#24 2020 in review
2020 has been the strangest year of most of our lives. And while, like everyone else, I’m keen to leave it in the rear view mirror as quickly as possible, I don’t want to miss out on everyone’s favourite cultural exercise - looking back on what we’ve loved and what we haven’t in our favourite mediums from this year. So this week’s newsletter is a combination of a few different things - the gaming moments I’ve enjoyed most this year, along with a reflection on what 2020 has meant for the gaming industry more generally.
My top 3 gaming moments of the year
1) Getting overwhelmed by The Last of Us 2’s story
I finished the Last of Us 2 what feels like a lifetime ago, but I’m still thinking about the story months later. No other game has ever done this to me and I’m not sure another game ever will. The story was deep, brutal and worthy of a prize for fiction - forcing you to reckon with the violence inherent in so many video games. Some people hated it, but that’s ok too - great storytelling of this kind is inherently divisive and I’m glad Naughty Dog chose not to pull their punches in an attempt to ensure universally positive feedback. It wasn’t just the story - the whole experience was so intense that I had to take breaks to remind myself it was only a game - and that’s an accomplishment I won’t soon forget.
2) The first visitors to my Animal Crossing island
I mostly enjoyed Animal Crossing as a deeply solitary experience - a way to escape the rubbish of the real world and pretend I was on my own tropical island holiday. I fell into a happy routine for solving tasks, selling fruit and expanding my house without ever considering how my island looked to outsiders. Then I had a friend come to visit and it changed how I thought about the game. It went from being an escape to something I took real pride in - a chance to show off my hard work to friends and pretend I was catching up with them in person. It was only a fleeting visit, but the feeling it left me with was unforgettable.
3) The first taste of next gen
There’s always the worry with a new toy that you’ll be deeply underwhelmed. Luckily, with the PS5 that’s not been the case. I’ve already written extensively about my first impressions, but nearly a month on, I still get a rush of joy everytime I hear the console booting up. The graphics are stunning, the controller just feels right and I’d not trade the improved audio experience for anything in the world. More than ever, I feel just as immersed in a video game as I do watching a film.
The gaming industry in 2020
More than most industries, the gaming industry has thrived this year. But it’s also exposed some deep rooted problems and challenges which are too important to ignore. If we had to give the industry a mark, it’d probably be a C - the A for quality of games is dragged down considerably by severe issues with workplace culture and the continued toxicity of a vocal minority within the gaming community. Here’s what I think we’ll remember 2020 for from a gaming perspective.
1)The wider world realising games don’t have to mean guns
I’m bored sick of the debate about whether games are good for you. And I’m hoping we’ll never have it again after this year. For the first time, games which don’t involve shooting people have sunk deep into the public consciousness - starting with Animal Crossing and extending to Fall Guys and Among Us. All three are brilliant examples of the diverse experiences games can create and a valuable example to the world that our hobby really does have something for everyone. I can’t wait to see how this trend continues.
2) The dark side of the industry has become impossible to ignore
From the very good, to the very bad. Gaming’s crunch culture has become downright impossible to ignore. CyberPunk 2077 may or may not end up being considered a masterpiece, but the endless hours of overtime which made it happen have become an international talking point. And rightly so, our fun shouldn’t come at the expense of the lives of others. Crunch is simply unforgiveable - if a game can’t be made within the confines of a normal working week studios need to either delay it, pare it back, or hire more staff. All come with financial costs, but these can’t be placed above the wellbeing of staff. And it’s not just crunch - the gaming industry’s undoubted problems with sexual harrassment and diversity can no longer be ignored. Gaming isn’t the preserve of teenage boys and the industry needs to stop acting like it is. Firing staff who have behaved unacceptably is only the beginning - 2021 needs to see a complete revolution in studio hiring + workplace practices to bring our industry firmly into the 21st century.
3) Indie games get some deserved love
That great indie games exist is nothing new. But for the first time, it feels like they’re getting the share of attention they deserve. Hades isn’t just the best indie game of the year, it might be the best game of the year full stop. It’s fresh take on storytelling, combined with delightfully moreish mechanics mean it’s impossible to put down and I’ve had to apologise to several other games I’ve been excited by for ignoring them in favour of yet another attempt to escape the depths of hell. And its far from alone in being a brilliant example of what indie studios are up too. 2021 promises even more of the same - here’s hoping it delivers
4) Let’s not forget the blockbusters
Every year in recent memory has delivered some unforgettable blockbuster games. But 2020 feels like gaming’s strongest year yet. I’ve already mentioned Animal Crossing, but we’ve also been lucky enough to have The Last of Us 2, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Ghost of Tsushima and now Cyberpunk 2077. That’s one hell of a year of games. And there’s been some great AAA games which while not blockbusters have been a whole lot of fun - things like Paper Mario: The Origami King and Star Wars Squadrons are great examples of slightly smaller triple A games which have given me a ton of joy. And while not every blockbuster delivered - sorry The Avengers, overall it’s been an incredible year to grab a controller and enjoy a different world.
What have I missed? And what have you loved the most about 2020? Let me know on Twitter - I’d love to hear your thoughts. And as ever, if you’ve enjoyed reading this, please consider sharing it with someone else so they can enjoy it too.