[imagesource: Naughty Dog]

I’m not much of a gamer myself, and in recent times all gamer-related content has been handled by game enthusiast and sometimes Dungeon Master, Mo.

Thankfully, I’m not responsible for compiling this list, or putting them in any order, with Mashable having done the real legwork.

They’ve picked eight, but you’re a busy person with a limited attention span, so we will skip ahead to the top three.

We should also point out that despite this feeling like one of the longest years of all time, we’re only in June, so any ‘best of 2020’ list has to come with the disclaimer ‘thus far’.

Cool, glad we had this chat.

Number three on Mashable’s list is The Last of Us Part II:

It’s a brutal game, steeped in misery and cruelty. Violence is its love language, and I didn’t personally care for the direction it took with Ellie. But it’s also a tremendous artistic effort that has power and emotional resonance…

You need to prepare yourself going in for a journey that’s going to test your resolve to continue. But for many, it’ll be a journey worth taking. The game may not be for me, but it’s easily one of the most impactful gaming experiences released so far in 2020.

If video games are your fun escape from the world, this might not hit the spot.

In second place is Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which has already received Mo’s stamp of approval:

Few games of 2020 have ignited the wider public’s interest more than Nintendo’s latest return to the Animal Crossing stage.

It’s a simple game of living on a distant island and carving out your own little piece of paradise. There’s fishing, gardening, interior design, and a whole mess of other low-stress activities. Stuck in a city apartment and feeling trapped by ongoing lockdowns? Here’s you’re blissful escape.

When they said the words “blissful escape”, I felt that.

Finally, Mashable’s best game of 2020 (thus far) is If Found…:

Every so often an indie game comes along that’s widely accessible for all levels of skill and powered by an emotionally resonant story. There are other 2020 games that might fit this bill, but none landed with more of a splash than If Found….

The latest game from Dublin-based studio Dreamfeel and publisher Annapurna Interactive tells the story of Kasio, a 23-year-old transgender woman and recent college graduate who moves in with a group of friends after she’s shunned from her family’s home.

There’s also a sci-fi twist that springs out of Kasio’s personal interest in outer space. The whole thing comes together around a simple game mechanic of scrubbing away scenes and text with a virtual eraser. This is one of those games that’s better played than described, so get on it. You probably have the hardware you need already.

You love to see an indie release on the receiving end of rave reviews. Here’s the game’s trailer:

If you prefer tinkering on your phone, the above game can also be found on the App Store.

Whatever you’re playing, I hope it provides some sort of respite from the monotony of lockdown.

See the full list of Mashable’s top eight games here.

[source:mashable]