Top games of 2019 - Which games stood out amongst the crowd?

Battle Royale games were the big trend at the start of 2019, and EA's Apex Legends managed to not only compete with kingpins Fortnite and PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, but also attract a hardcore fanbase with a unique and polished spin on the genre.

Similar games to Apex Legends

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUND
Because… it’s the pioneering Battle Royale game that started the trend and is still popular today.

Overwatch
Because… it’s a popular hero-based shooter with a passionate fanbase and an eSports league.

Titanfall 2
Because… it’s made by Respawn. There are a lot of gameplay similarities between the games.

Virtual Reality may be set to take off in 2020 with Half-Life: Alyx, Medal of Honor Above and Beyond and Microsoft Flight Simulator looking into VR too. However, Beat Saber went viral in 2019 after releasing from Early Access. It combined a well-loved video game style with swish lightsabers to make for an unBEATable gaming experience.

Similar games to Beat Saber

Superhot VR
Because… it’s a unique VR shooter where the enemies only move when you move.

Audioshield
Because… it’s Beat Saber but instead of lightsabers and targets, it’s shields and light beams.

Job Simulator
Because… the silliness is a blast and the variety of jobs make it fun for all VR fans.

ArtPlay's Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night came with a lot of hype after a successful Kickstarter campaign which raised more than $5.5 million USD. The Metroidvania didn't disappoint though with magical gameplay and a 2.5D art style that was one of the best in 2019.

Similar games to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Shovel Knight
Because… it’s hitting people with a shovel in an 8-bit style 2D platforming game.

Valfaris
Because… this game is what happens when you take 2D platformers and combine with heavy metal.

Hollow Knight
Because… the beautiful art style is just the surface of what makes this game great.

Remedy has a history of producing amazing storytelling games. Control was no different with several award nominations for the game's narrative, as well as for Game of the Year!

Similar games to Control

Alan Wake
Because… Remedy takes the same principles as they did with Control and is as equally brilliant.

The Sinking City
Because… the world-building and story keeps you hooked right until the end.

Life is Strange 2
Because… this episodic game puts you into the center of a story as well as any others.

As far as massive hordes of zombies go there are very games that can compare to Days Gone. The game was one of the top-selling in 2019, despite only being released for Playstation 4.

Similar games to Days Gone

The Last of Us
Because… the sequel is out soon and this is a must-play for any zombie action game fanatic.

State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition
Because… it’s one of the largest and most popular Zombie Survival games.

Dying Light The Following - Enhanced Edition
Because… it’s a combination of horror and zombies too. But it adds in parkour elements!

Hideo Kojima's split from Konami was well-publicized and his first game from his new studio, and under the guidance of Sony, was one of the most hyped of the year. The unique storytelling of Kojima shines through in the game as it makes it an experience you wouldn't forget for a long time.

Similar games to Death Stranding

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Because… Kojima’s last Metal Gear game contains the same strong story & metaphors.

Journey
Because… sometimes it’s about the journey and the aptly named Journey delivers on that.

Nier: Automata
Because… the futuristic setting and strong story make it an unmissable experience for fans of Death Stranding.

It's fair to say V's introduction into the Devil May Cry universe was a success! The hack 'n' slash series continued its strong reputation by delivering another brilliant game with sleek combat and awesome design.

Similar games to Devil May Cry 5

Bayonetta
Because… it’s an iconic game for the genre with the fast-paced combat.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Because… Raiden brings his ridiculously good sword skills to his own game that makes slicing people fun.

God of War
Because… it was one of 2018’s best games with its awesome story and smooth combat.

The expansion to the Final Fantasy MMO bought a whole host of new features and may be considered one of the greatest expansions to an MMO of all time. Bringing a thrilling new story, extra skills and more, it provided plenty of value to fans of the online game.

Similar games to Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

The Elder Scrolls Online
Because… it’s based on Bethesda’s massive franchise and is one of the most played on Steam.

Star Trek Online
Because… not many franchises can build a world that fits an MMORPG as well as Star Trek.

Neverwinter Uprising
Because… it’s Dungeons & Dragons come to life with awesome stories.

This was not just a goo-d game, but it was probably one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far. The puzzling elements between Luigi and goo-Luigi were a highlight that stands as one of our highlights of the year.

Similar games to Luigi's Mansion 3

Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Because… it’s one of the iconic 3D platforming series but remastered to modern-day standards.

Super Mario Maker 2
Because… it’s all the fun of a Nintendo game with thousands of levels from fans included.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Because… it’s 2D and 3D levels combined in a colorful game with a lovable duo.

Games that are easy to pick up, but hard to master aren't just fun, but very difficult to create. MORDHAU got the balance just right for their medieval-themed combat game.

Similar games to MORDHAU

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
Because… the game’s fast-paced, multiplayer sword fights is what is great about MORDHAU.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Because… it’s medieval combat but in a fun RPG, rather than a multiplayer game.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Because… it’s medieval co-op with magic, creatures and all the other Warhammer tropes.

