WTMG's Leo Faria: "I would like to reiterate that the fact Animal Well was created by a sole developer is worthy of an entire room giving it a standing ovation. It’s impeccably well-designed, with a ton of secrets to unfold, but I also feel it wasn’t that much fun at all times. I’m all for a game not holding my hand throughout its entire runtime, but it didn’t need to feel so cryptic, and so focused on trial-and-error, especially when its checkpoints were way too far away from each other. At times, I loved exploring its many secrets. Other times, I felt so frustrated I wanted to throw my Switch across the room. All in all, it’s still worth checking out if you’re into a deceptively complex metroidvania, but be aware of some truly obnoxious design choices and roadblocks."
Animal Well all started and ended with that freaking Ostrich.
"When looking at Game of the Year, there are multiple factors to consider: critical reception, general consumer reception, and popularity. There are other variables that can be rolled into the methodology, but for the most part, this is the trio making up the formula. A popular game doesn't always mean a great game though. Millions buy Madden every year, but they all insist it is more torture than entertainment. High review scores aren't the sole determiner either. If a game gets ultra high review scores, but only 50,000 people play it, it's hardly relevant. Further, critics aren't the only consumers of games, so general consumer reception is also important. As for why only six games? It is simple: that is how many games were nominated for the category at The Game Awards last year."
upcoming Plucky Squire will be pretty good as well ... if you liked Astro Bot, might check that one as well
My favorite games of the year were Pacific Drive, Banishers, and Sons of the Forest.
Of the games I've played so far this year, my GOTY at the moment is Stellar Blade. I got more games to play though, so we'll see if that stays on top.
I hope Like a Dragon gets in the final 6. That series has been so consistent it deserves a nod. IW was the 2nd best one in the series.
Dive into the best Metroidvania games on Steam, from hidden gems to top-rated classics, and embark on unforgettable adventures!
Good list, and kudos to having a list-article where everything is listed on 1 page.
Nine Sols looks nice, and also a bit similar in style to Bo, Path of the Teal Lotus, which should also be a good game (picked it up a few weeks ago but haven't played it myself yet ... )