Published , by Shack Staff
Published , by Shack Staff
Another amazing year in video games is coming to a close, which means it is time for Shacknews to count down our Top 10 Games of the Year 2021. Each staff member submitted their personal top ten games list and we are including the collective list from our Chatty community as another ballot in our vote. These votes were made outside of all of our other awards this year. 2021 was another challenging year for most humans and video games continued to give us some much-needed refuge from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of video games were nominated across all of the votes, but we have narrowed it down to the Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2021. Please take a look at our video, or read along underneath the video embed.
Want to read the list? Hit next page to see our text version of the Shacknews Top 10 Games of 2021.
Death's Door invites us to a peculiar world filled with gorgeous locations and unique characters. Though the game isn't incredibly long, there's so much lore that makes players feel immersed in this living, breathing, universe. The combat is challenging and satisfying, and the game's boss fights are a major highlight. Death's Door isn't just one of the year's best indies, it's one of the best games overall.
Death's Door is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam platforms. Death's Door also won the Shacknews Award for Indie Game of the Year 2021.
Arc System Works didn't just produce a good fighting game with Guilty Gear Strive. It changed the genre for the better. Throughout the rest of 2021, no other major fighting game announcement started without the conversation of rollback netcode either being mentioned or coming shortly after. Then there's just the fact that it's an impeccable fighting game in terms of visuals, mechanics, music, and being more welcoming to new players while appeasing old hands. Arc System Works poured the kitchen sink into making this game play well and look beautiful at every single turn. It was enough it further awards throughout our full discussions, and for the good it has done the fighting genre as a whole, it more than deserves its place here.
Guilty Gear Strive is available on Steam and PlayStation platforms.
If there’s one thing that the staff here at Shacknews loves, it's killing people (in video games). Naturally, we love the Hitman series and its penchant for making murder as fun as a barrel of monkeys. After two successful releases for the franchise as a part of its reimagining for eighth-generation consoles, developer IO Interactive was at a crossroads. After their previous publisher Square Enix tried to sell the studio, upper management worked out a deal that saw the studio gain its independence and the rights to the Hitman franchise.
Newly freed from the clutches of their old publisher, IO announced that they would soon be releasing the third game in its reimagined trilogy. Hitman 3 marks the biggest and baddest entry into the series. Taking lessons learned in the development of the preceding two games, the third entry in the series hits the ground running at full stride. Snapping necks or braining a poor waiter with a wine bottle never felt so right.
Hitman 3 runs on the same game engine that powered the previous two games, though it brings a host of new features and technology. The quality of the lighting and materials were upgraded from Hitman 2, allowing the sprawling environments to feel just a bit more realistic. IO also tossed longtime fans a bone by announcing plans to incorporate the missions from the first two games into Hitman 3.
These missions and environments also received visual upgrades to bring them in line with assets created for Hitman 3. While the visual jump wasn’t all that great, it still represents an admirable boost in final image quality for the series over its run on eight-generation consoles and PC.
The recent Hitman games have also been well-known for outstanding post-launch content, including new missions. The team at IO Interactive went above and beyond the call of duty and offered up some fresh content in partnership with Shacknews. As a part of The Season of Lust update, IO delivered some custom Featured Contracts designed with Shacknews.
Hitman 3 is available on Nintendo Switch (cloud version), PlayStation, Stadia, Xbox, and PC platforms.
While the PlayStation 5 had a solid launch lineup, there was not yet a game that one could call a "system seller." There wasn't a game that showed off exactly what the PS5 hardware was capable of delivering. Insomniac Games offered a taste of that last year with Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but it delivered the main course with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
Rift Apart stands out as one of the best games in the Ratchet & Clank series, delivering a Saturday morning cartoon-like story with lovable characters, richly detailed worlds, and powerful weaponry. However, it's in exploring those worlds that one begins to grasp just what a feat this game really is. If seeing the worlds from a distance doesn't get that point across, maybe using the rift tether mechanic to warp to another area seamlessly will.
More than that, it's when Rift Apart reaches its climax that audiences can truly see what Insomniac has pulled off. It's mile-a-minute action from dozens upon dozens of enemies, all on-screen without a single performance hitch or loading screen. As both a story that all ages can enjoy and as a technological marvel, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is not to be missed.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is available exclusively for the PlayStation 5 platform.
