Shacknews Top 10 Games of the Year 2021

#4 Game of the Year 2021 - Psychonauts 2

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.

Shack Staff

Shack Staff stories are a collective effort with multiple staff members contributing. Many of our lists often involve entires from several editors, and our weekly Shack Chat is something we all contribute to as a group.