It’s been a hell of a year for gaming, hasn’t it? I know I’ve certainly enjoyed the escapism afforded by this wonderful hobby. Mind you, I didn’t retreat to Elden Ring or God of War Ragnarok, so you won’t find those big hitters in my Game of the Year list. Sorry.
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Instead, I explored some of the niche and lesser-known games, and a few of them made it to this list. And, as one of the few VR enthusiasts here at DualShockers, I feel I’m flying the flag for the medium. So, without any more of my pre-list waffle, here’s what my year of gaming brought me.
10Powerwash Simulator
I got a bit of grief from the bossman for myPowerwash Simulator review- he reckons it’s the best thing sinceShower With Your Dad Simulator 2015, but I disagreed. I still stand by the scoring, but over the last few months, this weird little game has found itself back into my hands.
When I’m short on time and I need a quick fix that doesn’t overwork my little brain, Powerwash Simulator seems to do the trick. Blasting grime while sitting in my own messy living room is an experience, and it often encourages me to get off the couch and do a few dishes, so for that alone, Powerwash Simulator deserves a bit of praise.
9Kirby’s Dream Buffet
I’m not one for kids' games, and I’m certainly not one for the Nintendo lineup - I’ve not properly played a Pokemon game since I was a child. That said, Kirby’s Dream Buffet was such a laugh for me and little Charlie, my son, I’ve been known to go a few rounds and take my skills online while he’s in school.
The single-player is good fun, sure, but Kirby’s Dream Buffet is definitely best played in local multiplayer, and it’s one of the few games that is always guaranteed to get some playtime on the weekends.
8Arcade Paradise
I grew up in the days where arcades were the weekend getaways for kids across the land, so Arcade Paradise was always going to resonate with me on some level. Packed with a whole load of genuinely decent arcade mini-games to master and wrapped in a surprisingly addictive first-person business sim, Arcade Paradise is easy pick-up-and-play fun.
Go and give myArcade Paradise PS5 reviewa read or a watch while you’re here.
From the creator of Into The Light, 35MM is an atmospheric road trip across a post-apocalyptic Russia. It’s slow, moody, and the perfect break away from the AAA sluggers constantly competing for our attention. The subject matter is also quite timely, considering the state of the world.
If you’re after a short but memorable experience, take my word and give 35MM a shot.
6Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
It’s been fashionable to hate onCall of Dutysince around 2014, but I’ve never taken part in the shading. Ever since playing Call of Duty 2, I’ve come back each and every year. Not for the multiplayer - the required reflexes left me a long time ago - but for the blockbuster single-player campaigns.
Modern Warfare 2 doesn’t disappoint on that front, delivering a visually stunning romp across the world in a familiar story that’s been changed just enough that I didn’t even see the twist coming, even though I probably should have, in all honesty. Roll on Modern Warfare 3, because I’ll be there day one.
5Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Any game that can get me and the kid to sit still for more than half an hour does a lot right, andShredder’s Revengeactually managed to keep our fidgety backsides on the sofa for a good couple of hours at a time. It’s not much to look at if you’ve only grown up with the pristine polygons of modern games, but for an old man like myself who remembers having to choose between putting my 50p into either the gumball machine or the TMNT arcade machine, it’s a nostalgia-driven beat-em-up that barely puts a foot wrong.
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If this one doesn’t get a sequel, I’ll quietly and politely riot.
4The Last of Us Part 1
Joel and Ellie’s original adventure didn’t really need another outing, or at least that was the sentiment in my The Last of Us Part 1 review. Still, I can’t fault the game - even with a decade on its back, Naughty Dog’s hot property still plays fantastically and this remake doesn’t feel out of place alongside other next-gen exclusives.
If you’ve yet to step foot into the darkly depressing yet oddly hopeful world of The Last of Us, this is the best place to start. Or just watch the telly series coming next year…
3Iron Man VR (Meta Quest 2)
I’ve not got much time for most things Marvel these days. I’ve been burned out on the quip-a-minute movies for a long time. It was a surprise, then, that Iron Man VR actually managed to break away from the mould with some decent writing that delivered a story worth following.
Gameplay-wise, it could have done more, but it was still a massive improvement over the original PSVR release, which I dropped as a bad job after 15 minutes.
The third and highest-placed VR entry on my list is also the newest release and by far one of the better gaming experiences I’ve had this year - VR or otherwise. Some criticism has been directed at the game for feeling more like an expansion, but honestly, I couldn’t be happier with it. Returning to the murky world of The Walking Dead in a game that makes me feel like an active character in one of the show’s storylines is all I need. Throwing manky old shoes at zombies is just the topping on the cake.
Bear in mind, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 2 - Retribution has been confirmed for PSVR 2, and it should release next year if all goes to plan. Expect to see that improved version on my list next year.
1Dying Light 2 Stay Human
My favorite game this year is Techland’s fantasticDying Light 2 Stay Human. Building and expanding on the solid foundations of the original, Dying Light 2 is leaps and bounds (literally) ahead of its predecessor and, in my opinion, any other zombie game shuffling around out there.
What’s more, is that I know for a fact that my game is in good hands, and it’ll be looked after for years to come with Techland’s famous post-launch support.
