PlayStation: The 10 best games of 2021

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2022 will be full of exciting new games, but this year wasn’t that bad, was it? Despite some disappointing last-minute postponements such as “Horizon: Forbidden West”, “Gran Turismo 7” and “God of War: Ragnarok”, there was a decent pace of new releases for PlayStation – and not just the quantity, but also the Quality was right. This is especially true when you take into account the spectacular first half of 2021.

You can’t avoid compiling a list of the 10 best games of the year 2021 for PS4 and PS5 – a list of the most important games that were released for Sony’s consoles this year. COMPUTER BILD took into account both exclusive and multi-platform games. So it doesn’t matter whether these games are from PlayStation Studios or other developers. Here are ten of the best games of 2021 for PS4 and PS5.

Returnal

After “Demon’s Souls”, “Returnal” was further proof that PlayStation Studios can not only do mainstream action adventure games, but also other, less popular genres. “Returnal” is a roguelike that brought developer Housemarque to the PlayStation Studios family. It’s a mix of fresh roguelike gameplay mechanics and the kind of cinematic narrative that made PlayStation exclusives so popular in the first place.

In addition, “Returnal” lets you feel all the charm, secrets and danger of an alien planet. Perhaps the most important thing about this title is the promise it makes for the next generation: Not only should it deliver amazing graphics, but also experiences that feel different – both in terms of gameplay and sound.

“Deathloop” is a daring and fascinating mix of genres.

Deathloop

“Deathloop” is further proof of the extraordinary talent of Arkane Studios (“Arx Fatalis”, “Prey”). It’s a roguelike, even if the formula is crossed with the genre that Arcane does best: immersive simulation. Time warps may not be the freshest concept and going back to the same mission over and over again can be tiring – luckily the developers of “Deathloop” were aware of this problem and knew exactly how to counter it.

The gameplay of “Deathloop” is much closer to that of “Dishonored” than you might expect. Exploring and finding the right way to tackle a mission in the thrilling spy history is still key to the entire experience, keeping every single loop fresh and full of possibilities. In addition, there is a charming graphic style inspired by the 60s.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

“Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” is a cartoon for Saturday mornings. It’s a colorful and easy experience to enjoy alone as well as with younger family members. Not to mention the game is a perfect demonstration of the PS5’s technological advances.

These are shown in the various graphic modes with RayTracing and / or 60 FPS. In addition, “Rift Apart” has absurdly fast loading times thanks to the system’s own SSD. Combined with the popular new and familiar characters, Insomniac’s latest title is the most advanced part of an exclusive PlayStation series to date.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a heartwarming action-adventure game reminiscent of a CGI Pixar movie, with delicious art direction and graphics that make the difference between PS4 and PS5.

In terms of gameplay, it might not be the most innovative release of the year, but if you’re looking for a game for your younger sibling or want to enjoy an easier single-player adventure, this title is well worth considering.

It takes two

You’ve probably heard enough of “It Takes Two” by now that it doesn’t take a long time to introduce it. It’s Game of the Year according to The Game Awards 2021 and clearly shows what Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight are capable of. The game from the Swedish developer offers a colorful art style and a multitude of wonderfully absurd game scenarios that create a playable romantic comedy – a rarity. Their mission: convince a couple about to divorce to stay together.

The Game Awards 2021: esports categories

It may not have the dense atmosphere and grandiose ending of “A Way Out”, but it has a lot of heart and lots of fun mini-games that you just have to try out with a close friend or partner.

Resident Evil Village

“Resident Evil Village” leaves the claustrophobic environments of “Resident Evil 7” behind and explores a larger world from the first person perspective, inspired by the popular “Resident Evil 4”. Put together a charming cast of supporting characters (including fan-favorite Lady Dimitrescu), Capcom tells a story that connects the Ethan Winter saga and the series’ deepest origins. There’s a reason you read Resident Evil 9 rumors everywhere.

Tales of Arise

Speaking of long-term series: “Tales of Arise” shows that with a good dose of creativity even the oldest franchises can find what made them special. The latest installment in the Bandai Namco series redefines its basic principles by moving towards an action RPG reminiscent of “Kingdom Hearts”, which frees players from the constraints of traditional turn-based role-playing games. Featuring a believable and multi-layered cast of heroes and villains, “Tales of Arise” focuses on social and cultural issues that go well beyond the usual clichés of the genre.

Aside from the combat system, the game could definitely use some deeper mechanics and tweaking, but those are just minor flaws. If you are looking for a way to get in touch with “Tales” again, you might have found exactly what you are looking for.

Excerpt from the cartoon-like underworld of Hades.

Hellishly good in all respects and on all platforms: “Hades”.

Hades

“Hades” was released in 2020, but technically it wasn’t released for PlayStation until this year. The latest edition made it possible for many PS users to discover one of the few titles that even had the slightest chance of winning the title of “Game of the Year” in the same year as “The Last of Us Part II”.

The game is an action-packed roguelike with wild and fast-paced battles as well as weapons and perks that can be used again and again for new builds and the runs are always fresh. In addition, Supergiant Games has developed a profound story and implemented Greek mythology in an original way. No matter how familiar you are with the genre or what your video game background is, Hades should definitely be checked out.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 was arguably the safest game Double Fine Productions could have been working on in 2021, but it was also the best decision the studio could have made. Since only a few 3D platformer have appeared in the past ten years, Tim Schafer has launched a project that is helping the genre to regain its shine. As? By scoring with wider, more varied and more charming levels as well as funny characters and powers.

All of this adds up to one of the best games that have ever made it onto a console in recent years – even if the PlayStation version, unlike the Xbox, unfortunately didn’t get a next-gen upgrade.

Alan Wake Remastered

Higher resolutions and frame rates or revised character models play no role here: “Alan Wake Remastered” lets PlayStation users enjoy one of the best action adventures of the past 20 years for the first time. The original “Alan Wake” helped establish one of the most underrated gaming icons and proved that video games can tell a serious story.

If you’ve never played Alan Wake before, consider this a game history lesson before jumping into the just-announced sequel.



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