As we approach the end of 2021, reflecting on the most enjoyable games may take quite some time for you. Especially, alongside the blockbuster titles, this year also features numerous standout indie games, offering a variety of styles to suit everyone’s “taste.” Whether you enjoy shooting games, role-playing, adventure, or hack-and-slash… 2021 has it all. If you’re looking for unique games to play at the year’s end or hunting for games to enrich your collection, here are the top 15 best games of 2021.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the fifth installment in the Forza Horizon series and the twelfth in the renowned Forza racing franchise. Set in a land inspired by Mexico, you will explore a vast, colorful open world filled with hundreds of the finest cars in the world.
In the game, you’ll traverse expansive landscapes, from deserts and jungles to cities, historical ruins, pristine beaches, vast valleys, and even volcanoes… with hundreds of challenges and missions for you to conquer. Notably, the weather in the game changes weekly, adding variety and excitement for drivers. Forza Horizon 5 had a spectacular launch, receiving an abundance of praise from gamers, fans, and critics alike. According to Metacritic, the game achieved an average score (Metascore) of 91 on PC. This makes it one of the best-rated games of 2021.
Metroid Dread
The queen of platformers has returned and is more formidable than ever. Samus Aran, after a long absence from the gaming industry, is back in Metroid Dread, ready to shake up the gaming community and delight long-time fans of the series in 2021.
Metroid Dread features incredibly smooth action gameplay. Samus can combine skills to uncover secrets in the game and utilize various tools to defeat formidable enemies. Everything flows seamlessly, creating an enjoyable experience for players. What previous Metroid games achieved, Metroid Dread also accomplishes, and it even surpasses the limits of what earlier titles could do.
Tales of Arise
The action role-playing game Tales of Arise is the latest installment in the acclaimed Tales series, regarded as one of the best games of 2021. Tales of Arise features stunning anime-style graphics and the ability to chain character moves together to create impressive combos.
The game is set in a world divided into two halves, with Dahna still in the medieval era while Rena possesses modern technology and magic. With overwhelming power, Rena completely controls Dahna, plundering resources and viewing the people of Dahna as slaves.
The story begins when Alphen from Dahna meets Shionne from Rena. Dahna has lost its memories while Shionne carries a curse. Together, they share ideals and embark on a journey in the fascinating world of the game. They later gain more teammates. While it may sound like a typical anime adventure, the actual experience is much more captivating than you might expect. Currently, the game is receiving very positive reviews on Steam, so if you’re interested, you can confidently purchase it for an enjoyable experience. With its anime-style graphics, the game is also lightweight; a mid-range configuration is sufficient to run it at maximum settings.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy
Atelier Ryza is the game that brought global success to the Atelier series, and it seems the developers learned from the shortcomings of the previous version to launch part 2. As you may know, when you strive for excellence, success will follow, and Atelier Ryza 2 is proof of that.
The second installment of the Atelier series has once again stirred excitement among fans, earning its place as one of the best RPGs of 2021.
The success of Atelier Ryza 2 can be attributed to its improved design style, which was already beautiful for gamers, plus the fact that Ryza 2 retains its charm with the epic and captivating soundtrack throughout the gameplay. If you’re looking for a relaxing role-playing game that emphasizes exploration and stays true to its core elements, Atelier Ryza 2 is definitely worth a try.
Loop Hero
Loop Hero is an indie card-based roguelite game. The game is set in a world where the lich king has cast humanity into an endless time loop. You will stand with the hero to conquer these loops. You have a mysterious deck of cards to place monsters, obstacles, and rewards along the hero’s path; if there are too few dangers, there won’t be many rewards, and the hero won’t level up. Conversely, if there are too many rewards, there must also be significant dangers, making the hero’s journey more challenging but rewarding in strength.
Your task is to create balanced loops between survivability and loot. No two playthroughs will be the same, as they all contain random elements. Help your hero grow stronger after each round so that one day, when the time comes, they can save the world and break the lich’s endless time loop. While this game may not be for everyone, if you enjoy it, it will undoubtedly be one of the best games of 2021.
According to GVN360