It Takes Two was one of the surprise releases of the year. When we first played it back in May, we knew that it would be in this conversation at the end of the year. It's the rare adventure game that's designed from the ground-up to be a cooperative experience, and it executes on that perfectly. There's excellent pacing with puzzles, which cleverly tie into the narrative and themes as well as just being downright fun to play.
It's one of those games that will have you angrily yelling at your friends one moment, and laughing with them uncontrollably the next. Hazelight Studios has shown some tremendous growth over the years, and It Takes Two is the company's best work yet.
It Takes Two is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
Silly name, serious game. Returnal became the must-play PS5 cult hit of the year.
How many folks had Returnal being the best PlayStation game of the year on their 2021 bingo cards? I wager not all that many. That quickly changed in early May when Housemarque and Sony released Returnal for the PS5. We first saw the game in trailers way back in the Summer of 2020, but almost every part of the experience was shrouded in mystery.
When Returnal started warming up those dormant PS5 consoles this past spring, its unique mix of roguelike features, bullet hell gameplay, and H. R. Giger-inspired visuals was an instant smash among the few who jumped into the game early. While more than a few may have picked up the game due to a lack of fresh software for the new console, they were treated to a challenging jaunt into sci-fi action.
Featuring a generous assortment of firearms and various powerups, players will have all sorts of ways to approach the fresh levels of hell that Returnal throws their way. Despite being procedurally generated, the environments in Returnal never fail to impress and the clear and concise layouts make navigation much less annoying than many of its peers.
If you need further convincing, Sony felt strongly enough about the job Housemarque did on Returnal that it permanently acquired the Australian dev house this year. We can’t wait to see what this team is capable of on PS5 hardware with the full force of the PlayStation empire at its back.
Returnal is available exclusively on PlayStation 5.
We hope you guys love teeth as much as the folks at Double Fine…
For anyone who followed the development journey of Psychonauts 2, the idea that it could actually release and be a top-tier release might have been a long shot, but the dedicated team at Double Fine has managed to make the dream a reality. A direct continuation of the events in the first game, Psychonauts 2 continues to follow the exploits of Razputin, a circus acrobat with psychic powers who falls in with a group of special secret agents.
More than fifteen years have elapsed since Psychonauts first burst onto the scene for PC and consoles. It was generally well-received at the time and developed a cult following in the many years that came after. Those who held out hope for a sequel were given some good news way back in 2015 when the project was first publicly announced. Following a series of crowdfunding campaigns, delays, and the acquisition of Double Fine by Microsoft, Psychonauts 2 finally escaped the clutches of development hell.
With its wildly inventive narrative, environmental construction, and character design, you’ll likely find a lot to love about Psychonauts 2. In his review of the game from August, our own T.J. Denzer laid out his case for why Razputin’s latest journey is a must-play:
“It’s wild to think how many years of development are here in this game, but the end product is undeniably polished and top-to-bottom good gaming. The dialogue is well-written and delivered, the story is riveting throughout, and the use of platforming and powers to traverse a vast variety of funny, ridiculous, and sometimes disturbing mental worlds is fantastically solid. It feels like the doors are open for more in this universe, and that prospect is exciting, but if there isn’t another Psychonauts game ever, then I feel confident in saying Double Fine did right by this series with Psychonauts 2.”
Psychonauts 2 is available on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. It is also part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
here’s a reason that Halo Infinite has won so many categories at the Shacknews Awards 2021: it’s a great game. During our deliberations, we all recognized the various areas that 343 Industries has hit a homerun with the delivery of the game. Infinite’s multiplayer is on-point and a return to what made the series so popular. The campaign and its narrative is the perfect mix of recognizing the past and setting up a path for the future. On top of it all, as a series first, the campaign is an open-world experience that rivals some of the greats in the genre.
For a lot of players, there was doubt creeping into their mind as we neared the release of Halo Infinite. Halo 4 and Halo 5, while good games by anyone’s standards, didn’t have the same industry-defining appeal that the original trilogy offered. But the murmur of the community started to grow, and soon hushed whispers of hope turned into full-fledged rejoicing as fans realized that Halo was officially back.
