These GOTY posts are always an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and think about the ups and downs, which hindsight presents with increasing clarity. I was expecting 2021 to have been a bit better than 2020, but as we all know, that hasn't been the case. The pandemic still rages on and has changed so many aspects of our lives in so many ways, and it would be impossible to think about the year without that striking context.
Although, whether it's a subjective interpretation or not, the world of video games seemed a little more stable over the last year. Where 2020 felt like the year where everything was delayed and teams were out of work, 2021 felt a little more productive as a whole. We still had delays and issues that have flowed through from 2020, but the gaming world seemed a little more upbeat and positive, which was a welcomed change.
On a personal level, my gaming life has felt the impact of COVID related supply chain issues, as I've yet to find an affordable Playstation 5, and my PC is in dire need of an upgrade. In fact, speaking of upgrades, last year was when I finally bit the bullet and updated to Windows 10, simply because I'd reached the point where I was missing out on too many games that had Win 10 as a minimum spec. Thus, even though I was unable to update my PC hardware in 2021, I suddenly gained access to a whole heap of titles that had been unavailable to me on Windows 7.
Overall it was a bit of a weird year for me, in gaming and in real life. The pandemic had more of a continued impact than I ever wanted it to, and I played a whole heap of different games. I suppose one of the main aspects of gaming in 2021 for me was the lack of big blockbuster new releases. Of course, there were the usual big contenders, but thanks to my limited hardware and inability to get up to speed on current gen consoles, I ended up playing a lot of smaller titles throughout the year. Most of the "big" games I played had been released in previous years, so when it came to thinking about my GOTY for 2021, I discovered that here was quite the diverse range of smaller titles to choose from.
The Ascent
As soon as I played The Ascent, I knew it was going to be a strong contender for my game of the year. Even if there had been more competition from other titles during 2021, I still think I would have picked this as my favourite game of the year, because this is a game that felt like it was made just for me. The combination of solid twin-stick shooter mechanics and a thoroughly detailed cyberpunk world to explore is basically everything I ever wanted in a game. So even though there have been criticisms levelled at it for one reason or another, I can't help the fact that I didn't enjoy anything else in 2021 anywhere near as much as I enjoyed this one.
I'm still blown away at how polished and detailed the world building in The Ascent was. Exploring each location as you travelled through the hierarchy of levels that made up the huge arcology environment, continually put a smile on my face. The way that each level got dirtier and covered in garbage the lower I went, only to contrast with the pristine and super clean upper levels, really tickled my environmental storytelling funny bone. The world of The Ascent deserves every single bit of praise that's out there to be given, as it stands as an exceptional accomplishment for a small team of artists and designers to create.
To top it all off, the entire game treats every combat encounter as a beautifully orchestrated balance between interesting and challenging enemies, and a variety of ways to blow them all to smithereens. Although, it's all the little touches that make the combat mechanics in The Ascent a pleasure to control, as they add some much needed depth into the familiar twin-stick formula. Even something as simple as including a low and high stance goes a very long way to enhancing your own skills, and encouraging you to experiment.
I don't often trouble myself with objectivity in this blog, as I believe that most of anything anyone can say about a game is purely a subjective opinion, but I might extend a little objectivity to The Ascent, if I may. I think it's hard to deny just how beautifully designed and made this game is, and even if the mechanics and setting are not really your kind of thing, it's impossible to deny just how incredible the game looks in motion. It's no surprised then that this was my favourite game released in 2021, as it fulfilled all of my personal desires for what I want in a game. Hence why a game made as well as this one, never had a chance to fail.
Backbone
I was tossing up between this game and The Longest Road On Earth for my first runner up, but Backbone eventually won out thanks to having a bit more depth than its competition. After all, it's one of the best point and click adventure games I've played in a while, and it really delivered on every strength it had to offer. Everything about the presentation is breath-taking, while the story tells of an intriguing mystery that kept me interested right until the very end.
Unfortunately though, Backbone fell short of the top spot for lacking slightly in the mystery-solving aspect of the game, as it ended up being fairly front-loaded with its excellent investigation system. If there had been more detective work to perform and more crimes to investigate and solve, this might have nudged itself into a closer contest for the 2021 GOTY. However, don't let that put you off, as this was a close second when it came to excellent gaming experiences I had last year.
The story is fascinating and goes in some unexpected creative directions, while the characterisations and overall gameplay are detailed and tight from the get go. To top it all off, every chapter of the game is beautiful to look at and explore, with some wonderful pixel art that shines on the screen, especially in the larger outdoor locations. There's something satisfying about hitting the streets in the rain, interviewing passers-by, and seeing it all rendered in beautiful colours and motion. Backbone is definitely one that should not be missed.
