Games of the Year

RPGFan Games of the Year 2020: Best Combat

RPGFan 2020 Best Combat banner featuring a Cactuar casting 1000 Needles.

Winner: Final Fantasy VII Remake

When crafting the gameplay of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix knew that mainstream audiences generally prefer action-oriented combat in modern RPGs, but older fans of Final Fantasy VII would be hesitant to accept something so wildly different to the 1997 combat they loved. The solution? Action combat with full movement and low-damage attacks, punctuated by an ATB meter for big-ticket choices like casting spells, using items, or executing special moves. The additions of light attacks contributing to a stun meter and skillsets that make the four playable characters of Final Fantasy VII Remake feel unique in battle as they are in personality were icing on the combat cake. Now the question for Remake Part II isn’t “will the battle system be good?” but “will the combat live up to the excitement of the first one?”

by Michael Sollosi


Runner-Up: Hades

Landing somewhere between the hack-and-slash fun of Diablo and a combo-happy brawler like River City Girls, Hades is a game that feels right from start to finish. The game gives players several different weapons, each of which changes how to approach combat. While I was almost always using the fists of Malphon or the spear-come-bident of Varatha, there’s a lot to consider with the other loadouts as well, especially when combined with the various deific boons you’ll get as your adventure continues. Supergiant Games worked extra hard to make sure combat feels solid and deliberate while still keeping the challenge level high.

by Mark Tjan


Readers’ Choice: Best Combat

Winner: Final Fantasy VII Remake

Runner-Up: Persona 5 Royal

Michael Sollosi

Michael Sollosi

Sollosi joined RPGFan in 2014 as part of the music section but switched lanes to podcasting a year later, eventually becoming showrunner of the Retro Encounter podcast. Outside of RPGFan, Sollosi works in a government engineering office, enjoys visiting local parks and petting local dogs, and dreams of a second Ys vs Trails fighting game.