We’ve come to the end of yet another year, yet another decade. This has been one of the best years for gaming in recent memory, with every single first and third-party publisher drowning us gamers with one great game after another. It’s now time to do the ugly job of narrowing down the literal hundreds of games we’ve reviewed this year and listing the twenty best titles we’ve had the honor to tackle in 2019. Before we begin, we’d like to estabilish a few rules:

 

• The following Switch ports are not eligible as they have been previously released for other systems in the past: Ori and the Blind Forest, SUPERHOT, The Witcher 3, Hotline Miami , and Baldur’s Gate.
• The excellent Monster Hunter World expansion Iceborne is not eligible.
• We reviewed Return of the Obra Dinn in 2019, but that was originally released in 2018, so that one isn’t eligible either.
• We haven’t reviewed the following games which have most likely appeared in other lists from other sites: Disco Elysium, Borderlands 3, Metro Exodus, Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

 

We would also like to list a few honorable mentions: Mortal Kombat 11, Slay the Spire, Ape Out, The Division 2, Heroland, My Friend Pedro, and Tetris 99. Without further ado, here’s our countdown!

 

20 – Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

With its excellent graphics, adrenaline-filled gameplay, and brand new noob-friendly control scheme, Ace Combat 7 is proof that combat flight simulators are still alive and kicking. It also features a fantastic VR mode if you own the PS4 version. – Leo Faria

 

19 – Dragon Quest Builders 2

Dragon Quest Builders 2 might not be the highest rated game I’ve played this year, but it is easily the one I’ve spent the most time with. It features a better plot than its predecessor, excellent quality of life improvements, and fantastic endgame content, ensuring that you’ll play this title until the end of days. Or until Square Enix decides to release a sequel, of course. – Leo Faria

 

18 – Heave Ho

Heave Ho is a game about controlling weird-looking blobs, grabbing onto ledges, platforms, and other blobs in order to reach a goal at the end of the level. Yes, it is a silly concept, but this game featured one of the most entertaining couch co-op experiences I’ve had in years. If you play a round with your friends without laughing at least once, then you’re dead inside. – Leo Faria

 

17 – F1 2019

Yes, an annualized sports title managed to crack into our list, but it fully deserves to be here. F1 2019 is a huge improvement over the already excellent F1 2018, featuring improved visuals, better controls, and literally twice as much content than its predecessor, thanks to the addition of the F2 racing category. Without a doubt, the best F1 game ever released and the best racing game of 2019. – Leo Faria

 

16 – Sairento VR

2019 didn’t come close to being the year for PSVR that 2018 was, this is true. However, Sairento VR found a way to shine bright regardless. Its learning curve can be steep and can scare users away, but if you stick with it then you will be rewarded with wall run, air twist, floor slide, leaping kills aplenty. And really, isn’t that what gaming is all about?  – Todd Eggleston

 

15 – Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order not only impressed me, but it also shows the sheer talent over at Respawn Entertainment. Fallen Order takes a lot from other very popular games, but it does them justice by offering competent implementation wrapped up in a faithful Star Wars package. – Jordan Hawes

 

14 – Killer Queen Black

Every now and again, a game comes along to remind us what gaming was and should continue to be… fun. The port of the hit arcade, Killer Queen, does just that. It doesn’t tell you a story. It doesn’t make you feel or provoke thought. Killer Queen Black is simply 4v4 fast paced action that reminds us that games can still be games. – Todd Eggleston

 

13 – Gears 5

Gears 5 takes the franchise in a bit of a different direction and adds some new and fresh ideas to the tried and true formula. With large maps made for exploration, RPG elements, free vehicular roam, and being able to make tough decisions in the campaign; it’s clear The Coalition wants to shake up the franchise a little. While it has struggled to find a good balance with its progression and store system, Gears 5 is one of the few games that offers more bang than its buck and is only getting bigger and better. – Jordan Hawes

 

12 – Control

Control isn’t simply a top 20 title, it is my personal 2019 GOTY. A narrative-heavy mystery with excellent voice acting and even better gameplay. Twisting reality goes from being a specific tool or weapon to being an always evolving and fluid core of your experience. Remedy has taken the best parts of Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Quantum Break in this sci-fi opus. – Todd Eggleston

 

