As 2021 nears its end, trying to catch up on everything you may have missed can be somewhat daunting, especially when the year saw many excellent releases from indie to big triple-A devs. 2021 has an eclectic palette of games, ranging 🐻from i𒁃ncredible fighters to white-knuckled extreme sports and exploring horrifying alien planets.

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Whether you're into shooters, JRPGs, beat-'em-ups, or anything between the three, 2021 certainly has something for you to sink your teeth into and offers a surprisingly robust list of games in many different genres. If you're looking ཧfor something to play during your holiday break, or want to keep growing your backlog, this year has you covered.

15 Loop Hero

Key art for Loop Hero.

One of the most addicting games of the year comes from the Russian indie studio Four Quarters and their endless RPG 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Loop Hero. Loop Hero's excellent blend of genres, deep card system, and incredible music makes it one of the most unique releases of the year and deserves your atte♚ntion. Once your start looping around the board and get in the rhythm of things, there's no stopping.

14 ✱ Scarlet Nexus 🌞

Key art showcasing the cast of Scarlet Nexus

Despite its glowing reception at launch, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Scarlet Nexus still flies under the radar of most people, which is a mistake. Scarlet Nexus offers one of the best combat systems of the yea🐼r, along with an ambitious story that has touching moments and a wonderful cast oꦇf characters. If that's not enough to sell you, perhaps its killer soundtrack and incredible art direction will? Everything Scarᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚlet Nexus goes for, it executes on, making it a must-play.

13 ♑ Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

Key art showcasing the cast of Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

Looking to kick your feet up and relax? Look no further than Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends �♑�& the Secret Fairy, a jolly RPG that stars Reisalin "Ryza" Stout, an alchemist and teacher invited to the capital city of Ashra-am Baird to help her friend with research. When there, Ryza will stumble upon an ancient secret, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:live in a cozy apartment, and make gre🀅at friends. While it does have a semi-complex alchemy system, the rest is easy sail🌼ing, with nothing but good vibes.

12 It Takes Two ﷺ

Key art for It Takes Two

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:It Takes Two is strictly a two-player co-op title from Hazelight Studios🎉, and we wouldn't want to have it any other way. Communicating with a buddy, significant other, or family member to solve puzzles and defeat bosses is alw🌞ays a unique and gratifying experience.

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If you played Brothers or 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:A Way Out, you already know It Takes Two will be worth your time. If not, we urge you to give this a shot. I⭕t didn't take home The Game Award's "Ga🐭me of the Year" award for nothing!

11 Tales of Aris𒐪e ♑

The entire main cast of Tales of Arise.

In terms of JRPGs, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Tales of Arise may very well be the best of the year and backs that up with its fluent gameplay, phenomenal characters, and a genuinely heartwarming story. Evꦓery party member in Tales of Arise brings something excellent to the table, with each✃ of them possessing their own drive that helps push them forward. Everything from its stunning visuals, gorgeous music, deep combat, and the satisfying story makes Tales of Arise unskippable.

10 Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights 💞

Lily exiting a Respite in Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

With the return of Metroid or the long-awaited 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Axiom Verge 2 releasing this year, it's easy to see why many people may have overlooked 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. If you're one of these people, you may want to change that as it's not only a so♉lid Metroidvania but one of the year's best titles. Ender Lilies is a beautiful, dark-fantasy Metroidvania fairy tale with satisfying gam🦩eplay, incredible music, and a wondrous world. If you like Metroidvanias, give this a shot!

9 Halo Infinite ඣ

Master Chief talking to "The Weapon" in Halo Infinite

In a year where the FPS genre is struggling, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Halo Infinite offers a solid foundation but can fall short 🌟in many areas that are a rarity for the classic franchise. However, despite its shortcomings, Halo Infinite provides an engaging online experience with its free-to-play multiplayer and a freꦦeing open-world that has you assume the role of Master Chief once more in the campaign. Halo Infinite is the best shooter of the year and will only get better.

8 Nier Replicant 😼

Key art showcasing the main cast of NieR Replicant

For those of you that have played 2017's best game, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nier: Automata, but had no way to dive into the game before it, now's your chance with the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Nier Replicant remaster (dubbed ver♍.1.22474487139...). And, for those that have yet to experience the genius that is a Yoko Taro game, then Nier Replicant♐ is an excellent jumping-on point.

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Nier Replicant was known for its phenomenal m♎usic, unique cast of characters, and soul-crushing story when it was released over a decade ago. This remaster proves everything about Nier Repl�ꦍ�icant holds up and is truly one of a kind.

7 Lost Judgment ღ

Key art showing Masaharu Kaito (Left) and Takayuki Yagami (Right) in Lost Judgement.

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Lost Judgment is another banger installment from RGG Studio but is, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:somehow, criminally overlooked. While there is an argument to be made that its prequel "Judgment" is a better overall experience, Lost Judgment iꦯs an exhilarating r🅘ide that has a ton of heart.

Lost Judgment also improves on the unique 3D beat-'em-u💦p combat from its predecessors, making you feel like a total badass on the streets of Tokyo. Besides, you now have a trusty Shiba Inu companion. What isn't there to love about Lost Judgment?!

6 🦂Metroid D🌳read

Key art for Metroid Dread

Return of the Queen. Samus Aran is back and better than ever in 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Metroid Dread, which offers the classic 2D Metroidvania experience everyone knows and loves. Metroid Dread might be the smoothest 2D game in recent memory, having Samus chain various abilities together to uncover secrets or use every ✨tool at her disposal to take down formidable foes never felt so seamless. Dread will give you what you want and then some if you love ꦡany of the older Metroid titles.