Every year, The Games Awards light up in gamers’ feeds. Just like the Oscars, they bring us gamers joy when we see the games we love getting the recognition they deserve. And it makes us feel like face palming when we see that game we can’t stand winning.
As awesome as these awards are, they are mainly controlled by big gaming companies and the public doesn’t get much of a say in it.
So, for the first time in history, this Christmas Rising East is presenting its own Public Games Awards, for 2020. We don’t care what the big companies have to say, we only took what the public wanted – what the real gamers wanted. Here are the winners for this year.
Best Action/Adventure Game
Ghost of Tsushima
Who doesn’t like stories about Feudal Japan? Samurai, Ronin, ninja and a Mongol invasion: Sucker Punch gave us the Assassins Creed that we’ve been begging to Ubisoft. This is a combat system that brings samurai duelling to life like never seen before. Ghost of Tsushima secures its place as the Action/Adventure Game award of 2020.
Best Fighting Game
Mortal Kombat 11
There are plenty of great fighting games, but there is only one that everyone talks about. Being the first fighting game to introduce gore and a finishing move, Mortal Kombat was unique in 1992. And in 2020 it is still unmatched by any other game. Blood, guts and broken bones never looked so good and so satisfying. Mortal Kombat 11 punches a hole through 2020 and wins the Fighting Game of the Year award.
Best Horror Game
Phasmophobia
Have you ever seen Ghost Hunters? Well forget that!
This game will keep you on the edge of your seat and your heart ready to jump out of your body – by taking the concept of ghost hunting to a whole new level. Playing by yourself or with friends, you will leave pee stains on your pants by the end of the session. Phasmophobia haunts its way to the Horror Game of 2020.
Best Open World Game
Ghost of Tsushima
Open World Games keep getting better and better every year, but in 2020 the game that put every other one to shame was Ghost of Tsushima. Giving you the freedom to walk around and explore Feudal Japan like a real samurai, this game makes you feel powerful. Stealth your way through enemy camps or charge in, challenge great warriors or ride on horseback across the massive island of Tsushima. The possibilities are endless. Ghost of Tsushima slashes through to win its second award as Open World Game of 2020.
Best FPS Game
Doom Eternal
This is the game that turned boys into men. Doom made the FPS genre popular, and to this day it still has a say in the gaming world. Fast, brutal and beautifully gory, this is the ultimate shooter out there. Ever wondered what it is like to rip a demon’s spine out with your bare hands? Well Doom Eternal lets you do that and much more. Doom went to hell and back to become this year’s FPS Game of 2020.
Best Sports Game
FIFA 21
The most popular sport in history also had to be the subject of the year’s best sport video game. FIFA 21 makes football as real as ever, by taking all the good things that we love from the previous years and adding anything that was lacking. Using real physics , this game makes you feel like you are on the pitch next to your favourite football players. It is another winning score for FIFA as it takes the Sports Game of 2020 award.
Best Multiplayer Game
Among Us
Ever played a game of Werewolf or Mafia with your friends? Well, Among Us is that made experience made digital. Sometimes less is more. There is no need for 64 players shooting at each other. Among Us puts your friendship on the line as you don’t know who you can trust. This game has become one of the most trended videos on stream in a very short time. Among Us sneaked in to become the Multiplayer Game of 2020.
Best Story
The Last of Us Part 2
This is the game that played with everyone’s emotions in 2020, generating joy, rage, fear, dread and plenty of tears. The Last of Us Part 2 takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, within a story that is beautifully told. The narrative explores different point of views and the cycle of violence. The game does not hold back when it comes to the post-apocalyptic. As terrible as a killer virus can be, humans can be the real monsters. The Last of Us Part 2 played with our emotions to takethe Story of 2020 award.
Best Voice Performance
Laura Bailey – Abby – The Last of Us Part 2
Voice acting in video gaming has come a long way. These great actors make our favourite stories come to life, by simply using their voices. This year there hasn’t been a character that had more emotion, more pain and more life put into it then Abby from The Last of US Part 2. This great character was brought to life by the amazing voice actress Laura Bailey. You’ve heard her voice multiple times before, but this time she smooth-talked us into giving her the Voice Performance of 2020 award.
Character of the Year
Miles Morales -Spiderman Miles Morales
It’s hard to pick the best character of all time, as there are thousands of legendary video game characters out there. This year was no exception, but the one that was stealing the spotlight everywhere was Miles Morales. Everyone loves Spiderman and when you take on the mantel, those are some big shoes to fill. Miles Morales showed us that not only can he fill them, but he wears them with style. This year he swung by and spiderwebbed the Character of 2020 award.
Most Visually Stunning Game
Ghost of Tsushima
There are many games that are deserving of best visuals, but none of them this year came close to Ghost of Tsushima. The graphics, the setting and the colours are just breathtaking. Each area of the game has its own characteristic: snowy mountains, forests, blossom fields or beautiful lakes. This game has it all. Ghost of Tsushima pushed the boundries of the PlayStation 4 to win yet another gong: the Most Visually Stunning Game of 2020 award.
Game of the Year
The Last of Us Part 2
There is no denying that 2020 was one of the best years for games. Gaming has brought us players many memories and helped bring us together at a time when COVID wants to keep us apart, either by telling us amazing stories, in coach co-op or online multiplayer.
But this year the game that made the most impact and raised the bar on story telling is Naughty Dog’s: The Last of Us Part 2. It has everything that a game needs to be successful: beautiful graphics; gameplay that is both challenging and fun; a story that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat; and a cast of characters who are more human than in any other game. Without a doubt the Game of the Year 2020 goes to The Last of US Part 2!
Special thanks to all the players who took part in voting for their favourite games!
