Another wacky year, all thanks to that evil little bug that’s still causing terrible global issues. I wish I had more cool and epic stuff to write about here, but 2021 wasn’t all that different from 2020. I did get to go back to movie theaters to see Dune and Spider-Man, so that’s great, I guess. Still, I haven’t seen my friends in ages, but I guess that left me with more time to play cool games like a real Gamer should- although I’ve yet to play SMTV and NEO: The World Ends With You. Narrowing this list down was a real, freaking challenge, but I did it. If it doesn’t make sense to you, too bad hehe.
Honorable Mentions: Disgaea 6, Monster Hunter Rise, Pokémon Shining Pearl, New Pokémon Snap, The Good Life
I’m a bit of a Resident Evil-head, so I was stoked for Village to come out. And honestly? I had a really good time with the game. Serving up spooks and thrills in equal measure, with a healthy dose of complete cheesiness that Resident Evil does so well, Village was a blast from start to finish. Running from Lady D through the castle is one of my favourite gaming moments of 2021, and I actually got fairly invested in Ethan’s story after finding him a bit underwhelming in Resident Evil 7. And since I played on PS5, there was wacky DualSense stuff with the guns, which always gets me hyped for some reason. Basically, Village is another wonderful step into the world of survival horror.
Deathloop is one of many loop-themed pieces of media to come out this year, but to me, it stands out the most. Doing the same levels over and over at different times sounds incredibly dull, but Deathloop makes it exciting and satisfying as you figure out routines and plans to kill more and more of the Visionaries at once. Yeah, it’s fairly linear when you peek behind the curtain, but I was so entertained by the gunplay and general idea of it all that I never really got tired of it as I played it. Plus there’s the aesthetic, which you could just soak in for hours. Deathloop is a novel game that I had a good time with last year, and I can’t wait to see what Arkane does next.
Few games boast the sheer style of Guilty Gear, which is on full cel-shaded display in Strive. Between the wacky story, comprehensive training mode, and smooth online, Guilty Gear Strive is one of the best fighting games in recent memory. It’s a bit more simplistic when compared to Xrd, but I think that works well for Strive. You can get the basics down pretty easily, but there’s plenty to master as you continue to play online. And working your way up the floors online is a very satisfying feeling, even if you fall back down as many times as I do. Overall, Strive is just an awesome fighting game all-around.
When I first played NieR Automata, the game devoured my brain for months after playing it. Replicant did the very same thing, as it’s probably the only game that could make me play through the same start of the game over and over with minimal differences. The way the story expands and becomes more meaningful with each playthrough is incredible, partially thanks to the brilliant cast of characters and its powerful music. It’s definitely not a game for everyone, but it’s well worth the multiple playthroughs to see all that NieR Replicant has to offer.
6: Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Both fun to play and to look at, Rift Apart is a grand and colorful showcase for how good a cartoony game can look on the PS5. Blasting away foes with a wide range of crazy weapons is as fun as ever, and the two parallel storylines have a lot of heart in them. You don’t even need to be a series veteran– the game is just as much of a blast if you’re totally new to the series as it is if you’re a longtime fan. It’s one of the most complete game on this list, as you just have a good time while you play it. If you have a PS5, you’ve got to play Rift Apart.
There’s nothing quite like No More Heroes. It’s weird, janky, and stylish as hell, and No More Heroes 3 continued these traditions with real pizzaz. Fighting wacky aliens as a weirdly badass loser is thrilling, and the humor throughout the game is simply top-notch. Director Suda51 knows how to make things funny in the strangest way possible, all while keeping the story riveting as it plays out. You can unclog toilets to unlock sections of the map, and do other silly side-jobs to afford cool shirts, just like real life. Honestly, No More Heroes 3 is goofy, gorey, and over-the-top, and it’s everything I wanted it to be.
This game is so dang good that I made a whole goofy video about it. The Guardians of the Galaxy are some of my favourite comic book characters, so getting a genuinely great game based on them was a surprise I didn’t anticipate receiving in 2021. Inspired by both the comics and the movies, Guardians of the Galaxy features an exciting take on the team that I definitely need to follow in a sequel. The chemistry between the members, and the endless dialogue especially, really sells you on the fact that this is a ragtag team of screw-ups, which is just what I want from them. Controlling Star-Lord and battling aliens while commanding the team is a pleasantly synergetic experience, as is exploring every nook and cranny to find awesome costumes and bonuses. I was worried when it was first announced, but Guardians of the Galaxy turned out absolutely wonderfully.
It had been way too long since we got a 2D Metroid, and now that the newest one is here, I hope it doesn’t take another decade-plus to get a sequel. Exploring a menacing and hostile alien planet is an experience that I greatly missed, and I got my fill thanks to the well-designed map and challenging boss fights of Metroid Dread. Everything about this game reminded me of why the genre it helped spawn is called “MetroidVanias,” as the thrill of upgrading your equipment and getting to explore more is rarely done better. If you’ve enjoyed the recent resurgence in exploratory platformers, you can’t miss Metroid Dread.
2: Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Since this is the first time these games were released in the West, and there’s so much additional content included, I feel it’s right to include it on the list. The overarching story of both titles including in this collection is enthralling and one of the most intriguing stories in recent memory, largely thanks to the well-written characters and engrossing mysteries. Herlock Sholmes is one of the best characters in the entire Ace Attorney series, and the localization team made him and the rest of the cast just as memorable as the most iconic characters in the franchise. You always feel like the smartest person in the room when you find a contradiction or solve a mystery using your wits. And that soundtrack? Holy moly, one of the best soundtracks in years. It’s a brilliant collection of two amazing adventure games, and it very nearly topped this list.
The first Psychonauts is one of the most creative experiences in gaming, though it’s a tad rough around the edges as a result of its age. Psychonauts 2 builds on every aspect of the original while modernizing quite nicely, and while that’s great, it’s really the creativity that once again steals the spotlight. Every level tells a number of stories through background details and gameplay mechanics, all while being just plain fun to play. The story is riveting, the visuals are incredible, the gameplay is smooth and refined, and the voice acting is endlessly charming. If you haven’t tried Psychonauts 2, you, my friend, are missing out.
In 2022, I’m looking forward to Pokémon Legends: Arceus, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, GhostWire Tokyo, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Sonic Frontiers, and the House of the Dead Remake.
And that’s my list! Do you agree with it? Do you think I’m dumb and stupid and wrong? Let me know, you little rascals!
