10. Blazing Chrome (Switch) -- So much more Contra than this last year's actual Contra, recalling Alien Wars and Hard Corps, this one HAD TO be on my list!
09. Demon's Tilt (Switch) -- Brings me back to the days of competing with my Suitemates in college for high scores in Alien Crush and Devil's Crush on the TurboGrafx-16. Flashy and fun!!
08. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (PS4) -- I already have my "Not-Contra" on my list, so of course I'll have to have a "Not-CastleVania." Backed it! Look for my name in the Credits! As long as Igarashi continues to make games like this, I'll continue to buy 'em and play 'em!
07. Luigi's Mansion (Switch) -- The most playable Nintendo game of the year. So completely interactive and fun; I can spend hours just sucking up trash, sand, ghosts...
06. Death Stranding (PS4) -- Any game that encourages gamers to help each other out or become strands in an unbreakable cord of community, I'm all for it. Too bad I got bored of the game 2/3rds of the way in...
05. Slay the Spire (PS4) --Looks simple, eh? I may have spent more time with this game than any other this past year! One of the most addicting games I've played in ages!
04. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch) -- Shakes up the Fire Emblem formula by doing away with the Weapon Triangle and marriages for all of your characters, but replaces them with unprecedented interaction with your troops / students. 100's of hours of FE gameplay here, should you want to partake!
03. Borderlands 3 (PS4) -- So. Much. Loot! I'll always love Borderlands. They'll always be towards the top of my list for the years they are released. This one did seem to be missing something without Handsome Jack egging on the Vault Hunters and the masterful writing of Anthony Burch, though. PLAY. IT. WITH. FRIENDS!!
02. The Outer Worlds (PS4) -- Part Borderlands, part Fall Out, with a smidge of BioShock for good measure... This is a game that makes your faults and weaknesses almost as important as your strengths and skills. Such a well-written game. Such memorable characters and whole new world(s) to delve into. This BETTER be the beginning of a new franchise! One of the best playing games this year with --NONE-- of the bugs you would normally get with a Bethesda release. PLAY. THIS. GAME... NOW ! ! ! Would have been my number one game this year if not for...
01. Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4) -- My history with Mortal Kombat has been told and retold on this site more times than I can count. There's no way this was not going to be my number 1. Not only is this the best looking entry in the series by far, it's one of the best looking fighting games E-V-E-R, period! The realism is so intense it makes the fatalities that much more gruesome! It reboots and refreshes the MK mythologies once more; old characters and new fight side by side, along with younger and older versions of the Klassics.The customizaton of the characters has been cranked up to eleven, but the fighting has been ever-so-slightly simplified to make it more akin to MKII or MK3 than the past few games. One of my favorite series ever shows no signs of slowing!
Demon's Tit? Oh, read that wrong. Totally agree about Death Steanding. It's about ten hours too long.
my biggest gaming regret last year is not playing Borderlands 3 with Leo.
Just check out the character models for Terminator and (Cary Tagawa as) Shang Tsung to see how life-like these characters are!
Honorable Mentions:
Awesome list. MK11 was fantastic. I'm going to start slay the spire soon.
I've got to check out Blodstained and give Control a go!
MK11 loks hilarious.
Wow lots of surprises in there. Actually makes 2019 look dope.
What's this one?
If i had to guess the new river city rampage with girls?
You won't believe it, but it's titled River City Girls. If I'm not mistaken, it's an indie game that was very well received.
Slay the spire people, play it! Leo you needed to champion this game more, it's brilliant.