the intrigue more than anything that has my interest piqued. Can imagine it would be great multi player too if you just pass other people flying by.
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