Top Five Games of 2021

Written by Michael Richardson

Published 20 January 2022

Despite easing restrictions across the world, the Covid-19 pandemic continued to impact communities in 2021. The effects of the pandemic on the gaming industry may not be fully understood for years to come, as development pipelines and future releases may have been pushed back or significantly altered. At the same time, studios released numerous titles across 12 months that made 2021 a year to remember. Playing games once again served as a respite from the horror that seemed to fester globally with no end. To all of the developers out there creating content, thank you simply does not cut it.

The following list represents the five best games I played in 2021, ranked in order. These were experiences that made me laugh, cry, and even brag a bit. Without further ado, let's get to the games!

5. Returnal

Game developed by Housemarque Oy

PS5 Exclusive

Returnal is the game that hooked me on the roguelike genre. What heavily motivated my decision to purchase Housemarque’s latest title was the intriguing narrative that seemed to pull elements from first-person survival horror. Learning more about Selene’s story was consistently intriguing and kept me thinking long after the credits rolled. Jane Perry does an excellent job portraying Selene’s struggles throughout the game, particularly with how she copes with the seemingly never-ending cycle of death on Atropos.

As good as the story is, a roguelike necessitates solid gameplay to keep players coming back for just one more run. Returnal excels in that department, delivering satisfying gunplay with an ever-expanding arsenal that combined with permanent upgrades creates a satisfying loop. I particularly enjoyed how mobility increases in importance throughout the game, with enemies requiring faster movement and decision-making to defeat as Selene makes her way across biomes.

Returnal deserves similar praise for how well it utilizes the PS5 hardware. Load times are impressively brisk, environments are filled with detail and the haptic feedback of the DualSense heightens immersion with subtle vibrations that mirror in-game raindrops and more.

The experience motivated me to try my hand at similar titles throughout the year, namely Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon. I will be sure to jump back into Atropos over the coming years whenever I am in the mood for more cathartic action.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

HD version by Tantalus Media

Available on Wii, Wii U, NS

Yes, it may not be the visual upgrade many were hoping for, but Skyward Sword HD is one of the greatest remasters in recent memory, trimming a lot of the fat of the original in favor of a more condensed and faster-paced experience. Skyward Sword’s art style looks great a decade later, with environments and characters perfectly coinciding with the change in direction from the penetrating sorrow of Twilight Princess. The improvement to 60fps creates a smooth experience and the game controls well on Switch, even with a pro controller.

Link’s thirty-plus hour adventure is bursting with character, from the halls of the Knight Academy to the stage of Pumpkin Landing. Although Skyward Sword requires players to backtrack, returning to locales provides a fresh perspective and new gameplay mechanics that brought a smile to my face. The dungeons are also some of the best in the franchise, with terrific themes and puzzle designs that culminate in some truly memorable boss fights.

If not for Link’s adventures in Skyloft, the industry-defining quest to quell the calamity may never have come to fruition. Skyward Sword is a meticulously polished and endlessly creative outing for one of gaming’s most prolific protagonists and a fantastic addition to any Switch owner’s library.

3. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Game developed by Insomniac Games, Inc.

PS5 Exclusive

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart stands at the top of reasons to own a PS5. Insomniac once again knocks it out of the park with a top-notch 3D platformer that improves upon virtually every aspect of its 2016 predecessor. Rift Apart never lets up on its breakneck pace, constantly introducing new challenges and mechanics that over the course of ten hours culminate in a satisfying adventure. The arsenal is one of the best I have encountered in a game, with weapons ranging from high-powered beams to gloves that turn enemies into topiary, and each feels unique thanks to the DualSense’s adaptive triggers.

Rift Apart’s multidimensional story benefits the gameplay and story. For context, levels introduce a dimension mechanic that allows Ratchet and the newly introduced character Rivet to change their immediate surroundings similar to the light and dark worlds in the Zelda series. Not only does the PS5 hardware allow for some jaw-dropping transitions between worlds but it makes for fun scenarios that require Ratchet and Rivet to solve puzzles between dimensions.

Without spoiling anything, the narrative takes full advantage of the setting and exhibits emotional arcs that brought the iconic mascot duo to life. If PlayStation continues to release exclusives that meet the level of quality of Rift Apart, they are set for an incredible console generation.

