It’s that time of year again, where we here at oprainfall pick our favorite games of the previous year. These are are our favorite games of 2020, but some lists may have games that are old but gold. This year was pretty messed up in almost every aspect, but there were still some amazing titles released on all platforms for gamers to love, and ,without further ado, let’s get this party started.
YOU and ME and HER: A Love Story
YOU and ME and HER: A Love Story is probably the most unique visual novel I’ve ever played. The story will seem pretty simple at first, but the further you go down the rabbit hole the more you realize something is very wrong. I had a hard time putting this one away when I started playing it because I kept wanting to see how each decision would work out. Then I hit the true ending path, and that is something that, I promise you folks, I will never forget! On top of the great story and characters, this one features some of the best music you will find in a visual novel, and the artwork is simply amazing as well. If you decide to play any visual novels this year, this one should be at the top of your list!
Next on my favorite games of 2020 is Sakura Wars! When SEGA first announced they were doing a soft reboot of the Sakura Wars franchise, I was shocked. I had many questions on how they would handle it and if they would devote enough resources to make it something that truly stood out, and they did exactly that. From the amazing soundtrack to the character designs, they made the game feel very nostalgic for older fans while making it completely accessible to new players. This is all truly a testament to how much love SEGA put into making this amazing entry in the franchise. My hope is this leads SEGA to remaster the rest of this franchise and show the world how truly great and unique it is.
Death end re;Quest 2 takes everything the first game had to offer and refines it into a more streamlined package. The combat flows better, maps are less confusing, and the end requirements are much more obvious. I loved all the characters, but Rottie and Mai really play off each other amazingly. The soundtrack is just as good as the first game, if not a bit better at times. Though I think this did wrap the story up in a nice package, I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel featuring both casts on a new adventure. If you’re a fan of horror games with a little bit of fanservice thrown in, this one is certainly for you!
Moero Crystal H is a very ecchi dungeon crawler with lots of cute characters and a fun story. If you played the previous game, you will notice they reused a lot of the same assets as the previous game. The monster designs are basically the same and some of the music is remixed. They did, however, add the most important thing to make this stand out from its predecessor, new monster girls! Several of the game’s system have been revamped to make them more streamlined, and I feel like the interactions with the monster girls are much more in depth this time around. If you want a not too serious dungeon crawler with lost of ecchi fun, I would highly suggest picking this one up! The game’s systems are more welcoming and you need no knowledge of the previous title to fully enjoy this one.
Last but not least of my favorite games of 2020 is Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. This one is probably my biggest surprise title this year. This is one of the most unique titles I’ve played in years. It mixes an action game with a pretty robust farming simulator, and the results are pretty solid. The farming is very tedious at first, but it is great watching Sakuna grow and improve with each harvest. The combat is fast and fun, even if there are some issues with platforming aspects. The storytelling is great with a cast of likable characters that you will grow to love during your time spent with this one. While this may not be the perfect game, its charms really do outweigh its faults by leaps and bounds. Anyone looking for a fun and unique action game with a lovable cast should pick this one up ASAP.
While 2020 was one rough year, there were some great games to keep everyone busy while they were indoors. Hopefully, things will get back to normal in the coming year and there will be even more great things to enjoy in gaming and otherwise!
