Video Games of the Year

For the third year in a row, the class of the sports simulation division was MLB The Show. While nothing was done to upgrade the offl ine franchise mode (much to the dismay of many offl ine content creators) the Diamond Dynasty game mode continues to be head and shoulders above the competition in card collecting play. Easily the most rewarding to its fanbase and the only one of the three major sports simulation games that does not require a single fi nancial investment after the initial purchase of the game.

A huge rebound for this game after the disappointment that was 2K21. The game features a much more intuitive defensive AI and a much more rewarding offl ine experience. The introduction of Clutch as a game mode seems to have revitalized the online gameplay community as it’s a shorter more offensive 5x5 battle. The game’s not perfect, but overall, a huge step in the right direction.

My fi rst step back into Madden in almost fi ve years. While I enjoy the gameplay (all offl ine) and their card collecting mode, I fi nd their multiple forms of currency mind-boggling and utterly unnecessary. Defensive AI is not very challenging to defeat if you are a veteran Madden player. So, while I don’t have a huge point of comparison, I’ve actually enjoyed Madden, which is something I haven’t said in years.

Even though this game came out in November of 2020, my son and I didn’t fi nish this until January ’21. An absolutely stunning sequel to the original Spider-Man game. The graphics are so visually stunning you will really feel like you are swinging through Manhattan. A fun original story with killer graphics make for one of the best gaming experiences of the year.

A phenomenal PS5 expansion of the Little Big Planet universe. A more 360 experience this game is totally immersive and fun. While learning some of the new gadgets and which buttons activate them can seem challenging (they seemingly change every level) the game is a delight for all ages.