Navigating the vast landscape of video game releases can often feel overwhelming. Each year brings a deluge of titles, making it difficult to discern which truly merit your precious time. For PlayStation enthusiasts, 2021 offered an exceptional bounty of gaming experiences, both on PS4 and the nascent PS5.
The companion video above highlights twenty standout games from that year. This article delves deeper into these remarkable titles. We explore their unique attributes and why they captured the hearts of gamers. Discover the definitive list of the best PS4 + PS5 games of 2021.
Unveiling Top PlayStation Games of 2021: Action and Intrigue
Lost Judgment: A Detective’s Grit
Lost Judgment stands as a thrilling detective action game. It is a compelling spin-off from the beloved Yakuza series. Players engage in deep investigative work. They also partake in the signature brawling combat.
This iteration introduces new districts for exploration. A fully realized high school offers an unusual setting. It expands the gameplay possibilities significantly. Fans of the studio will appreciate the top-notch writing and quirky mini-games. This makes it an ideal entry point for newcomers.
Green Hell: A Survival Odyssey
Green Hell truly surprised many players. It appears as a generic survival game initially. Yet, it delivers a profound, single-player narrative experience. Players find themselves stranded, striving for survival.
The game explores a cerebral story. It challenges players with unique mechanics. Green Hell transitioned from PC to consoles in 2021. It revitalized the survival genre with fresh ideas. This indie title offers much more than basic crafting. Its captivating plot hooks players deeply.
Hitman 3: Agent 47’s Perfect Performance
Hitman 3 launched early in 2021 across major platforms. This entry perfected the “World of Assassination” trilogy. IO Interactive honed the gameplay and level design. It achieved an unexpected degree of refinement.
Missions offer immense freedom. Players can approach targets in countless ways. The game’s memorable moments are player-driven. It provides unmatched replayability for its genre. Hitman 3 redefined stealth and sandbox design. It earned its place among the best PS4 + PS5 games of 2021.
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch: A Unique Metroidvania
F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch presents an action-packed Metroidvania. Its sci-fi aesthetics are truly over-the-top. The game utilizes 2D planes with stunning 3D graphics. Players control Rayton, a rabbit with a mechanical arm.
Combat is challenging and deeply rewarding. Platforming elements complement the exploration. This title offers a visual and mechanical spectacle. It stands out in a crowded genre. F.I.S.T. provides a fresh take on classic formulas.
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles: Courtroom Drama
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles brought a new adventure. This collection features two complete games. Players immerse themselves in sleuthing and courtroom battles. Evidence gathering and witness interviews are key. The “Objection!” moments return with historical flair.
These spin-off adventures are deeply engaging. They are a welcome addition to the PlayStation library. Fans of the series embraced its old-timey charm. New players also found a rich narrative experience. It represents compelling storytelling in 2021.
Deathloop: Time-Bending Assassinations
Deathloop integrated Arkane’s signature ideas. It creates a chaotic, compelling sandbox. The game involves a unique time loop mechanic. Players must assassinate multiple targets in one cycle. Experimentation with abilities is highly encouraged.
Its quirky art style and memorable music enhance gameplay. Weapons offer cool, varied options. Deathloop provides immense fun through exploration. It is like a “Dishonored game without the guilt.” Many “game of the year” lists featured this title. It provided an inventive first-person shooter experience.
Narrative Excellence and Genre Innovation
Life is Strange True Colors: Empathy and Story
Life is Strange True Colors continued the popular series. It introduced a new protagonist, Alex Chen. She possesses unique empathic powers. The narrative explores a fresh host of problems. The writing reached new heights of quality.
Fans of story-driven adventures found great satisfaction. This game offered emotional depth and character development. It delivered a compelling new chapter. True Colors maintained the series’ engaging storytelling. It added its own distinct flavor.
Guilty Gear Strive: Visual Fighting Mastery
Guilty Gear Strive showcases out-of-this-world visuals. Arc System Works truly flexed its animation prowess. The art style represents a significant improvement. Animations are fluid and highly detailed. This game solidified its place among premier fighting games.
Its combat system requires practice but rewards mastery. Strive offers a strong entry point for newcomers. It combines gorgeous presentation with deep mechanics. This makes it a visually stunning and competitive title. It truly redefines fighting game aesthetics.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes: Underground Horror
House of Ashes represented a turning point for the anthology. The developers, known for Until Dawn, learned from past mistakes. This horror story unfolds in an unconventional setting. Players confront unexpected terrors underground.
It delivered a really cool, immersive story. The game offers cinematic, playable experiences. Horror game enthusiasts found a significant improvement. House of Ashes became a standout horror title. It provided a gripping, playable film experience.
Persona 5 Strikers: Action-RPG Expansion
Persona 5 Strikers offers more of the beloved world. It provides a direct continuation of Persona 5’s story. This entry ditches turn-based JRPG combat. It embraces an action-battler brawler style. Fans reconnected with familiar characters and music.
