We're now over halfway into 2021 (crazy, we know!) and we've already seen some incredible games release on Xbox platforms this year. As of right now, last week's release of Microsoft Flight Simulator is taking the crown on Metacritic.
In case you didn't know, Metacritic takes critics' scores and puts them together to create an average score out of 100, with Microsoft Flight Simulator currently sitting on a whopping 91 for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Here's the full top ten for the year so far:
- Microsoft Flight Simulator - 91
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition - 90
- It Takes Two - 89
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 - 89
- F1 2021 - 88
- Death's Door - 87
- Hitman 3 - 87
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life - 87
- Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection - 85
- Judgment - 85
Our top-rated game of 2021 here at Pure Xbox is actually the sixth best on Metacritic, which is the incredible Death's Door, although we don't think too many people will be complaining if Microsoft Flight Simulator takes the crown.
However, there's still a long way to go before we get our champion, with the likes of Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite all set to release later this year alongside many other highly-anticipated Xbox titles. It'll be a close fight!
What's your Xbox 2021 Game of the Year so far? Let us know down in the comments below.
Comments 18
Is this a good thing?
I wouldn’t expect this game to be a console seller so I would imagine you’d want something that is at the top of the list.
Death’s Door is so good that it should be a system seller. It’ll be in my Top 10 of all-time. It’s that good.
Flight Simulator is awesome but something I’d just play occasionally. Not necessarily for hours on end.
If anything, that list makes 2021 a weak year for games. I mean, Yakuza 6 is how old? Most of these are games that were released as new games in a previous year. But what do I know? Village is still sitting at the top of my list
My money is on Forza Horizon 5 being top of that list by the end of the year.
What's weak is the fact that out of the 10 games, only 2 are exclusive to Xbox. The highest rating Xbox exclusive of all time (on Metacritic) is Forza Horizon 4 and deservingly so, but we need a hell of a lot more to compete with the others. I'm not going to put the exclusives and scores the others have as we all know they are pretty high up there.
Resident Evil Village has been the best game I've played so far in 2021 on any platform, closely followed by It Takes Two and R&C Rift Apart.
I've enjoyed Flight Sim, but it's more of the game I'd play every now and then for a nice relax to take in the views.
Still plenty of big potential GOTY contenders to come in 2021;
@Royalblues I think this is the strongest showing for a GOTY xbox has had in a while. Flight Sim and FH5 will no doubt be in the mix. I've not played it yet but judging by review scores and fan feedback Deaths Door. Maybe Halo? Although I think due to the F2P nature of the MP, content will be held back and that might go against it. Others could be Ratchet and Clank , RE Village and maybe Returnal?
Out of that list and from what I've seen Forza has the most impressive visuals and the gameplay of the Horizon games is always rock solid.
Metroid Dread
I see the usual unbiased commentators are out again, haha.
"Not enough Xbox games" or "that's weak not a console seller soooo" honestly, the more insecure and the more vocal these type of so called gamers are is even more confirmation to just how amazing Xbox is doing this generation. But what baffles me most is that there really isn't any need to be so negative and passive aggressive over a console doing well, especially when all the other consoles are also doing well, it's a case of just being toxic for toxic sake. Or maybe it's actual bitterness because they spent over five hundred pounds on a console with only few games and hiked up prices. Maybe it's the not being able to play games like flight simulator or halo on their preferred console. Maybe they're just worried that a certain Sony platform will be a dust collector except for those moments when a 12 hour blockbuster comes along for a spell. I don't know. I guess I don't care. All I know is that everyone I know who has a ps5 is barely touching it. Everyone I know who has a series X has possibly touched it more than they should. Oh well, I'm off to finish the last chapter of world war Z.
@blinx01
Let’s not get to carried away if Sony release the one I’m looking forward to HZDFW then that could nick GOTY.
Both HZDFW and FH5 are the two I’m most looking forward to along with far cry 6.
Also let’s not forget dying light 2 in December.
@Royalblues All we know for Xbox Game Studios 2022 so far is Redfall in summer and Starfield on November 11th. Xbox is at Gamescom though and there's usually some kind of event in November so we'll probably find out more regarding 2022 along with release dates for the remaining vague 2021 releases like Halo Infinite around those 2 times.
@blinx01 My guesses for nominees are:
Where Death's Door is swapped with Horizon Forbidden West if HFW releases this year. There's a load of rumours suggesting HFW is delayed to 2022.
@Doctorwhoooourgh What baffles me is that anyone wouldn’t want console selling games on a system you pay $500 for almost a year after launch.
I’ve adamantly argued with friends who say Xbox just won’t get those types of games because they’re just a subscription service and the games will be mediocre like Netflix content. Hopefully FH5 and Halo prove them wrong. As of right now, I don’t have much of a leg to stand on considering what Sony has released.
@FatalBubbles Bethesda, game pass, next gen upgrades. That's why I brought a series X. Of course, like a lot of people, I got wrapped up in the whole "it's shiny and new" motivation but still, I knew why I wanted to go with Xbox after having been with PlayStation most my life. They're more consumer friendly, or at the least, cheaper for my wallet. Now to think Bethesda games, Fable, Perfect dark, and Obsidian are game pass and most probably MS exclusives then well...It's a no brainer
@Doctorwhoooourgh Those games should be good but they are still 15 months away. To me, my Xbox is just for GamePass right now. ☹️
@SplooshDmg hundred percent agree.
I see a lot of people saying 'i can't see myself playing this game for more than a few minutes', but every time I play the game I cannot leave it for hours. I fly, and then see something near the horizon and say ooooh, I gotta see what that is. Or, I wonder what's over these hills or mountains here. What's over there? What is that? I'm going there.
I'm always afraid I'll miss something cool, and I probably do every time I quit playing the game. This game is so easy to set up and just start flying or just put it on cruise control and enjoy the scenery, it's addictive. All the options and menus looked incredibly intimidating at first, but I only had to change 1 or 2 things and just jumped in. Such an incredible experience, it's probably technically the most advanced game to ever run on a console, and right now it's the most beautiful as well. RDR2 is still right there beside it though.
@SplooshDmg I still have my PS5 but it's a distant 3rd behind my PC and Xbox when it comes to play time. I have both Spiderman games but they just don't hold my attention for too long. Neither does R&C RA. Played that for an hour and haven't been in there since. Demon's Souls is a fun challenge but it's in the same boat, just doesn't hold my attention for too long considering it's basically an 11 year old PS3 game with a new skin. Most of the games that keep my attention are games that have single player, online co op, and MP (most of the top tier Xbox games). Those games give me a reason to come back every week and I also get to play with friends. Me and my small group of 40/50 somethings love to game together and the Xbox games provide the perfect environment for that, along with 3rd party games like Battlefield, Battlefront, Far Cry, Outriders, etc..
Honestly the games I was looking forward to the most for Playstation may never come to the PS5. Uncharted 5, and Killzone 5. I bought a PS5 in hopes I'll see them down the road but right now it's sitting and collecting dust.
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