As console exclusivity becomes more and more prevalent, it can sometimes feel as though the very best games are always just out of reach.Final Fantasy VII RemakeandThe Last of Us Part IIare just two oflast year’s many great games that could only be enjoyed on PS4while anybody hoping to playthe latestAnimal CrossingorMariotitlesis out of luck if they don’t have a Switch.
RELATED:The 10 Best Exclusive PS4 & Xbox One Games Of The Generation (According To Metacritic)
Thankfully, however, not every new game that comes out these days is limited to a single system. Sure, exclusives may have made most of the headlines during 2020, but that’s not to say that there weren’t plenty of great cross-platform titles as well. These games can be played on at least three of the four main gaming platforms and can hold their own against most of the big budget exclusives despite typically costing far less to produce.
10Huntdown
With its striking and stylized visuals and its arcade style controls,Huntdownis a celebration of a bygone era of gaming that many just aren’t quite ready to let go of. Despite it beingan ode to the pastthough, there are elements and ideas here that feel very much at home in the modern gaming landscape.
The controls are surprisingly tight and the soundtrack sounds like somethingstraight out of the eighties. Although they could perhaps do with a bit more variety, the levels are well designed and are complimented by some fantastic boss fights that are sure to get players' hearts beating a little faster. It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s deserving of a lot more attention and praise than it’s so far received.
9Desperados III
TheDesperadosseries has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, butDesperados IIIis definitely a high point for the series. It serves as a prequel to the original game, taking a deep dive into the origin of series protagonist John Cooper while also introducing several interesting new characters for players to control.
The story itself may not be all that compelling, but the writing and voice acting are fantastic throughout. The playable characters are all really well fleshed out too and their special abilities help to make each one of them feel truly unique. It’s notthe easiest game in the world, but, for those who like a challenge, it’s a solid real-time tactics game that’s more than worthy of theDesperadosname.
8Streets Of Rage 4
Beat ‘em up games may not beas popular or as prevalent as they once were, but for as long as games likeStreets of Rage 4continue to be released, the genre will never truly die. It’s the epitome of what a modern beat ‘em up game should be and delivers on all fronts; particularly when it comes to rewarding skill and making the player feel likethe biggest badass alive.
RELATED:10 Top Rated Game Pass Games, Ranked According To Metacritic
More than a quarter of a century has passed since the originalStreets of Ragetrilogy and yet very little has really changed here. Sure, the game looks a thousand times better than its predecessors and it controls a lot better too, but all of the fundamentals have largely been left untouched.Some might see this as a bad thing, but, as the old saying goes, why fix what isn’t broken?
7Risk Of Rain 2
While sticking with a tried and tested formula does often yield the best results, starting from scratch can sometimes be just as effective.Risk of Rain 2is a great example of this, with Hopoo Games’ decision to bring the series into the third dimension ultimately leading to one ofthe best roguelike games ever made.
Many of the elements that made the original so enjoyable can still be found here, but the leap to 3D adds a new dimension to these mechanics figuratively as well as literally. Exploration and combat both feel far more exciting while the improved graphical fidelity helps to differentiate enemies a little better too. One thing that hasn’t changed too much though is the game’s intense difficulty, making ita great title for those who love a good challenge.
6Kentucky Route Zero
Thanks in large tothe many great Telltale Games seriesand the continued efforts ofpeople like Tim Schafer, there has been a real resurgence in the popularity of point and click titles over the past decade or so.Kentucky Route Zerois one of the best titles to have released during that time and serves as proof that there’s still a place for the genre in the modern age.
With its stylized visuals and beautiful soundtrack, it feels like the natural successor tothe wonderful point and click games that so effectively punctuated the end of the twentieth century. Where it really shines though is through its storytelling, which rewards the inquisitive and provides a gripping and thought-provoking narrative from start to finish.
5F1 2020
Players and critics often bemoanthe lack of innovation in annual sports simulation franchises, but that’s not a criticism that could really be levied at Codemasters. The developer has always looked to push the boundaries with itsmany racing sim gamesandF1 2020is yet another prime example of this.
RELATED:10 Racing Games With The Best Vehicle Customization
4Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Many classic gaming franchisesmade their returns in 2020, but none did so quite as spectacularly asTony Hawk’s. Rather than yet another new entry, however, the developers instead opted toremake the series’ first two titles from the ground up. The resulting game is not just one of the bestTony Hawk’sgames, but one of the finest sports simulation games ever released.
While it doesn’t play exactly like the originals,Pro Skater 1 + 2is about as faithful as it could be without feeling dated. The visuals are strong throughout and the controls are incredibly responsive; allowing players to pull off some insane combos if they know what they’re doing. For fans of skateboarding games,they really don’t come much better than this.
3Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Replacing Kiryu was always going to be a tall order for the team over at Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, butYakuza: Like a Dragon’s main protagonist Ichiban is a more than capable stand in. He’s not the only new addition to the series either, withthe game’s combat system being completely revampedto include numerous elements fromsome of the classic turn-based RPGs of old.
Though a little jarring at first, it’s a system that works surprisingly well and is supplemented nicely with the many environmental weapons scattered throughout the game. The story’s not too bad either, but it’s through theplethora of minigames and side activitiesthat the game really justifies its price tag. As well asthe many returning classics, the game introduces several new activities including go-karting and business management.
2Doom Eternal
Followingthe hugely successful 2016 reboot, expectations were high forDoom Eternal.As has so often been the case over the years, the team at id Software didn’t disappoint. The game builds on the foundations laid by its predecessor to great effect and just might be the very best Doom game ever made.
The level design is vastly improved while the grappling hook adds an entirely new dynamic to the way in which players can traverse them. There’s alsoa wider variety of demons to slayand some wonderful animations when doing so. It’s one of the most well optimized games to have released in recent years and althoughthe multiplayer mode falls a little short, its single player experience is right up there withthe very best.
1Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Ori and the Blind Forestsurprised a lot of people when it released back in 2015 thanks to its stunning visuals and wonderful gameplay. Its sequel, on the other hand, came not as a surprise, but instead as a confirmation of the brilliance of the development team at Moon Studios.
At its core,Ori and the Will of the Wispsis everything that a sequel should be.It looks better, the combat system has been improved andthere are some new gameplay mechanicsthrown in there as well for good measure. What’s more, the game does a wonderful job of expanding on the series' lore through yet another enthralling narrative.
NEXT:10 Platformers That Define The Genre (& Aren’t Made By Nintendo)
