Best Games of 2021: Top Picks Across Every Platform

The best game of 2021 by critic consensus was It Takes Two, which won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021. That ceremony alone drew over 85 million streams, the most in the show’s history at the time.

However, 2021 delivered outstanding titles across every platform — from Deathloop on PC and PS5 to Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox, Metroid Dread on Switch, and Death’s Door on PC.

This Axeetech guide covers every top-rated game, ranked by platform and genre, so you know exactly what to play regardless of what device you own.

Why 2021 Was a Surprisingly Great Year for Games

On the surface, 2021 looked shaky. COVID-19 continued to delay major releases throughout the year. Hardware shortages made PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles nearly impossible to find for most of 2021. Consequently, many players still gamed on last-gen hardware.

Yet software quality told a different story. Studios adapted to remote development and delivered some of the most original titles in years. Hazelight Studios, Arkane Studios, Playground Games, and MercurySteam all released defining works that year.

The numbers back this up. Forza Horizon 5 reached 10 million players in its first week after its November 2021 launch, making it the biggest Forza launch in history at that point. The Game Awards 2021 set a streaming record with over 85 million views globally. Furthermore, many of 2021’s best games continue to sell strongly in 2026 as backlog titles, proving their lasting quality.

The Game Awards 2021 — Official Winners

The Game Awards 2021 took place on December 9, 2021, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Geoff Keighley hosted. It Takes Two and Forza Horizon 5 each won three awards, tying for the most wins of the night.

Award Category	Winner
Game of the Year	It Takes Two
Best Game Direction	Deathloop
Best Narrative	Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Best Art Direction	Deathloop
Best Score and Music	Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Best Performance	Maggie Robertson as Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village
Best Action Game	Returnal
Best Action/Adventure Game	Metroid Dread
Best RPG	Tales of Arise
Best Family Game	It Takes Two
Best Sports/Racing Game	Forza Horizon 5
Best Multiplayer Game	It Takes Two
Best Indie Game	Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Best Debut Indie	Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Innovation in Accessibility	Forza Horizon 5

Key fact: It Takes Two won 3 awards. Forza Horizon 5 also won 3 awards. Deathloop won 2. The ceremony drew over 85 million streams, the most in The Game Awards history at the time.

Also on Axeetech: Best Games of 2020

Top 20 Best Games of 2021

Before the full list, here is a quick reference table for the top 10 titles. Scores are from Metacritic.

Game	Developer	Platform(s)	Metacritic	Still Worth Playing
It Takes Two	Hazelight Studios	PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC	88	Yes
Deathloop	Arkane Studios	PS5, PC	88	Yes
Forza Horizon 5	Playground Games	Xbox, PC	92	Yes
Metroid Dread	MercurySteam / Nintendo	Switch	88	Yes
Halo Infinite	343 Industries	Xbox, PC	87	Yes
Returnal	Housemarque	PS5	85	Yes
Psychonauts 2	Double Fine Productions	Xbox, PC, PS4	87	Yes
Resident Evil Village	Capcom	PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC	84	Yes
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart	Insomniac Games	PS5	88	Yes
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker	Square Enix	PC, PS5, PS4	93	Yes

1. It Takes Two

Developer: Hazelight Studios / Publisher: EA / Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC / Metacritic: 88

It Takes Two is a cooperative-only adventure that follows Cody and May, a couple on the verge of divorce. Their daughter Rose casts a spell that turns them into tiny toy figures. The game forces two players to work together through dozens of wildly different gameplay scenarios, none of which repeat mechanics too long.

Director Josef Fares built the entire experience around co-op. It also works through EA’s Friends Pass, meaning only one player needs to own the game. The game sold over 10 million copies by 2022.

Still worth playing in 2026? Absolutely. It remains the benchmark for cooperative game design.

2. Deathloop

Developer: Arkane Studios / Publisher: Bethesda Softworks / Platforms: PS5, PC / Metacritic: 88

Deathloop puts you in the role of Colt, an assassin trapped in a time loop on Blackreef Island. Your goal is to kill eight Visionaries in a single day to break the loop. Rival assassin Julianna can invade your game and hunt you down, which adds a thrilling PvP layer.

