The 10 Best Video Games of 2020

In a bizarre, unsettling, and oftentimes downright frightening year, video games became a port of refuge for many--be they longtime gamers, old-school veterans picking the controller back up after a break, or first-timers looking for a novel way to safely have fun or connect with friends during pandemic lockdowns. It's a small blessing, then, that it was also a banner year for excellent games to play. Here are TIME's best video games of 2020, according to our group of resident gamers, listed alphabetically. Also read TIME's lists of the 10 best fiction books of 2020 and the 100 must-read books of 2020. Nostalgia is big business right now, but reworking old joy rarely delivers that original thrill.