As we’ve recognized with our awards, Halo Infinite succeeds in offering a multiplayer experience that rivals the originals. It’s got the equipment that spawns on the map Halo 3-style while Halo 4’s mantling and sprinting helps it translate to a modern audience. Plus, Halo’s iconic zoom returns, leaving behind the ADS style of Halo 5.
In terms of the campaign, the story that’s being told here highlights the relationship between the Master Chief and Cortana, while building new foundations with the Pilot and the Weapon. It’s an emotional journey that will leave invested fans wiping away tears.
And all of this is packaged up in a visual representation that begs to be compared to the original trilogy. There’s a chunkiness to Chief’s armor, a simplicity to the multiplayer designs, and the vastness of a Halo ring to explore that has us reminiscing about the first time we stepped foot on the Forerunner structure back in 2001.
Though it didn’t manage to take home the overall Shacknews Game of the Year award, Halo Infinite manages to stand proud as one of the best games released this year. What we need to remember here is that Halo’s back, baby. Now go and read our Halo Infinite review for more good vibes.
Halo Infinite is available on Steam and Xbox platforms. It is also part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
It's safe to say everyone expected a Metroid game this year. The writing had been on the wall for sometime, but we could have never expected something like this. Nintendo going back to Mercury Steam to craft yet another amazing 2.5D Metroid title was a mind-blower to say the least. And Metroid Dread is fantastic to boot. The game presents players with a tough-as-nails action platform journey through another alien world. Whether you're facing down (or running from) the deadly E.M.M.I.s, fighting an imposing boss with Samus's growing set of moves, or simply taking in Metroid Dread's stylish caverns and biomes, Metroid Dread is a deeply satisfying adventure all the way to the end. Welcome back Samus. We missed you.
Metroid Dread is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch platform.
There were some great games that didn't make the cut for our Top 10 Games of the Year 2021 list, but we wanted to give them a proper shout out. Here's a list of our honorable mentions in no particular order:
And now for the main event...
At this point, it would be absolutely foolish to doubt in Arkane Studios ability to continually create bigger and better action/adventure/stealth experiences with each outing. They learn, get better, and apply the lessons thoughtfully with each new outing and Deathloop is the perfect example of that. This game is a not just a mighty stylish mix of artistic design, adaptive and riveting music, and schlocky grindhouse narrative flair. It’s also a culmination of the best of Arkane game design and nods to modern lessons outside of the studio as well.
First off, the narrative is an incredible journey. As Colt Vahn, former head of security of the Isle of Blackreef and traitor to a program that keeps the island repeating the same day over and over again, everyone wants to kill you. Your only solution is to fight back and kill each of the eight visionaries keeping the island’s perpetual time loop in check, including Julianna Blake, who takes a particular interest in toying with and killing Colt on every loop.
What this leads to is a game that gives the player an incredible amount of freedom and versatility in how they play. In Deathloop, you can go as loud or as quiet as you want as long as you get the job done and try not to die in the process. But more importantly, collecting information is key to your success, so even if you die, if you learned something, you’re moving forward towards that ultimate goal. And boy howdy does this game give you some fun tools to use as you please between a set of firearms and powers.
There are few games and even media outside of games that handle a time travel as narratively and mechanically well as Deathloop does. And with the addition of fantastic voice work as we listen to the banter between Jason E. Kelley as Colt, Ozioma Akagha as Julianna, and so many other great players here, we get an Arkane adventure that as equally entertaining as it is intriguing and thrilling at all turns.
Arkane has been improving upon themselves for years in the design of stealth action and adventure. They’ve clearly been studying up on other fine contenders too because Deathloop feels like a finely polished shooter as well. Put that delicious art style and music on top and we’ve got ourselves a dish that stood out in numerous aspects. Deathloop had a prominent place among a lot of our conversations for awards this year, and when it came down to a top-to-bottom experience, everything it had going for it was enough to get away with our Shacknews Game of the Year 2021. Congratulations to Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks!
Check out our Shacknews Game of the Year 2021 - Deathloop article to read more!
Deathloop is available on PlayStation 5 and Steam.
That's the Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2021. Which games did you feel we left off or should have ranked higher? Let us know in the Shacknews Chatty comments section below. Congratulations to all of the games that made our list this year!
Watch the Shacknews Awards 2021 YouTube playlist or read our Year of the Games: 2021 article for all of the awards in one place.