Arkane Studios’ signature level design rewards patience and creativity. Blackreef drips with a retro 1960s aesthetic that no other 2021 game matched. Furthermore, the dialogue between Colt and Julianna is consistently sharp and entertaining.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The single-player experience holds up completely.

3. Forza Horizon 5

Developer: Playground Games / Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC / Metacritic: 92

Set across a richly varied Mexican landscape, Forza Horizon 5 reached 10 million players in its first week, making it the biggest launch in the Forza franchise’s history. The open world spans jungle, desert, farmland, beaches, and an active volcano. Every biome looks exceptional even years later.

Playground Games packed in hundreds of events, barn finds, and seasonal content to keep players engaged year-round. The accessibility options are the most comprehensive in the racing genre, earning Forza Horizon 5 the Innovation in Accessibility award at The Game Awards 2021.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The game still receives seasonal updates and new car content.

4. Metroid Dread

Developer: MercurySteam / Publisher: Nintendo / Platform: Nintendo Switch / Metacritic: 88

Metroid Dread is the first original 2D Metroid game in 19 years, picking up the story of bounty hunter Samus Aran on the alien planet ZDR. The E.M.M.I. robots — unstoppable machines that stalk Samus through corridors — are among the most genuinely tense encounters in the franchise’s history. Level design is the best in the Metroid series.

Nintendo and MercurySteam understood exactly what Metroid fans wanted. Tight exploration, satisfying ability unlocks, and punishing but fair boss encounters define the experience. The game also features the best parry mechanic in any 2D platformer released that year.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. It is a complete, polished experience from start to finish.

5. Halo Infinite

Developer: 343 Industries / Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC / Metacritic: 87

Halo Infinite marked Master Chief’s return to an open-world structure for the first time in the series. The campaign is the best single-player Halo experience since Halo 3, with a grappling hook that transforms combat and traversal. The free-to-play multiplayer launched separately on December 8, 2021.

343 Industries made a deliberate return to the original franchise’s tone of hope and resilience. The musical score by Gareth Coker and Curtis Schweitzer is among the best original soundtracks in the franchise’s history.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes for the campaign. Multiplayer has had mixed updates but remains active.

6. Returnal

Developer: Housemarque / Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment / Platform: PS5 / Metacritic: 85

Returnal stars Selene, an astronaut stranded on an alien planet who relives her death endlessly in a roguelike time loop. Housemarque took its arcade bullet-hell expertise and applied it to a third-person shooter with PS5 DualSense integration that uses haptics and adaptive triggers to feel genuinely next-gen.

The game is hard. However, the reward for persistence is one of the most cohesive gameplay and narrative experiences on PS5. Each run teaches you something new about the world, Selene, and the mystery that surrounds her.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes, particularly after its PC port expanded the audience.

7. Psychonauts 2

Developer: Double Fine Productions / Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, PS4 / Metacritic: 87

Psychonauts 2 was two decades in the making and delivered fully on its promise. Raz returns to the Psychonauts organization, diving into the minds of various characters to resolve their psychological trauma. Each mental world is visually and mechanically distinct, a feat of creative level design.

Tim Schafer’s team addressed mental health themes including addiction, anxiety, and intergenerational trauma with remarkable sensitivity. The game was also available on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Therefore, nearly every Xbox subscriber could play it without additional cost.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. It is one of the best platformers of the decade.

8. Resident Evil Village

Developer: Capcom / Publisher: Capcom / Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC / Metacritic: 84

Resident Evil Village follows Ethan Winters in an Eastern European village ruled by four lords, the most iconic of whom is Lady Alcina Dimitrescu. The game blends the first-person horror of Resident Evil VII with the action pacing and variety of Resident Evil 4. It is consequently the most content-varied entry in the franchise in years.

Maggie Robertson’s performance as Lady Dimitrescu won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2021. The castle section is among the finest in survival horror history. RE Village proves Capcom could broaden the franchise’s scope without losing what makes Resident Evil work.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The Gold Edition adds substantial post-launch content.

9. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Developer: Insomniac Games / Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment / Platform: PS5 / Metacritic: 88

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart was one of the first games designed exclusively to showcase PS5 hardware. Dimensional rifts load entirely new worlds in milliseconds, something impossible on previous hardware. The game introduces Rivet, a female Lombax from an alternate dimension, who quickly became a fan favorite alongside Ratchet.