Whenever a Mortal Kombat game launches, it's always going to get plaudits. Not many fighters can match up to the brutal fatalities, deep universe and recognizable characters that the team at NetherRealm Studios deliver with every iteration.

Similar games to Mortal Kombat 11

Injustice 2
Because… it’s Mortal Kombat style fighting but with all the popular DC characters.

Dragon Ball FighterZ
Because… the fast-paced 2.5D combat matches the Dragon Ball Universe perfectly and makes for an interesting fighting game.

SOULCALIBUR VI
Because… it’s probably the best in a SOULCALIBUR series that has been a rival to Mortal Kombat since it started.

Beautiful graphics, creative levels and great weapon variety made My Friend Pedro go from a 'run of the mill platformer' to one of the most popular Indie games of 2019. Plus, it's just Bananas as you go through the levels killing everything in sight with sweet moves.

Similar games to My Friend Pedro

Dead Cells
Because… the changing castle keeps you on your toes until you (finally) don’t die and beat the game.

Cuphead
Because… it’s a blend of difficult platformer and great graphics that most fans of the genre will love.

Katana ZERO
Because… the acrobatic combat that is paired with the constant moving style is very akin to My Friend Pedro.

CAPCOM's remake of RESIDENT EVIL 2 had lofty expectations on release thanks to sweet trailers. However it didn't just upscale one of the best games in the popular horror series, but it added genuinely exciting new additions to the game and improved upon the original 1998 game.

Similar games to RESIDENT EVIL 2

Dying Light: The Following - Enhanced Edition
Because… it’s a combination of horror and zombies too. But it adds in parkour elements!

The Evil Within 2
Because… it’s a creepy horror game with a ‘nightmare’ theme.

Alien: Isolation
Because… it’s the best game including one of the most iconic horror villains.

Slashing the competition in 2019 was Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The tough to master combat system will be remembered for a long time and be used to judge a gamer's skills as Dark Souls did before it.

Similar games to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED
Because… created by the same developers, Dark Souls pioneered the genre.

Nioh
Because… it gives you the same satisfaction as Sekiro when beating a boss… but they’re monsters!

Dead Cells
Because… it’s a side-scrolling game but with the same difficulty. All wrapped in a lovely art style.

EA's first single-player focused STAR WARS game was strong in the Force. Putting you into the shoes of a Jedi Padawan after the events of Order 66 and combining the same Dark Souls/Sekiro-esque combat made mastering the ancient Lightsaber weapon a joy with fun traversal of the rich Star Wars universe was a stroke of genius.

Similar games to STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order

Dark Souls III
Because… if you want a game with similar combat then you cannot go wrong with Dark Souls.

STAR WARS - The Force Unleashed
Because… while it’s not as difficult, it makes you feel like a super-powered Jedi with its great combat.

Tomb Raider (2013)
Because… it’s a reboot of one of the most iconic adventure series and focuses on movement.

While many have tried to follow in Nintendo's shoes by combining a competitive fighter with a huge roster of famous characters, it's often never as successful as the Super Smash Bros. series. Ultimate boosted the biggest roster of the series so far, yet made it as fun as the previous games.

Similar games to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Skullgirls
Because… with Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam it is a must for fighting fans.

Gang Beasts
Because… it’s fighting meets physics, with other silly multiplayer games too.

Brawlhalla
Because… the free-to-play game is inspired by Super Smash Bros but it’s available on more platforms.

Ancient Chinese mythology meets Total War's deep strategy gameplay. One of the biggest names in strategy gaming delivered a hit game in 2019 with THREE KINGDOMS.

Similar games to Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

Total War: WARHAMMER II
Because… it’s Total War’s complexity but in the unique and interesting WARHAMMER Universe.

Homeworld: Remastered Collection
Because… as far as strategy games in space go, you won’t find many better.

Europa Universalis IV
Because… you build a nation in one of the best grand strategy games out there.

Honk! Untitled Goose Game was more than just a meme game. It produced charming graphics with simple but enjoyable gameplay to make it one of the most unique game concepts of the last decade.

Similar games to Untitled Goose Game

Human: Fall Flat
Because… it’s a silly parkour game with quirky gameplay mechanics.

Goat Simulator
Because… you cause mayhem but with a goat not a goose in this physics game.

Donut County
Because… it’s puzzling destruction as a hole that grows.

Extreme is right! Yakuza's signature silliness was back with the second remaster of the series. The side-quests are only half of the enjoyment though as the story still delivers a punch, even all these years later.

Similar games to Yakuza Kiwami

Shenmue I & II
Because… Yakuza took the place of Shenmue during the long absence of new games.

Mafia III
Because… instead of Japanese gangs, it’s in 1968 America.

Yakuza Kiwami 2
Because… it’s the remastered sequel of Yakuza Kiwami… duh.