GameSpot Game Of The Year: 2019's 10 Best Games

As a result of multiple rigorous deliberations over the past week, we at GameSpot have narrowed down the huge list of impressive 2019 games down to just 10 nominees for our Best Game of 2019. Every nominee listed below is qualified to be our game of the year, but, of course, there can be only one. Below you can find the game nominees we consider to be the most memorable, innovative, and exciting games of the past year. Read on to see why we chose each game as one of the best for 2019, and scroll to the very bottom to see our final choice for Game of the Year 2019.

Our Best of 2019 award isn't all we have for the end of the year--far from it! In the lead up to our big reveal, we've looked back at the best games on the various platforms, as well as weight in on the likes of Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, and try as we might, the very broad landscape of PC gaming. We are also reflecting on the trends that defined games in 2019. Subscriptions and services took off, politics and games clashed in a more pronounced fashion than usual, and perhaps more than anything, the big players in the industry paved the way for 2020, a year that is sure to be full of excitement around the new console launches from Sony and Microsoft.

To find all of our current and upcoming content, check out our Best Games of 2019 hub, and be sure to check back every day for new content looking back on one of the most enjoyable years in gaming, as well as glimpses into the future. 2020 is almost upon us, and the flow of games isn't slowing down anytime soon.

Editor's Note: the following list isn't any particular order.

"Calling Resident Evil 2 a remake feels inappropriate. While it certainly is exactly that, Capcom did more than recapture the spirit of its original; it set a precedent for the series’ reinvention, and created a new standard for all video game remakes to follow. After 23 years, and nearly 20-some installments, the Resident Evil 2 remake is the most refined version of what the franchise and genre has always aspired to be.." -- Kurt Indovina, Original Programming Host/Writer

For more on why we chose Resident Evil 2 Remake as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"The developer of the highly-regarded Titanfall series took its strong gameplay foundation and put its own spin on the battle royale formula for Apex Legends. By streamlining many of the genre's core mechanics, masterfully weaving in hero-shooter elements, and introducing systems that make it hard to go back to other battle royales (or shooters for that matter), the genre is the best it's ever been with Apex Legends." -- Michael Higham, Editor

For more on why we chose Apex Legends as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"A Plague Tale: Innocence weaves a beautiful story about resilience and victory in the face of unbelievable odds, not out of arrogance or the desire to best an enemy, but because it is the only choice Amicia and Hugo can make. The quiet moments of discussion with Lucas and your ragtag group of collected wards and allies are an important contrast to the frantic and terrifying world that lies beyond. Between violent guards, merciless rats, and an almost unrelenting darkness, it's a game that should feel oppressive to play--but Hugo's optimistic naivety and the love he shares with Amicia are so touching that there is always a light to be found in the darkness." -- Jess McDonell, Video Producer

For more on why we chose A Plague Tale: Innocence as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"The game is filled with such moments of bliss. Every planet and moon (and every corner of those planets and moons) holds fragments of Outer Wilds' overall story, and the awe and realisation you feel as you connect what you thought were disparate strands of knowledge together is immensely rewarding. Outer Wilds rewards your every curious whim. What's behind this waterfall? Why is this planet hollowed out? What's that strange, solitary light in the distance? Following what intrigues you in Outer Wilds almost always leads to a surprising new insight." -- Alessandro Barbosa, Freelance Reviewer

For more on why we chose Outer Wilds as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

*You can also purchase Outer Wilds digitally on PSN, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.

"There's a reason Fire Emblem is only growing in popularity, even if the developers themselves aren't sure why that is. It's a series known for strong strategy-focused combat fought by casts of fantastic characters, with recent entries really upping the ante on forming relationships with your units. This year, Fire Emblem: Three Houses took it even further, supplanting the 3DS games' romance with an emphasis on mentorship and camaraderie on and off the battlefield. It's an incredibly involved and rewarding experience that draws you in from every angle." -- Kallie Plagge, Reviews Editor

For more on why we chose Fire Emblem: Three Houses as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"More than any other game this year (and many others), I lost myself to Control. Its expertly crafted world is incredibly deep, vast, and intriguing, stretching out from the Oldest House like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. Every time I booted up the game, I discovered something new, from Control's links to Remedy's past works that create an intricate universe of stories, to little tidbits that gave new insights on easy-to-miss story beats. Control is amazingly dense and lovingly constructed by a team that knew exactly what it wanted to make. It's a game that is truly more than the sum of its parts, and you absolutely should wander its shifting, perilous corridors to see what you can discover.." -- Phil Hornshaw, Editor

For more on why we chose Control as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"Disco Elysium is a mad, sprawling detective story where the real case you've got to crack isn't who killed the man strung up on a tree in the middle of town--though that in itself, replete with dozens of unexpected yet intertwined mysteries and wild excursions into the ridiculous, is engrossing enough to sustain the game. Rather, it’s an investigation of ideas, of the way we think, of power and privilege, and of how all of us are shaped, with varying degrees of autonomy, by the society we find ourselves in." -- Kallie Plagge, Reviews Editor

For more on why we chose Disco Elysium as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"The Outer Worlds doesn't challenge conventions as much as some of our other nominees this year, but that doesn't stop it from being one of 2019's most exceptionally-made games in its own right. The form is recognisable, but the execution is masterful. The game feels focussed--not a single line of dialogue is wasted, despite there being a lot of it; the world feels large and full of things to discover, despite being relatively modest; the combat mechanics are clever, impactful, and allow for creativity, despite seeming straightforward. Your journey through The Outer Worlds will be full of highlights and surprises." -- Edmond Tran, Senior Content Producer

For more on why we chose The Outer Worlds as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"Death Stranding is the anti-open-world game of the 2010s. Instead of hinging on combat encounters and large-scale thrills in an expansive world, Hideo Kojima's experimental game focuses more on the struggles of a lone character exploring a massive landscape on his own two feet and with the weight of the world on his shoulders. It takes a step back to observe the foreboding sense of isolation when in the wild, which can give rise to a surreal sense of calm when embracing your routine amid a paranormal, post-apocalyptic setting. Death Stranding wasn't the kind of open-world game we were expecting, but in truth, it was the one we needed this year." -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor

For more on why we chose Death Stranding as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.

"The fear of failure is incredibly powerful. It has the ability to cloud the mind, jumble the senses, and unsettle the hands. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice understands this fear and leverages it to orchestrate challenges that feel impossible to surmount. It's an unsparing game that relishes the opportunity to undermine your abilities and tear you down. But, crucially, it does this so you can pick up the pieces and learn to be stronger. Its methods are harsh, but the lessons are profound." -- Tamoor Hussain, Senior Editor

For more on why we chose Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as one of the best for 2019, check out our full write-up.