2020 has proven itself to be a momentous and jam-packed year for gaming, with plenty of new games, the release of the Xbox Series X/S and the PS5, and various controversies and events in the world of gaming and developers. The effect of COVID-19 saw a huge shift in many publishers' and developers' strategies, as well as an uptick in gaming hours and sales as people stayed home and played more games. As the year draws to a close and the 2020 Game Awards puts crowns on certain momentous games' heads, it's time to take a look at some titles that made a big impact this year.
The release of Microsoft and Sony's newest consoles and the incredible popularity of the Nintendo Switch (helped in part by the best-selling Animal Crossing: New Horizons) made a huge impact on this year's gaming scene. But, mobile gaming still plays a huge part in most people's lives, especially as a huge portion of people who don't play on console or PC will pick up their phones or tablets to game. Mobile games take up a huge share of the market, and some of those games were more influential than others.
In alphabetical order, here are the top 10 mobile games of 2020.
A3: Still Alive
Netmarble's open world RPG launched globally in November for iOS and Android, and is a dark fantasy blend of roleplaying games and the battle royale genre. Players can engage in solo or group PvP, with the capacity to form hundred-player teams in dark surroundings in a mode called Dark Presence. At launch, there were five classes available, known as professions, continuing the class-based battle royale genre that has proven itself to be increasingly popular. Berserkers, Assassins, Archers, Wizards, and Templars allow players to choose different builds and playstyles, depending on how they like to play A3: Still Alive.
A3: Still Alive also incorporates Guild participation, an explorable open world with multiple different terrains like deserts and forests, and a method of forming battle partners called Soul Linkers. A3: Still Alive hasn't been out for that long yet, but it already has high ratings on both the App Store and the Google Play Store, and players have praised the frequent content updates and responsiveness of the devs.
Among Us
Although it released in 2018, 2020 was really Among Us' year to shine. Mobile downloads this year were almost as high as those of Pokemon GO when Niantic's game first came out. It's also popular to play on PC, and cross-play enables groups of friends or strangers to play together whether they're on mobile or PC. The setup of the game is easy to grasp, and the social manipulation aspect makes it especially popular for a generation that grew up playing games like Mafia and Werewolf.
Part of Among Us' popularity comes from the simplicity that has allowed it to become a staple party game. Social distancing this year made it harder for many people to hang out with their friends, which has allowed multiplayer games with more casual playstyles like Among Us and Animal Crossing: New Horizons to become super popular. Twitch streamers have utilized the game's hype to expand their own platforms, with a notable example being Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez's Among Us stream pulling very high numbers.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
This mobile release is a direct port of the platformer action RPG that released in 1997 for the PlayStation. The Castlevania setting and gameplay were monumental at the time of its console release, and continue to be influential today. Alucard, the dhampir son of Dracula, is an iconic vampiric figure in modern media, and getting to see and play as him again was a major nostalgic trip for many people. Not every console port brings the same magic that the original game did, but many people praised Castlevania: Symphony of the Night mobile for being just as fun as the 1997 PS1 version.
One particular element that people love about the port are how controls translated over to mobile, although some people have asked for the ability to customize them. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night advertises itself as being compatible with controllers, and even encourages their use for an optimum experience. Konami's Castlevania lore is rich and detailed, and a return to this classic game was a big win for a lot of mobile players.
Civilization 6 Mobile
The console and PC version of Civilization 6 released over four years ago, but the mobile port for Android came out late this year. Downloading the game for free allows the player to play 60 turns without any payment necessary, with the option to upgrade to the full version to continue the game. Other Civ 6 ports, such as the one on Nintendo Switch, were praised for how well they translated to different systems, and the mobile version also impressed a lot of players.
The port advertises itself as Civilization 6 - Build a City | Strategy 4X Game, which served the developers well in pulling in people looking for a way to flex their resource management and strategic skills on mobile. Given that it's turn-based, mobile ends up being a good option for players who want to play part of a game and then put it down to play later while on the go. The price of Civ 6 mobile is pretty hefty for an Android game at $19.99, but given that it gives the same experience to users that play on console or PC, many people are willing to pay that much.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact made a huge splash when it came out in the latter half of 2020. And despite not being out for that long, there have still been updates and in-game events for Genshin Impact, as well as plans and promises for much more content. The graphics, story, and characters have all received a lot of praise, as well as the addictive quality of leveling up and exploring in the game.
