In a year where more people than ever seemed to be enjoying video games, truly great new releases were few and far between.
Between delays and disappointments and the effects of the pandemic being more widely felt in the industry and beyond, it simply wasn't a vintage year for video games.
With that said, we've managed to compile our picks for the 10 best games of 2021; let the debates begin!
10) It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios/EA)In the rush to facilitate massive player counts and an always-online style of game, the hallowed art of the couch co-op game has been lost.
'A Way Out' was a noble, but failed attempt at bringing back the game you play with a mate on the couch, but the developers took all the lessons from that experiment and made one of the year's most satisfying games in the process with 'It Takes Two'.
Like a mash-up of 'Marriage Story' and a 'Mario' game, 'It Takes Two' is a winning and charming game that offers players something new to do every 10 minutes.
If you're in possession of an extra controller this Christmas, you could do a lot worse than a few hours of 'It Takes Two' with a family member or friend.
9) Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine/Xbox Game Studios)Much like the film sphere, the role of the auteur is to be cherished and championed.
Tim Schafer is one of gaming's most unique voices, and when such a talented individual like Schafer gets the financial backing to realise their visions, the result is sheer brilliance.
Over 15 years in the making, 'Psychonauts 2' is every bit as irreverent and fresh as the original.
The gameplay does what it needs to, but the story builds upon the 2005 game to tell one of the most engaging and deep, yet funny, stories in any form of media this year.
Having 15 years of personal growth behind him and numerous failures as a creative, 'Psychonauts 2' is a fascinating and rewarding dive into the human condition, while still being fun to play.
In a year when some of the biggest disappointments were from the triple-AAA side of the industry, it becomes even more important that brilliantly creative games like 'Psychonauts 2' are supported.
8) Hitman 3 (IO Interactive)2021 saw us wave goodbye to Agent 47 as he carried out his last mission, but he saved the best for last.
Agent 47 taking time out of his busy assassin schedule to solve a 'Knives Out' style mystery in a cosy English mansion was one of the most inspired moments in gaming this year.
Agent 47 takes in his surroundings in 'Hitman 3'On a fundamental level, 'Hitman 3' is identical to the other two games in the reboot trilogy, but when the core gameplay loop is as deep, fascinating and endlessly replayable as the other 'Hitman' games, it shouldn't come as a surprise the final chapter makes an appearance on this list.
The joy of toying with targets, gawking at the attention to detail in the levels or listening in to NPC chatter makes the 'Hitman' games a class apart in the world of gaming, and Agent 47's final outing (for now) is the perfect cap to one of the great trilogies in modern gaming.
7) Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games/Sony)Every console needs an icon for the kids to look up to, and this dynamic duo are still flying that flag for Sony all these years later.
'A Rift Apart' is like a Pixar film in motion, and takes full advantage of what the PS5 has to offer.
Not just merely impressive as a tech demo game, the core chaotic 'Ratchet and Clank' gameplay is back and better than ever, making this a blast to play for fans who go back to the PS2 era with Ratchet and Clank or are new to the franchise.
The gameplay is off to a fine art, and the gameplay functions like a well-oiled machine.
The Pixar comparison is apt; there is something for everyone with 'A Rift Apart' and by bringing the fun back from the PS2 era with PS5 graphics, it bridges 3 generations of consoles beautifully.
6) Resident Evil: Village (Capcom)After 'Resident Evil 7' successfully revived the 'Resident Evil' franchise, the big question was "how will Capcom mess it up this time?"
2017's 'Resident Evil 7' brought the series back from the brink, creating a more unsettling, tense first-person perspective that worked wonders for the atmosphere and put the colour back in the series' cheeks.
Long-term fans of the 'Resident Evil' series had every right to be nervous; after 4 turned out to redefine the series and action genre as a whole, 5 and 6 became episodes of '24' that were about as scary as an episode of 'Scooby-Doo'.
Players face off against Lady Dimirescu in 'Resident Evil: Village''Village' builds upon what made '7' so unsettling and manages to tell a gripping story full of memorable characters such as 2021's breakout character, Lady Dimitrescu.
Poor Jake Winters goes through such punishment in 'Village' that you'll want to keep playing just to see what happens next, and the game boasts what may well be the series' scariest moment yet - yes, even scarier than the dogs going through the windows.
5) Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (Bioware/EA)The 'Mass Effect' games may be over a decade old, but when they're remastered to such a mirror shine with modern graphics, they're worthy of a slot on this list.
The original 2007 'Mass Effect' is the game in the collection to have received the most substantial upgrade, with its graphics overhauled and those infinite lift rides eliminated and the Mako handling less like a shopping trolley.
