
2021 is going a bit quick, isn't it? And oh boy has it been a rollercoaster. Considering many industry insiders claimed this year would be quiet and to not expect many 'big' games, it's certainly not felt like it. From next-gen upgrades, to new IPs, every week has delivered something new and fresh for us to sink our teeth into - a lot of the time made available as part of Xbox Game Pass as well.
Let's take a quick recap into what games this year has brought us so far. Kicking off the New Year we had the absolutely superb Hitman 3, a fantastic conclusion to IO Interactive's trilogy. We also saw the much anticipated timed exclusive, The Medium, which delivered some early spooky delights to bring 2021 in with a bang.
Moving on we saw some smaller games take the forefront such as Little Nightmares II, yet another delightfully spine-tingling adventure to embark on. Not only that, but It Takes Two made a splash for itself, with its unique gameplay, fantastic use of co-operative mechanics and wonderful overall adventure.
While the first few months weren't exactly jam packed, it's been kind of relentless since April. It all began when Outriders jumped into Xbox Game Pass on day one, a great addition which has been embraced by a loyal fanbase since its launch. Not only that, but April saw MLB The Show hit Xbox (and Game Pass) for the first time ever, and the brilliant NieR Replicant also emerged, ushering in a new audience of players to the cult classic JRPG.

May continued the trend of heavy hitters with three key titles: Resident Evil Village, Biomutant, and Mass Effect Legendary Edition, all of which found an audience who welcomed the titles with open arms. Each delivered something to suit all tastes, whether it be a horror fuelled theme park ride, an action packed open-world adventure, or a deep sci-fi RPG. With hours upon hours of content, some of us are still trying to catch up.
This isn't even including some of the fantastic multiplayer experiences this year has delivered. Knockout City jumped into Xbox Game Pass the same day of its release, capturing a wide audience who were stunned by just how good the game is. Not only that, but Chivalry 2 has proven to be a success, with thousands of players flocking online to engage in some medieval mayhem.
With all this being said, this is only the first half of the year. We still have the remainder to go, with some huge titles on the horizon such as Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5. But looking back for now, what's been your favourite game of 2021? There have been so many - big and small - it can be hard to keep up. We're eager to hear your thoughts, so engage with one another, and share some games that may have slipped off the radar of others.
So, what's been your favourite game of the year so far? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments 42
Why isn't Balan Wonderworld an option but it's in the headline?
Resident Evil Village and R&C Rift Apart for me.
So far I have actually been surprised by The Medium, for a new Gamepass game to play on my Series X it's actually a survival horror game the way I like them. The Resident Evil games have slowly become more action oriented over the years, and it seems like they are going to be first person shooters for now on. The Medium totally plays and feels like the classics in the genre, it honestly reminds me of Silent Hill the most, it's all about those creepy environments and more investigative adventure gaming sort of elements. They even got the fixed camera angles down right, something that you hardly see anymore these days.
I am actually not much of a fan of horror games but this is just a really good one, only one to grab my interest in years. It seems like they are always going for zombie shooters or shorter, more gimmicky games, but this hits more of that psychological horror which I find to be the hardest to do and the scariest at times.
Hitman III; an absurd amount of Hitman all in one launcher.
I would've said Knockout City, but everyone playing got good and now I can't keep up.
Mine is Resident Evil Village.
I did enjoy Knockout City a lot as well.
Hitman 3 is something I might like, but I haven't tried it yet.
Resident Evil Village, I actually played it on Steam first but bought it again for the Series X and I've just got to the basement of the doll house, a really good entry in the series. Hitman 3 is another I've enjoyed somewhat briefly, I just need to find some time to really dive in
Resident Evil for me, or Returnal (although that obviously isn't an option!) I'm cracking on with ME: LE but yet to get properly into it
I haven't played mamy new games on xbox since I've only re joined over the last three months so for xbox I'd say the medium, overall this year though its between resident evil village and persona 5 strikers
@carlos82 what lurks in that basement still haunts me 😢
Judgment Remastered
RE Village but Returnal (on PS5 obviously) a close second. And really enjoying Scarlet Nexus so that might be up there as well.
Monster Hunter Rise. Superb exclusive on the Switch.
I'll revisit this question after The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles releases, though.
