The Best Games of 2021

As we prepare to close out 2021, it's time to look back on the games that defined the year. The COVID-19 pandemic claimed release date through release date as we moved through 2021, but the games industry kept chugging away. Despite the fact that the year's release schedule was in a constant state of flux, we still received a number of great titles in 2021. In this list, we'll recap the Best Games of 2021 and tell you what made each one so special.Note: While I've handled most of these year-end gaming wrap-ups on my own in the past, this year I have some help from one of SlashGear's newest writers, Josh Hawkins. I'll note who's responsible for each entry with our initials (EA and JH) at the end so it's clear who wrote what. Welcome to the team, Josh! Let's get into the games.

There's no doubt that the roguelike space is getting a little crowded here in 2021. We've seen the genre grow to be one of the dominant ones in the indie space throughout the last several years, and there are so many roguelike games that it can be difficult for new titles to stand out. That wasn't the case for Loop Hero.

Loop Hero serves up a lot of fresh ideas and, like many roguelikes, is defined by "easy to learn, difficult to master" gameplay. For as good as it is, Loop Hero might be the most difficult to describe game on this list. A Lich has plunged the world into eternal nothingness and it's up to players to rebuild it by placing buildings, enemies, and even terrain from a customizable deck of cards alongside endless loops. While the concept may be a little meta, the core gameplay loop (no pun intended) is solid and given a chance, Loop Hero will have you theorycrafting the most efficient decks and layouts in no time.Loop Hero is a perfect pick-up-and-play game for those who only have a little bit of free time while also being a game that you can sink your teeth into for extended periods. It offers a fantastic spin on the roguelike genre, and anyone who counts themselves as a roguelike fan should check it out. - EA

After It Takes Two, it's clear that Hazelight Studios is a master of making memorable co-op experiences. While the studio's first game A Way Out may have had some flaws, it's hard to find much to criticize about It Takes Two.

In It Takes Two, players take on the role of a divorcing couple who are forced to work together and examine the failings of their relationship after magically transforming into dolls. The collaborative gameplay, which forces players to work together to solve puzzles and progress through the game, is top-notch, as is the voice acting and the writing.

It Takes Two is a very charming game and an excellent co-op experience that should be on the shortlist for everyone who hasn't already played it. It's one of those genre-defining experiences that's made even better by the fact that it forces you to play through with a friend or a loved one. While those who haven't played it yet may have thought it was strange to see it win Game of the Year at The Game Awards, those who have played it knew why it was chosen and why it deserved the honor. - EA

The Metroid fans of the world have to be among the most patient gamers around. They've been waiting on Metroid Prime 4 for years, but the wait for a new 2D Metroid game has been even longer (assuming we're not counting the Zero Mission and Samus Returns remakes).

Those 2D Metroid fans finally got what they were waiting for this year in Metroid Dread, and it certainly didn't disappoint. It was an excellent return to form – a phrase you'll hear more than once in this roundup – for the series, which has mostly relied on spin-offs in recent years.

Metroid Dread pretty much has it all – an excellent map, tight controls, intense combat, challenging boss fights, and plenty of secrets to find. If you're a Metroid fan, then Metroid Dread is like a dream, and it's quite possibly the best game released on the Nintendo Switch this year. Shame on Nintendo for making us wait so long for a proper 2D Metroid, but bravo for knocking the first entry in a long time out of the park. Read SlashGear's full review of Metroid Dread. - EA

Forza Horizon 5 is a lot like Forza Horizon 4 and 3, of that there is no doubt. The game modes are very similar, the open world driving feels very familiar, and even many of the characters are the same because they've made the jump from the previous games. If you've played Forza Horizon 3 or 4 before, you have a good idea of what to expect from Forza Horizon 5.

Well, you do and you don't, because for as familiar as the gameplay might be, it's the in-game world that elevates Forza Horizon 5 above its predecessors. Mexico makes for a beautiful location for the Forza Horizon Festival, and driving through Playground's take on the country hasn't gotten old yet.