The jewel in the crown is 2010's exquisite 'Mass Effect 2' which received some subtle tweaks in the animation and graphics department but still remains the masterpiece it was over 10 years ago, and 2012's divisive 'Mass Effect 3' has aged pretty well.
With 'Mass Effect 3' including the Director's Cut DLC and the other story DLC added in, what was a game that was missing a few elements to become truly great has become just that.
From start to finish, 'Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a game of dizzying depth and complexity,
For fans old or new, the games are still as good as ever, and now they're available in one package; hundreds of hours of sci-fi excellence in one place? You'd have to be as evil as a Reaper to turn that offer down.
4) Metroid Dread (MercurySteam/Nintendo)Samus Aran made a comeback in 2021 to show the gaming industry at large what they've been missing.
A glorious throwback to the side-scrolling era full of the innovative gameplay we've come to expect from the 'Metroid' series, 'Metroid Dread' is a pleasing throwback with a fresh coat of paint.
Originally a Nintendo DS game and regularly appearing on "best games to never be released" lists, Samus showed she was still able to compete in the 2021 gaming landscape, and the throwback feel created by the game was a breath of fresh air in the murky-brown triple AAA video game field.
The moral of the story? Always respect your elders.
3) Returnal (Housemarque/Sony)Finnish developer Housemarque have been in the Sony stable for well over a decade now ('Resogun' was the very first free PS Plus game on PS4) but 2021 saw the talented team break into the big time with 'Returnal'.
An overnight success that took 25 years to get a mainstream hit, 'Returnal' is one of the most thrilling experiences on the market today.
'Returnal' is like when the band you love is given a big record label deal, and with the full backing of Sony behind it, the talented team behind 'Returnal' finally put out a game worthy of their boundless imagination.
Telling the story of Celeste, 'Returnal' is best described as a mix between 'Edge Of Tomorrow' and 'Dark Souls', where players must die over and over again to figure out what's going on.
Celeste from 'Returnal' is one of this years most striking protagonists'Returnal' is a demanding game and will probably lead to many smashed controllers in frustration, but 'Returnal' does such a tremendous job of hooking players in you want to beat it.
Add in a gripping story, a riveting lead performance from Jane Perry as Celeste, and gorgeous visual and sound design, 'Returnal' is a statement of intent for the PS5, and other exclusives for the console will be doing well to match up to Housemarque's opus.
2) Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios)A racing game being one of the best games of the year might sound absurd, but trust us - 'Forza Horizon 5' really is that good.
Similar to how 'Pro Evolution Soccer 4' is a tremendous game that a non-football fan can enjoy, 'Forza Horizon 5' is a capital F Fun game first and a racing game second.
'Forza Horizon 5' does the impossible and makes a game that can be enjoyed by anyone from someone who's never picked up a controller in their life to a veteran gamer who goes back to the Atari 2600 era.
'Forza Horizon 5' is always pushing players to do just one more race, beat one more challenge, break one more record, but if you just want to switch off and enjoy the lush graphics and vast game world, you can do just that.
The concept of a sandbox game has become muddled over the last decade, with some developers thinking ticking off objectives one by one on a map counts as a sandbox experience, 'Forza Horizon 5' is a breath of fresh air and is a game that a player can enjoy on their own terms, at their own pace.
A true miracle of modern gaming, 'Forza Horizon 5' is one of the years absolute best games, racing or otherwise.
1) Deathloop (Arkane/Bethesda)The best game of a year should entertain, thrill, dazzle and do everything better than every other game out there.
On top of that, it needs to do something truly unique and special.
'Deathloop' does just that, with style to spare.
Arkane's other series 'Dishonored' tasked players with navigating a series of sandbox enviroments to knock off their targets, and have honed that formula into something truly special.
Invoking the 60's aesthetic of early 'James Bond' films and the TV show 'Archer', 'Deathloop' makes the old seem new again.
The games main hook - an assassin is trapped in a never-ending time loop and must assassinate 8 targets to end the cycle - makes the most out of the premise, and is consistently fresh and dynamic as a result.
Julianna and Colt are chasing different goals in our Game Of The Year 'Deathloop'The razor-sharp Tarantino style dialogue is a joy to listen to, and the main voice performances from Jason E. Kelley and Ozioma Akagha are among the most biting, yet hilarious voice performances in a game this year.
Of course, a game is only as good as its setting and design, and the gameplay in 'Deathloop' always remains kinetic and exciting.
Arkane has built upon the combat system from 'Dishonored' and 2017's underrated 'Prey' and turned it into the most swashbuckling fun this side of 'Bioshock Infinite'.
