To close out 2020 and celebrate the start of the new year, a number of developers at Naughty Dog (Uncharted, The Last of Us) shared their favorite games from last year. Though 2020 proved a generally tough year for most, gaming was replete with milestones and highlights across the board. For example, in addition to the launch of new hardware from Microsoft and Sony, a treasure trove of different experiences regularly hit the market throughout the last 12 months, an outcome most of the entertainment industry wasn’t fortunate enough to share in.
The early months of last year saw Animal Crossing: New Horizons and DOOM Eternal share a release date, culminating in the two disparate communities uniting in unprecedented fashion. After a lengthy development cycle, Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII Remake not too long thereafter. And that monumental release was later followed by the likes of The Last of us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima. Of course, other heavy-hitters such as COD: Black Ops Cold War and Cyberpunk 2077 closed out the year, but two smaller games in particular remain at the center of attention – Among Us and Fall Guys. It seems of these titles are even favorites among the development community.
When they weren’t making one of 2020’s most critically acclaimed and commercially successful titles, the crew at Naughty Dog played a few games themselves. As such, for the studio’s first blog post of 2021, Naughty Dog developers decided to share the experiences they enjoyed most last year. Art Director Erick Pangilinan and Development Director Waylon Brinck both listed Astro’s Playroom as personal favorites, due to its PlayStation nostalgia and family-friendly gameplay. Naughty Dog’s recently appointed co-president, Neil Druckmann, and Game Director Vinit Agarwal gave a shoutout to Fall Guys, noting that the more special moments came when playing with colleagues. Demon’s Souls, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Griftlands, No Man’s Sky, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales all made the studio’s list, as well. Ghost of Tsushima received the most mentions, courtesy of its setting, stunning open-world, and satisfying gameplay.
It’s always interesting to learn what developers enjoy playing when they aren’t making games themselves. Given the bleakness of studio’s latest project, it comes as no surprise that so many of the titles on this particular list are colorful and charming.
Despite releasing one of 2020’s biggest games, Naughty Dog had a rather rough go of it. Amid a leak that spoiled much of The Last of Us Part II’s narrative, claims of unhealthy crunch practices plagued the studio earlier in the year. After the sequel’s release, developers and actors received untold amounts of online harassment and death threats from bad actors. Recent weeks have seen the company rewarded for its accomplishments with the post-apocalyptic adventure, and it can be hoped the individual staff members are getting the rest and compensation they deserve heading into the new year.