Insomniac’s combat is fast, creative, and built around the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers. Every weapon behaves differently, and upgrading them feels meaningful. The game is accessible to newcomers but rewards series veterans with lore callbacks.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes, especially for new PS5 owners looking for a technical showcase.

10. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

Developer: Square Enix / Publisher: Square Enix / Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4 / Metacritic: 93

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is the highest-rated game of 2021, scoring 93 on OpenCritic. It is the fourth major expansion to the massively multiplayer RPG and concludes the main story arc that began with A Realm Reborn in 2013. The emotional payoff is exceptional by any standard in gaming.

Square Enix and director Naoki Yoshida built one of the most loyal gaming communities in the industry. Endwalker’s launch was so popular it caused widespread server queues and temporary free trials to be suspended. In addition, the expansion won Best Score and Music at The Game Awards 2021.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The MMO is still active and Endwalker remains the high point of the story.

11. Monster Hunter Rise

Developer: Capcom / Publisher: Capcom / Platform: Nintendo Switch (later PC, console) / Metacritic: 88

Monster Hunter Rise brought the franchise back to Nintendo hardware after Monster Hunter World expanded the IP globally. The new Wirebug mechanic transformed traversal and combat, letting hunters swing through environments and mount monsters mid-fight. It is the most kinetic Monster Hunter ever made.

The Palamute companion, a rideable dog, adds personality and practical utility to every hunt. Capcom released major free updates throughout 2021 that expanded the roster of monsters significantly.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The Sunbreak expansion added even more content.

12. Death’s Door

Developer: Acid Nerve / Publisher: Devolver Digital / Platforms: Xbox, PC, later PS4/PS5/Switch / Metacritic: 88

Death’s Door is a top-down action game developed by a two-person team at Acid Nerve. You play as a crow working for a bureaucratic soul-collecting agency. The game borrows from The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls without copying either. Exploration, combat, and boss design all feel hand-crafted.

The world is melancholy and beautiful, with memorable boss characters that linger after credits roll. At a budget price, Death’s Door overdelivers completely. It is the best indie game of 2021 by pure design quality.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. It is cheap, refined, and around 10 hours long.

13. Inscryption

Developer: Daniel Mullins Games / Publisher: Devolver Digital / Platform: PC / Metacritic: 85

Inscryption defies clean description. It begins as a deckbuilding card game against a shadowy opponent in a dark cabin. Then the game breaks itself open in ways that are best experienced with zero spoilers. Daniel Mullins previously made Pony Island and The Hex, both of which subverted player expectations.

PC Gamer named Inscryption its Game of the Year 2021. The card mechanics are deep and rewarding on their own. However, the meta narrative is what makes this one of the most original games released this decade.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes, especially for fans of creative, unconventional design.

14. Unpacking

Developer: Witch Beam / Publisher: Humble Games / Platforms: PC, Xbox, Switch, later PS4/PS5 / Metacritic: 84

Unpacking is a zen puzzle game developed by Australian studio Witch Beam. You unpack boxes and arrange belongings across multiple stages of a woman’s life. No dialogue exists. The story is told entirely through the objects she owns and the spaces she inhabits. It is a rare example of environmental storytelling done with complete restraint.

The game became a cultural moment online, particularly around a specific item placement that sparked debate. Unpacking won Best Debut Indie at the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. It is short, calming, and memorable.

15. Life is Strange: True Colors

Developer: Deck Nine / Publisher: Square Enix / Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, Switch / Metacritic: 81

Life is Strange: True Colors stars Alex Chen, a young woman with the psychic power to absorb and manipulate others’ emotions. Set in the fictional Colorado town of Haven Springs, the game is slower-paced but consistently emotionally intelligent. Alex Chen is one of the best-written protagonists in the franchise’s history.

Deck Nine took over from Dontnod and demonstrated that the series could thrive under new developers. Furthermore, the voice acting across the entire cast is consistently excellent. Game Informer named Alex Chen the best video game hero of 2021.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. It is the most grounded entry in the franchise.

