Games I Definitely Played in 2021

Oh hey I forgot I could just post this shit here, huh? Well, here are the games of 2021 that I thought were good, along with some other shit in there. My brain is rapidly decaying so I probably forgot something, but ehhhhhh good enough.

1. Hitman 3

This game whips ass and I will hear no word against it. I think I have put well over a hundred hours into it and I still go back to it! Killing capitalists is its own reward, and I found this just absurdly relaxing/cathartic/hilarious. The murder train did nothing wrong.

2. Melty Blood: Type Lumina

The record will show I am a huge slut for Melty Blood. It is tied up in a lot of nostalgia for me, and while I think it is a GODDAMNED CRIME to have no Reisbyfe or Sion, I’m extremely pleased with this game. This game makes me feel cool as hell, even though my skill level is low. I like a fighting game that does that.

3. Guilty Gear Strive

I don’t feel as cool when I play this game, but it doesn’t matter. Soundtrack whips, visuals whip, and they’re even giving us Baiken! Plus they kept the Millia redesign, which is objectively cool.

4. Monster Hunter Rise

This is my fourth Monster Hunter game, which is weird to say! I never played the first two (do I have emulated copies of them somewhere? Absolutely. Do I also have a copy of Monster Hunter 3 that I got just because? You bet your ass). Visually it can be a little muddy on the tv, but boy it looks nice on my OLED Switch. I’m not a huge fan of the whole Rampage thing, but also, you can just ignore those for the most part. The wirebug mechanic rules, is the main thing.

5. Shin Megami Tensei V

Oh baby oh baybee. I have always liked the SMT series from a distance and also fond memories of playing SMT III Nocturne ft. Dante from Devil May Cry as a younger dude (see honorable mentions for the HD re-release) but this one really grabbed me in a way that I am delighted by. Let me befriend the demons who show affection by insulting my hair and calling me a turd. I also like a game that starts off with god getting killed. That’s a good start to any story.

6. Solar Ash

I love how this game looks, plays, and sounds. I also think the story is interesting enough, and look, I fucking loved Hyper Light Drifter so this was always gonna rank pretty high for me, okay? Leave me alone.

7. Metroid Dread

True story: I forgot this game existed, briefly, which is ridiculous because I got super into playing all the Metroid games earlier this year! Dread is extremely good, and I think it looks fantastic and also plays fantastic. Plus there’s a plot that isn’t too bad! I do enjoy Samus Aran’s continuing adventures, yessir.

8. Scarlet Nexus

Did not expect to get as into this as I have gotten into it, but here we are! Turns out I do in fact like the JRPG teens making their way in the world, particularly when the world includes monsters that EAT BRAINS. Very stupid. The soundtrack whips! Combat feels great! There’s a lot going on!

9. Deltarune Chapter 2

I don’t know for some reason in spite of the fact that I really don’t like the combat mechanic much (arguably the central mechanic of the game) I can’t help but love this game. I had the same feeling about Undertale and the first chapter! I replayed the first chapter just to get the second chapter in context! I have a real problem! The problem is I am susceptible to anime bullshit!

10. Loop Hero

You walk around in a circle and listen to great music and think about eternity and the overwhelming void and building something in defiance of both. AND IN THE GAME, TOO.

Honorable (sort of) Mentions

1. Death’s Door

I love the tiny crow man just trying to make his way in the universe.

2. Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade

Okay really just FF7R, because I got it on the PC and started playing it. I didn’t think I cared about FF7 that much, but damn if that music didn’t start going and get me feeling things. The fact the game plays real good helps too, and also (maybe even most importantly?) it isn’t just doing a beat for beat retelling. They made Cloud a real character! Wild!

3. Sable

This game is chill as hell, but I didn’t play enough of it. I keep meaning to go back to it and enjoy its aesthetics and soundtrack and just wander around, but then other stuff distracts me. I’ll come back for you, Sable. I swear it.

4. Deathloop

I should have liked this more. I liked it quite a bit, but also I forgot it came out this year. I don’t know what that says about time, or me, or the quality of the game but there we are. I haven’t finished it and I do not know that I ever will!

5. Halo Infinite

Speaking of games I should’ve liked more, there’s this thing. I have played all the games in this series, but for some reason I’ve not managed to get into this one! It looks extremely good on my fancy new PC! It plays great! I just don’t… care, I guess? I’ll go back to this when co-op is put in and probably enjoy it more.

6. Backbone

I wanted to like this more. It has a vibe that is incredible, and the writing and dialogue absolutely nails the tone, but goddamn if the ending does not fall flat on its ass so hard that it actually punches through the crust of the earth.

Ah Shit Why Haven’t I Played These Yet?

No More Heroes 3

Wait, this came out last year? Fuck! I was replaying all the No More Heroeses but I guess I got distracted at some point. Shit. I’ll get to you eventually.

Get In the Car, Loser

I am fascinated by everything Christine Love does, and making the jump from VNs to RPG Road Trip game is one hell of a power move. Plus this shit is free, I basically have no excuse.

The “I Just Got a New PC Let Me Play This With the Settings Jacked” Award

Doom Eternal

Aw yeah we ray tracing now, baby