All the core elements, including Personas, are present. It delivers a full Persona 5 experience. Strikers offers a dynamic, fast-paced adventure. It broadened the appeal of this iconic series. This game delighted existing fans immensely.
It Takes Two: Cooperative Game of the Year
It Takes Two surprisingly won the Game of the Year award. This title requires cooperative play. It offers a heartfelt adventure. Two parents, shrunk into toys, try to save their marriage. The gameplay scenarios constantly change.
It blends platforming, shooting, and flying seamlessly. Every hour provides a completely different experience. The pacing is exceptionally well-executed. This game from Josef Fares provided a massive surprise. It is a must-play for cooperative gaming. It cemented its status as one of the best PS4 + PS5 games of 2021.
Chivalry 2: Medieval Combat Mayhem
Chivalry 2 emerged as a multiplayer surprise. It offers first or third-person medieval combat. Players engage in epic castle sieges and battlefields. Classes provide diverse weapon types and trinkets. Combat is involved, requiring blocks and parries.
The progression system allows for customization. It offers satisfying, turn-your-brain-off fun. Chivalry 2 delivers visceral, gory action. It captures the chaos of medieval warfare. This game became a multiplayer favorite.
Back 4 Blood: Zombie Horde Cooperation
Back 4 Blood serves as a spiritual successor. Many original Left 4 Dead developers crafted this game. It delivers nostalgic cooperative zombie action. Players race through levels, completing objectives. They fend off hordes of unique zombies.
The experience is chaotic and highly engaging. Playing with friends enhances the fun greatly. It offers a prettier, crazier, and messier take. Back 4 Blood revived the classic formula. This game became a co-op staple.
Epic Journeys and Artistic Vision
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: A Story Triumph
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy defied expectations. Initially, many judged its reveal trailer harshly. Yet, it emerged as a huge surprise. Square Enix delivered a single-player, narrative adventure. The story is heartfelt and character-driven.
Combat involves Star-Lord commanding his crew. Gameplay, while solid, truly serves the plot. Characters are compelling and deeply fleshed out. This game is a perfect “Guardians of the Galaxy thing.” Comic book fans absolutely should not miss it.
Scarlet Nexus: Psychic Action-RPG
Scarlet Nexus presented a cool JRPG experience. Players control a character with telekinetic powers. This power integrates powerfully into combat. Gameplay is hack-and-slash, focusing on dodging. Throwing objects with your mind is deeply satisfying.
The game features a deep story and creepy monsters. An open hub world provides exploration. Combat mechanics are the undisputed highlight. It delivers a truly unique action-RPG blend. Scarlet Nexus stood out with its innovative abilities.
Tales of Arise: JRPG Combat Redefined
Tales of Arise stands as the year’s favorite JRPG. Its combat system is truly out of this world. Combining team members for ultimate attacks is satisfying. The world-building is rich and visually diverse. Characters are interesting and well-designed.
This new adventure requires no prior series knowledge. It is highly accessible for new players. Tales of Arise built a truly engaging tale. It represents a pinnacle for JRPG combat design. This title is essential for genre fans.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits: Visual Spectacle and Challenge
Kena: Bridge of Spirits offers traditional action-adventure. Kena, a spirit guide, rebuilds a ravaged land. She enlists the help of cute creatures called the Rot. These creatures power up her attacks. Combat with staff and bow is satisfying.
The game features stunning, concept art-like visuals. Puzzles and exploration are integral to gameplay. Boss battles offer surprisingly steep difficulty. This gorgeous game is incredibly fun to play. It blends visual artistry with engaging challenges.
Intense Challenges and Enduring Franchises
Returnal: A Roguelike Bullet Hell
Returnal is not for everyone, due to its difficulty. However, it provides an absolute blast to play. It perfectly marries third-person shooting with bullet hell. Housemarque achieved a pinnacle in this genre. Dying means restarting, but the story cleverly loops.
Selene, a stranded astronaut, pieces together events. Tight combat and cool weapons offer satisfying feedback. The sci-fi atmosphere is moody and gorgeous. This challenging game delivers a gripping experience. It stands as a testament to difficult yet rewarding gameplay.
Resident Evil Village: Gothic Horror Action
Resident Evil Village, the eighth mainline game, evolved the formula. It leaned further into action from survival horror. Many describe it as a first-person Resident Evil 4. The story offers a crazy roller coaster ride. Characters are memorable, and monsters are grotesquely creative.
Ethan’s character gains significant depth. Chris Redfield makes a welcome return. While not the scariest, it is challenging and gory. Its visual style and architecture are outstanding. This title delivered a spooky adventure in 2021.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Next-Gen Platforming
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart captured the number one spot. It delivered a classic Ratchet & Clank experience. The game utilizes PS5’s instant loading for dimension-hopping. Fun levels, great enemy encounters, and upgradeable weapons return. Grinding, gliding, and jumping are all familiar.
The new character, Rivet, is surprisingly awesome. She features her own compelling companion. This made for an interesting story and adventure. Rift Apart reminded many why they love platformers. It stands as one of the best PS4 + PS5 games of 2021.
