Gamers are still waiting for the truly boundary pushing and innovative next-gen games to be released at the back end of the year, but that has at least given players a chance to discover more indie games. Between top-down puzzle games to ingenious 2D platformers, it’s the indie games that currently reign supreme midway in to 2021.
However, not including re-releases of older games or video games that were already released on different platforms last year, there’s just as equal of an amount of triple-A games that have hit the sweet spot with critics too. Whether it’s assassinating targets with piano wire, helping a flower fulfil its life, or those two iconic plumbers doing everything but plumbing, there’s so much to enjoy across every platform.
10 Overboard - 86
As Clue-type murder mystery movies are getting more popular with Knives Out and Murder Mystery, the same goes for video-games too. Overboard essentially works as a reverse detective game, where the player has to get away with murder, which is such a unique premise for a video game. It encourages repeat plays too, as it’s short but has countless different outcomes. Given how successful Overboard has become, it’d be great to see more interactive games in the same series, just with different plots and locations.
9 Chivalry II - 86
Chivalry II is a third-person sword fighting game that’s so much more arcadey than its peers, which is why it’s so much more fun than any of them too. There’s so much more to it than simply tapping square to swing a sword, as there’s axe hurling and bow sniping too.
The online game is bloody, exciting, and it features so many deep customisation options. Even though there aren’t as many maps as there should be for a full game right now, the terrain and architecture in the current maps are great and there’s dozens of hours for players to get out of them.
8 Guilty Gear Strive - 87
Strive isn’t best suited for beginners, as there’s such a deep learning curve than simply being a button basher, and in that respect, it’s much more like Street Fighter than Tekken. However, the Guilty Gear series has always been under appreciated in the fighting game genre, and Strive is no different, as it’s arguably the best in the series.
The anime-style animation has never looked better, the soundtrack has never been more adrenaline pumping, and the arenas have never been more detailed. And, though it’s a little short, the story mode is incredible, and it’s even more satisfying for players who are well versed in the Guilty Gear lore.
7 Hitman III - 87
Hitman 3 isn’t just one of the best games of the year, but it’s also the best Hitman game of them all, according to Metacritic. The third entry of the rebooted series is the ultimate Hitman experience, as all of the levels are enormous, there are countless different ways to go about assassinating targets, and it features some of the most ridiculous disguises yet. From a real estate agent to a tango musician, the possibilities are endless. There’s some of the most memorable maps out of the entire series too, such as the English manor in Dartmoor to the Burj Al-Ghazali in Dubai, and they’re all free to explore.
6 Sumire - 88
Sumire is the token simple, but complex game of the year. Just like Fez before it and Journey before that, Sumire is led by the music and the beautiful visuals. Players control the titular character who has to give a flower the greatest day of it’s life, and it promises that if the day is fulfilled, it’ll let Sumire see her grandmother one more time.
The environment is so detailed, and the non-player characters that Sumire interacts with have so much depth, despite the interactions being fairly brief. The player’s choices directly impacts the story as well, but the mood of the game is almost always uplifting, as mysterious as it is.
5 Monster Hunter Rise - 88
There is so much world building in Monster Hunter Rise and the game is like a sponge when it comes to players’ time, as it’ll soak up dozens of hours of play time. Taking down monsters feels so satisfying, especially given that each monster has a different weak spot that players have to find, and there are so many creative designs for the monsters too.
The addition of the wire lets players scale mountains and traverse the map much quicker than ever before, which is great given that the open world of the game isn’t particularly that interesting. And even though some believe that there isn’t enough content in Monster Hunter Rise, it’s so satisfying, and the addition of monster riding is the most fun inclusion in the series yet.
4 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - 88
If the first Ratchet & Clank game is like a Star Wars movie, then Rift Apart is like Guardians of the Galaxy, as there’s so much goofyness and unique comedy going on too. There’s still the incredible Star Wars-esque environments, along with the originally designed characters, but on top of that, the combat is much better, and the exploration is more in-depth than another Ratchet & Clank game. It’s easily the best looking game released for the PS5 yet, and it just doesn’t slow down.
3 It Takes Two - 89
A marriage simulator doesn’t exactly scream game-of-the-year material, but It Takes Two is about a marriage unlike any other. It Takes Two is one of the most beautiful 2D platformers ever made, both in visuals and story, as it sees protagonists Mary and Cody working together to get back to reality.
The game features the most creativity and ingeniuity in a 2D game that isn’t from the genius mind of Nintendo, as there are levels that take place inside of a kaleidoscope and in outer space. And the best thing about it is that none of the gameplay is ever recycled, as every level is completely different in both presentation and gameplay mechanics. It Takes Two is like lightning in a bottle, and there’s absolutely nothing like it on a market.
2 Chicory: A Colorful Tale - 89
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a throwback to simpler times, as the puzzle adventure is a top down game with a simple hallway-like map. It is essentially one giant colouring book, as players control a janitor, named after the player’s favorite food, who fills in the whole of the black and white map with color. It just goes to show that there is still innocence in games, and there doesn’t always have to be an inventory of artillery in the menu whenever players hit the options menu. Chicory is the best game developed by an indie developer so far this year.
1 Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury - 89
Though Super Mario 3D World isn’t a completely original game, it has been fully remastered, as it looks better than ever, and the gameplay mechanics feel much better than it did back in 2013.
And Super Mario 3D World’s classic stages remain fully intact, as there are so many unique gaming twists in every single level, whether it’s turning giant, being guided by music, or playing as several Mario doppelgängers at once. But the most exciting part of the whole package is the brand new game, Bowser’s Fury, which is almost as great as the classic main event.
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