16. The Forgotten City

Developer: Modern Storyteller / Publisher: Dear Villagers / Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch / Metacritic: 85

The Forgotten City began as a Skyrim mod and evolved into a standalone game set in ancient Rome. You are transported 2,000 years into the past to a city governed by a single rule: if one person sins, everyone dies instantly. The time-loop structure forces you to experiment, observe, and adapt.

Director Nick Pearce wrote dialogue that consistently feels intelligent and layered. Den of Geek called it one of the best narratives of the year. The Forgotten City was criminally overlooked during The Game Awards 2021 nominations.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The writing quality and concept still have no direct rivals.

17. Hitman 3

Developer: IO Interactive / Publisher: IO Interactive / Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, Switch / Metacritic: 87

Hitman 3 completed IO Interactive’s World of Assassination trilogy with Agent 47 at his creative peak. The Dartmoor level functions as a standalone Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. The Berlin level inverts the typical Hitman formula entirely by putting you on the defensive against assassins hunting you.

IO Interactive released Hitman World of Assassination in 2023, which combined all three games into a single package. However, Hitman 3 alone remains one of the best stealth games ever made. The sheer volume of creative solutions to each target makes every replay feel different.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes, now as part of Hitman World of Assassination.

18. Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Developer: Ember Lab / Publisher: Ember Lab / Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC / Metacritic: 82

Kena: Bridge of Spirits was Ember Lab’s first video game, making its quality all the more impressive. The game follows Kena, a spirit guide who helps the deceased pass on by resolving unfinished business. The Rot, small black creatures who accompany Kena, became one of 2021’s most beloved gaming mascots.

Kena won both Best Indie Game and Best Debut Indie at The Game Awards 2021. The combat is demanding, drawing from Dark Souls in its approach to boss fights. However, the visual quality rivals far larger productions.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The Enhanced Edition on PC improved performance significantly.

19. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Developer: Eidos-Montreal / Publisher: Square Enix / Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC / Metacritic: 80

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy arrived in the shadow of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with low expectations and surprised nearly everyone. Eidos-Montreal built an original story where you play as Peter Quill managing his team of chaotic teammates. The comedy writing is consistently sharp. The 80s soundtrack is deployed brilliantly.

The game won Best Narrative at The Game Awards 2021, beating out Deathloop and Life is Strange: True Colors. Sales were disappointing at launch, but critical reception was strong and the game built a significant fanbase after price drops.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. It remains one of the best Marvel games ever made.

20. Tales of Arise

Developer: Bandai Namco / Publisher: Bandai Namco / Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC / Metacritic: 87

Tales of Arise is the 17th mainline entry in the Tales franchise and its most ambitious. The story follows Alphen and Shionne from two worlds, Dahna and Rena, as they fight against colonial oppression. The game explores themes of class, systemic injustice, and sacrifice with more depth than most JRPGs attempt.

The action combat is fluid, fast, and the most technically refined in the franchise’s history. Tales of Arise won Best RPG at The Game Awards 2021. It is the best entry point for newcomers and a powerful return to form for longtime fans.

Still worth playing in 2026? Yes. The Arise Beyond the Dawn DLC added a significant post-game chapter.

Best Games of 2021 by Platform

Best PS5 Games of 2021

PS5 was still scarce throughout most of 2021. Consequently, the exclusives that did arrive needed to justify the hardware. They did.

Top picks: Returnal (Housemarque), Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games), Resident Evil Village (Capcom), Deathloop (Arkane Studios, timed exclusive), It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios).

Returnal and Rift Apart are the two strongest technical showcases. Returnal is harder and more demanding, while Rift Apart is accessible to all skill levels. Both demonstrate what PS5 hardware actually enables in terms of loading speed and visual fidelity.

Best Xbox Games of 2021 (Xbox Series X/S)

Xbox delivered three major first-party exclusives in 2021, all available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.

Top picks: Halo Infinite (343 Industries), Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games), Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions), It Takes Two (multiplatform).

Forza Horizon 5 is Xbox’s strongest first-party showing. Halo Infinite’s campaign is a successful return to form. Psychonauts 2 is the emotional standout. All three were accessible to Game Pass subscribers at no additional cost.

Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2021

Nintendo’s first-party output in 2021 centered on one defining release and a strong supporting cast.