RE2 by far is my favorite game this year!! Oldie but a goodie. Totally missed it as I had sold my Xbox & PS4 due to a move and just picked it up during a memorial day sale at GameStop with DMC5 and Katamari Damacy on Switch. Also just watched my older brother play it on PS1 while I was beating the Spyro trilogy back in the 90s. Soooo freaking good. Looking forward to RE8 Village when it drops on sale
@Kilamanjaro RE2 is my favourite game from last gen and I've lost count of how many times I've played through it
@carlos82 oh I'm already looking at a second run since I missed the pink diamond key and the magnum on the first run. And I haven't even gotten to Claire's story yet! Definitely excited
Still on assassins creed Valhalla
Doom Eternal
Forza Horizon 4
Just started cyberpunk 2077 on series x
Quality mode and enjoying very much
Sharp picture and smooth.
Not sure what all the bad press was about so far
About 7 hours in.
But I guess lots of patches have been done by now and game improved.
ME Legendary edition. Nuff said.
I'd have to go for Nier, such a great game that was. Can't wait to replay it as well for the continuation of the story. I thought Outriders was very decent as well, I've not very often played a game that had such an exciting difficulty.
Nothing really on the Xbox yet. Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart and Returnal have been my favorite games of the year by far. Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite will no doubt join that list soon!
Resident Evil 8age for sure. An instant classic.
Resident Evil Village was so fun that I went back and started playing other games in the series again. A great game that I recommend to anyone who isn’t terrified of encountering the fetus monster.
I've been playing mostly old stuff as I work through that gamepass backlog so from the list it's outriders, been getting into in lately but best i played this year is a toss up between Ori & the BF and Titanfall 2
Mass effect legendary edition and its not even close
Ive spent most of my time with Gears 5, Forza 4 and Outriders on my Series S. GPU ftw.
My favorite this year so far Mechwarrior 5. Really enjoyed my time with it & was a breath of nostalgic fresh air of wat I normally play on consoles.
Scarlet nexeus is really good as wel, but haven't finished it yet.
I've only played Outriders from that list and enjoyed it.
On Xbox
1) Forza Horizon 4!
2) Doom Eternal
3) The Messenger
Yes I happily play games late. The only one on the list above I have played is The Medium and that is way down the list.
On PS top 3 this year Ghost of Tshusima, Genshin Impact, The Pathless and on Switch Mario Galaxy, Donkey Kong Country 2 & Mario Sunshine
From what i played i have to go with Outriders, Awesome 3rd person shooter..
I need to start keeping a diary of the games I play, if anyone knows of an app that would be good to track that, it would be awesome.
I don’t remember all I played this year but… I guess Mass Effect Legendary Ed might be up there…
Mass Effect legendary edition on Series X and Spiderman Miles Morales on PS5.
Still Forza Horizon 4 and the oldies Pac Man Championship Edition 1 & 2.
Has to be Cyber Shadow for me.
Massively caught me by surprise, not usually my type of game, however 25 hours and a 1000+ deaths says otherwise!
Would heartily recommend it and another excellent advert for gamepass. It might be an oft-repeated sentence now but it really has given me an opportunity to try things I wouldn't normally do.
Returnal on PS5.
Series x hardly gets used tbh.
@Sakisa Judgement is amazing. I'm with you on this one
I haven’t played much but I picked outriders I could’ve pick mlb the show
My favorite game of this half was for sure Nier:Replicant (but I must say that on the 32/12 I will have the same opinion) Yoko Taro is a master storyteller, and I am a big fan of all his work.
The Medium really surprised me and I enjoyed more than I expected (and since It exposed me to the fantastic work of Zdzisław Beksiński) it’s a game that will
always have a place in my heart.
Hi there fellow gamers.
From this list, it has to be Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
The others are Returnal and Rachet and Clank: Rift Apart on PS5. A amazing sci-fi, space opera trilogy, a awesome arcade, sci-fi third person shooter and a beautiful, sci-fi action platformer.
As a sci-fi, space fan, it has been a pure bliss, gaming wise.
After finishing the ME trilogy for the seventh time (3 on Xbox 360, 3 on PS3 and one on PS5) I decided to go for a second run at ME Andromeda on PC.
Love the ME franchise way to much 😜
Actualy enjoyed Outriders, both solo and co-op with a friend.
Scarlet Nexus might be interesting down the line.
Cheers, stay safe everyone and happy gaming to us all
Blackwood - ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE.
Series x update and companions. Really has turned into an excellent mmo
Not new... but Sea of Thieves... They have just continued to pump so much content into this game. If I had to pick a new game this year I loved it was Powerwash Simulator on steam. Hopefully that one will make it to xbox. so relaxing.
I’d have to say Forza Horizon 4!!!! Since starting the game I don’t wanna stop!!! 😂👍
Outriders and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting NFS Hot Pursuit. Need a new Burnout game now made by the same team
All consoles it's Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. On Xbox, Resident Evil: Village.
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