Summary

• Elden Ring redefines challenging gameplay in an accessible format, setting a new bar for immersive RPG experiences.
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3 delivers breathtaking open-world exploration with unmatched JRPG storytelling on the Nintendo Switch.
• Street Fighter 6's revolutionary campaign and diverse combat options make it a beloved classic in the iconic fighting franchise.

Whether it's Soulsbourne games like Street Fighter 6, the third decade of the 2000s stands far and above its predecessors. Nothing is as entertaining as a good video game, and the 2020s have not been a disappointment. Visual quality will never be the defining trait in any game, but advances in modern technology have undeniably enhanced the experience from decades prior.

The best video games accomplish different things. Some lean into immersive narratives with years of lore and backstory to fall back on, and others focus on delivering hours of endless fun through revolutionary game play mechanics. Gaming offers a sense of community that few other realms of entertainment can, but it can also provide an escape from the problems of the real world. There have been tens of thousands of games released over the last several years, but these are the 10 best games of 2020 that deserve your undivided attention.

How we choose entries for our Best-Of Lists.

Screen Rant uses several factors for Best-Of Lists, including Metacritic scores, Screen Rant's own reviews from expert writers, and IMDb review scores. Writer Adam Blevins also uses his knowledge from over 20 years of gaming in different genres to compile the 10 highest quality and most complete entries.

10 Alan Wake 2 (2023)

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Alan Wake 2 has all the makings of one of the best horror games ever, and it is unquestionably one of the best games of the decade thus far. It follows the story of both renowned writer Alan Wake and FBI Special Agent Saga Anderson as they navigate the complexities of Wake's new horror story. While Saga tries to solve a string of ritualistic murders, Wake's tale begins bleeding into reality, altering the course of Saga's life.

Alan Wake 2 effectively builds on the original by delivering a more narrative-driven story, with game play improvements to provide a much smoother experience. Each character is brilliantly written, and it further develops an already immersive and intriguing world established in the darkness of Alan Wake. The sequel is much more difficult, but with this increased challenge comes far more rewards and gratification. Despite more than a 10-year gap between releases, Alan Wake 2 proves the best games are worth the wait.

9 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (2022)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

The second entry on the list is starkly different from the first, but both are equally extraordinary. However, there are some similarities to Alan Wake 2, in that the developers wanted to capture the mechanical magic of the first two games while focusing heavily on the story. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an action-adventure RPG exclusively on Nintendo Switch, which follows Noah and his friends Eunie and Lanz. When the trio gains the power of Ouroboros, they must work together to reach safety and unlock the hidden secrets of their world.

The game received heavy criticism for performance issues at launch but was praised for its beautiful open world and endlessly entertaining combat. Screen Rant called it “the culmination of lessons learned from developer Monolith Soft's past projects, and a must-play, best in class JRPG.” As the final game in the Chronicles trilogy, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the best Nintendo Switch games from 2022 and a beautiful conclusion to a groundbreaking trilogy.

8 Street Fighter 6 (2023)

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Seven years after the release of Street Fighter 5 comes the sixth installment in the franchise, Street Fighter 6. Similar to most fighting games, the multiplayer aspect is prevalent, but SF6 also features a revolutionary campaign that elevated the franchise to exciting new heights. In the main story, players create their own character, Luke, who starts out as a lowly brawler and works his way up to one of the most legendary fighters in the world.

Street Fighter 6 immediately became one of the most beloved fighting games ever at launch due to its increased accessibility for new players and wide variety of combat diversity. There are plenty of features for those who like playing with friends and also loads of content for those who prefer to go at it alone. Keeping things fresh for a franchise with such a storied history is never easy, but Capcom delivered a true classic with Street Fighter 6.

7 Forza Horizon 5 (2021)

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One

Upon Forza Horizon's initial release in 2012, it revolutionized racing games by bringing in an open-world aspect never before seen in the genre. Nine years later, the franchise is still altering the industry with a bigger map and more, faster cars in Forza Horizon 5. The fifth installment is the most ambitious yet, presenting players with tons of challenges along their road to becoming the best driver alive and compelling characters looking to help or hinder them every step of the way.

Forza Horizon 5 received universal praise from critics and fans alike for its beautiful visuals and transcendent control mechanics. Driving around in the open world of Mexico has never felt smoother, and the sound design has consistently evolved to offer a unique but authentic racing experience. With all its striking attention to detail, FH5 is the textbook definition of immersion and one of the best racing games on the track right now.

6 Half-Life: Alyx (2020)

Platforms: PC

The first virtual reality game on the list is Half-Life: Alyx, a first-person shooter that follows a group of resistance fighters struggling to free Earth from alien control. The player ventures into the dangerous world to take on the Combine, and soon discovers that there are far more powerful entities at play. The game is set roughly five years before Half-Life 2, landing right around the middle of the Half-Life timeline.

