As video game public relations professionals, we sink a lot of hours into playing games. And now that 2021 is almost over, we asked around the office to find out which, out of all the hundreds of games that launched this year, are our absolute favorites. From franchise spin-offs to artful indies to serious GOTY contenders, our tastes are about as varied as they come.
If you find yourself looking for new games to play before the year is out, make sure to check out these staff recommendations.
Tara Edwards
Favorite game: Ghost of Tsushima Legends
“When Ghost of Tsushima Legends first came out, my friends and I played it constantly and would stream our attempts to beat the Tales of Iyo chapters, which take forever. There is no save button, which makes the game super challenging. Two of my friends are super charismatic podcast hosts and another is a hilarious comedian/voice actor, so it’s fun even if we’re failing over and over. I’m also a huge fan of co-op combat games where your party must work together to accomplish a goal. I’ve never really enjoyed FPS games and the sword play in GOT is smooth and satisfying. The online version also brings in a dark, yet beautiful art style and introduces Japanese folklore, which is totally different from the main story game. Unfortunately for my roommate, she has had to listen to me shouting stuff like, “Get the crystal for the blood well! Someone shoot me, I’m stuck in the eye orb!” for the past year.”
Nick LaTona
Favorite game: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
“I blew through the first two games in a just a few weeks – the nostalgia really got to me! I loved seeing the progression Bioware made between the two games on the mechanics front, too. The graphical updates look great and, boy, do these games hold up. Time has been kind to Mass Effect. Be kind to yourself and play it.”
Erin Christopher
Favorite game: OPUS: Echo of Starsong
“I play narrative-driven, single-player RPGs almost exclusively, so my favorite game of the year is usually whichever one has a story that makes me cry the most. For 2021, that honor goes to OPUS: Echo of Starsong, though Tales of Arise proved a super close second. The latest from Taiwanese developer SIGONO, Starsong is an indie puzzle platformer with a gorgeous aesthetic, incredible soundtrack, clever design choices and a narrative that devastated me in the best way possible. I already can’t wait to play it again – this time, with plenty of tissues nearby.”
Kelly McKittrick
Favorite game: 12 Minutes
“Even though I found myself screaming at my computer screen after running through the same scenario three times, I became addicted to figuring out the mystery. The wonder of why this strange man kills the main character every 12 Minutes drove me to want to investigate and discover everything that this game has to offer. Although I am most excited about Super Monkey Ball relaunching all its older games on the Switch, I unfortunately do not own the console – but my love of the game makes me want to buy one.”
Riley Driscoll
Favorite game: Monster Hunter Rise
“When trying to sell friends on Monster Hunter Rise, the way I’d talk about the game went along the lines of: ‘There will always be mechanics you don’t understand in this game. It’s just too dense, there’s just entirely too much to Monster Hunter. Don’t try and learn all of them, just pick a big weapon and swing at a big monster.’ I haven’t played in a few months, but even with constant playtime I still never felt like I could run out of things to do in Rise. Above all else, my favorite aspect was the multiplayer. Working together with friends while each hunter perfects their role in a fight feels awesome. There’s also a ton of fun to be had with stupid outfits, goofy poses and over-the-top voice lines that add loads of personality to the experience.”
Alyssa Avila
Favorite game: Persona 5: Strikers
“Because I’m a huge fan of the Persona series, I had to play this game. One thing that really impressed me about this game was how it kept the stylish edge and lovable characters of the main Persona 5 game. I also really loved the new characters introduced in this game – they were well-designed and fun to get to know. The gameplay was extremely fun as I loved making combos with the Persona 5 gang to defeat difficult bosses and save people’s hearts. In between battles, I got to go on a summer road trip throughout Japan with the Persona 5 gang – their sightseeing gave me plenty of future vacation ideas. I highly recommend this game to any Persona 5 fans looking for a great, upbeat adventure perfect for long summer nights. However, if you are new to the Persona 5 series, wait until you’ve at least played the main game. You’ll be lost on the characters’ chemistry and hilarious inside jokes that happen throughout the game.”
Monica Pontrelli
Looking forward to: Animal Crossing New Horizons update coming November 2021
“I like slower paced games where I can explore and do my own thing. Making improvements around my island and my house are so satisfying. Even though every time I go to my 10-year-old niece’s island it’s way different and cooler than mine. Mine looks like an adult created it. Hers is always creative and it’s clear she spends way more time playing than I do. It has gotten a bit routine, and I find myself playing less and less, so I think the new update, which is supposed to be pretty significant, will bring some new, fun stuff for me to do and discover.”
Adam Simon
Favorite game: The Artful Escape
“This rock opera science fiction adventure is amazing, yes, but I have a history with this game that spans more than four years. Like most people, the first time I laid eyes on The Artful Escape was at E3 2017 and since then, I’ve been waiting forever for this game to launch. Every other year a new trailer would drop, or I’d see a demo at a gaming convention, further hyping myself up for a game with an unknown launch date. Cut to September 2021 and The Artful Escape finally arrived. I didn’t even know it had launched until I saw a review from IGN. I immediately downloaded the game and completed it in one sitting. And overall…it was great! The Artful Escape is like a mish-mash of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (the movie), Rick and Morty, The Sirens of Titan, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Ziggy Stardust. A space travelling odyssey where the player jams out killer guitar licks whilst traversing outlandish alien worlds at the edge of the universe. It’s honestly one of the most stunning games I’ve ever experienced. Despite the four-year wait and simplistic gameplay, I have to put The Artful Escape as my favorite game of 2021.”
Whether we were gaming hardcore or keeping it casual, we all found one game to obsess over this year. Give these recommendations a try and let us know what you think – that is, if you have enough room in your backlog.