2021 hasn’t been packed full of excellent releases in its first six months the way a few other years have been in the recent past, and given the production and development challenges studios around the world have been facing due to the pandemic, that’s obviously understandable. Even so, there have been quite a few great games, those that have stood out and made a strong impression, and might just be counted amongst the best this year had to offer another six months from now. Now that we’re at the halfway point of 2021, here, we’re going to take a look at the best games we played in its first half.
NOTE: This list isn’t ranked.
RETURNAL
Housemarque stepped out of their comfort zone with Returnal, making a full-blown 3D AAA game with an ambitious structure and goals, and infusing it with the sort of frantic bullet hell action the studio is known for. The results were spectacular. Returnal’s unforgiving nature means that the game might not be for everyone out there, but Housemarque’s roguelike shooter it’s incredible at what it does, from stunning visuals to genius storytelling to excellent atmosphere to, of course, the breathtaking combat.