2020 has been quite the year, but in the world of gaming, apart from some delays, it really just moved along like normal. Well, as normal as it can be in the midst of a global pandemic, with that said, there were countless amazing games across the various platforms and even some good movies to enjoy.

Here are the games we voted the best on Xbox, starting with our 3rd place winner.

The Yakuza series only hit Xbox this year and it ended the year with the wonderful Like a Dragon and the fact that it was a day one Series X title, also helped get more attention.

The series has been going strong for almost two decades now, but where the others were very similar, Like a Dragon dropped a lot of the elements that made them and favoured a more welcoming experience. Even the core combat was vastly different to the games set before this one. While it might have been a big departure, it was welcoming to newcomers and that made a big difference.

Plus there is a go kart mini game that is amazingly good fun.

Review | Xbox Marketplace

When NBA 2K21 hit Xbox One and PlayStation 4, many folks were disappointed with it, us included, as it just seemed to be a phoned in effort, but the next generation version of the game changed all that.

Not only was the core game still there, it now allowed for players to enjoy the MyCareer mode for the WNBA for the first time ever and if that wasn’t enough, it blew the MyNeighbourhood from the map and replaced it with an entire city. But all that, which is impressive as heck, pails in comparison to the fact that the game looks so amazing, you could easily convince people it is real life.

NBA is not a sport for everyone, but 2K21 is easily the best entry point into making it so.

Review | Xbox Marketplace

Ori and the Blind Forest wowed people with amazing visuals and near pixel perfect platforming, the question was, could Moon Studios do it again and the answer was yes.

The game continues the tale from the first game, but expands to new a new locale with a more menacing threat looming over the world and if that wasn’t enough, it ends with a massive heart-wrenching moment. There is also new moves, upgrade paths and locations to explore, giving you reasons to keep adventuring, even if you feel the story is about to wrap up.

The fact that the game is on more platforms, just provides more reasons to play it, it is just that good.

Review | Xbox Marketplace

There were plenty of other games on Xbox, both the One and Series X that provided a lot of fun for us over 2020, but these were the ones we voted the best.

What do you think, are they worth games, or would you have swapped one out?