Welcome to my personal Game-of-the-Year list 2021. I list my Top-3 games in the categories Best Game of the Year, Best Immersion, Best Story, Best Graphics, Best Artdesign, Best Sound and Best Music. In addition the Top-3 games per Genre are listed further below. I took into account all games I played in 2021, so you will also see games released in previous years. For those I added the release-year in brackets .
Best Game of the Year
The best games overall in 2021 from my perspective
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/3699/3154263-ghost%20of%20tsushima%20v1.jpg)
Ghost of Tsushima
1. Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3297500-8249791472-b2SgZh.jpeg)
Metroid Dread
2. Metroid Dread
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3295986-9736451053-libra.jpg)
The Forgotten City
3. The Forgotten City
Best Immersion
Here are the top 3 games that were drawing me in most into their world in 2021.
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/21/210469/3244874-nier.png)
Nier Replicant
1. Nier Replicant
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/14/147582/3139971-aleksander-rostov-disco-elyisum.jpg)
Disco Elysium
2. Disco Elysium
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3297500-8249791472-b2SgZh.jpeg)
Metroid Dread
3. Metroid Dread
Best Story
The games that impressed me most in 2021 in terms of their narrative, emotional story and credible characters.
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3295986-9736451053-libra.jpg)
The Forgotten City
1. The Forgotten City
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/1992/3238098-apps.25992.13992297318455813.7f45ef4a-6ca3-4445-b6fc-9f00be7560b6.jpeg)
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War
2. Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War (2020)
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/21/210469/3244874-nier.png)
Nier Replicant
3. Nier Replicant
Best Graphics
The three games with the most stunning visuals pushing forward for next generation graphics.
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3272454-1882218464-DwVjp.png)
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
1. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3268172-6632916178-Fkzwj.png)
Resident Evil: Village
2. Resident Evil: Village
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/2891/3296550-e3wmnbzwuaeufm2.jpg)
Guardians of the Galaxy
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
Best Artdesign
My top 3 games of 2021 having the most unique, special and visually atracting artstyle .
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3272006-7778265139-libra.jpg)
Mundaun
1. Mundaun
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3297500-8249791472-b2SgZh.jpeg)
Metroid Dread
2. Metroid Dread
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3272454-1882218464-DwVjp.png)
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
3. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Best Sound
The best games of 2021 in terms of audio quality, sound effects and voice activing.
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3272454-1882218464-DwVjp.png)
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
1. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/1992/3238098-apps.25992.13992297318455813.7f45ef4a-6ca3-4445-b6fc-9f00be7560b6.jpeg)
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War
2. Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War (2020)
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/1992/3251363-untitled-1.png)
Astros Playroom
3. Astros Playroom (2020)
Best Music
Here are the top 3 games that were drawing me in most into their world in 2021.
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/21/210469/3244874-nier.png)
Nier Replicant
1. Nier Replicant
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/2891/3296550-e3wmnbzwuaeufm2.jpg)
Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3281276-8339686437-libra.jpg)
Death`s Door
3. Death`s Door
Best Action Adventure Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/3699/3154263-ghost%20of%20tsushima%20v1.jpg)
Ghost of Tsushima
1. Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
2. It takes Two
3. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Best Adventure Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3295986-9736451053-libra.jpg)
The Forgotten City
1. The Forgotten City
2. Mundaun
3. Chicken Police (2020)
Best Plattformer
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3297500-8249791472-b2SgZh.jpeg)
Metroid Dread
1. Metroid Dead
2. Astros Playroom (2020)
3. Horace (2020)
Best Roleplay Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/21/210469/3244874-nier.png)
Nier Replicant
1. Nier Replicant
2. Disco Elysium
3. –
Best Strategy Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/8/82063/2490341-pikmin3.png)
Pikmin 3 Deluxe
1. Pikmin 3 Deluxe (2020)
Best Music/Rhythm/Party Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/45/459166/3236723-fall.jpg)
Fall Guys
1. Fall Guys (2020)
Best Fighting / Beat em Up Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/36/361609/3327509-virtua-fighter-5-ultimate-showdown-main-artwork.jpg)
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
1. Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown
Best Racing Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/33/338034/3297429-2090883189-libra.jpg)
F1 2021
1. F1 2021
Best Shooter Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/1992/3238098-apps.25992.13992297318455813.7f45ef4a-6ca3-4445-b6fc-9f00be7560b6.jpeg)
Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War
1. Cold of Duty Black Ops: Cold War (2020)
2. Doom Eternal: Ancient Goods, Part 2
3. –
Best Puzzle Game
![](https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/9/93770/2460643-1041264970-thero.png)
The Room
1. The Room (2018)
2. Luna: Shadow Dust (2020)
References:
Image material linked from giant bomb (www.giantbomb.com)