The summer season for 2020 is nearly over and with this period came quite a few good games. There usually aren’t a lot of video game releases between the months of June and August but this year we’ve seen some noticeable releases like The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima which are certainly game of the year contenders.
However, does that mean this summer was better than last summer with its quality of games? Or did summer 2019 have a lot more substantial releases?
There’s only one way to find out. Let’s compare the major June, July, and August releases for both years.
June Releases
For both years, June saw a few notable releases including the souls-like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Persona 4 Golden on PC, Super Mario Maker 2, Valorant, and The Last of Us Part II.
The most substantial release in this month in 2020 is undoubtedly The Last of Us Part II. While it received a rather divisive response from players on release, The Last of Us Part II has a gripping and emotional story, gorgeous graphics, A+ voice acting, and noteworthy characters.
There isn’t particularly a June 2019 release that can compare to the weight of The Last of Us Part II but June 2019 is full of diverse games like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, My Friend Pedro, Judgment, and Cadence of Hyrule that received positive acclaim.
June has always been the slow month for game releases but that’s most noticeable in 2020 with quite a few games either being pushed back in development or their release due to COVID-19.
As a whole, both 2019 and 2020 had a lot of diverse releases but despite June 2020 having The Last of Us Part II under its belt, June 2019 pulls away with its variety and quality of games.
Winner: Summer 2019
2019
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night: Metacritic – 83, Twinfinite – 5/5
- Cadence of Hyrule: Metacritic – 86, Twinfinite – 4/5
- F1 2019: Metacritic – 89, Twinfinite – 4/5
- Judgment: Metacritic – 80, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- My Friend Pedro: Metacritic – 80, Twinfinite – 4/5
- Sega Ages Virtua Racing: Metacritic – 82
- Sega Ages Wonder Boy Monster Land: Metacritic – 74
- Super Mario Maker 2: Metacritic – 88, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- The Sinking City: Metacritic – 64, Twinfinite – 4/5
2020
- Desperados III: Metacritic – 86, Twinfinite – 4/5
- The Last of Us Part II: Metacritic – 93
- Ninjala: Twinfinite – 4/5
- Persona 4 Golden: Metacritic – 87, Twinfinite – 5/5
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated: Metacritic – 69
- Valorant: Metacritic – 80, Twinfinite – 4/5
- Ys: Memories of Celecta (PS4): Twinfinite – 4/5
July Releases
For July, 2020 picks up considerably in its game releases. It includes quite a few ports like Catherine: Full Body on the Switch, Death Stranding on PC, and Cuphead on PS4.
Similarly, July 2019 reigns in with Beyond Two Souls for PC and God Eater 3 for the Switch.
Each year had a significant video game release during this month with Fire Emblem: Three Houses in 2019 and Ghost of Tsushima in 2020. Both titles deserve so much praise for their gameplay, story, and overall fun.
Since launch, Ghost of Tsushima has received near-universal acclaim, and it’s a definite game of the year contender. Though, Fire Emblem: Three Houses just barely squeezes by with a higher rating on Metacritic.
However, while full of releases, both months have several games that have poor to fair reviews. Wolfenstein Youngblood, Stranger Things 3 The Game, and Hellpoint are a few notable games with mixed reviews.
While Ghost of Tsushima is an amazing addition to summer 2020, summer 2019 had a wider variety in releases that didn’t result in mixed to poor reviews.
