2021 has been a lukewarm year in gaming thus far, but has had some real gems. There are several games that have stood above the rest, making this year a decent year for gamers. With the second half of 2021 appearing to be very strong, making this yet another incredible year in gaming, we’re going to take a look at the first half of 2021 and rank the best games of the year so far, and there are some very good ones.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is one of two remasters on this list, and it is one of the best HD remakes in modern history. In fact, it’s more than just a high-definition remaster. The first game is like an entirely new game, and it comes with three games in one to boot. Despite the divisive ending, the Mass Effect Trilogy is among the greatest set of games of all time, and this remaster cements that legacy. This is why Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is one of the best games of this year so far; it simply makes the original games so much better.
Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village is one of the best survival-horror games to come out in years. It’s even better than Resident Evil 7. Resident Evil Village, tonally, is actually quite similar to Resident Evil 4. While it doesn’t have the haunted-house theme of Resident Evil 7, it does have a more open area to explore. It has a perfect balance of horror and action elements. While very different than Resident Evil 7, it improves upon its predecessor and has defined itself as one of the best games of the year.
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter is a global phenomenon, and Monster Hunter Rise has become a worldwide hit. Continuing with the tradition of capturing (or slaying) various monsters as a Hunter. The battles are thrilling, the story is great, and the game is one of the best of 2021 so far. It’s one of several excellent Nintendo Switch titles to come out during the first half of this year, which has been a trend over the last several years. As of May 28, the game has sold 7 million copies, showing once again the worldwide appeal to this seemingly niche franchise. Monster Hunter Rise is an elite game and a wonderful addition to both the Nintendo Switch collection and the lineup of games for the first half of this year.
Bravely Default II
Bravely Default II is one of the best JRPGs to come out in years. Coming out exclusively for the Switch, it bears no connection to the original two Bravely Default games. It’s yet another Nintendo game, but let’s be frank; Nintendo has had the strongest lineup this year and has the strongest lineup for the second half of the year as well. Bravely Default II’s gameplay is innovative, its story engrossing, the graphics are charming, and it is endlessly endearing with a superb cast of characters. It’s vastly underrated and one of the best RPGs to come out in years, not to mention the fact that it is one of the best games of this year so far. And the character sprites are so adorable!
Skyward Sword HD
Skyward Sword HD may not be the best game to come out this year, but it’s one of the best games to come out this year. If that’s a reflection of how good the game is or how weak this year’s lineup of games is, we don’t know. With the combination of QOL changes, enhancements to the motion controls, and improved graphics, which now actually look like a water painting as originally intended, Skyward Sword has been catapulted to the top of the best Zelda games. Skyward Sword HD already had an incredible story, great gameplay, and mind-bending dungeons in place; all it needed was a facelift and some additional changes in order to make it a more complete game. This HD remake is all of these things, making it not only one of the best games of the year so far, but the best Legend of Zelda game.