Best Games of 2021

NXTO's catalog has 463 games released in 2021. These 30 rank highest once player ratings, Metacritic scores and Steam reviews are combined. The top three: Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, It Takes Two and Inscryption.

How it's ranked: a blend of RAWG player ratings, Metacritic and Steam reviews, adjusted so games with very few ratings can't outrank well-proven ones. Times are average player-reported playtime, so treat them as rough guides.

1. 1
   

   Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

   2021Action, Adventure ★ 4.6/5~4 h avg. playtime
2. 2
   

   It Takes Two

   2021Platformer, AdventurePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.5/5⏱ ~12.8 h to beat
3. 3
   

   Inscryption

   2021Indie, StrategyPC, PS5, PS4 ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~12.8 h to beat
4. 4
   

   Psychonauts 2

   2021Platformer, AdventurePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5~11 h avg. playtime
5. 5
   

   Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

   2021Shooter, AdventurePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~17.6 h to beat
6. 6
   

   Before Your Eyes

   2021Indie, AdventurePC ★ 4.4/5~2 h avg. playtime
7. 7
   

   Impostor Factory

   2021Adventure, RPGPC ★ 4.4/5~4 h avg. playtime
8. 8
   

   Little Nightmares II

   2021Platformer, AdventurePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~5.7 h to beat
9. 9
   

   Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

   2021Adventure, ActionPC, PS5 ★ 4.4/5~13 h avg. playtime
10. 10
    

    Lost Judgment

    2021Adventure, ActionPC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5~12 h avg. playtime
11. 11
    

    The Forgotten City

    2021Indie, AdventurePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.3/5~7 h avg. playtime
12. 12
    

    FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE

    2021Adventure, ActionPC, PS5 ★ 4.3/5~7 h avg. playtime
13. 13
    

    Forza Horizon 5

    2021Racing, ArcadePC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~21.3 h to beat
14. 14
    

    Death's Door

    2021Indie, ActionPC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.3/5~5 h avg. playtime
15. 15
    

    Dyson Sphere Program

    2021Strategy, IndiePC ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~67.5 h to beat
16. 16
    

    Webbed

    2021Adventure, ActionPC, Switch ★ 4.3/5~3 h avg. playtime
17. 17
    

    Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

    2021Platformer, ActionSwitch ★ 4.3/5
18. 18
    

    Gnosia

    2021Adventure, RPGPC, PS5, PS4 ★ 4.3/5~4 h avg. playtime
19. 19
    

    Metroid Dread

    2021Platformer, ActionSwitch ★ 4.3/5
20. 20
    

    Mini Motorways

    2021Casual, StrategyPC ★ 4.2/5~5 h avg. playtime
21. 21
    

    Cruelty Squad

    2021Indie, ActionPC ★ 4.2/5~2 h avg. playtime
22. 22
    

    Everhood

    2021Indie, AdventurePC, Switch ★ 4.2/5~5 h avg. playtime
23. 23
    

    The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante

    2021Adventure, RPGPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.2/5~6 h avg. playtime
24. 24
    

    Guilty Gear -Strive

    2021Action, FightingPC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.2/5~11 h avg. playtime
25. 25
    

    Bad End Theater

    2021SimulationPC ★ 4.2/5~2 h avg. playtime
26. 26
    

    Unpacking

    2021CasualPC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.2/5⏱ ~3.6 h to beat
27. 27
    

    Milk outside a bag of milk outside a bag of milk

    2021Casual, IndiePC ★ 4.2/5~2 h avg. playtime
28. 28
    

    HighFleet

    2021Strategy, AdventurePC ★ 4.2/5~3 h avg. playtime
29. 29
    

    Loop Hero

    2021Strategy, IndiePC, Xbox Series X|S, Switch ★ 4.2/5⏱ ~28.6 h to beat
30. 30
    

    OPUS: Echo of Starsong

    2021Indie, AdventurePC, Switch ★ 4.2/5~7 h avg. playtime

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