As 2019 comes to a close, DualShockers and our staff are reflecting on this year’s batch of games and what were their personal highlights within the last year. Unlikethe official Game of the Year 2019 awards for DualShockers, there are little-to-no-rules on our individual Top 10 posts. For instance, any game — not just 2019 releases — can be considered.
HelloDualShockers! This is your resident new video boi writing for the first time forDualShockersfor my top ten games of the year. Please take kindly because I don’t normally do this, my mind is best suited for video. With that said, here’s what I had to say year of great games.
Just as a note for my list: the first nine games are in no particular, with the last game as my overall Game of the Year.
Resident Evil 2
This game used to scare the piss out of me as a young boy. To imagine the remake still having the same effect on me nearly 21 years later is an understatement. The hallways I’m used to exploring felt new and fresh along with some great new surprises, makingResident Evil 2among the best in the series right up there withResident Evil 4.
This game looks incredible and is an example of this generation’s superb visual quality. The modern control enhancements are a dream and the reworked puzzles are exceptional. Its replayability with the inclusion of the additional side stories and missions makes this game worth every cent.
Check outDualShockers' review forResident Evil 2.
Devil May Cry 5
Dante and his merry band of misfits never before clicked with me with the few games of the series I have attempted to play throughout the years. But then high school happened, My Chemical Romance broke up, and my emo phase has never felt the same. However, that all changed in 2019 until this game.
This video game is a rocking emo metal love song with guns, spells, and robot arms. It’sThe Fast and the Furiousof video games. It has a fun inventive cast all-around with a story that makes no sense, but the action is non-stop fun. This game takes the RE engine and proves you’re able to do so much more with it, and I’m excited for more that this series has to offer. I’m still looking for a good deal to play the rest of this series of games: it’s that damn good.
Check outDualShockers' review forDevil May Cry 5.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
LikeDMC5, this strategy series has before never clicked with me.Awakeningat the time did nothing for me, and I never picked these characters in Smash. But when you give me aHarry Potter-like school mixed with aPersona-style companion system (not sure if this is in the other games in the series, sorry) and you have my sword, or bow, or javelin.
This game hooked me deep. From falling in love with my chosen house and characters, to realizing that the gameplay is likeFinal Fantasy Tactics Advance, it was the perfect entry in the series to pull me in.
Check outDualShockers' review forFire Emblem: Three Houses.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Respawn going two-for-two for some of the best games I have played in 2019 is quite an achievement, given how different the games are. WhileFallen Ordercertainly takes a lot of inspiration from other games, even mixing multiple genres, it’s theStar Warslayer on top that really holds it all together. The game’sDark Souls-inspired combat was the only aspect that I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy, because normally it’s not my wheelhouse. But the Soulslike combat ofFallen Orderreally made me appreciate it, especially when you combine that with the story of rediscovering yourself as a Jedi.
This game’s greatest strength hands down was the story, because it follows through with Cal’s journey through his past, his crew, and what his future is to be in theStar Warscanon. This was one of the highlights of the year, and it’s a game I can’t wait to see a sequel for.
Check outDualShockers' review forStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Remedy has a formula of game design that just speaks directly to my sensibilities. The moment that I saw the first trailer forControl, I knew it was going to be one of my favorites from them. Whether it’s crime noir withMax Payne, science fiction drama withQuantum Break(which is an underrated gem this generation), andControlbeing a supernatural secret government organization game in the vein ofThe X-FilesandTwin Peaks, oh boy is it speaking to me.
The game just looks beautiful, even in the most mundane areas to the most elaborate twisted puzzle box-like sections of the world. The gameplay is the power fantasy version of their previous games, and that formula still works with this game. This game makes me regret it more for skippingAlan Wake, so I’m happy to correct that mistake soon.
Check outDualShockers' review forControl.
Katana Zero
There’s always a few indie games that really catch my eye each year, and for my list I really want to show my appreciation for this side-scrolling action platformer. As someone who is not the biggest fan of the gameplay ofHotline Miami, something about the perspective change to side-scrolling “don’t die” gameplay really captured me.
A lot of the heavy lifting that got me through the game were the story elements that were in between each of the levels, something I didn’t care for in theHotlinegames. If you’re a fan ofThe Messengerand other amazing side-scrollers, this is not one to miss, and one I hope to get a sequel because there’s still some story left on the table that they could explore.
Check outDualShockers' review forKatana Zero.
Apex Legends
Titanfall 2from Respawn Entertainment really knocked my socks off when it came out, but with its launch coinciding with that ofBattlefield 1, I was afraid that would have been the last of that world we would get to see. Thankfully, with a retooling of the genre,Apex Legendsbrings that action-adventure-style that I loved to the battle royale genre. With the mix ofTitanfallgameplay withOverwatch-like heroes, this game kept bringing me back game-after-game long before a battle pass was ever introduced.
Check outDualShockers' review forApex Legends.
The fifth entry (technically sixth) in the ongoingGearssaga did something that the fourth one did not succeed in; it made me care about the franchise again. Taking DJ way from the spotlight and focusing on Kait and Del was the smartest move to makeGearsunique again.
Check outDualShockers' review forGears 5.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The originalModern Warfarepicked up the torch thatHalo 2had in the previous generation and ran with it. With this new iteration, it goes back to its roots as a shooter and still retains the spark it had all those years ago, just now for 2019. Add multi-platform crossplay, and this shooter is a must-own.
Check outDualShockers' review forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare.
My Favorite Game of the Year: Death Stranding
Death Strandingis myBreath of the Wildfor 2019. The story is loosely there, but the gameplay and the world you exist in kept me coming back hour-after-hour, and when I finished the game all I ever did was think about it. At work, in an Uber, while watching TV; all I wanted to do was walk that empty landscape alone and just deliver packages. I have never finished a Kojima game, butDeath Strandingwas the silly ambitious art project that I couldn’t help but admire and ultimately love.The story is silly. The themes are extremely on the noise. The performances are incredible.
Recently, I called this game the crazy version ofThe Wizard of Oz. The characters you meet along the way all bring their individual quirks that, to me, make the game special. The world around you is beautiful and sad. The score is beautiful and sometimes, when the Low Roar songs start to play perfectly to fit the mood of the moment, it’s wonderful.
The combat is not great, but to me it never was the focus. The connectivity of the world with strands from other players is as inventive asJourneywas years before. I could go on and on about this game, but then there will be no room for the others on this list. This game may not be for everyone, but I dare you to try it for yourself.
Check outDualShockers' review forDeath Stranding.
Check out the rest of theDualShockersstaff Top 10 lists and our official Game of the Year Awards:
December 23:DualShockersGame of the Year Awards 2019
December 25:Lou Contaldi, Editor-in-Chief//Logan Moore, Managing Editor
December 26:Tomas Franzese, News Editor//Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor
December 27:Mike Long, Community Manager//Scott White, Staff Writer
December 28:Chris Compendio, Contributor//Mario Rivera, Video Manager//Kris Cornelisse, Staff Writer
December 29:Scott Meaney, Community Director//Allisa James, Senior Staff Writer//Ben Bayliss, Senior Staff Writer
December 30:Cameron Hawkins, Staff Writer//David Gill, Senior Staff Writer//Portia Lightfoot, Contributor
December 31:Iyane Agossah, Senior Staff Writer//Michael Ruiz, Senior Staff Writer//Rachael Fiddis, Contributor
January 1:Ricky Frech, Senior Staff Writer//Tanner Pierce, Staff Writer//Laddie Simco, Staff Writer