Winner: Summer 2019
2019
- Beyond Two Souls (PC): Metacritic – 76
- God Eater 3 (Switch): Metacritic – 71
- Dragon Quest Builders 2: Metacritic – 85, Twinfnite – 4/5
- Fire Emblem Three Houses: Metacritic – 89, Twinfnite – 4.5/5
- Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers: Metacritic – 91, Twinfnite – 5/5
- Kill la Kill If (PC): Metacritic – 68
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 The Black Order: Metacritic – 73, Twinfnite – 4/5
- Pawarumi: Metacritic – 79, Twinfnite – 4/5
- Sea of Solitude: Metacritic – 64
- Stranger Things 3 The Game: Metacritic – 62
- The Sims 4 Island Living: Metacritic – 84
- Wolfenstein Youngblood: Metacritic – 63, Twinfinite – 2.5/5
2020
- Aeolis Tournament: Metacritic – 66, Twinfinite – 3/5
- Carrion: Metacritic – 74, Twinfinite – 3/5
- Catherine: Full Body (Switch): Twinfinite – 3.5/5
- CrossCode: Metacritic – 81, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- Cuphead (PS4): Metacritic – 86
- Death Stranding (PC): Metacritic – 87
- Fairy Tail: Metacritic – 68, Twinfinite – 3/5
- F1 2020: Metacritic – 88, Twinfinite – 4/5
- Ghost of Tsushima: Metacritic – 83, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- Hellpoint: Metacritic – 63, Twinfinite – 3/5
- Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris: Metacritic – 58, Twinfinite – 2/5
August Releases
2019 and 2020 finished the summer season with several big releases like Control, Astral Chain, a yearly Madden, Remnant From the Ashes, Man of Medan, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and PGA Tour 2k21.
Compared to 2019, most of 2020’s summer releases have come out in August with a few notable games like A Total War Saga: Troy, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and, weirdly enough, Fast & Furious Crossroads.
August 2020 was also the month that saw numerous indie releases like Spiritfarer, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Mortal Shell, and Tell Me Why with each of them receiving relatively positive praise.
While August 2019 had great games like Control and Astral Chain, August 2020 had more diverse and quality games that’ll easily keep you entertained.
You can also argue that August 2020 has been characterized by the release of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout which took the internet by storm due to its cartoon-y PvP and sheer ridiculousness. It’s something people will be talking about for a long time.
Winner: Summer 2020
2019
- Astral Chain: Metacritic – 87, Twinfnite – 4.5/5
- Blair Witch: Metacritic – 69
- Control: Metacritic – 81, Twinfinite – 3.5
- Erica: Metacritic – 69, Twinfnite – 4/5
- Life Is Strange 2 Episode 4: Metacritic – 82
- Madden 20: Metacritic – 76, Twinfinite – 3.5/5
- Man of Medan: Metacritic – 70, Twinfinite – 3/5
- Muv-Luv Photonflowers: Twinfnite – 4/5
- No Man’s Sky Beyond: Metacritic – 83
- Oninaki: Metacritic – 68, Twinfnite – 4/5
- Rad: Metacritic – 72, Twinfinite – 3.5/5
- Remnant From the Ashes: Metacritic – 83, Twinfnite – 4/5
2020
- A Total War Saga: Troy: Metacritic – 75, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- Battletoads: Metacritic – 68, Twinfinite – 3.5/5
- Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions: Metacritic – 70, Twinfinite – 4/5
- Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout: Metacritic – 80, Twinfinite – 3/5
- Fast & Furious Crossroads: Metacritic – 35
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition: Metacritic – 61, Twinfinite – 2.5/5
- Madden NFL 21: Metacritic – 63, Twinfinite – 3/5
- Microsoft Flight Simulator: Metacritic – 92, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- Mortal Shell: Metacritic – 77
- PGA Tour 2K21: Metacritic – 78
- Remnant: From the Ashes Subject 2923: Metacritic – 78, Twinfinite – 4/5
- Spiritfarer: Metacritic – 88, Twinfinite – 4.5/5
- Tell Me Why: Metacritic – 78, Twinfinite – 3.5/5
- Windbound: Metacritic – 65, Twinfinite – 3/5
Conclusion
While both summers had phenomenal releases, summer 2019 just barely squeezes by as the winner with more quality games. Though, this decision doesn’t come lightly and both summers made it really hard to pick a winner.
We’re not saying Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part II aren’t great. They’re definite 2020 game of the year contenders and amazing summer releases.
Summer 2019 had better reviews, more polished games, more major releases, and an incredible diversity in genres.
While Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part II are incredible titles that defined this summer, their console exclusivity severely limits summer 2020’s overall game diversity and accessibility.
Because of this and quite a few poorly reviewed games, Summer 2019 beats out Summer 2020 for the season with the best releases.
Winner: Summer 2019
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