Even though Playground is guilty of playing things a little too safe with Forza Horizon 5, it's still one of the best open world racing games ever made – if not the best. The developer will want to consider shaking things up a little more dramatically in future entries, but regardless, Forza Horizon 5 is a masterclass in how to make an open world racer not only with compelling gameplay but also with a compelling world. Read SlashGear's full review of Forza Horizon 5. - EA

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was one of the highlights of the year for me, and I'm shocked that I haven't seen it included in more year-end wrap-ups. While the PlayStation 5 has had a few impressive exclusives this year, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the one that sold me on the vision for the console.

With beautiful visuals, great gameplay, excellent voice acting, and even something of a heartwarming story, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is like a playable Pixar movie. I loved Rift Apart from start to finish, and I'm looking forward to the next game with these characters.

In addition, Rift Apart makes good use of the PS5's DualSense controller and SSD. It's a next-gen experience in a sea of cross-generation games, and while I don't think it's quite to the level of a system seller, it does deserve a spot on the shelf for anyone who likes action-adventure games. Read SlashGear's full review of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. - EA

If I would have told you in July 2020 that Halo Infinite was going to wind up on a best games of the year list, you probably wouldn't have believed me. The details of Halo Infinite's troubled development are well known at this point, and if there was any doubt, the campaign demo we saw last year was a solid indication that all was not well with Microsoft's flagship franchise. The company delayed its game beyond the Xbox Series X launch window, but a year later, Halo Infinite is finally out and it's clear the decision to delay was the right one.

Halo Infinite's campaign is quite a departure for the series, being a semi-open world instead of strictly linear. The open world actually adds a lot more to the game than I was expecting, and I'm excited to see what 343 does with it in future campaigns, whether those are added to Halo Infinite as DLC or they're released as standalone products.Halo Infinite is definitely the best Halo game 343 Industries has made so far. There are some issues surrounding the free-to-play monetization in the game's standalone multiplayer mode – in short, it's too greedy – but the gameplay is absolutely stellar. I'm excited for the future of Halo, which is something I haven't really felt since Bungie had the reins to this franchise. Let's just hope that whatever 343 does next with Halo, it includes the Grappleshot, because whew baby that's a fun tool to use. Read SlashGear's full review of Halo Infinite. - EA

In this bonus section, we'll go over some of the best remasters and re-releases that launched in 2021. Remasters and remakes have become commonplace in the industry, and while some of them can be blatant cash grabs that look to monetize nostalgia and nothing more (looking at you, GTA Trilogy), some of them are made with dedication to the source and become the definitive way to play those games from the past.

First up is Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which might just be the best value in gaming this year. Packing not one but three remasters, Mass Effect Legendary Edition updates one of the best gaming trilogies of all time for modern platforms. It's true that the first Mass Effect is still a little rough around the edges, but even that game has a compelling story to tell, and it's just a precursor to the phenomenal Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3. All Mass Effect fans need to take the Legendary Edition for a spin because there's a lot to love about it.

Square Enix's Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters also impressed this year, though the biggest problem for us has been finding time to play through all of them. Square Enix's work to update these games with fresh pixel graphics and a truly awesome remastered soundtrack gracefully ushers these old-school games into the modern era. While we're still waiting on Final Fantasy VI, the first five games are available on PC and mobile devices. Here's hoping Square Enix decides to bring them to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch so our console brothers and sisters get to reexperience these classics for themselves.

Finally, hats off to the folks at Sucker Punch for their work on Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut. Though the Director's Cut is available on both PS4 and PS5, the latter platform is the one you want. On PS5, the visuals in Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut are simply stunning; there's no better way to describe them. The combat, as always, is on point while the narrative and art direction seep style. At this point, Sucker Punch could announce another re-release for 2022 and we'd be onboard given how great Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is.