When Covid hit we thought that it wasn’t going to be a good year for Video Games because many highly anticipated titles got delayed to 2022 that we hoped to play this year. But even with the pandemic hundreds of Video Games got released this year, From intuitive Indie gems to next-gen AAA titles with exceptional stories we got it all this year. So ultimately it has been a great year for gamers actually. and our best video games of 2021 list is here.
Here are the must-play games of 2021
20. Twelve Minutes
Developer: Luís António
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5
This is a point-and-click adventure game played from a top-down perspective. It is set in a small apartment shared by a husband and wife and the player controls the husband. It has a compelling story that makes you stick to the game. The game just gets better and better as you progress through the story and this is one of those games you can’t stop thinking about even after you have completed it.
19. Sable
Developer: Shedworks
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
This is an open-world exploration game. It doesn’t feature any combat system or storyline and revolves around exploring and puzzle-solving. The game has a colorful visual aesthetic and a refreshing design rarely seen in the medium.
18. Life is Strange: True Colors
Developer: Deck Nine
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Stadia
This is an open-world exploration game. It doesn’t feature any combat system or storyline and revolves around exploring and puzzle-solving. The game has a colorful visual aesthetic and a refreshing design rarely seen in the medium.
17. Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Developer: Ember Lab
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
Kena Bridge of Spirits is an action-adventure video game played from a third-person perspective. You play as Kena a spirit guide who helps spirits in a forgotten land that is corrupted. You explore a colorful world, solve small puzzles, fight enemies, and along the way you collect cute little monsters called Rot who serve as companions. The more Rots you collect the more you level up and unlock different abilities, these little Rots guide you throughout the game, let you perform different actions, and help you in solving puzzles as well. The game environment is vibrant, beautifully crafted, and gives you Ghibli movie vibes. Kena Bridge of Spirits won the Best Indie Game of the Year award at the Game Awards 2021 and is well worth your time.
16. Valheim
Developer: Iron Gate Studio
Platforms: PC
Valheim is a survival game played from a third-person perspective. It features a massive procedurally generated sandbox that looks beautiful and has a different art style than the rest of the survival games. This procedurally generated world is split into different biomes that you can explore and each of the biomes has its own unique enemies and items. You craft tools, build shelters, and fight enemies to survive in the game but the survival part is far more forgiving as it doesn’t include extreme survival elements like other video games, thus the exploration is more fun and rewarding than the rest in the genre. The game also includes 10-player Co-op and PvP matches that are worth trying.
15. Far Cry 6
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Luna
With the sheer amount of improvements, it got over its predecessors Far Cry 6 has become the best the series has ever been. The Cuban-inspired map is both massive and astonishing to look at. Free-roaming is now much more enjoyable because of the weapon holster feature. There’s a wide range of customizable weapons available for you and alongside the conventional weapons, you have access to some unique guns called Resolver weapons which include a silent nailgun, a projectile weapon that fires CDs, and many more. You can have pets called Amigos that help you by creating diversions and taking out enemies. All those little additions make Far Cry 6 one of the Best Video Games of 2021 that you will definitely enjoy.
14. Death’s Door
Developer: Acid Nerve
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
This is an isometric action-adventure video game. You play as a small crow who works for Reaping Commission HQ responsible for collecting souls. Its Souls-like gameplay mechanics were praised the most along with its manageable learning curve and difficulty level. You start with a sword and bow when you begin your journey in the captivating and bizarre world of Death’s Door, as you progress through the game you unlock more weapons and abilities. With a beautiful environment and music that makes your heart race, this one is the most charming game of the year.
13. It Takes Two
Developer: Hazelight Studios
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
It is an action-adventure platform game designed for Split screen Co-Op multiplayer and it doesn’t feature a single-player mode. You can play either online or in local split-screen mode with another player. You play as May and Cody, a couple about to get separated. The two are transformed into little dolls when their daughter makes a wish to stop them from getting a divorce. Now they have to work together as a team to traverse environments and solve puzzles to regain their bond if they ever want to get back to their real bodies. Every new world brings new and unique abilities, settings, and puzzles that require some serious teamwork between you and a friend, family member, or lover to complete. The story, the characters, the worlds, the mechanics, all of it just syncs together and creates a unique experience that you and your partner are not going to forget easily. It’s going to teach you the art of cooperation and along the way, it will strengthen your relationship for sure. If you are still not convinced to play this game let me tell you that it won the Best Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2021.
12. Forza Horizon 5
Developer: Playground Games
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Forza Horizon 5 is an open-world racing game set in the beautiful landscapes of Mexico. The game has the largest most beautiful world in the entire Forza Horizon series. Devs used Photogrammetry for creating most of the game assets, thus giving it a beautiful photorealistic look. The sound design is on point and you can feel every rumble and car engine roaring like you were there. Fluid driving mechanics, vibrant realistic environment, lots of fun online activities, and more than 500 cars with an immense level of customizations, there’s nothing to not love about the Forza Horizon 5.
11. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Developer: Insomniac Games
Platforms: PS5
It’s a third-person shooter platform game. Ratchet is the main playable character who is accompanied by his sidekick friend Clank. An additional playable character Rivet is also available. This title takes you on an amazing multidimensional trip, unlike anything the series has done before. Its refreshing combat and beautifully crafted environment will keep you hooked. The dialogues are witty and laugh-out-loud funny in certain moments but the characters are probably what stands out the most. The stunning graphics and excellent storytelling make it a must-have PS5 Video Game.
