DDNet Awards 2020! Best on PC

It’s that time of year again, where we roll out the red carpet and celebrate the best that 2020 has offered us. In a year that has otherwise been so terrible, the fact that we’ve had a steady stream of such excellent games to play has been nothing but a relief.

It really has been a great year for games, from the big blockbusters right down to the most humble of projects. We’ve had surprises that have come out of nowhere, and long-anticipated games that have managed to meet and exceed our expectations when we’ve finally got our hands on them.

This year, for the DDNet awards, we have 16 different categories to recognise, and as we always do. As much as we love the consoles, we also can’t deny that the PC has its very own set of benefits as a platform. It offers versatility, an expansive range of outlets to buy and play games, and that opens up creative opportunities. From the most indie games on itch.io right through to the one version of Cyberpunk 2077 that wasn’t so broken that it needed to be pulled from sale, the PC is the place to go for a sheer variety of experiences.

BRONZE: The Solitaire Conspiracy

Mike Bithell is a treasure for the industry, constantly producing games that are creative, interesting, different and entertaining (he also somehow made a turn-based John Wick game feel as active as the movies this year). You can only play The Solitaire Conspiracy on PC right now, but you most certainly want to, because this represents Bithell at his best. Taking the basic game of solitaire and somehow fusing it with the neon-infused story of spies and espionage would never have happened were it not for Bithell’s raw creative inspiration.

GOLD: Microsoft Flight Simulator

Yesterday we awarded Animal Crossing with the console game of 2020, because it very genuinely helped people get through the nightmare of pandemics and lockdowns. Microsoft Flight Simulator was the exact same situation. People – especially those that love travel and seeing the world – have had a very frustrating year, being locked into their own local communities, and Flight Simulator has provided them with the opportunity to explore. To visit beloved places across the world that are currently out of reach. To visit places they’ve only ever wondered about. Giving players an entire globe to explore via a wide range of aircraft came across as almost a gift this year, and Microsoft executed it perfectly.

Of course, we very much welcome your own picks for each category, so be sure to let us know your thoughts, and we’ll see you tomorrow for the next category!