Much like the last transitional year for console gaming in 2013 — a year that brought us Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us, and BioShock Infinite — 2020 has been a strong year for new games. With the first quarter behind us, we’ve compiled a list of all 18 games that received a review score of 8 or higher from IGN. Note that, despite their qualifying scores, expansions (e.g. The Division 2: Warlords of New York) and games in Early Access (e.g. Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord) aren’t included.
Click through the gallery below or continue scrolling for our full list of 2020’s best games (so far), ordered from lowest score to highest.
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Black Mesa
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Crowbar Collective | Platform(s): PC
From our review: Whether you played Half-Life back in the day or not, Black Mesa is definitely the best way to experience one of the crown jewels of first-person shooter history. It doesn’t look like a 2020 remake – because it’s not, really – but it still makes great use of the distinctively creepy atmosphere and excellent combat that left such a mark on this genre. And what better way to get ready for Valve finally returning to the Half-Life universe? – Dan Stapleton
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Bloodroots
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Paper Cult | Platform(s): PS4, Switch, PC
From our review: Even after completing it, I’ve continued trying to master Bloodroots’ levels because the loop it introduces in its opening minutes remains fun all the way through its campaign. It doesn’t revolutionize its genre but is such a solid entry, with a variety of weaponry to master, some fantastic boss fights, and an overall immediacy to its action. Dressed in a beautiful art design and coupled with a Tarantino-esque tale, Paper Cult elevates its murderous mayhem with an intriguing world. Aside from some slippery nuisances in certain level designs, and a somewhat predictable ending to the otherwise fun story, Paper Cult has crafted a bloody fun time. – Jonathon Dornbush
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Square Enix | Platform(s): PS4
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From our review: The expectations around Final Fantasy 7 Remake are sky high, and it mostly manages to deliver. Its combat is top notch, its enemy variety kept me constantly entertained, and seeing this snippet of story fleshed out with real emotional arcs and the previously hidden humanity behind Midgar filled me with pure joy. The boring RPG filler and Kingdom Hearts-esque convolution that was inserted in between did stop my ear-to-ear grin from being constant, but never long enough to kill the mood completely. That leaves this remake as one that still delivered on letting me relive (part of) a classic in stupendous fashion, while also standing as a great RPG all its own. – Tom Marks
Granblue Fantasy: Versus
Review Score: 8 | Developer: ARC System Works | Platform(s): PS4, PC
From our review: Following in the footsteps of BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, Granblue Fantasy: Versus is one of Arc System Works’ most approachable fighting games yet. It smartly balances considerations for more casual fighting game players without ever stepping on the toes of its hardcore audience. The result is a more grounded and neutral-heavy ArcSys alternative with all of the usual ArcSys flair, which is a fantastic breath of fresh air. Its RPG mode is dull, and its 11 character roster feels way too light, but all things considered, Granblue Fantasy: Versus feels like it could be the start of another special 2D fighting franchise. – Mitchell Saltzman
Kentucky Route Zero
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Cardboard Computer | Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
From our review: Kentucky Route Zero is a beautiful poetry generator in the body of a point-and-click adventure game. It’s frequently stunning to look at and beautifully written throughout. The way it tells its magical modern-day story can sometimes be hamfisted, stuttering like a dying old delivery van at times, but the creativity with which it delivers its dialogue and the freedom you have to shape it toward your interests makes this an ethereal road trip worth taking. – Tom Marks
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Capcom | Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
From our review: The Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy collection is great thanks to the quality of its six included games. Capcom’s addition of new modes to help people play these classics at whatever difficulty they feel comfortable with is a great way for anyone to enjoy the wild sci-fi stories of these Mega Man X spin-offs without making it a walk in the park. The bonus features are great, but aren’t anything more than what you’d expect to find in a retro gaming collection, although the Z-Chaser adds a new level of competitiveness to the games. Playing handheld games on a 55″ screen is fun enough on its own, but these games in particular look and play amazingly well. – Seth Macy
MLB The Show 20
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Sony San Diego Studio | Platform(s): PS4
From our review: In what feels like a minor but noticeable update, MLB The Show 20 doesn’t break what wasn’t broken. Developer Sony San Diego has tweaked and tightened everything that was presented in MLB The Show 19, and as a result, playing baseball on a console has never been this fluid. But even with the excellent new Showdown mode, longtime fans may be just a little turned off by the lack of big new changes. That said, those who haven’t picked up an MLB The Show since 17 or 18 will absolutely find that MLB The Show 20 is the best place to pick the series back up. – Gabriel Moss
Murder By Numbers
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Mediatonic | Platform(s): Switch, PC
From our review: Murder by Numbers successfully blends a Phoenix Wright-style visual novel with a Picross-style puzzle game by making each aspect great in its own right. It may not be the game to dethrone Jupiter from its Picross pedestal, and its somewhat overly linear detective story doesn’t quite reach as high as its Ace Attorney inspiration, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a mystery worth solving. Honor and SCOUT are a wonderful duo to watch grow, and their detective adventures are a heartwarming and undoubtedly fun time. – Tom Marks
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4
Review Score: 8 | Developer: Omega Force | Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
From our review: One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a great One Piece game, and though it wears its many flaws on its sleeveless, red button-down top and straw hat, its smart additions to combat go a long way in reducing the notorious tedium that typically plagues the musou genre. It’s still a tough sell to a non-One Piece fan, but as someone who absolutely loves One Piece and was only just sort of into Musou games, I found a ton to like in Pirate Warriors 4. – Mitchell Saltzman
