Phaseknox’s Top 10 Games of 2021
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2021 12:36 am
The following are my top 10 games of 2021:
10. Rabi-Ribi
This is a fun little 2D pixel art side scrolling Metroidvania. The graphics and characters are cute and colorful, the gameplay is action/platforming, the levels are fairly well designed and the music is good. The story is nonsensical, and the biggest negative about the game.
9. Crossing Souls
This is a fun top-down view pixel art action, adventure, platformer that takes place in the 80s. You play as a group of kids each with their own abilities to overcome the challenges and obstacles that the game throws at them. The gameplay and level designs are good, but the story isn’t the best.
8. The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors
This is a remaster of the old SNES side scrolling beat ‘em up where you play as cyborg ninjas battling baddies through various levels. The graphics, gameplay, combat and music are all really good.
7. Shadows of Adam
This is a 16-bit style top-down view pixel art turn-based JRPG that was developed in America. It has retro charm, a likable cast of characters and a good battle system. It’s a little on the short side for an RPG, but it’s fun while it lasts.
6. Evoland II
This is a top-down view JRPG that was developed in France. It has a time travel story, and the visual style changes from 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit based on if you’re in the past, present, or future. Some parts it’s an action RPG, some parts it’s a turn-based RPG and some parts it’s a strategy RPG. It has a pretty good story, cast of characters, charm and humor.
5. The LEGO Movie Video Game
I’m a fan of The LEGO Movie, and this is basically a video game version of it. It follows the story of the movie, and even includes actual scenes from the movie. It’s a cute, fun and humorous action, platform, puzzle game throughout.
4. Scarlet Nexus
While I didn’t technically finish this game, I got to the last level and rage quit due to an annoying multi-formed boss battle. I had a pretty good time with it up until that point. It’s a third person Japanese action game with an anime aesthetic, real-time combat and RPG elements. The story is a bit bonkers, but the characters and combat are good.
3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
While not quite as good as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey IMO, it’s still really good. The story, characters, graphics and gameplay are all topnotch. It’s a third person open world action adventure game with RPG elements. It plays a bit sluggish and the pacing can be slow at times, but it’s a big adventure with a lot to see and do in it.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
While not quite as good as I was hoping for, it’s still really good. It’s a first person futuristic sci-fi open world action RPG with a good story, cast of characters and a mix of melee and shooting combat. The game world is impressive looking, and there’s a lot of cool stuff that happens throughout.
1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
The fact that I played through this twice this year shows how much that I liked it. It’s one of the best games that I’ve played... period. It’s a third person open world action adventure game with RPG elements. Kassandra is one of my favorite video game characters, and the game itself is pure fun with enjoyable combat and traversal.
10. Rabi-Ribi
This is a fun little 2D pixel art side scrolling Metroidvania. The graphics and characters are cute and colorful, the gameplay is action/platforming, the levels are fairly well designed and the music is good. The story is nonsensical, and the biggest negative about the game.
9. Crossing Souls
This is a fun top-down view pixel art action, adventure, platformer that takes place in the 80s. You play as a group of kids each with their own abilities to overcome the challenges and obstacles that the game throws at them. The gameplay and level designs are good, but the story isn’t the best.
8. The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors
This is a remaster of the old SNES side scrolling beat ‘em up where you play as cyborg ninjas battling baddies through various levels. The graphics, gameplay, combat and music are all really good.
7. Shadows of Adam
This is a 16-bit style top-down view pixel art turn-based JRPG that was developed in America. It has retro charm, a likable cast of characters and a good battle system. It’s a little on the short side for an RPG, but it’s fun while it lasts.
6. Evoland II
This is a top-down view JRPG that was developed in France. It has a time travel story, and the visual style changes from 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit based on if you’re in the past, present, or future. Some parts it’s an action RPG, some parts it’s a turn-based RPG and some parts it’s a strategy RPG. It has a pretty good story, cast of characters, charm and humor.
5. The LEGO Movie Video Game
I’m a fan of The LEGO Movie, and this is basically a video game version of it. It follows the story of the movie, and even includes actual scenes from the movie. It’s a cute, fun and humorous action, platform, puzzle game throughout.
4. Scarlet Nexus
While I didn’t technically finish this game, I got to the last level and rage quit due to an annoying multi-formed boss battle. I had a pretty good time with it up until that point. It’s a third person Japanese action game with an anime aesthetic, real-time combat and RPG elements. The story is a bit bonkers, but the characters and combat are good.
3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
While not quite as good as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey IMO, it’s still really good. The story, characters, graphics and gameplay are all topnotch. It’s a third person open world action adventure game with RPG elements. It plays a bit sluggish and the pacing can be slow at times, but it’s a big adventure with a lot to see and do in it.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
While not quite as good as I was hoping for, it’s still really good. It’s a first person futuristic sci-fi open world action RPG with a good story, cast of characters and a mix of melee and shooting combat. The game world is impressive looking, and there’s a lot of cool stuff that happens throughout.
1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
The fact that I played through this twice this year shows how much that I liked it. It’s one of the best games that I’ve played... period. It’s a third person open world action adventure game with RPG elements. Kassandra is one of my favorite video game characters, and the game itself is pure fun with enjoyable combat and traversal.