2. Mario Party Superstars

Game developed by NDcube Co., Ltd.

NS Exclusive

Mario Party is back! Transitioning back to the series’ roots, Mario Party Superstars successfully incorporates the myriad elements that make the party game special, including memorable boards, fun minigames, and of course, chance time. The visual upgrade is spectacular, breathing new life into the experience while largely retaining the spirit of the original three Mario Parties. The five boards on offer here are largely fun to play on, with my preference on the Mario Party 2 and 3 boards. Horror Land in particular stands as one of the best boards in the franchise, with winding paths and a changing time mechanic that creates ample opportunities to bounce back from seemingly irreversible deficits. And I have yet to mention the addition of online, where other players can play full board matches with friends or strangers. The online has proven to be reliable with occasional performance hiccups.

Superstars is not without its faults. The minigame selection is questionable with far too many repeats, the number of boards needs to be expanded, and I wish there was an option to toggle classic minigame rulesets to alleviate the poorly balanced economy. At the same time, I have not had this much fun with a game in years, and I have made some incredible memories that will last for a long time. Superstars is the best the friendship-ending series has been in over a decade and will likely remain a go-to party game in my household for years to come.

Metroid Dread

Game developed by Mercury Steam Entertainment S.L.

NS Exclusive

By the time the credits rolled on Metroid Dread, I was itching to come back for another playthrough. Before long my friends and I were discussing our best times and optimal routes through planet ZDR. To say Madrid-based developer MercurySteam delivered on the promise of a brand new 2D Metroid would be an understatement: Dread is a remarkable achievement in game design and an essential addition to the Switch’s library.

Dread opens strong, putting Samus in a mysterious world where murderous robots known as E.M.M.I. reside. Learning the backstory of the E.M.M.I. and ZDR is among the most memorable aspects of Samus’ latest adventure, and much of that knowledge comes from exploring the environments themselves. The sheer level of detail in the background and foreground is astonishing, revealing secrets on every visit that add to the impressive lore.

Building off their experience developing Samus Returns, MercurySteam improves on the Metroid formula by making Samus more mobile than ever before. Her melee counter is back, although now the intrepid heroine can utilize the counter while dashing, greatly helping the flow of combat. Other moves unlock throughout the game that make traversal even more rewarding, adding to the already excellent gameplay and revealing a world that is expertly crafted.

The E.M.M.I. fights also deserve special mention. These heart-racing encounters mandate stealth to emerge unharmed against the one-hit kill robots. I enjoyed navigating through the E.M.M.I. zones and breathed a sigh of relief every time I managed to defeat the monsters.

Above all, Metroid Dread is simply fun. I could not put my controller down, itching to reach the next area or fight the next boss. The various mechanics, from Samus’ movement to the weapon upgrades all combine to create an experience that is unparalleled in sheer joy. And in classic Metroid fashion, the game concludes with a blockbuster sequence that left me grinning from ear to ear. A standout of the genre, I see myself replaying Dread frequently.

Honorable Mention -- Final Fantasy XV

Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

After finishing Final Fantasy VII Remake, I wanted to explore more of what the modern installments in Square Enix’s popular JRPG franchise had to offer. Little did I expect to love Final Fantasy XV as much as I did.

What truly sets Final Fantasy XV apart is the personality of the main cast. Noctis, Ignis, Gladiolus, and Prompto are terrific characters, with a level of camaraderie that drives the narrative forward through even the most depressing moments. Noctis’ journey to save his kingdom is peppered with relatable interactions between the group that more than anything made me feel like I was part of the journey with them, camping, fishing, and jamming out to tunes from classic Final Fantasy soundtracks on the road.

Eos is a beautiful world to behold, with countless secrets and locales begging to be explored. Although it may not be the most intricate battle system in the genre, I grew to enjoy the combat, particularly Noctis’ ability to warp around the battlefield. Add to that a fantastic soundtrack and Final Fantasy XV is a game that only seems to grow on me the further time passes from my initial journey.

Congratulations to Nintendo and MercurySteam as well as all of the other developers featured on this list! Recent events highlight how games have become more important than ever as a means of escape and a way to bring communities together. Once again, to all of the developers and creators out there, thank you for not only providing joy but for bringing people together.