University of Northampton Games students pick their top titles for Christmas

With Christmas rapidly approaching, students on the University of Northampton’s Games courses have come up with some stocking filler suggestions for the gamer in your life.

We asked a selection of undergraduates on the Games Art, Games Design and Games Programming courses to nominate their favourite video game of 2020, and their all-time best game.

Our Games Lecturers, also got in on the act…

 

Rachel Starkey – Games Art

Game of 2020: Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch)

 

I’ve been a fan of the series since its release for the Nintendo DS, and each iteration has gotten steadily better. During such a stressful year, a game as peaceful as this where you make friends with cheery little animals and do almost nothing may be needed by some people. With the new update that’s just been released and another on the way for late January, I know that I’ll still be invested for a long time to come.

All-time game: Minecraft: Java Edition (PC and Mac)

 

While it is quite possibly the simplest game of all time, there is so much you can do with it. All previous versions of the game are easily available so you can play the one you’re most comfortable with. You can also choose whether or not to play with mods to create a unique and (often) more challenging experience. The game is customisable in pretty much every way imaginable, all the way down to using custom textures, which is something I’ve never seen in another game.

 

William Marshall – Games Art

Game of 2020: Baldur’s Gate 3 (PC)

 

With the sheer love and appreciation Larian Studios have shown to fans of Dungeons & Dragons by creating an absolutely stellar adaptation of the fifth edition makes it clear to see why this is my GOTY – all while still being in Early Access. When a developer actively demonstrates their willingness to accept feedback and grow from their previous mistakes, that is the catalyst for a masterpiece.

All-time game: Divinity: Original Sin (PC/consoles)

 

Despite it making me look like I have a bias for Larian Studios, this studio has consistently proved time and time again that they can immerse you in rich world-building and replayability. They make games that speak deeply to their audience. Regardless of who you experience Divinity with, you always manage to discover new things on every playthrough. These can be titbits of information, or a completely new perspective on a character, scene or soundtrack. A rich, broad game that has succeeded in bringing tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.

 

Matthew Stokoe – Games Art

Game of 2020: Ghost of Tsushima (PS4)

 

It has a great story with brilliant and unique ways of telling the player how to get there.

All-time game: Assassins Creed Brotherhood (Xbox 360)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivkRV4hgCvI

 

A great timeless game set in a wonderful, beautiful city to go with its fantastic combat combined with revolutionary parkour.

 

Andrei Radu – Games Art

Game of 2020: Cyberpunk 2077 (PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox series X and S)

 

It is one of the most anticipated series not only thanks to its cyberpunk style and the appearance of Keanu as the main antagonist but also thanks to its vast open world and freedom of choice along with all the options of gameplay and style of your character.

All-time game: DayZ (PC)

I like it because, for one, there is no one single way to play it; secondly the interactions between players can take you anywhere, and lastly the story behind it, what the failures of the company that owns it created and what came to be, thanks to all that.

 

Keir Mackenzie – Games Design

Game of 2020: The Crew 2 (PC)

 

This game is amazing, not just for the constant multiplayer, or for all the hidden loot boxes littered around the map that drop parts for the vehicle you’re driving, but for the massive, open-world play style that allows you to drive pretty much anywhere across the United States, by either flying or driving a car or boat all the way from west coast California over to New York or Miami in just an hour or so!

All-time game: Minecraft (all platforms)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQQR8UbhzoQ

Minecraft for the simplistic survival and creative features and building mechanics in vast, open worlds that are procedurally generated.

 

Adelaide Essex – Games Art

Game of 2020: Game Hades (PC)

 

I believe it’s one of the best games because the art style is beautiful and it’s actually historically accurate which, with my greek background, makes me so excited and happy to see.

All-time game: Life Is Strange (PC)

 

The gameplay and music really helped me when I was going through a rough time and I think it was overshadowed by some of the bigger triple A games which were released that year.

 

Rowan Hawkins-Oldfield – Games Art

Game of 2020: Animal Crossing New Horizons (Nintendo Switch)

It’s my favourite game of the year due to its freedom and massive customisation within it! The game is just so addictive. You can sit there and play it for hours on end. It constantly gets updated with fresh new content and every update comes with new content to keep you entertained for more hours to enjoy!

All-time game: Master Chief Collection (PC)

 

I’m a huge Halo fan and having the pleasure to play the Master Chief Collection on PC is an absolute blessing. I’ve played Halo ever since I was about 10 and I’ve just been so addicted to it. I loved sitting in Xbox lobbies back in the day on Halo Reach and being able to experience that again on PC instead of Xbox is the best thing ever!

 

Daniel McCaul – Senior Lecturer, Games Art

Game of 2020: Minecraft (PC)

It’s not technically new, evolving slightly with each new update. It’s certainly a social event of added importance during lockdown for my son and his friends.

All-time game: Pro Evolution Soccer (PlayStation 2)

This was the pinnacle of the series. Supremacy in football video games has been a point of contention for my siblings and I since Matchday on the ZX Spectrum, so it’s important to keep your skills sharp in case of a rematch.

 

Iain Douglas – Senior Lecturer, Games Design

Game of 2020: GTA V (consoles)

Yeah, it’s not new now, but it’s new to me. I’ve finally downloaded all 90gb of the game and have been playing in the evenings.

All-time game: Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast)

It had a little mini game I could take into work and play on the memory ‘stick’.

 

Rob Lambert – Lecturer, Games Art

Game of 2020: The Last of Us 2 (PS4)

This has been my favourite so far because it is extremely narrative-centred and looks at developing relationships between characters during a post-apocalyptic setting which is somewhat ironically beautiful considering our current international climate!

 

All-time game: GTA Vice City (PS2)

It was so good because it stuck to the context it was trying to portray, the 80s Miami Vice vibe (film, tv, glamour, disco/party scene) mixed with a story centred around the extremely illegal exploits and aspirations of success of your main character, Tommy.