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On Good Authority: Our favorite video games of 2021
July 01, 2025
2021 was a strange year in gaming, with next-gen consoles and graphics cards still nearly impossible to get your hands on. Still, there were some absolutely great games released on all platforms. We have a lot of gamers on staff here atAndroid Authority, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to share our picks for the best games of 2021.
We’ve also included a few games we’re looking forward to next year at the end of the article, so keep scrolling to the end to see them!
Phoenix Point (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Stadia)
First up is my pick, which technically first came out at the tail end of 2019. However, 2021 saw the game release onStadiaas well as Xbox and PlayStation consoles, which is a game-changer for those of us who still can’t get our hands on a decent graphics card.
Billed as the spiritual successor to X-COM, the turn-based tactical strategy game is filled with the same intense (and occasionally frustrating) gameplay. Thanks to a plethora of customization options and a randomized map, it also has lots of replayability. Plus, I’m really just a sucker for turn-based strategy RPGs.
To be honest, the game on console was a mess at launch. It froze multiple times in every mission, with soft locks every few missions, as well. Since then, several updates have smoothed things out, and as of July 01, 2025, the game has now been upgraded for next-genPlayStation 5andXbox Series X/S consoles.
It Takes Two (PC, Xbox, PlayStation)
Nominally a game about a couple trying to work through their marital difficulties, It Takes Two is a rare example of a game where everything falls perfectly into place. The visuals, gameplay, voice acting, and level design are all spot-on, making it the ultimate co-op game to play with a friend or loved one. Even better, with the Friend Pass program, you can share your game with a friend online and play together without them having to purchase the game.
But Tristan isn’t the only one who loved it. It recently won Game of the Year at the 2021 Game Awards, as well as a host of other accolades.
Resident Evil 8: Village (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Stadia)
Our resident Resident Evil fan C. Scott Brown picked the latest entry in the series as his favorite game of 2021. I’ll let him take it from here:
Metroid Dread (Nintendo Switch)
This year wasn’t the most exciting forNintendo Switchexclusives (Breath of the Wild 2 in 2022, please), but Metroid Dread was likely the biggest release on Nintendo’s portable console, and it earned a pick from our very own Dhruv Bhutani. Here’s what he had to say:
Mafia: Definitive Edition (PC, Xbox, PlayStation)
Sticking with the theme of throwbacks, copy editor Paula Beaton picked Mafia: Definitive Edition as her favorite game of the year. Technically it came out in late 2020, but we’re allowing some wiggle room due to the ongoing pandemic time warp. Here’s what she had to say:
The game was released as part of a remastered Mafia: Trilogy, but it received by far the largest update of the three, with new voice acting and fully reworked gameplay. It truly is a new experience that fans of the series shouldn’t miss out on.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (PlayStation)
Ratchet and Clank has been a fan-favorite series for nearly two decades, and the latest release is one of the fewPlayStation 5 exclusiveson the market. That earned the attention of Luke Little, who picked it as his favorite game of 2021. Here are his thoughts:
Rift Apart maintains a lot of what makes the series great, with new gameplay mechanics in addition to the obvious graphical improvements. Chief among them is the Rift Tether mechanic, which allows seamless teleportation between locations in-game. This is only possible on the latest PS5 hardware, so you’ll have to hunt one down if you want to give it a try. Good luck.
Art of Rally (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch)
Next up is another late 2020 release, but one with enough charm to win over my South African colleague Hadlee Simons. Art of Rally is a stylized racing game that perfectly captures the nostalgia of rally car races with a fresh aesthetic and killer soundtrack. But that’s enough from me, here’s Hadlee:
Pavlov: Shack (Oculus Quest)
For VR fans, Roger Fingas’ pick should ring a bell. Pavlov: Shack is a scaled-down version of the PC shooter Pavlov VR, which runs on the mobile hardware found in the Oculus Quest. Here’s why he picked it:
Not only is it one of the best VR first-person shooters, it’s also currently free! Learn more at the link below.
Psychonauts 2 (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)
Finally, we have the quirky sequel to cult favorite platformer Psychonauts. Picked by Oliver Cragg, the multi-platform release was saved from obscurity when Microsoft purchased Double Fine under its Xbox Game Studios banner. Here’s what Ollie had to say about it:
Psychonauts 2 is available on Xbox Game Pass, and despite being a first-party Xbox game it’s also available on the PS4 and PC. Don’t worry too much if you haven’t played the first one, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Games we’re looking forward to in 2022
After consistent delays throughout 2020 and 2021, 2022 is absolutely stacked for high-profile game releases. Even better, most already have official release dates in the first half of the year, so you won’t have to wait long.
What were your favorite games of 2021?
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