I am going to write some more cheap filler content and briefly talk about my ranking of the best five games I have played in 2021. These were games that I played for the first time in 2021, not necessarily released on 2021. I expected some certain games to be on my list, but there was a surprise on the list as well. Before I go through the list, I have some honorable mentions that just missed my list.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity/Persona 5 Strikers (Age of Calamity review here)
Both Age of Calamity and Persona 5 Strikers seamlessly integrated the Dynasty Warriors musou gameplay with the presentation of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Persona 5, and it felt like I was not playing just another musou game. Age of Calamity has more varied characters with different playstyles, while Persona 5 Strikers has a more interesting story and a kick-ass soundtrack. Regardless, the gameplay of both games is immensely satisfying and out of those two games, I am not able to choose a favorite.
New Pokemon Snap
New Pokemon Snap surprised me with its polish and inventiveness. Even though the game is one-dimensional, it delivers on the main selling point of the game excellently. I just want to take pictures of Pokemon in their natural habitats, and there are more than enough locations to scour and find Pokemon. New Pokemon Snap captured the spirit of the original N64 game.
Now, on to the list:
5: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (review)
There is not anything else to say about this game that I already said about Super Mario Odyssey and other past Mario games. There is excellent level design and character mechanics which make for the typically fun Mario experience. Bowser's Fury is a giant Mario level that plays more like Odyssey where you collect Cat Shines, grow large, and beat up Bowser. Essentially, all this game had to do was be as good as the other Mario games, and Super Mario 3D World does.
4: Ghost of Tsushima (review)
Ghost of Tsushima is the most beautiful game I have played in 2021, and I have not played a game with such luscious environments and scenery since Horizon: Zero Dawn. The presentation of a game set in Feudal Japan is outstanding (and you can play in certain modes that accentuate the style of 1950s Japanese cinema). The combat feels grounded and full of different ways to engage the enemy. The game suffers slightly from obvious fetch quests and mission repetition, but Ghost of Tsushima is still an excellent action-adventure game with an interesting story and characters.
3: Hades
Prior to playing Hades, I was not a fan of rogue-like games where you play the same levels and try to go deeper and deeper within your run of the game. However, I loved Hades, and it is probably the most fun I have ever had with a game in 2021. For a premise as simple as trying to escape the Underworld as the Son of Hades, there is a lot of lore surrounding the Greek Gods. The number of different effects and upgrades you can get (called boons) means that no two runs are really the same. I also enjoy how accessible, quick, and fulfilling the gameplay is. I can do a quick Hades run for 45 mins to an hour before I go to bed, and it felt nice.
2: Yakuza: Like A Dragon (review)
When I heard that the next Yakuza game was going to be a JRPG rather than a beat-em-up action game, I almost refused to accept it. Along with the fact that Kazuma Kiryu will no longer be the main character, I questioned whether the Yakuza franchise will sustain the new-found success of the previous Yakuza games in the west. After playing Yakuza: Like A Dragon, I can safely say that this game is awesome. There is similar zaniness from the action of the older Yakuza games to the moves you can do in an RPG format in Like A Dragon. There is a quality story, great characters and character development (especially from the new main character), and the usual ridiculousness of the side quests. All of this adds up to be a surprisingly excellent RPG and an unexpected crown jewel of the Yakuza franchise.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon would have been the best game and the best JRPG I played in 2021, until I played...
1: Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royal is one of the best JRPGs I have ever played, in any year. Persona 5 Royal is a huge improvement to an already sensational Persona 5, with tens of hours of new content to an already 100+ hour game length. Just like Yakuza: Like A Dragon, there is an excellent story and characters, but there are a few reasons why I think Persona 5 Royal is a better game than Like a Dragon. Persona 5 Royal's soundtrack is infectiously funky with groovy base lines that make you want to dance. Persona 5 Royal also has a better presentation when it comes to navigating menus and the general art style. Finally, I just personally relate more to the characters in Persona 5 Royal than in Like A Dragon. Maybe it is because the characters are teenage rebels fighting an adult-controlled society of vice. I may write a comparison post between this game and Persona 4 Golden, which is another excellent game in the Persona series. Until then, Persona 5 Royal is the best game I played in 2021.
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