Genshin Impact takes place in a fantasy world known as Tevyat, which already has a ton of regions and locations to explore, with the promise of expansion in the future. The main campaign puts the player in search of their lost twin, completing challenges and quests along the way, as well as a multiplayer co-op mode. With its free-to-play nature and numerous comparisons to the beautiful world of Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact stands out as one of 2020's best RPGs in addition to one of the best mobile games.
Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells
Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells is the third game to be published so far by Portkey Games, which plans to release a fourth game, Hogwarts Legacy, next year. After the success and popularity of Hogwarts Mystery and the Pokemon GO-like augmented reality game Wizards Unite, many people were excited to see the franchise take on a puzzle game. The game capitalizes on the success of match-3 games, combined with avatar customization and many references to the popular Harry Potter series.
Players complete various tasks with Clubs within the Hogwarts houses, which adds a competitive aspect to the Candy Crush-inspired game. The addition of trophies also adds a collecting and achievement aspect to Puzzles and Spells, so it's easy to see why this game appeals to many fans of puzzle games and of Harry Potter. Many casual gamers and demographics that don't usually game will play puzzle games on their phones, especially when they're linked to an appealing theme like this.
If Found
Indie gem If Found was nominated for the 2020 Game Awards' category of Games for Impact, and was published by Annapurna Interactive. If Found is a slow-paced game about human connection, and tells the story of a girl named Kasio who moves home to western Ireland and interacts with her family and friends. There's an extra layer of tension, though, with the threat of a possibly unstoppable black hole that could swallow the entire world.
If Found's hand-drawn art and soundtrack both served to give it the charm that many people loved. Some people enjoy a game best for its mechanics, its high-quality graphics, or the rush of getting past obstacles or taking down enemies. What If Found has to offer is narrative writing, a realm within video games that can easily make or break a game. Other perks of the game that people connected with were how unified its atmosphere was and how it dealt with themes of gender transition.
Legends of Runeterra
Although there are many collectible card games in the world of mobile gaming, some of them rise above to stand out, and Legends of Runeterra is one of these. Riot Games incorporated a lot of lore into its game through hidden details in the art and flavor text, which are something the average player might miss but more devoted fans appreciate. A game that is enjoyable, has a competitive aspect, and also has a lot of lore and story to dive into are often what takes a good game up to the level of greatness.
People have complimented the game for its mechanics, visuals, and characters, as well as being very accessible for a card game. Opaque mechanics can quickly confuse a player into offloading a game from their device, but Legends of Runeterra is not only relatively easy to learn, but allows players who don't want to pay to win to still enjoy the game.
South of the Circle
South of the Circle is an Apple Arcade game by the studio State of Play Games that brands itself as a "narrative adventure" game. Players play as an academic called Peter who ends up in Antarctica during the Cold War after a plane crash with his colleague Clara. Like If Found, South of the Circle deals with human connection and memory, as well as adding in the survival aspect one would expect from a game about people trapped in the South Pole.
Mo-cap performances add to the realism and human authenticity of South of the Circle, and includes a talented cast with actors like Adrian Rawlins from the HBO miniseries Chernobyl and Anton Lesser from A Game of Thrones. The game rewards both emotional exploration and physical exploration by making narrative choices impactful and giving the players a researched and fleshed-out version of Antarctica in the 1960s.
The Pathless
The Pathless was published by Annapurna Interactive and developed by Giant Squid, the studio that developed the ocean exploration game ABZÛ. This game is the story of a character called the Hunter and their eagle companion who are travelling in an enormous forest. The Hunter is an archer on a quest to release the world from a curse of darkness, whose travels take them through an open world filled with variable biomes like tundras and forests.
The Pathless is also playable on PS4, PS5, and PC, and the mobile version is currently an Apple Arcade exclusive. Lushly illustrated open worlds once again prove themselves to be a major mark of a well-loved video game with replay value. The PS5 version of The Pathless has been called one of the console's best launch games, and the mobile version is also highly enjoyable.