Alongside our staff-voted Game of the Year awards, each of our writers have crafted their own personal lists, covering their top five PlayStation 5 and PS4 titles of 2020. Today, it's the turn of reviewer Graham Banas.
5. Pistol Whip
I’ve been on record as having a particular soft spot for rhythm games in VR. But even with that, Pistol Whip is a seriously impressive title. It’s a phenomenal rail shooter completely in isolation from all of the musical aspects of the experience, but combining them is where the real magic happens. I could hardly stand to take my VR headset off when I really got into a rhythm. Those transcendent moments where I don’t even need to see enemies spawn in to know they’ll be there and just go by intuition? I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything!
4. Astro’s Playroom
I had zero expectations for this title upon booting it up. I expected a short, sweet pack-in title that served as a tech demo for Sony’s new controller. What I got instead was a charming, witty, downright fun game, offering an insanely deep dive into the most obscure corners of PlayStation’s history. That fact that all of the worlds offered wildly divergent gameplay experiences was just icing on the cake. And, lest we forget, let’s just talk about the music! I’m going to hear GPU Jungle in my sleep for years.
3. Ion Fury
While reviewing Ion Fury, I ran into a number of bugs, including a progress-halting one that almost made it impossible for me to finish the game. But even with that, I kept booting it up and trying one more time, just hoping it would work. I had too much fun with the game for far too long to want to actually put it down. It was one of the purest expressions of retro shooters I’ve encountered in a great long while. Was it frantic? Absolutely. Was it challenging? Quite. Was it funny? Not really. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
2. The Pathless
The Pathless was one game I was most excited to play on my PS5. Sure there are other titles that probably better utilise the hardware, certainly flashier ones. But this game stood out. I already loved Giant Squid's debut game ABZÛ, and this one looked both more ambitious and featured the return of composer Austin Wintory! It delivered every bit as much as I was hoping. I don’t particularly enjoy boss fights, but this game turned those encounters into highlight experiences in a way I’m not used to. All set in one of the most stunningly beautiful open worlds I’ve ever seen.
1. Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
In a lot of ways, my list was easy this year. I’ve known my top choice this year since January. I no longer have to think about what my favourite game of all time is, because I already found it, and it’s Kentucky Route Zero. I have never been so enamoured, so confused, so profoundly moved by a game in all my life. It took seven long years of waiting to finally see Cardboard Computer’s vision completed, and I wouldn’t trade a second of it. I’ve never experienced anything like KR0 before or since, and I doubt I ever will again.
What do you think of Graham's picks? Give us your thoughts in the comment section below.
Comments 27
Pistol Whip is superb.
I think I prefer it to Beat Sabre and I love that.
I know its early yet but i am surprised no ones picking Dreams. Did we all forget about the game.
Unusual list. Cool
Thrilled to see KRZ on here. I can’t recommend this enough to anyone who enjoys David Lynch or surreal film in general. This will move you more than any game this year and it’s deeply discounted right now!!
That GPU jungle song is a genuine banger that's a heartfelt, deep love letter to the players whilst also being sort of ignorable and throwaway if you want it to be. A little work of genius.
I actually picked up KRZ from your glowing review and I must say I’ve been equal parts mesmerized and perplexed. It’s like an interactive play and the minImalist design approach, from audio to visuals, really drive home that tired, lonely feeling one gets on a long drive through nowhere. As a truck driver by trade, I can relate. I’ve yet to complete acts IV and V so I’ll reserve my final thoughts till then but it has certainly been an unforgettable, introspective experience thus far. I’m curious to see how it concludes but I get the feeling that definitive answers aren’t part of this game’s M.0., and I think it’s all the better for it.
@Colour The single greatest game ever made. Highly doubt I'm gonna play anything that unseats that from my #1 all time!
@Wormold It's gonna be a good time!
@hypnotoad Tough choice between those 2 for me, but they're both so good! And Audica!
@Jimmer-jammer <3 That means a lot! Gah, I love it so much. Absolutely every single piece of it feels like Cardboard Computer crafted it specifically to cater to me and I love it! I'm not gonna spoil anything, but there's a secret interlude after you finish Act 5 too!
@BowTiesAreCool I was not expecting to love Astro's Playroom as much as I did lol. I think I ended up Platinuming it in one sitting? It was great!
I feel like Demon’s Souls or Ghost of Tsushima not being anywhere on this list completely invalidates it.
I always find these personal lists more interesting than site employees voting or arguing on one top 10 list. Really want to try Ion Fury and Kentucky Route zero on PS4 from this list, and Astro whenever I get a PS5.