Top picks: Metroid Dread (MercurySteam / Nintendo), Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom), Mario Party Superstars (NDcube), Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (ILCA / The Pokemon Company), WarioWare: Get It Together (Nintendo).

Metroid Dread is the clear highlight. Monster Hunter Rise is the second-strongest Switch release of the year, scoring 88 on Metacritic.

Best PC Games of 2021

PC had the deepest library of 2021 by volume, with the strongest indie titles and the highest-rated game overall.

Top picks: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (93 on OpenCritic, Square Enix), Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games), Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games), Death’s Door (Acid Nerve), Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Greg Lobanov), Deathloop (Arkane Studios).

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is the highest-rated game of 2021 across any platform, scoring 93 on OpenCritic.

Best Free-to-Play Games of 2021

Two standout free-to-play releases shaped the year in significant ways.

Halo Infinite multiplayer launched free on PC and Xbox on December 8, 2021. It became one of the most-played Xbox games within days of launch. Pokemon UNITE launched free on Nintendo Switch and mobile, attracting a large audience with its MOBA mechanics and Pokemon license.

Best Games of 2021 by Genre

Best Action Game of 2021

Winner: Returnal (Housemarque, PS5)

Returnal won Best Action Game at The Game Awards 2021. The roguelike bullet-hell third-person shooter pushes PS5 hardware while delivering one of the most rewarding skill progressions of the year.

Best RPG of 2021

Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (Square Enix, PC/PS5/PS4)

Endwalker scores 93 on OpenCritic, making it the highest-rated game of 2021. It concludes an eight-year narrative arc with genuine emotional power. Furthermore, it won Best Score and Music at The Game Awards 2021.

Best Racing Game of 2021

Winner: Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games, Xbox/PC)

Forza Horizon 5 set the new standard for open-world racing, reaching 10 million players in its first week. It won Best Sports/Racing and Innovation in Accessibility at The Game Awards 2021 and scores 92 on Metacritic.

Best Horror Game of 2021

Winner: Resident Evil Village (Capcom, multiplatform)

Resident Evil Village blends the intimacy of Resident Evil VII with the action variety of Resident Evil 4. Game Informer called it one of the best horror games ever made. Lady Dimitrescu became the breakout character of the year, and Maggie Robertson won Best Performance at The Game Awards 2021.

Best Co-Op Game of 2021

Winner: It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios, multiplatform)

It Takes Two won Game of the Year, Best Family Game, and Best Multiplayer at The Game Awards 2021. It sold over 10 million copies. No other 2021 game matches its co-op design depth and mechanical variety.

Best Indie Game of 2021

Winner: Death’s Door (Acid Nerve, Xbox/PC/Switch/PlayStation)

Death’s Door scored 88 on Metacritic and was built by a two-person studio. Runners-up include Chicory: A Colorful Tale (90 on PC OpenCritic), Inscryption (85 PC Metacritic), The Forgotten City (85), and Unpacking (84).

Best FPS and Shooter of 2021

Winner: Halo Infinite (343 Industries, Xbox/PC)

Halo Infinite’s open-world campaign is the best Halo campaign since Halo 3. The free multiplayer launched December 8, 2021, and became one of the most-played shooters of the holiday season immediately.

Best JRPG of 2021

Winner: Tales of Arise (Bandai Namco, multiplatform)

Tales of Arise won Best RPG at The Game Awards 2021, scoring 87 on Metacritic. The action combat system is the franchise’s finest, and the story tackles themes of colonialism and oppression with unusual depth for the genre.

Best Nintendo Exclusive of 2021

Winner: Metroid Dread (MercurySteam / Nintendo, Switch)

Metroid Dread is the first original 2D Metroid in 19 years. It won Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards 2021. The E.M.M.I. pursuit sequences deliver genuine tension no other 2021 platformer matched.

Best Roblox Games of 2021

While AAA studios delivered critical hits, Roblox had a standout year of its own. Roblox Corporation went public on March 10, 2021, via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange with a first-day valuation over $38 billion. The platform crossed 200 million registered users that year.

