My Top 10 Games of 2021

These are the best games I played in 2021, so they may not have released in COVID YEAR 2, but I experienced them for the first time while dodging the plague. So without further ado, on with the countdown.

NUMBER 10

Starfox 2

This was a blast from the past. Starwing (Starfox 1) was the first game I ever played, and its still pretty good to this day. Starfox 2 was only released recently via the SNES mini, and its quite different from the original. Its no longer an onrails shooter, you now have freedom of movement. It carries over the same artstyle from Starwing, and feels a bit easier but its still a very good retro game. A lot of the idea's in this game made their way into Starfox Command on the Nintendo DS. I'd say both are worth a buy.

NUMBER 9

Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair

If the original Yooka Laylee was an attempt at capturing the magic of the Banjo Kazooie games, the 2nd game is an attempt to make something in the mould of Donkey Kong Country. I would say that the 2nd game in the Yooka Laylee series is a lot more fun. The platforming is really good, but slightly more forgiving than the SNES games that inspired it. The highlight for me though, has been exploring the overworld. Its really well designed, and is filled with secrets and charming characters.

NUMBER 8

Cruis'n Blast

A great little Arcade Racer. The usual neon soaked cities, and tropical locales you'd find in most racing games are present. However there are loads of great events happening within each stage. From the London Eye collapsing and running amuck in Oxford Street, to a couple of Yeti's duking it out as you powerslide a unicorn past a fire truck. At times the tracks feel more like rollercoaster rides, than racecourses.

NUMBER 7

Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions

It's football but not as you know it. If you're want a football game with realistic physics and animation, well I'd advise you to look anywhere but here. This is a very anime take on the beautiful game. Expect to see balls lifting goal keepers off their feet, and launching them into the back of the net. Lions and Eagles appearing as you take shots are common place. If you've ever played one of the Mario Football games, its a bit like that but with an added focus on story and creating a custom team.

NUMBER 6

Guardians of the Galaxy

If you enjoyed the movies, there is a lot to like here. The banter back and forth between the crew is really entertaining, and the gameplay is pretty fun as well. Combat feels a lot like Final Fantasy VII Remake's, you take control of Starlord and then call in team mates to help out. It would likely be higher on my list, but I've only just started playing it.

NUMBER 5

Children of Morta

A great multiplayer dungeon crawler. It reminds me of the Gauntlet series, but with an interesting way of progressing the story. You control one of the Bergsons, a family of heroes trying to prevent 'Corruption' spreading. If you've ever seen the Studio Ghibli film Prince Mononoke it has that feel, with animals being infected with purple ooze. In order to stop the spread, you take control of a family member and enter a dungeon. Even If you die, the story continues. You also get a chance to upgrade the family, so it slowly gets easier until you eventually beat the level. It strikes a great balance of being challenging, but not frustrating

NUMBER 4

God of War

The 4th main entry in the God of War series is very good, but also very different. It kinda feels like they transplanted a different Kratos into the main role. I played through the first 3 God of War games before jumping into this, and Kratos is kind of a douche. He's quite selfish, and I personally wanted him to get his comeuppance. However this new instalment, portrays him as a stern but caring father. So its an interesting change of pace. For the most part it works though. The combat feels heavier than previous games, attacks land with more force. It feels slower but more brutal. The only negative is, it feels very much like a part one of two. The story just kind of ends, but I'm very much looking forward to the next game.

NUMBER 3

The Outer Wilds

This is the most unique game I played this year. Its a bit like Interstellar meets groundhog day in concept. You're a budding astronaut in a galaxy faraway. You take off, and head off to explore. You will eventually die, as space exploration is unusually perilous. At this point your character realises he's trapped in a time loop. The game plays out with you investigating the cause, dying, and investigating some more. Its quite fun gradually revealing what happened, and unlike most games set in space it feels quite cosy. Its got the feel of being on a camping trip, one where the tent gets sucked into the vacuum of space fairly regularly.

NUMBER 2

Battle Chef Brigade

Its Master Chef with monsters. If I'm honest, not a game I went out looking for. I don't think anyone has ever typed Master Chef with monsters into google. I am really glad that someone a little bit kooky, put the two ideas together though. Its a great mix of monster fighting and match 3 puzzles. It is the best multiplayer game I've played this year. Its great because you don't really know who's winning until the very end.

NUMBER 1

Ys IX

The Ys series is probably the best kept secret in the realm of Japanese Role Playing Games. They don't quite have the flash or style of the Final Fantasy or Persona series, but they've got a history just as long. The most recent games Ys VIII and Ys IX, have been really quite special. Ys IX is set in the Prison City of Balduq. The story takes lots of twists and turns, and is complimented by a fun combat system and some great exploration. The character's movement options are really fun, from running up walls to gliding across the city. The developers look like they have taken inspiration from games like Prototype and the Arkham Asylum games, and blended their mechanics into an action RPG.