So far, 2021 has been another amazing year for video games. Regardless of what your favorite genre is, or even if you’re a casual or hardcore fan of gaming, there has been something for everyone.
To celebrate how good of a year it has already been, we’ve compiled a list of the top six game of the year contenders so far. Be sure to let us know what you think of this list, as well as your current GotY is, in the comment section below.
Loop Hero
2021 Game of the Year Contenders so Far
Loop Hero surprised everybody back in March, as the game received plenty of attention and praise despite it having very little mainstream promotion leading up to its release. What is it about the game that helped it rise out of obscurity, though?
Well, its premise alone is interesting enough, as its gameplay revolves around taking away control from the player while still making things fun. The main gameplay loop centers around you sending out your hero out to fight enemies and gather resources to upgrade your campsite.
These resources and enemies come in the form of cards, which you’ll collect and use throughout each loop for the purpose of building a deck to help you progress for the next go-around.
While this may sound simple enough, the different enemies and paths that occur each run make for a distinct experience every loop. As such, it is very easy to find yourself saying “just one more loop” every time you die.
Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart
2021 Game of the Year Contenders so Far
Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart had some pretty big expectations to fill coming into 2021. Not only was this the first mainline entry in the series in over five years, but it was also arguably the biggest PS5 exclusive to date.
Thankfully, the game delivered its usual creative brand of humor and gameplay perfectly, featuring beautiful graphics, compelling combat, and an amazing story.
This time around, the adventure follows the titular duo as they journey through dimensional rifts after a slight mishap that accidentally separates them. In order to get things back to normal, Ratchet has to adjust to the chaos caused by the destruction of the Dimensionator and find a way to close the rifts.
Luckily, he isn’t alone, as Clank finds some help in the form of Rivet, a female Lombax that is also a controllable character. While alternating between the two in different levels, players fight enemies with loads of cool weapons and traverse the crazy worlds they find themselves in.
The fluid combination of platforming, puzzling, and chaotic combat the game boasts is sure to please anyone who already loved the series and new players alike. The game looks amazing as well, taking full advantage of the PS5’s power with 4K resolution and 60K FPS.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better-looking or playing game in 2021 so far.
It Takes Two
2021 Game of the Year Contenders so Far
It Takes Two has no right to be as good as it is. This game manages to tell a cute and funny story while also blending multiple different gameplay genres into one hell of an amazing co-op experience.
The premise is a bit of a whacky one, as a soon-to-be-divorced couple mysteriously finds themselves turned into their daughter’s dolls. In order to get back into their real bodies, they must work together to traverse seven different dreamscape levels that symbolize the issues they face with their relationship.
Due to this, their powers and the design of the game change with each level. In one stage, Cody can grow larger or smaller, while May is able to walk up, down, and upside-down on specific surfaces. In another level, May can make and control clones of herself, while Cody can manipulate time.
Despite changing the style so often, It Takes Two both feels great and is very accessible thanks to clear instructions and simple yet intricate mechanics. This is easily the best co-op title of 2021 so far.
Returnal
2021 Game of the Year Contenders so Far
Difficult video games have always had a certain appeal to a lot of gamers. The challenge that comes with improving your gear and learning the gameplay loop with each death in a game like Returnal is the perfect example of this.
In Returnal, players are tasked with helping Selene, an Astra scout who lands on the planet Atropos, investigate a mysterious signal. It isn’t too long into the game that it is revealed she is trapped in a time loop.
The only way to progress is to adapt to her environments, using the weapons and upgrades she finds on Atropos to kill any creature that stands in her way. This idea is easier said than done, though, with enemies and bosses improving with every level you advance.
Oh, did we also mention that you lose the majority of your equipment every time Selene dies? This adds an extra layer of stakes to even the most mundane fight, as one wrong move could mean the end of a great run for you. Thankfully, the gameplay is so fun that you honestly won’t mind starting over.
Monster Hunter Rise
2021 Game of the Year Contenders so Far
There is no denying that the Monster Hunter series has a bit of a high barrier to entry. Combo-focused combat and an in-depth upgrade system can be pretty intimidating to anyone new.
While Monster Hunter Rise definitely has some of these barriers, it isn’t nearly to the extent of many other titles in the franchise thanks to the helpful new tutorial system. This is great since it is one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch in 2021.
In this game, players create and control their own Hunter, sending them out to fight massive and intimidating creatures to collect a bounty that helps them improve their gear. Those include everything from fire-spewing wyverns to sumo-like turtles, with each offering its own distinct challenge via specific strengths and weaknesses.
There is nothing more satisfying than taking down a big beast that has been giving you trouble, as you learn its tactics through trial and error. There’s also plenty of replayability in Monster Hunter Rise as well, as you can fight the same monsters you’ve already beating but have it feel like a completely different encounter by using different weapons or taking it on with friends.
Of all the games released in 2021, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one where you come out with as many insane but unique combat stories as you will with Monster Hunter Rise.
Resident Evil Village
2021 Game of the Year Contenders so Far
The Resident Evil series has seen a rise to prominence once again in recent years thanks to the decision to go back to the horror action the series is known for. Despite the recent success of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil 2 Remake, though, there was no guarantee that Resident Evil Village was going to be good.
Thankfully, Resident Evil Village continued the series’ upward trend, delivering a unique experience rife with a lot of amazing gameplay and story elements that old and new fans alike loved.
Gameplay-wise, Resident Evil Village is a cross between Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7. The game takes the upgrade, resource management, and light open-world aspects of the former and combines it with the latter’s modernized first-person gameplay, making for a more fluid and enjoyable time.
The story was also refreshing without diverging too much from elements that give Resident Evil its identity, swapping out the T-Virus for the Mold and zombies for werewolves and vampires.
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