2021 has been a very interesting year for gaming. The first year of new console generations tends to be a slow year. However, 2021 was different, giving us a slew of unique titles that were very enjoyable to play.
From excellent AAA releases to indie games with a lot of heart, this year has a solid lineup of games for every type of gamer. Here are the 10 best video games of 2021.
If you want an even more in-depth discussion about the best games of 2021, you can listen to our latest episode, Best Games of 2021 on Spotify and Anchor.
The Medium
One of the most visually impressive games of the year, The Medium is an atmospheric horror spectacle.
With levels where you switch between the world of the living and the spirit world, the game offers a classic survival horror experience similar to classics like Silent Hill. If you’re looking for a good horror experience, The Medium is a wonderful choice.
Resident Evil Village
Speaking of good horror experiences, Resident Evil Village has become one of the most talked-about games of the year.
While attention is mostly focused on Lady Dimitrescu, Village has so much more to offer beyond the tall vampire lady. Continuing where RE:VII left off, Village offers a wonderful setting to explore, with an intriguing cast of characters to boot.
Guardians of the Galaxy
While last year’s Avengers video game outing struggled, Guardians of the Galaxy was able to right the ship a bit and deliver one of the best Marvel superhero titles since Insomniac’s Spider-Man games.
The Guardians are always an entertaining bunch, and the game was able to create a charming and fun narrative to go along with the solid gameplay.
Eastward
Eastward is a game that wears its heart on its sleeve. An RPG with characters and a world you will grow to care about and love, this pixel art masterpiece is an adventure worth playing at least once. And don’t forget about its game-within-a-game Earth Born too.
Shin Megami Tensei V
After a pretty long wait, we finally get to see a new Shin Megami Tensei title on the Nintendo Switch.
SMT V is an excellent installment to the long-running franchise, featuring the game’s classic lineup of demons in a post-apocalyptic god-slaying story. If you are looking for an enjoyable grind-heavy JRPG experience, this is the game for you.
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story
Riot has been on a roll this 2021, with Valorant growing as an Esport, and Arcane becoming one of the best animated series of the year, League of Legends also got a new RPG spin-off with Ruined King: A League of Legends Story.
In Ruined King, we get a solid RPG title that offers a fun set of champions to play, sleek turn-based combat, and a cool story that ties up a good chunk of LoL lore. Even without knowing much about League of Legends, Ruined King is a game that can stand on its own.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza has slowly become the best racing game series around, offering a great balance between realism and arcade-style driving. Forza Horizon 5 is no exception, becoming the series’ smoothest looking and playing title to date. With a large selection of cars and more picturesque tracks to drive on, Forza Horizon 5 is a must for people who love a virtual drive.
Metroid Dread
After more than two decades of waiting, we finally got a classic Metroid title in a main Nintendo system. Metroid Dread is a wonderful return to form for the franchise, with a world ripe for exploration, upgrades, and secrets to unlock, and challenging bosses to fight.
What sets it apart from other titles in the series is the horror element of the game, which added more tension to the game’s already excellent action.
Tales of Arise
Arguably the best RPG of 2021, Tales of Arise is also one of the best games in the long-running series. It’s a game with a wonderful blend of classic JRPG storytelling, character design, and silky-smooth action RPG combat.
Along with that, you get an awesome cast of characters to play, and different abilities and weapons to use. If you are looking for a well-rounded RPG experience that offers so much content, you can’t go wrong with Tales of Arise.
It Takes Two
This year’s winner of Game of the Year at the 2021 Game Awards, It Takes Two is a very unique title that combines an emotionally heavy narrative with one of the best co-op gameplay we have seen in years.
In an era where split-screen co-op games are few and far between, It Takes Two shows that there is still so much to offer, giving players levels with so many puzzles to solve and obstacles to overcome together. In a year filled with solid releases all throughout, it feels somewhat fitting that a two-player co-op game would become one of 2021’s best.
About the Author
A former teacher and guitarist, Jude (Twitter, Instagram) is currently a writer that covers video games and is one of the co-hosts of The Geeky Juans. Apart from hosting the podcast, you can also catch him streaming at Dude It’s Jude on Facebook.
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