Half-Life: Alyx is one of the best first-person shooter games that's also available in virtual reality. VR has been largely a hit-or-miss genre since its conception, but the latest installment in the Half-Life franchise showcases just how enthralling the medium can be. With virtual reality occupying a growing seat at the table of modern technology, Half-Life: Alyx will be ed as an early innovator.

5 The Last of Us: Part 2 (2020)

Platforms: PlayStation 4/5

From the mind of Neil Druckmann comes the most thematically rich and powerful game of the 2020s, The Last of Us: Part 2. The sequel, set five years after the events of the original, follows Ellie and Abby on mirroring stories of revenge and redemption. The story is complex, and although nature is to root for Ellie, some have said Abby is the true protagonist. TLOU 2 won Game of the Year in 2020 against a stacked group of nominees, further proving it is one of the most mechanically sound and emotionally resonant games ever.

To follow up a game as beloved as The Last of Us is no easy task, but The Last of Us: Part 2 manages to faithfully capture the magic of the original while also improving on everything, the mark of a great sequel. The franchise bled into pop culture in such a forceful way that it's been adapted into one season of a hit HBO TV series, with more on the way. The Last of Us Part 2 stunned the world with its revolutionary gameplay, graphics, and performances and remains one of the greatest games of all time.

4 God of War: Ragnarök (2022)

Platforms: PlayStation 4/5

Similar to The Last of Us: Part 2, the next entry on the list is a highly anticipated sequel to an award-winning masterpiece. God of War: Ragnarök is the second chapter in Kratos' post-Greek, Midgardian story with his son Atreus, and follows their journey to prevent Ragnarök and put an end to Odin's madness. GOW: Ragnarök may have been bested by Elden Ring for the Game of the Year Award, and rightfully so, but it's still one of the best games of the 2020s.

God of War: Ragnarök is the definition of expansive both in story and gameplay. The worst thing a sequel can do is regress the player back to the status from the beginning of the original. While Ragnarök does clear the skill tree in the first chapter, each skill has been improved with many more skills added to make working through the ranks infinitely more rewarding. The game builds on years of lore and history for Kratos, and the recent Valhalla DLC is a gift for longtime fans of the franchise.

3 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

2023 was a strong year for gaming, made evident by the fact that a masterpiece like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom could miss out on Game of the Year. TOTK is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and follows Link and his search for Princess Zelda while helping the people of Hyrule stand up to Calamity Ganon.

The amount of different ways to approach puzzles and other challenges in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is truly unprecedented. Breath of the Wild features a sizable map, but Tears of the Kingdom expands upon this map by nearly tripling it in size. Any game this ambitious is undoubtedly one of the best games of the last few years.

2 Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)

Platforms: Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

The most recent Game of the Year winner, which dominated most of the conversation in 2023, is Baldur's Gate 3. The role-playing game by Larian Studios is nearly impossible to summarize due to the creative freedom it allows players. Baldur's Gate 3 is a game of choices, some darker than others, and each choice can lead to beautiful or dire consequences if not taken with care. It is a mature, breathtaking, and empowering experience that can't be found anywhere else.

Badur's Gate 3 takes the Choice and Flow mechanic found in other games, such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Red Dead Redemption 2, to the ultimate extreme. It's easy to get lost in the hypnotizing fantasy world full of grand but relatable characters with such freedom, but this is why BG3 claimed the Game of the Year award despite being in contention against Spider-Man 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It also offers a challenge that is both frustrating and rewarding and puts a remarkably fun twist on turn-based combat.

1 Elden Ring (2022)

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One

The best video game of the 2020s so far is the game that is as near to perfect as anything ever designed, Elden Ring, and it isn't particularly close. While other Soulsborne games by FromSoft in the past have been very restricted, Elden Ring is the most accessible Souls game that still maintains its often-infuriating challenge. The story follows a lowly Tarnished who encounters many difficult foes in the mysterious Lands Between.

Elden Ring offers the most challenging Souls game to date, set in a world that is endlessly explorable and immersive. It also respects the player by not offering clear and defined objectives and paths but instead, very vague guides that encourage exploration and reward it with new weapons that provide endless ways to play. Elden Ring is responsive, awe-inspiring, and believed by many to be the best game ever made.

The 2020s have been an incredible decade for fans of gaming, and there is sure to be plenty more to celebrate in the years to come. Although beloved games such as Spider-Man 2 and Ghost of Tsushima didn't make the final cut, they deserve honorable mentions for providing one-of-a-kind experiences. With the diversity of games and quality across genres, there's truly never been a better time to be an avid gamer than the 2020s.