10. Metroid Dread
Developer: MercurySteam
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Metroid Dread is an action-adventure Side-scrolling game with some stealth elements. You are a bounty hunter named Samus Aran who is sent to planet ZDR to investigate some anomalies. The planet ZDR ranges from desolate laboratories to lush forests, and every environment is both engaging and lively, with incredibly detailed backgrounds that feel artistic yet alive. As you explore the environment, you get new items and weapons. The difficulty level is more balanced and fluid, and fast-paced combat is intense and challenging. Its nerve-wracking boss fights and thrilling gameplay make it one of the Best Video Games of 2021. It was nominated in many categories and won the Best Action/Adventure Game Award at The Game Awards 2021.
9. Wildermyth
Developer: Worldwalker Games
Platforms: PC
Wildermyth is a character-driven, procedurally-generated tactical RPG. It’s a decision-driven game where your choices impact the character progression and story which is generated procedurally. You lead a band of heroes into a bizarre and unknown world filled with uncertainty, you fight monsters in a turn-based combat system and unravel incredibly rich and deep background stories about your characters. The fact that it’s procedural, gives you an infinite amount of replayability and unique character progression and story paths.
8. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Developer: Eidos-Montréal
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch
It’s an action-adventure video game. You play as Peter Quill aka Starlord from a third-person perspective, Other guardians can’t be controlled directly but you can give them commands during combat. Each character has its own unique set of moves and skills which you can chain together to create combos and a more efficient combat strategy that deals more damage. There is rarely any dull moment in the game thanks to witty and hilarious dialogues and exceptional writing. The story and characters take inspiration straight from the comics while keeping some of the elements from the movies, this formula creates a setting where all the characters and storyline feels original for everyone whether you are a fan of the movies or comics. With a strong character design and a heartwarming story, it’s undoubtedly one of the Best Video Games of 2021.
7. Halo Infinite
Developer: 343 Industries
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
There are games that don’t need any introduction and the Halo franchise is one of them. Even if you are new to the gaming scene there’s a huge chance that you might have heard of it. With an absolutely compelling story, newly added abilities, rewarding quests, and fluid gameplay 343 Industries have restored the faith of the fans in the series. If you have played a Halo game in the past then you can instantly tell that nothing plays like Halo Infinite whether you are Shooting hordes of Banished enemies, grappling around the beautiful world of Zeta Halo in a single-player campaign, or destroying people online in multiplayer matches. With so much hype around the game, it is difficult to deliver such an experience but 343 Industries captured the essence of the series and made it even better, so we can say that Halo Infinite as a whole is definitely going to go on the shelves as one of the best Halo games ever made.
6. Resident Evil: Village
Developer: Capcom
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Stadia
It’s a first-person survival horror game and a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7. The first thing you notice while playing RE6 Village is, how hauntingly beautiful the village looks, especially Lady Dimitrescu’s castle. The addition of 4 powerful Lords with different abilities breaths fresh air into the series and introduces new challenges. With a fascinating and action-packed story, this game is easily the kind of game that could end up on the shelf of favorite games.
5. Psychonauts 2
Developer: Double Fine
Platforms: PS4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Linux, macOS
This game is a platformer developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Xbox Game Studios. It received critical acclaim for its writing, humor, and level design. The platforming is solid and never feels what you’d call “unfair”, as the controls are very responsive and fluid. An amazing story and characters, a unique art style, and music makes you stick to the console.
4. Hitman 3
Developer: IO Interactive
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (cloud-based), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
It’s the eighth main installment in the Hitman series and the final installment of the World of Assassination trilogy. It has only 6 levels but the levels are massive and lively and give you many options on how you can complete your objective, You don’t need to follow the story you can make your own. There is contracts mode, escalations, elusive targets, and the main campaign, so this game is packed with content. This dynamic level design gives you the opportunity to go stealth or go full-on guns blazing after you steal a nice full auto it’s up to you.
3. Returnal
Developer: Housemarque
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows
The game follows the story of Selene, an astronaut who crash-lands on an alien planet and is trapped in a time loop. It’s visually stunning, really showcasing what the Next-Gen hardware is capable of. The controls and combat are so smooth and responsive that it just feels great in your hands. The game is challenging and can leave a sour taste for casual gamers, although the difficulty level of the game is intentional, and that’s what makes it engaging. Despite being challenging, the game is highly gratifying as you feel a sense of accomplishment with every incremental progress you make in each run.
2. Inscryption
Developer: Daniel Mullins Games
Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, PS4, PS5, Switch
This game is a deck-building roguelike game. The game combines elements of horror, puzzle, and adventure games to create a unique experience. It is a creepy game that has a very strong gameplay loop. It is intense in all the right ways. Inscryption is highly praised for its innovative gameplay mechanics, immersive storytelling, and atmospheric visuals and sound effects. The game is challenging yet rewarding, making it a must-play for fans of roguelike and deck-building games.
1. Deathloop
Developer: Arkane Studios
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming
Deathloop is a first-person shooter game with innovative gameplay mechanics, which allow players to manipulate time and explore alternate timelines. The gameplay in Deathloop is highly gratifying, with a well-executed gunplay system, fluid mechanics, and physics that feel natural and immersive. The game’s narrative is delivered in a unique and captivating way, keeping players engaged throughout the experience
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