2021 was supposed to play out differently, wasn’t it? With things ending almost as uncertainly as they did in 2020 it has certainly been an interesting year. Like last year, community was very important even if it often remained at a distance. To many of us Grouvee is a big part of that community, a safe place to share and discuss our interests. I know that Grouvee has been important to more than just me alone, and I am thankful for the great people here. Just as last year, as a way to continue sharing and creating discussion, here are my 10 personal favourite games released in 2021, with honourable mentions (in a rough reverse chronological order):
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury : It’s probably well known that Super Mario 3D World is my favourite 3D Mario game ever made. It’s is a solidly and cleverly designed platformer that presents the best of both 2D and 3D design sensibilities. But it’s also now just a little over eight-years-old. Naturally then it is the addition of Bowser’s Fury that ensured this game a spot in the top ten. Bowser’s Fury is a refreshing open world playground for Mario, a game that borrows heavily from the smart designs of Super Mario 3D World and fits them brilliantly into a sandbox environment. Bowser’s Fury boasts both some great horizontal freedom as well as exceptional verticality in its puzzle designs. And it has just about the best Bowser Fight ever crafted, a fight you get to relish over and over to your heart’s delight. Bowser’s Fury also doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, but also provides plenty of post end-game content for those who want more.
- Minute of Islands : A melancholic dystopian vision of the future that feels visually and thematically Adventure Time adjacent. Minute of Islands is not just a visual feast, it’s also a heart wrenching exploration of grief, loss and letting go. Filled with visual metaphors for Mo’s inner turmoil. The game does an exceptional job taking us on an emotional and transformational journey that I found deeply affecting.
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart : is there any surprise that a new entry in one of my favourite series is on this list. I’ll admit, I bought a PS5 just to play this game, so no one should find this entry strange in the least. But Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is not just another entry that I am biased toward. It is one of Insomniac’s more emotional in introspective tales, a story that explores the trauma of loss and isolation coupled with questions about identity, responsibility and found families. The game also invites some thoughtful analysis thanks to it’s exceptionally well written characters. It’s also a super fun combat platformer that contains all the charm Insomniac’s games are well known for, and it’s my favourite entry alongside A Crack in Time, my all-time favourite game in the series. I sadly never got around to writing a full review, but I did record some post game thoughts that might add a bit more to this short recap.
- The Wild at Heart : A superb game with beautiful hand-drawn art. My original review best sums up my feelings about The Wild at Heart
- Death’s Door : So nice I bought it twice! Read more in my official review.
- Psychonauts 2 : folks, I rarely every declare something my GOTY, but if there is one this year it’s Psychonauts 2. A deeply moving and affecting game that has beautiful things to say about mental health and anguish and the toll of emotional turmoil that comes with trying to tuck the things we deem as unwanted away in the recesses of our psyche. Psychonauts 2 not only touched me on an emotional level, it also tickled my senses with it’s visual and aural imaginings. It’s a feast for the eyes and ears and will stick with me for a very long time.
- The Artful Escape : Another beautiful game that ignites the senses on fire. A melodic journey through introspection, self-discovery and acceptance, it’s not surprising that the game has been read as potential Trans allegory. And even if not intended as such, it’s such a deeply and wonderfully Queer game that I found it exceptionally moving.
- Sable : Sable was a freeing experience, another game that also focuses on themes of identity and self-exploration. Yet the very chill and open nature of the game leaves these themes open to personal interpretation and often encourage self-reflection. The vast spaces of Sable’s dessert fell both enticing and lonely, a respite from rigid roles and conformity yet also a vast expanse that one can lose themselves in. Sable does an impeccable job portraying the infinite excitement and terror of adolescence, growing up and choosing the roles we play. For a few more thoughts on Sable take a gander at my official review.
- Axiom Verge 2 : a superb follow up to Axiom Verge that trades ranged weapons for melee combat and shapeshifting, Axiom Verge expands on the Metroidvania genre by changing the stakes. Bosses are no longer mandatory which frees the player to chose between focusing on exploration over combat if they so wish. It’s an interesting choice that allows players who are fans of Metroidvania’s winding paths and secret areas but that struggle with combat difficulty. Instead of a game that shifts difficulty by adjusting enemy health pools, Happ made it possible to avoid enemies altogether. This makes it a compelling entry in the ongoing attempt to address accessibility linked to difficulty in gaming. Yet it’s more than just a novel approach to difficulty, Axiom Verge is an excellent Metroidvania in it’s own right, and is hands down the best of he genre released this year.
- Outer Wilds - Echoes of the Eye : Mobius Digital proves you can capture lighting in a bottle twice. I didn’t think it possible, but Echoes of the Eye managed to thrill, delight and creep me out all over again providing another emotional and cathartic experience. My official review was short because I didn’t want to spoil anything for anyone but the game did haunt me for some time after completion.
Honourable Mentions
- Genesis Noir : Genesis Noir is a cosmic jazz infused noir that aims high, occasionally misses, but delivers a truly unique experience.
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition : It’s only fair that I place Mass Effect: Legendary in honourable mentions simply to give ten other games a chance. Was there any doubt this would make my list? Not if you know me at all. To nitpick, the remastered version of the first game provided a few nice QoL tweaks but overall, I probably still prefer the original. And if you have a Series X|S, the original loads faster than the Legendary Edition oddly enough.
- Hot Wheels Unleashed : did you like Hotwheels as a kid? Then you’ll love this. Unlock cars, race and build your own tracks. It’s a ton of fun and racing actually feels quite good.
- Kid A Mnesia Exhibition : nothing since the start of the pandemic has so perfectly captured the feeling of walking through a real physical space. Despite many improbable elements, the Kid A Mnesia Exhibition gave me the feeling of entering a gallery space and immersing myself in its many installation pieces. There was a period in my life where if I wasn’t visiting a gallery I was probably installing my own piece and the memories of that period came rushing back while I visited this gallery’s virtual spaces. Nothing has conveyed the feeling of real space the way this work does (except for windy days under the trees on my island in ACNH). I look forward to revisiting the Exhibition regularly.
- Echo Generation : a game that left me with a weird sense of unsettling nostalgia. You can read more in my official review.