Hitman 3
The final game in the Hitman series reboot is nothing short of remarkable. It really felt like the culmination of everything that came before it and completely deserves a spot at the GOTY table. No other game manages to give you so many different ways to complete each mission, and no other Hitman game has ever told a story that's actually worth paying attention to. This trilogy has ended up being the definitive Hitman experience for me, as each and every game steps up the quality and maintains the variety in ways that are as surprising as they are fun to play.
In particular, Hitman 3 features some of the largest maps in the series, which means even more ways to hunt and eliminate targets. I can't express enough just how satisfying it is to replay levels in this game and attempt the same goals in entirely different ways. I'm not usually one to replay many games, and I usually despise achievement hunting or ticking everything off some arbitrary list. However, consider me a convert thanks to these games, which prove that excellent design will make any old gameplay loop all the better.
What's more, with more content and missions added all the time, there really is no other Hitman experience that anyone needs to have. This is the kind of game that you could potentially play for a very long time as you perfect each and every challenge, for each and every target, on each and every level. I know this game will be a part of my rotation for a long time to come.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
These are all games from 2021 that I really enjoyed and considered for a spot at the top for GOTY, but for one reason or another, they didn't quite make it. However, the following honourable mentions are each excellent games in their own right and worth mentioning, even if they were beaten by better titles.
In order of release:
HuniePop 2: Double Date
Perhaps my most anticipated game of 2021, which managed to fulfill all of my expectations and deliver everything I wanted from a HuniePop sequel. Everything from the first game has been turned up to eleven, making all the familiar gameplay mechanics and match-3 systems feel fresh and more challenging. However, while it certainly expands on what was built in the first game, the best thing about HuniePop 2 is that it got rid of all the annoying parts that brought down the fun factor in the original. What we end up with is the definitive HuniePop experience, complete with weird alien women and the same horny fairy to keep you company throughout. You might think you know what you're getting with HuniePop 2, but you'll end up finding so much more.
Genesis Noir
I have Xbox Game Pass to thank for turning me onto many games that I may otherwise have never picked up. It turns out that there are loads of excellent indie games being released onto Game Pass every month, and most of them are worth a play if you have a subscription. Genesis Noir happens to be worth a play whether you have it on Game Pass or not, as it's up there with some of the most creative and original games I've played in recent years. Fill this surreal space with a dynamic jazz soundtrack and an eye-watering film noir aesthetic, and you have yourself one of the most unique and original games of the entire year.
The Longest Road On Earth
One of the best narrative gaming experiences I've ever had, and a top contender for Backbone's spot as a runner up. While I connected deeply with this game and loved every special minute I spent playing, I have to admit that it's a little light on content, even if the content that's there is impeccable. Plus, it's easy to see that this isn't a game for everyone, but I loved every minute and would highly encourage every gamer to step out of their bubble of expectations and give this musical story game a solid try.
The Artful Escape
Speaking of original and creative, I never thought I would have so much fun running through psychedelic landscapes as I wailed away with hot licks on my electric guitar. The Artful Escape is a celebration of personal expression and a reminder that we all benefit from being as creative and non-conformist as possible. If ever a game could encapsulate the mantra "let your freak flag fly", this is that game. Perhaps the most uplifting and joyful game of the year, with beautiful visuals and consistently fun gameplay that will surely put a smile on anyone's face.
THE LIST
As is tradition, let's finish with the big list of games released in 2021 that I actually played. For the first time in recent years, I didn't feel like I missed out on anything major that could have changed my GOTY considerations or what I think about the year. As it happens, most of the big titles I missed were either games I had no interest in, or sure-fire hits like Forza Horizon 5, which I'll get to eventually and be completely unsurprised at how good it is.
Just like previous GOTY posts, the following list contains the platform I played the game on, and if I've written a post about it on the blog, I'll add it as a link. Here's to an awesome year of gaming in 2022, and hopefully we'll finally see the back of this pernicious pandemic.
Hexceed (Win)
Hitman 3 (PS4)
NUTS (2021) (Win)
HuniePop 2: Double Date (Win)
Buddy Simulator 1984 (Win)
Coloring Game 4 (Win)
Genesis Noir (XBO)
Narita Boy (XBO)
Outriders (XBO)
Backbone (Win)
Rain On Your Parade (XBO)
A Firm Handshake (Win)
How We Know We’re Alive (Win)
PowerWash Simulator (Win)
La Maleta (Win)
The Longest Road On Earth (Win)
Last Stop (XBO)
The Ascent (XBO)
Lawn Mowing Simulator (Win)
Twelve Minutes (XBO)
Psychonauts 2 (XBO)
The Artful Escape (XBO)
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator (Win)
Sable (XBO)
A Simple Test (Win)
Unpacking (Win)
The Gunk (XBO)