What an unmitigated nightmare of a year 2020 has been. Between the natural disasters that went large this year, over to COVID-19 and the horrors of a pandemic, very few people will look back at this year with fond memories.
Typically at the end of the year we look back at the highlights, but given that 2020 has been so unrelentingly miserable, we’ve decided to look forward instead. Each of the DDNet team is going to list the five things (related to games) that they’re looking forward to in 2021. Whether that be new games, announcements, events or experiences. Be sure to let us know what you’re looking forward to on the rebound, too! We’d love to knock this year out with a wave of positivity.
Today’s list comes to us from DDNet contributor and Let’s Play contributor on the YouTube channel, Harvard!
Pupperazi (and also Pokemon Snap Remake)
I’ve been waiting for the photography game to take off in the same way that the skateboarding genre has – a game which systemises everything about taking and appreciating photos in an aesthetically complete way. Umurangi Generation did a pretty good job of that in 2020, but with Pupperazi from Sundae Month and Nintendo’s rerelease of Pokemon Snap on the horizon, I’m excited to load up my film rolls all over again. If anyone still remembers what film rolls are.
Skatebirb
Speaking of skating, Glass Bottom Games’ Skatebird is just Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater but with birds. They wear snapbacks, occasionally turned backwards. Thus, game of the year material. Wait, hold on, Tony HAWK? I see what they did there…
Mineko’s Night Market
Continuing my trend of cute games involving household pets, Mineko’s Night Market is an adorable life-sim by Meowza Games with a gorgeous art style themed on Japanese culture. After the whirlwind year that was 2020, I’m all for games which simply allow the player to dwell and relax, which Mineko’s Night Market looks perfect for.
SNES Games, Probably
Nintendo has been been extremely sporadic with its handling of the NES and SNES games on Nintendo Switch Online, which has made every new batch of games feel like a welcome surprise. Rather than demanding Super Mario RPG or Harvest Moon over and over, I’ve been able to slow down and recognise some of the roads less travelled. How else would I ever have played Super Valis IV? I can look forward to 2021 knowing that there’s even more SNES gems on the horizon, probably.
Actually Finishing Kentucky Route Zero
It’s become a tradition on every one of my end-of-year lists to fervently await the coming of Kentucky Route Zero Act 5, and now that it’s out, I’d assumed that I’d have a Kentucky Route Zero-shaped hole in my 2021 list. But, as this year turned out, I’ve never properly been in the mood to finish Kentucky Route Zero. Read critical analysis which spoils all the main plot points, I’ve done (I love it when others sing the game’s praises, it deludes me into thinking I have good taste), but actually get to the ending with my own eyes? Not yet. My mind’s been too crowded to take it in. But it’s still something to look forward to, so it counts. We all need a little something to look forward to, even if it’s finally delivering that 8-year-old package to Dogwood Drive.
