Theater friends experimented with virtual reality via The Under Presents. Literary pals took a trip on Kentucky Route Zero. Anecdotally speaking, this year we at Polygon saw our nongaming friends spread across the medium. Now, everybody’s expected to care at least a little about games, lest they be mistaken for pop culture troglodytes.īy the summer of this year, it was evident that Animal Crossing had become a gateway. It’s like when prestige TV filled cable channels suddenly, “I don’t even watch TV” transitioned from a brag to an embarrassment. This year simply cemented that normalcy status. Then came Fortnite, tying together mobile free-to-play games and blockbuster quality, and the die was cast. Millions of people who would never identify as “gamers” began playing idle games for hours each day.
Games filled prime-time television, with Call of Duty commercials running during the NBA playoffs, and CBS sitcoms making references to World of Warcraft. Throughout the month, we’ll be looking back on the year with special videos, essays, and surprises!Ģ020 didn’t make games normal that process has been happening over the past decades. For our 2020 guide to the best entertainment of the year, Polygon is counting down our top 10 with a collection of essays along with our full Top 50 list.