11 – Horace

I wasn’t expecting to add Horace to this list. In fact, I had never heard of Horace prior to reviewing it. How wrong I was. Horace captivated me with its tight gameplay, adorable graphics, and above all, its fantastic story inspired by The Bicentennial Man and many other classic sci-fi novels. It is one of the best independent games I have ever played. – Leo Faria

 

10 – Anno 1800

Who knew Ubisoft had it in them? After two dismal entries that seemed to kill the franchise for good, Anno 1800 came and delivered its best entry. Dripping with historical theme, a strong narrative campaign, and the return of Sandbox mode, it is a must play for any PC strategy fans. Plus it’s just downright gorgeous. – Thomas Medina

 

9 – A Plague Tale: Innocence

A Plague Tale: Innocence was one of those games that got my attention the second I laid eyes on it. I always knew it was going to be something special. I was impressed by its visuals that rival most AAA games, immersive gameplay, and a heartfelt story that is mature and incredibly well written with a great cast of characters.  – Kyle Nicol

 

8 – Total War: Three Kingdoms

After rebounding from the utter failure that was Total War: Rome II with the magnificent Warhammer titles, you’d think CA was out of surprises. Then came Three Kingdoms. It turned the longest standing Total War weaknesses, diplomacy and characters, and made them strengths. United alongside their unparalleled RTS battles, you have a grand strategy game that puts Paradox to shame. Lovingly crafted around its theme and with one of the best UIs I’ve ever seen, this is Total War at its best….for now. – Thomas Medina

 

7 – The Outer Worlds

Even as someone who already expected to love it, The Outer Worlds surprised me. Sure the writing was fantastic, the characters intriguing, and the overlaying themes well handled. This is Obsidian though, that’s to be expected at this point. What wasn’t was the smooth combat, great graphics, and quality voice-acting. Despite everyone writing it off at first as New Vegas 2, but not (not that there’s anything wrong with that), it managed to establish itself as a strong title on its own strengths. – Thomas Medina

 

6 – Resident Evil 2

Everything about the Resident Evil 2 remake just screams excellence with one of the best survival horror games of all time. Capcom have pulled off the impossible and made zombies scary again. All whilst delivering a terrifying horror experience that feels completely new, despite being a remake of a classic. This is a game that was built for the fans and it shows in every single aspect. They even brought Tofu back!  – Kyle Nicol

 

5 – Blasphemous

Blasphemous was a game that looked awesome to me right from the first trailer I saw. This 2D pixelated gothic adventure screamed for my attention. I went in expecting to have some fun, but I was absolutely shocked with just how great this game is. With well designed platforming sections, combat similar to Dark Souls, and wonderfully dark and twisted imagery, Blasphemous is a game that has truly earned its spot in our Top 20 list. – Heidi Hawes

 

4 – Astral Chain

Astral Chain is the result of Platinum’s long experience creating some of the best action games of all time. I couldn’t put Astral Chain down for weeks thanks to its stylish new synergetic action that has you controlling two character simultaneously with ease. Everything about the game is badass from it’s crazy story, characters, and anime inspired soundtrack. For me this is the Switch’s killer game. – Kyle Nicol

 

3 – Void Bastards

Void Bastards is downright addicting. I dreaded getting to the end because it meant…it would be over. I had a blast with this title. Now, if I can only forget about it all to play it all over again… – Jan Bigas

 

2 – The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

There are some people who have given me a hard time for giving The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening a perfect score, but I fully stand by my decision. Nintendo took one of its best and underrated titles and improved upon it in every way possible. From its graphics, soundtrack and sound design, strategic button mapping for equipment, and smoother travelling across Koholint Island, every aspect of this game has been made better. They even included the Color Dungeon from the Game Boy Color version of the game and added a dungeon maker. If that doesn’t warrant a perfect score then I don’t know what does. – Heidi Hawes

 

1 – Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 is a game that almost feels like it was made specifically for me. It has everything I need in a game: fantastic graphics, a phenomenal heavy metal soundtrack, lots of weapons and combos, a nearly infinitely replayable campaign mode, and most importantly, the fact that it’s trying to entertain you with its downright insane, over-the-top and completely self-aware premise at all times. When a game lets you murder demons with a motorcycle-shaped sword and a white cowboy hat that lets you dance like Michael Jackson, you know it’s good stuff. – Leo Faria