--- description: From Spider-Man: Miles Morales to Among Us, these were the best video games of 2020. title: The 10 Best Video Games of 2020 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33dac97689eaf27e/698a147e09208fc1a741763d/best-video-games-2020.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The 10 Best Video Games of 2020 by [Patrick Austin](/author/patrick-lucas-austin/), [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/), [Peter Allen Clark](/author/peter-allen-clark/) and [Alex Fitzpatrick](/author/alex-fitzpatrick/) Nov 20, 2020 2:43 PM CUT  Clockwise from top left: Microsoft Flight Simulator; Animal Crossing; The Last of Us Part II; Spider Man: Miles Morales Clockwise from top left: Microsoft Flight Simulator; Animal Crossing; The Last of Us Part II; Spider Man: Miles MoralesMicrosoft; Nintendo; Playstation (2) by [Patrick Austin](/author/patrick-lucas-austin/), [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/), [Peter Allen Clark](/author/peter-allen-clark/) and [Alex Fitzpatrick](/author/alex-fitzpatrick/) Nov 20, 2020 2:43 PM CUT In a bizarre, unsettling, and oftentimes downright [frightening year](https://time.com/5914158/thanksgiving-cdc-coronavirus/ "undefined"), [video games](https://time.com/5872912/best-video-games-2020-so-far/ "undefined") became a port of refuge for many—be they longtime gamers, old-school veterans picking the controller back up after a break, or first-timers looking for a novel way to [safely have fun](https://time.com/5824415/video-games-quarantine/ "undefined") or connect with friends during [pandemic lockdowns](https://time.com/5813446/what-to-do-during-quarantine/ "undefined"). It’s a small blessing, then, that it was also a banner year for excellent games to play. Here are TIME’s best video games of 2020, according to our group of resident gamers. Also read TIME’s lists of the [10 best fiction books of 2020](https://time.com/5913197/best-fiction-books-2020/ "undefined") and the [100 must-read books of 2020](https://time.com/collection/must-read-books-2020/ "undefined"). ## 10\. _Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2_ Nostalgia is big business right now, but reworking old joy rarely delivers that original thrill. Enter [_Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2_](https://time.com/5885793/tony-hawks-pro-skater-remaster-review/ "undefined"). Against all odds, this remake recaptures the magic of these early aughts skateboarding games while refreshing them for modern consoles and audiences. Playing these games unlocks long-forgotten muscle memory, the hunger for high scores and the itch to jump on a skateboard—not to mention comfort during a difficult year. _—Peter Allen Clark_ _Available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC_ ## 9\. _Fall_ _Guys_ What happens when you combine the minigame mania of _Mario Party_ with the battle royale, lose-and-you’re-out pressure of _Fortnite_? _Fall Guys_, that’s what. Its delightfully simple multiplayer mayhem was a welcome reprieve during our pandemic summer, and the fact that players often need to cooperate to secure individual victory belies a deeper message than its cartoonish stylings might suggest. Moreover, like _Animal Crossing_, it’s a welcome repudiation of the idea that games need to be hard to be enjoyable—they need only be fun. _—Alex Fitzpatrick_ _Available on PlayStation and PC_ ## 8\. _Microsoft Flight Simulator_ Microsoft’s _Flight Simulator_ series has been the definitive virtual piloting experience for nearly 40 years, inspiring many players to pursue real-world flight training while offering a taste of the skies to countless more. The latest entrant in the series continues that proud tradition, combining true-to-life flight physics, downright gorgeous graphics and the most realistic facsimile of planet Earth to ever grace a video game for a must-play experience. Challenge yourself to some of the hardest commercial jet takeoffs or landings the world has to offer, or putt-putt over your hometown in a slow-moving Cub, marveling at the view—the choice is yours. _—Alex Fitzpatrick_ _Available on PC; an Xbox version is in development_ ## 7\. _Call of Duty: Warzone_ A free add-on to 2019’s _Call of Duty: Modern Warfare_, _Warzone_ is a _Fortnite_\-style battle royale shooter, with just enough original ideas to feel fresh. Most _Fortnite_ clones have come up short, but _Warzone’s_ systems, strategies and progressions provided dozens and dozens of hours of distraction as we adjusted to spending more time at home during lockdown. And developer Infinity Ward has continued to support the experience with robust seasons, map changes and new ways to play this intense, addictive game. _—Peter Allen Clark_ _Available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC_ ## 6\. _Ori and the Will of the Wisps_ The much-anticipated sequel to Moon Studios’ _Ori and the Blind Forest_ does exactly what a sequel should, building on its predecessor’s foundation to create a more complex, more colorful and bigger world. In the game’s prelude, Ori and a host of other adorable characters adopt and raise a baby owl. But tragedy strikes when Ori and the baby bird are separated. The player then traverses a gorgeously-rendered landscape and solves a series of wicked little puzzles in a heart-wrenching reunification quest. The sheer scale of the game compared to its predecessor means some details get lost in the mix, like the player easily missing some important skills. But the challenges demand creativity and the backdrop inspires awe. _—Eliana Dockterman_ _Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC_ ## 5\. _Animal Crossing: New Horizons_ The unofficial game of springtime pandemic lockdowns, [_Animal Crossing: New Horizons_](https://time.com/5804599/animal-crossing-new-horizons-review/ "undefined") is the latest entry in Nintendo’s long-running life simulator franchise. This time, you’re dropped on an island where you (and a few anthropomorphic animal residents) set out to construct a community—and pay off your debt to the cheeseparing capitalist raccoon-dog that brought you there. When you’re not building items for your home, you can enjoy _New Horizons’_ huge community of players partying, playing the turnip-powered “stalk market,” and even hosting talk shows all on their own custom-made virtual islands. _—Patrick Lucas Austin_ _Available on Nintendo Switch_ ## 4\. _Among Us_ Deception is the name of the game in _Among