@marnelljm
Disagree. So many lists are just the same AAA games over and over again. I enjoy learning about other titles that people have enjoyed that didn't cost tens of millions of dollars to make.
@marnelljm It's....a personal list. That's not how opinions work
@gbanas92 Just posted my top 3 or so favourite games if the year somewhere on the forums. Between those we have two games in common. Probably means I should take your reviews way more seriously!
*Writes down Pathless on their list of Games I should give a chance
@Akimi Agree on both accounts. Everyone knows Ghost of Tsushima exists and is quite good, but not enough people know about Kentucky. A list like this is a great opportunity for people to discover new games. Isn't that why we visit news sites? To learn something new.
I enjoyed this article a lot, by the way!
(Just this week Kotaku made a list along the lines of "great games that nobody played". It's one of the best things I read all week, and I wrote down quite a couple of names I hadn't heard yet.)
@Akimi Yeah the personal list is always an article I really look forward to doing each year. They're super fun, and a great chance to talk about some of the smaller games like you said! Especially because that's usually where my tastes land anyways haha
@Kidfried Ooooo, which games?!
@gbanas92 I’m looking forward to that! I’ve definitely never played anything quite like it. Yeah it’s awesome when you find a game that feels uniquely crafted for you. It’s not completely comparable but that’s how I felt about Brothers: a tale of two sons after finishing it. It just hit me like a ton of bricks on all levels for some reason. Have a good one!
1 good and then a bunch of unknowns.
@Colour
Big David Lynch fan. Seen a lot of his stuff besides his earliest work, which I hear is his best. I’ll definitely look into this game.
@gbanas92 Pretty much all PC games unfortunately, so I didn't mention them here. The one that caught my attention the most is Family, it's Obra Dinn but then about 80s British pop.
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/08/19/family-is-like-a-free-version-of-obra-dinn-but-for-fake-80s-music/
@Kidfried Alright that's weird as hell but I like it. Might have to poke around with that haha. Which 2 games overlapped between us?
@Jimmer-jammer Oh man, I loved Brothers as well!!!!! Such an incredible game! A great one to feel like it's been hand-made for you!
@gbanas92 Astro Bot and Kentucky Road Zero!
@Akimi Wrong, but okay.
@Kidfried now that right there is a good list!
Okay. I'll put a counterpoint up. I picked up KRZ after people raving about it here and seeing it as number 1 on this list. I like odd stuff, but holey schmoley this game is a snoozefest and a half. It put me to sleep during act1 last night. This morning I am in act2 and I've been rolling that effing wheel around the circular path for 30 mins trying to find the docs house. Thats it. I'm watching a wheel go around and around and around and around (etc). Someone kill me! There's 20 bux I'll never get back. I feel like I've been rickrolled. Ha ha - you guys got me - good one. ..Buy it and then get stuck wasting a day trying to advance a tortourously slow narrative story by driving a wheel in a circle. I even had a coffee to try to keep from falling asleep this morning. I've just turned the game off as I was literally nodding off - Again. ... in retrospect, I should have given 20 dollars to a hobo. At least I could have taken solace in knowing that I gave someone happiness for 20 bux as he can buy a nice whisky instead of drinking aftershave. Route Zero — say hello to Route Delete.
... Oh the only saving grace from my trip to the PSN last nite is I also picked up Donut Country - another minimalist looking game under Annapurna. And at least that one is fun.. 5 bux is a good price for that bit of silly oddness.
My favourite so far. I just love the diversity and discovery of this list. There are so many amazing niche games that are neglected when compared to blockbusters. The fact is I've played all the games on this list (albeit on a PC) and have enjoyed them far more than those blockbusters. And to think these are just tip of the iceberg. Games like Hades, Risk of Rain 2, Dreamscaper would easily feature in my top 5 if they released on the PS. Sony really needs to get their stuff together in terms of indie promotions. Most have shifted over to the Switch due to this neglect. The only big release that was justified this year was Ghost of Tsushima.
@Party_Cannon HOW DARE YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION.
Nah, if there was ever a game that I love where I could "get it" if someone hated or didn't like it, Kentucky Route Zero is probably top of that list haha. KR0 isn't really a "game" by traditional standards. I don 't know if I'd even call it "fun" myself haha. That's not really why I like the experience, but going in expecting it to be something else, and then it's...well what KR0 is, believe me i Get it!
@shuvamg009
I still play and love the AAA stuff. TLOU2 was nearly on here. But every year, almost always I feel like the smaller games like this are the ones that stick with me for way longer!
I can't wait for Hades to inevitably hit a Playstation. I've wanted to play it for so long! Love Supergiant so much!
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