Several community-built Roblox games became cultural phenomena in 2021:

• Adopt Me! (Uplift Games) — remained one of the most-played Roblox games of the year; pet trading updates drove record engagement
• Blox Fruits (Gamer Robot Inc.) — received major updates in 2021 and reached the top five most-played Roblox games
• Tower of Hell (YXceptional Studios) — consistent top-ranked obby (obstacle course) game throughout the year
• Arsenal (ROLVe Community) — one of the best FPS experiences on Roblox, peaked in popularity during 2021
• Piggy (MiniToon) — horror-survival game that crossed into cross-platform franchise territory with animated spin-offs
• Natural Disaster Survival (Stickmasterluke) — a classic Roblox title with strong consistent player counts throughout the year

Underrated and Overlooked Games of 2021

Every great gaming year produces titles that fall through the cracks. These six games deserved far more attention than they received.

The Forgotten City (Modern Storyteller) started as a Skyrim mod and became a standalone game set in ancient Rome. A single golden rule governs the city: one sin and everyone dies. The narrative is one of the most intelligent and dialogue-rich of the year. Metacritic: 85. It received zero nominations at The Game Awards 2021 despite widespread critical praise.

Unpacking (Witch Beam) is a wordless puzzle game from an Australian studio that tells an entire life story through the objects a woman moves between homes. It won Best Debut Indie at the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards. Metacritic: 84.

Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games) starts as a card game and becomes something far stranger. It won PC Gamer’s Game of the Year. It is the most original release of 2021 in terms of structural invention. Metacritic: 85.

Death’s Door (Acid Nerve) is a masterclass in top-down action design built by two people. It scores 88 on Metacritic and ranks among the finest indie games of the decade. Many players never heard of it.

Loop Hero (Four Quarters) is a tile-placement roguelike from a small Russian studio with an exceptional soundtrack and addictive progression loop. Metacritic: 82. It consumed hundreds of player hours despite minimal marketing.

Before Your Eyes (GoodbyeWorld Games) uses your webcam to detect when you blink, advancing the game’s story each time. The mechanic serves a deeply emotional narrative about a life flashing before your eyes. GameSpot included it in their official top 10 of 2021. Play it with tissues nearby.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What won Game of the Year in 2021?

It Takes Two, developed by Hazelight Studios and published by EA, won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021. The co-op adventure also won Best Family Game and Best Multiplayer Game at the same ceremony. Director Josef Fares accepted the award. The game sold over 10 million copies following the win.

What is the highest-rated game of 2021?

Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker holds the highest critical score of any 2021 release, scoring 93 on OpenCritic. Forza Horizon 5 is close behind at 92 on Metacritic. Both games remain active in 2026, with FFXIV still receiving content updates nearly five years after Endwalker launched.

What is the best PS5 game of 2021?

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Returnal are the two strongest PS5 exclusives of 2021. Rift Apart is more accessible, while Returnal is harder but acclaimed as a technical and artistic achievement. Deathloop was also timed as a PS5 console exclusive and scored 88 on Metacritic.

What are the best Xbox exclusive games of 2021?

Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Psychonauts 2 are the three strongest Xbox exclusives of 2021. All three launched on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Halo Infinite’s free-to-play multiplayer launched December 8, 2021, and became one of the most-played Xbox titles of the holiday season.

What is the best Nintendo Switch game of 2021?

Metroid Dread is widely considered the best Nintendo Switch exclusive of 2021. It is the first original 2D Metroid game in 19 years and won Best Action/Adventure Game at The Game Awards 2021. Monster Hunter Rise is the second-strongest Switch release of the year, scoring 88 on Metacritic.

What are the best indie games of 2021?

Death’s Door, Inscryption, Unpacking, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, and The Forgotten City are the five strongest indie titles of 2021. Death’s Door earned 88 on Metacritic. Chicory scored 90 on PC via OpenCritic. The Forgotten City was nominated for Best Debut Indie at The Game Awards 2021.

Are the best games of 2021 still worth playing in 2026?

Yes. Most top titles from 2021 remain highly playable in 2026. Forza Horizon 5 and Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker still receive active updates. Halo Infinite’s campaign is worth completing. It Takes Two and Returnal are frequently recommended for new PS5 owners. Death’s Door, Inscryption, and Unpacking are inexpensive on sale.