Whether players are breaking the loop as Colt or protecting it as Julianna, there is always a new element to find and mess around with, which is the telltale sign of a well-designed game.
A game of the year should still be fresh and exciting in the years to come, but still act as a reminder of the year that was.
'Deathloop' is a game where time has lost all meaning, every day is the same but slightly different and players must fight against a force they don't really understand.
'Deathloop' is the game that tells the story of 2021 and is our Game Of The Year.
Resident Evil Village Has Sold Over 5 Million Copies As Capcom’s Record Profits Continue
Capcom has announced that Resident Evil: Village has sold 5 million copies globally, reaching the milestone somewhat quicker than its predecessor Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. The news comes as Capcom reports record level sales and profits for a second quarter.
As announced in a press release, Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil: Village has now sold over 5 million units globally. Following a successful release window back in May, during which the game sold over 3 million units in its first week, Resident Evil: Village has since seen a "steady growth of sales" that has allowed the game's success to continue on.
According to the company, the success of Village is in part down to its "multifaceted expansion" of the series overall. "In addition to providing a sense of scale that outdoes its predecessor [Resident Evil 7: Biohazard], as well as storytelling that rises above the genre of horror games, this title was lauded for featuring a higher degree of action and even more expansive, highly engaging gameplay," a statement from the studio about the game reads.
Have you played Resident Evil VIllage?
YESNO
Having reached over 5 million sales in just over the 5 months since its launch, Resident Evil: Village has eclipsed the milestone at a rate far quicker than Capcom's last entry into the series, Resident Evil 7, which took over a year to achieve the same feat. Despite reaching the milestone at a slower rate, however, Capcom announced earlier this month that Resident Evil 7 has sold over 10 million copies worldwide - becoming the first game in the series to do so.
The recent success of Resident Evil: Village seems to be reflected by the studio as a whole. Capcom's most recent financial reports state that the studio's net sales and profits have hit record levels for a second quarter in a row. Capcom's net sales are up 66.4% and its operating income up 61.9% year-on-year for the six months ending September 30.
During that period, Capcom says that its success has been predominantly driven by new title releases and a growth in digital sales - with sales volumes from its own games exceeding 19.8 million units (a figure up 43.5% year-over-year). Capcom acknowledged the continued success of Resident Evil: Village in supporting the studio's growth but also noted that it had made efforts to increase its earnings through other avenues including the use of its brands in films and licensed products in eSports. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin was also noted as an important factor in the success.
For more on Resident Evil: Village, make sure to check out our review of the game where we awarded it an 8/10.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
These Resident Evil Village Deals For PS5 And PC Are Scarily Good
Black Friday deals may not officially kick off for some time yet, but that hasn't stopped a range of retailers offering big discounts on survival horror Resident Evil Village - and just in time for Halloween too.
In both the UK and US we're seeing big savings on the latest Resident Evil Village on PS5 and PC (sorry Xbox players). In the US, both Amazon and Walmart have cut the price of Village on PS5 by nearly $20, while CD Keys is offering PC editions for the lowest prices we've seen yet. Those in the UK have plenty of choice too, with Amazon offering a range of editions and bundles at a discount. (Not in the UK or US? Scroll down for deals in your region).
We're pleasantly surprised to see these discounts given that Resident Evil Village is still a fairly new game, having only been released in May. It's perfect timing as we approach Halloween weekend, with Resident Evil offering a suitably spooky gameplay experience for those who are looking for a scare. Check out the deals below.
Today's best Resident Evil Village dealsUS
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Resident Evil Village easily earned its spot on our best PS5 games and best Xbox Series X games lists, though it isn't without its faults. In our review, we said:
"Resident Evil Village takes the series to new heights, balancing the action of Resident Evil 4 with the deeper narrative approach of Resident Evil 7. This, combined with a brilliant use of audio on PS5 and an array of memorable characters, makes it the best modern Resi entry. That said, anticlimactic boss fights and less of a focus on scares - plus a poorly paced ending - mean that while it starts strong, it struggles somewhat towards the end."
If you're a horror fan that has had their eye on Resident Evil Village for some time then this is a great time to pick up a good deal on one of the best games of the year. Though we could see these prices drop even further during the Black Friday period. Make sure to check out our Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals, PS5 Black Friday deals and Xbox Series X Black Friday deals pages for our Black Friday gaming deal predictions and early deals.
More Resident Evil Village dealsNo matter where you live, you'll find all the lowest prices for Resident Evil Village from around the web right here, with offers available in your region.
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