Us_, a kind of digital Clue in which you’re tasked with “sussing” out the impostor on your starship. Some players, called “Crewmates,” are assigned to minigame-style repair jobs around the ship, while the “Impostor” sets out to quietly disrupt and kill the Crewmates. Suspicious of someone? Call a meeting to discuss who might be an Impostor, then vote to throw them into the cold vacuum of space—just be careful, because you could be wrong. _Among Us_’ childish, hand-drawn looks and PG-rated violence evoke early web games, and its spike in popularity among younger gamers has led high-profile figures like U.S. congresswoman [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to use the game](https://time.com/5902180/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-ilhan-omar-twitch-among-us-2020-election/ "undefined") as a platform to meet voters where they’re at. Part social deduction, part mob rule, _Among Us_ may have been released back in 2018, but it’s no wonder why it’s found widespread popularity this year. _—Patrick Lucas Austin_ _Available on iOS, Android, PC_ ## 3\. _Last of Us Part II_ The post-apocalyptic [_The Last of Us Part II_ ](https://time.com/5847508/the-last-of-us-part-ii-review/ "undefined")takes a lot of big swings that will surprise, frustrate and even enrage many players—but they are thought-provoking risks. The sequel follows Ellie, all grown up and still immune to the virus that has transformed much of humanity into zombies, as she struggles with the consequences of a morally dubious decision made by her father figure Joel in the first game. Ellie is often on her own, which is a shame since creator Naughty Dog has historically excelled at building relationships through banter in both _The Last of Us_ and the _Uncharted_ series. But her loneliness serves a greater story: as Ellie loses human connection and becomes obsessed with vengeance, her enemies simultaneously evolve into more human figures. With sympathies divided, the player is faced with a series of devastating moral quandaries. The end will sit with you for months, if not years, to come. _—Eliana Dockterman_ _Available on PlayStation_ ## 2\. _Spider-Man: Miles Morales_ When you think of Spider-Man, you might be thinking of a nerdy white guy called Peter Parker. But there’s a second webslinger in New York, and this time he’s grabbing the mic and taking center stage. [_Spider-Man: Miles Morales_](https://time.com/5907872/spider-man-miles-morales-police/ "undefined") expands on the 2018 hit _Spider-Man_, putting you in the shoes of the titular Black-Puerto Rican teen after he moves from Brooklyn to Harlem, protecting the city while his mentor is on vacation. The game captures the feeling of zipping from building to building and fighting criminals in a wintery New York as Morales navigates the heartbreak of an evolving friendship, his relationship with his mother, and his new mandate to keep Harlem (and the rest of the city) safe from evildoers. _—Patrick Lucas Austin_ _Available on PlayStation_ ## 1\. _Hades_ So-called “Rogue-like” games, which focus on difficulty, replayability and repeated deaths, have been in vogue for the past decade, but _Hades_ marks the sub-genre’s highest peak yet. In this spectacular run-based game, players take on the role of Hades’ son Zagreus as he attempts to escape the Greek underworld, battling notable heroes and receiving support from the whole of the Pantheon. The art is stellar, the varied combat is delightful and the progression systems are inspired. _Hades_ reinvents how a story can unfold in a game meant to be played over and over again. _—Peter Allen Clark_ _Available on Nintendo Switch, MacOS, and PC_ ### Read the rest of TIME’s best-of 2020 coverage: * [The 10 Best Fiction Books of 2020](https://time.com/5913197/best-fiction-books-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2020](https://time.com/5913865/best-nonfiction-books-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best YA and Children’s Books of 2020](https://time.com/5914438/best-ya-childrens-books-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 100 Must-Read Books of 2020](https://time.com/collection/must-read-books-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best Movies of 2020](https://time.com/5914535/best-movies-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best Movie Performances of 2020](https://time.com/5915528/best-movie-performances-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best TV Shows of 2020](https://time.com/5912862/best-tv-shows-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best Albums of 2020](https://time.com/5915313/best-albums-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best Songs of 2020](https://time.com/5914984/best-songs-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") * [The 10 Best Podcasts of 2020](https://time.com/5907401/best-podcasts-2020/?utm%5Fsource=roundup&campaign=bestof2020 "undefined") **Correction, November 21** _The original version of this story misstated the availability of_ Hades_. It is available on Nintendo Switch, MacOS, and PC, not PlayStation and Xbox._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5912417/best-video-games-2020/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5912417/best-video-games-2020/"},"headline":"The 10 Best Video Games of 2020","datePublished":"2020-11-20T14:43:56.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:52:22.146Z","description":"From 'Spider-Man: Miles Morales' to 'Among Us'","url":"https://time.com/5912417/best-video-games-2020/","keywords":["Tech","Video Games","list"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33dac97689eaf27e/698a147e09208fc1a741763d/best-video-games-2020.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Patrick Austin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/patrick-lucas-austin/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Eliana Dockterman","jobTitle":"Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Peter Allen Clark","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/peter-allen-clark/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Alex Fitzpatrick","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt33dac97689eaf27e/698a147e09208fc1a741763d/best-video-games-2020.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"best-video-games-2020","caption":"Clockwise from top left: Microsoft Flight Simulator; 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