Last year was a tough one, but video game fans had nothing to complain about: not only did a number of outstanding games come out, but two new consoles were also released.
Against the background of all this, 2021 may seem more calm and even boring. So let’s remember together all the most interesting things that we had a chance to play.
10 Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
Resident Evil is changing while staying true to itself. In the case of Resident Evil Village, she managed to attract the attention of a huge number of players and re-enter the mainstream.
First of all, thanks to charismatic characters and an interesting setting.
Few will argue with the fact that the atmosphere of Resident Evil Village cannot be taken away, but is it so scary? There was a lot of controversy on this topic on the Internet, and everyone remained with his own.
But one thing is for sure: the series keeps up with the times and offers a faster campaign. However, fans have nothing to complain about: fans of the classics get remakes.
9. Metroid Dread (MercurySteam)
The Metroid series is hugely respected, but there are very few new games coming out. That only changed with the release of Metroid Dread on the super-popular Nintendo Switch console.
Here the new part of the two-dimensional shooter about alien monsters broke all records and even got into the nomination for the game of the year.
A map full of secrets, complex but fair gameplay, and perfect controls set Metroid Dread apart from many of its peers, but lack of ambition and a problematic interface keep it from climbing higher in our rating.
8. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (ZA/UM)
Disco Elysium is not a new game, but that doesn’t mean we won’t remember it again.
Until 2021, a huge number of players could not touch this Estonian masterpiece due to the limited number of platforms, but with Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, not only was the release on everything possible, but the game also received a number of improvements.
In addition, this excellent game has acquired new dialogues and quests. This release could have taken a place even higher if it weren’t for annoying bugs that were fixed only by numerous patches.
7. Hitman 3 (IO Interactive)
The Hitman is alive and the Hitman will live. Fortunately for fans of the series, he is in good hands, and with the release of the third part, IO Interactive has very confidently completed its trilogy.
Unrivaled masters of meticulous locations and deadly puzzles, these guys have offered us arguably the best game in the series.
The only thing it lacks is a more coherent storyline and even more levels.
Hitman 3 was a success, and now its developers are hard at work on their adaptation of the James Bond movies.
6. Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games)
Xbox loves franchises. And if you do not take Halo and Gears of War, then it is Forza that can be considered the main one in terms of importance.
Under this name, two series of racing simulators cohabit – realistic and not very realistic. And it is Forza Horizon that always attracts huge public attention.
Like previous installments, Forza Horizon 5 continues the idea of open world racing. This time, players are transported to sunny Mexico, which is noticeably different from the cloudy and snowy Great Britain from the fourth part.
The choice of location caused fierce controversy, because many hoped for Japan after unreliable leaks on the network. But even so, critics were completely delighted with Forza Horizon 5.
Amazingly beautiful as always. As before, a huge set of cars. As before the detailed world. And this is the strength and weakness of the novelty, which repeats the formula of its predecessors in everything
5. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos-Montréal)
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was the biggest surprise of the year. Largely due to very low expectations.
Luckily, we’ve found one of the best games of the year in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. A great soundtrack, superb visuals, and very close to the original characters (which even two feature films have distorted) all make Guardians of the Galaxy an outstanding release.
4 Bowser’s Fury (Nintendo EPD)
If Bowser’s Fury had been bigger, it would have been much closer to the first line, but it just so happened that this is not a standalone game, but rather a DLC for Super Mario 3D World.
How often do add-ons for eight-year-old games come out?
With Nintendo, anything is possible, and when they needed to sell a remaster of their iconic Wii U platformer, they decided to add a whole new chapter to the original release.
Bowser’s Fury takes a lot from Super Mario 3D World but adds even more freedom. This is a complete open world with its own secrets and epic boss battles.
3. Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
For a long time games from Microsoft did not get into the tops, but in 2021 this is changing.
The capacities of the American giant are slowly but surely starting to release video games, and many of them turned out to be not just worthy, but cool.
This also applies to the creation of 343 Industries – the studio that just created Halo Infinite in recent years.
In order to please old believers and new players alike, 343 combined elements of new and old, placing the protagonist on a very familiar map from the very first part, but making the world open. And it turned out cool.
It has never been so fun to play, and this applies to both the story campaign and multiplayer, which for the first time became completely free. If you have an Xbox, then this release is not to be missed.
2. Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
For a long time no one could understand what Deathloop was. The new project of the outstanding Arkane studio, which gave us the masterpiece Dishonored and Prey, raised more questions than answers.
True, the situation of Death Stranding is not repeated here, when Kojima himself whipped up an atmosphere of mystery, and the marketers who completely screwed up the advertising campaign are to blame.
When Deathloop finally came out, we quickly realized that it wasn’t quite what it seemed. This is not a multiplayer shooter, but a story game in the best traditions of the studio, but with a very interesting interspersed with a network element.
1. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a continuation of a franchise that is more than a decade old.
It’s drawn comparisons to Pixar cartoons since its PS2 days, and no matter what console it’s released on, it’s always managed to impress with its graphics and gameplay.
In the case of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the developers had a difficult task to please both fans of the series, annoyed by the 2016 remake, and attract newcomers.
Rift Apart continues the story of Ratchet and his robot Clank that ended with Ratchet & Clank: Nexus.
After enjoying a well-deserved rest, Ratchet discovers that the hated Doctor has returned. This time, not only their own galaxy was threatened, but also countless dimensions.
And not only dangerous trials await ahead, but also a meeting with a representative of the Lombax race, who disappeared even before the events of the first part.
