GOTY 2021
Honorable mentions include Axiom Verge 2, Death's Door, The Forgotten City, Halo Infinite, and Psychonauts 2.
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I haven't played Daniel Mullins' other games, so Inscryption's unique brand of videogame lunacy was brand new to me. And boy did it make for one of the wildest rides of 2021. I generally like roguelike deckbuilders, and the first part of Inscrpytion is a really good one with some incredible atmosphere. But then it reveals even more layers as the game progresses, and I had a dumb grin in my face the whole time. Even if a lot of the game doesn't match the quality of the first part, taken as a whole, it's one of the most unique games I've played... well, probably ever.
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A cozy, comforting game about finding one's place in the world. It reminded me of the discovery and wonder from Breath of the Wild without the combat, which gives it a more focused experience. It also features a beautiful art style and a wonderful soundtrack by indie band Japanese Breakfast. The technical issues are certainly a bummer, but this was still one of the most memorable game experiences I had in 2021.
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Somehow developer Mobius Digital struck gold again. The Echoes of the Eye DLC feels like a distinct, standalone experience more so than an add-on. It accomplishes the impressive feat of establishing its own identity even though it's within the same framework of the base game. As a result, the 22-minute time loop structure works against Echoes of the Eye more than it supports it, but the new visual storytelling and Myst-like puzzle structure makes for a worthy follow-up to one of my favorite games of all time. There are still plenty of mind-blowing revelations and epiphanies, and few games do it quite as well as Echoes of the Eye.
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Resident Evil 7 was a return to form for the RE series, but Resident Evil Village stands out as one of the best entries in the famed horror franchise. Village reminds me of the transition to Resident Evil 4, as that game went in a more action-orientated direction. This game follows suit and puts more of a focus on combat than protagonist Ethan's previous adventure, but overall Village finds an excellent balance between unsettling horror and a bullet-fueled bloodbath. It also includes outlandish characters and plot beats that somehow work. It swings for the fences in that sense, and I definitely embraced the madness of its narrative.
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Yes, that talking book is incredibly stupid and the story sends a rotten message that I would not call "family friendly." But the only game I can think of that approaches co-op game design as well as It Takes Two is maybe Portal 2. There are few co-op games I've played in which I feel like my partner and I have to work together rather than just exist in the same place at the same time. It Takes Two does this brilliantly, and the way in which it presents two very distinct gameplay experiences for each partner is a heck of an accomplishment.
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Heartwarming game of the year absolutely goes to Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Mechanically it features unique puzzle painting in a 2D Zelda-esque map, and while the moment-to-moment gameplay is engaging, the story and characters are where Chicory truly shines. This game tackles heavy themes like depression, acceptance, and artistic struggle all with a deft and whimsical touch. It never feels too heavy despite addressing those heavy subjects, and as a result it provides comfort and optimism in the face of everyday, real life struggles. Any time I'd come home from work and play Chicory, I'd put my troubles away and just play with a big grin on my face. There are few games that can inspire such an emotional uplift, and I really appreciate Chicory for that. (And this should really be more than a quick footnote, but the soundtrack is SO GOOD - Lena Raine is one of the best composers out there)
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This is absolutely my surprise of the year. I'm really burnt out on Marvel franchises, and I'm not much of a fan of Guardians outside of the first film. But the writing and character development in this game is so good! I really felt attached to each of the characters, especially Drax, and the facial capture and voice acting supports that development well. I also enjoyed the combat quite a bit; I agree with criticisms that it gets repetitive, but the core loop of combining squad abilities almost always felt great.
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Wildermyth is a feat in storytelling. It seems to randomly generate story scenarios between turn-based combat encounters, but does so in a way that feels authentic and accomplishes some impressive world building. This is one of the closest experiences I've ever had to playing a tabletop roleplaying game in the way it establishes characters, villains, and locales. The turn-based combat is pretty good too, if a bit limiting. I played through a few of the story campaigns and I'm excited to jump back in and play more.
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I admit I'm disappointed that Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart didn't push the rift mechanic further considering this is a PS5 game, but in terms of visuals it really feels like a next-gen game. There aren't a lot of surprises in terms of storytelling and the typical Ratchet & Clank combat is still there, but this is one of those cases where I was mostly happy with more of the same. I'm not sure how a PS5 Ratchet & Clank WOULDN'T end up on my GOTY list somewhere.
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If Bowser's Fury is a preview of Mario to come, then color me excited. The stronger open-world format made for an exciting twist on the 3D Mario formula, and I appreciated how it was a very focused 6-8 hours to 100% the add-on. It was a joy finding all the cat shines, and I stand by the fact that the cat power-up is one of the best in the entire Mario franchise. Honestly, just give me a game in which you play as Cat Mario the whole time and I'd probably be happy. Anyway, I hope Nintendo can build on Bowser's Fury for the next mainline Mario game.
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