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Review Score: 9 | Developer: Nintendo | Platform(s): Switch
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From our review: The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, and Super Mario each found new life on the Nintendo Switch, and following those games in kind is Animal Crossing: New Horizons: An expanded, polished, next-generation reboot of a classic Nintendo game. Perhaps most importantly, like Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is full of surprises. I cannot wait to see what’s to come: Seeing cool custom islands from the community, special events, season changes. It took too long to get to the most exciting part of my island renovation (until I cheated), but now that all of New Horizons is spread before me, I have plenty to do, big plans for my island, and so much to look forward to. – Samuel Claiborn
Doom Eternal
Review Score: 9 | Developer: id Software | Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
From our review: Overall, it’s not surprising that Doom Eternal is excellent in following up Doom (2016), but after playing its 15-or-so-hour campaign it’s delightful to see just how much better Doom has gotten just four years later. Eternal tips its cap to Doom 2 specifically while also building off of what made the modernized reboot a breath of fresh air for the genre. Whether you’ve been playing Doom for a few years or a few decades, Doom Eternal demands your attention. – Ryan McCaffrey
Dreams
Review Score: 9 | Developer: Media Molecule | Platform(s): PS4
From our review: It’s a cliche, but Dreams really is something that needs to be played to fully grasp an understanding of. It’s unlike anything else: an ambitious project that has been expertly brought to life by Media Molecule, and an audacious experiment in game design that gives you endless ways to enjoy your time with it. The creation tools allow for ultimate expression despite there being a few controller related challenges to work around – never enough to deter. The vast range of experiences already on offer via Dream Surfing means that no two sessions playing it are ever the same, offering fresh ways to have fun every time you start it up and see what community creations have popped up while you’ve been away. Whether you just want to create, purely play, or get involved in a bit of everything, Dreams offers it all to you. This is one dream I urge you not to sleep on. – Simon Cardy
Nioh 2
Review Score: 9 | Developer: Team Ninja | Platform(s): PS4
From our review: Nioh 2 is an impressive evolution of its predecessor, strengthening everything that was already great, while mostly leaving its already existing issues alone. Its stellar combat is elevated by the addition of Soul Cores, Burst Counters, and the ways in which those two main new mechanics affect enemy AI and how you approach battles. It’s depth is impressive, even though that can also make it feel a little overwhelming due to how much time must be spent managing Nioh 2’s many systems. If you’re up to the challenge, Nioh 2 is no doubt one of the most difficult and rewarding games of this generation. – Mitchell Saltzman
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Review Score: 9 | Developer: Moon Studios | Platform(s): Xbox One, PC
From our review: In Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Moon Studios has taken an excellent foundation and made even more out of it. Its many new elements expand on and add to the first game’s fun without bogging it down or becoming overcomplicated. And that’s really the best praise you can give a sequel – it stays true to the spirit of the original, doubles down on what made it great, and gives you more stake in the world and options to navigate it. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an excellent heartfelt follow-up that pushes the series to new heights. – Brandin Tyrrel
Resident Evil 3
Review Score: 9 | Developer: Capcom | Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
From our review: Overall, Resident Evil 3 is a wonderful continuation of Capcom’s latest remake efforts. Although its just-okay multiplayer mode falls short of the bar set by its magnificent single-player campaign, the latter does such a good job at balancing 2020 gameplay and a classic Resident Evil tone that I recommend it without reservations. Hopefully, we’ll see more classic games in Capcom’s library remade with such finesse and loving care – along with some new games, too. – Lucy O’Brien
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
Review Score: 9 | Developer: Skydance Interactive | Platform(s): VR (Index, Vive, Rift, Windows MR; PSVR in Q2)
From our review: The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a noteworthy step forward for VR gaming, proving that a Deus Ex-like Action-RPG can feel right at home in a headset. Every one of its many interwoven systems clearly has a level of thought and care behind it, swirling survival horror and roleplaying staples together with nuance. Even though character customization can feel limited and the story is a bit short, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a fantastic example of what VR can be. – Gabriel Moss
Half-Life: Alyx
Review Score: 10 | Developer: Valve | Platform(s): VR (Index, Vive, Rift, Windows MR)
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From our review: Back when VR first became a real thing and we all started spitballing which game worlds we’d most like to be fully immersed in, Half-Life topped my list (tied with BioShock). It took a few years, but Half-Life: Alyx has more than realized that potential. With it, Valve has set a new bar for VR in interactivity, detail, and level design, showing what can happen when a world-class developer goes all-in on the new frontier of technology. In a lot of ways, it feels like a game from the future, and one that the rest of VR gaming will likely take a good long while to match, much less surpass. – Dan Stapleton
Persona 5 Royal
Review Score: 10 | Developer: Atlus | Platform(s): PS4
From our review: Persona 5 was already a strong front-runner for being the best JRPG ever made, and Royal really gets me wondering what else could even compete. The excellent story and its lovable, multidimensional characters along with the challenging, tactical combat are all refined and back for another round with new surprises and new friends in tow. There are new areas to explore and new twists to leave your jaw on the floor. Very little has been left untouched, and just about everything that has been touched is better off for it. The Phantom Thieves have stolen my heart all over again, and I don’t really want it back. – T.J. Hafer
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What do you think is the best game in 2020 so far? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to check back throughout the year as we continue to update this list.
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Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.
Source: IGN.com The Best Reviewed Games of 2020 (So Far)