2021 proved to be a very interesting year for video game releases. While we didn’t get strong heavy hitters every single month, we did get a handful of outstanding titles that we equally enjoyed for various reasons. Here is a quick list featuring some of our favorite video games of the year.
Editor-In-Chief Richard Bailey Jr.
Resident Evil Village
From the moment Resident Evil Village was announced, I was curious how Capcom would treat the latest installment in their popular survival horror series. While Village played heavily into action-adventure elements and some rather comical story moments, the overall gameplay mechanics and challenge of surviving a world filled with vampires, werewolves, and other grotesque creatures really pushed this game to the front of the list for me. If you are a Resident Evil fan and you still haven’t played Village then you definitely should consider trying it out as soon as possible.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
When I reviewed the PlayStation 5 console last year, I described it as an impressive piece of hardware and a great step forward into the next generation of consoles. Everyone knows that when it comes to new consoles, exclusive games really can make a difference as far as showing what’s possible with new technology. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a perfect example of this as it’s a PS5 exclusive that made full use of the Dualsense controller. If you’re looking for a great action-adventure title with memorable characters, look no further than Rift Apart.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Review
Deathloop
From the moment I saw Deathloop, I was instantly drawn to the 60s themed art style and brutally satisfying gunplay. The constantly repeating time loop harnessed by entertaining conversations between Colt and Julianna drew me even closer and made this one of the most memorable gameplay experiences for me this entire year. Arkane really knocked this game out of the ballpark and if you loved Dishonored, then you definitely should give Deathloop a shot.
Editor Adam Vale
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (Switch 2021 Version)
This is an awesome remake of 2 iconic skateboarding games. Activision could have been money-grubbers and released them separately but they didn’t and therefore, we were treated to an instant classic in the franchise.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 Nintendo Switch Review
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
This game exceeded all of my expectations and squashed the belief that all marvel licensed games released by Square Enix would be dumpster fires like Avengers. There’s no doubt that Guardians of the Galaxy is the new gold standard in the formula for a quality single-player superhero adventure game.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Review
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Metroid Dread
I was personally not thrilled when this game was announced since I was hoping for a new version of Metroid or another FPS-style Metroid game. I thought that if we received another Metroid side-scrolling adventure game, then it would clearly be a port of Samus Returns. This was not the case and surprisingly Metroid Dread delivered on upgrading a classic formula that co-created the genre we know as Metroidvania. The addition of the new enemies known as the E.M.M.I add a level of tension that I never thought I would feel when playing a Metroid game. I absolutely love this game.
Contributor Danny Martinez
Returnal
This AAA indie game had great rogue-like mechanics and an intriguing story. The amazing graphics showed true next-gen potential.
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Outriders
This game had great combat, skill specs, and power builds. Loot is amazing and had a decent grind loop to find tons of it. It had its faults but was fixed slowly. Can’t wait for more updates and DLCs.
Metroid Dread
This could be best described as classic Metroid with great mechanics, new abilities and extremely challenging scenarios. Not for the uninitiated.
Contributor Joe LaRue
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids was a fantastic DLC expansion and easily persuaded me to jump back into the base game too. Eivor’s quest to Ireland introduces us to his Irish relatives and the trials and tribulations they must face as a war mounts. If you loved what Valhalla had to offer then you’ll definitely enjoy this DLC offering too.
New World
New World is a masterful MMORPG that captured my attention and felt like a combination of Skyrim, World of Warcraft, and Genshin Impact all wrapped up as one. If you are a fan of those games and you’re looking for something similar, then New World is definitely worth trying out.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is one of many surprise indie action-adventure games out this year. Having been compared to other notable action-adventure games of the past, Kena found its voice as an outstanding title with a purpose and well-deserved praise. Give this game a shot if you have any interests in it.
Contributor Joshua Limage
My top 3 games of the year would have to be It Takes Two, Resident Evil: Village, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Each game was visually stunning, uniquely creative, and challenging. They were games that I looked forward to finishing work and coming home to. The one downside is that It Takes Two requires another person to play and I’m sure some people might have an issue with that but for me, it was extremely fun playing that with my girlfriend for a while.
Resident Evil: Village was a wonderful game that provided an extremely entertaining story. It was a mix of Van Helsing and Coraline at one point, with its eerie ambiance and wonderfully crafted locations. Lastly, Guardians of the Galaxy was a surprise to me. I got so used to the disappointment of the Avengers game that I was a little wary of it, especially when I saw the combat demo. I have to say that the story was incredible and the dialogue between characters was so immersive that I felt like I was intruding. Overall wonderful games and my top three picks of the year.
This concludes the list of our favorite video games of 2021. What are some of your favorite titles from this year? Please feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
