Guess what, I’ve played a bunch of games in 2021, big shock. None of them sucked, bigger shock! Everyone loves a good list, so here’s a list of what I played, what I liked, what I didn’t like, what I didn’t finish, what I didn’t get to, and what I’m looking forward to.
Games I Finished in 2021 (give or take a few days)
Doom Eternal (Ultra Nightmare) - PS4 Pro/ PS5
What I liked: This is my favorite game ever so everything.
What I didn’t like: Perma-death in the most skill-based intense shooter ever created is extremely stressful.
Recommendation: Only if you’re a masochist. Stick with the standard difficulties to maintain your sanity.
Ratchet & Clank (2016) - PS5
What I liked: The PS5 doubles the PS4 Pro frame rate to 60fps, making gameplay buttery smooth. Was expecting a mascot platformer, got an action packed third person shooter with creative guns and weapon swapping.
What I didn’t like: That I waited 3 years to play this.
Recommendation: If you have a PS5, this is a must play. If you have a PS4, this is a really should play.
Ratchet & Clank: - Rift Apart PS5
What I liked: Same action-packed creative shooting as its predecessor at a raytraced 60fps. Most graphically impressive game I have ever experienced. Lighthearted story with lots of hidden adult jokes is never a bad thing.
What I didn’t like: This was the first time I paid $70 for the standard version of a game. I hate next gen prices.
Recommendation: This game is the perfect excuse to show off that new fancy TV of yours. Oh yeah, it’s a blast to play If you’re one of the 13 people that own a PS5. This is a must play.
Ghost Runner - Xbox Series X
What I liked: The best first-person platforming game I’ve ever tried. You’re a cyborg ninja with a GRAPPLING HOOK and katana that one hit kills everything, but you’re a glass cannon that also dies in one hit. 120fps mode is wonderful here.
What I didn’t like: It’s mostly fair but sometimes the trial and error gets old (I died roughly 100x per mission, not exaggerating). Thankfully it has instant loading.
Recommendation: Those looking for a laid-back, stress-free experience need not apply. This game absolutely does not hold your hand. If you like a challenge, it's well worth the $30 price tag.
Quake Remastered - Xbox Series X
What I liked: This is the right way to remaster a 25-year-old classic. The look and feel of the original are preserved with some optional quality-of-life improvements. All the expansions, including a brand new one made by Machinegames are present, AND THEY ADDED A HORDE MODE! Cross play and split screen included as well.
What I didn’t like: Ummmmm……?
Recommendation: In the words of Darth Sidious “Dew it”. It’s 10 bucks, seriously do it.
Deathloop – PS5
What I liked: The 60’s aesthetic and gunplay. It’s Dishonored with guns but no morality system. The movement and power options compliment the master assassin vibe well and the story is reasonably interesting.
What I didn’t like: Game drags on well after it’s shown you all it’s tricks. If you solve the puzzle early, you still must complete the entire main mission in order to get to the end assassination. The lack of enemy types hurts too.
Recommendation: It pains me to say it but wait for a sale or game pass when it’s timed exclusivity ends.
Halo: Combat Evolved - Xbox Series X
What I liked: The setting, the enemy variety, the AI, the amazing shotgun, the sandbox. This game is as much tactical as it is action/ skill based. The reveal of the flood is terrifying.
What I didn’t like: Driving controls on the warthog.
Recommendation: I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who had never played this before.
Halo Infinite - Xbox Series X
What I liked: GRAPPLING HOOK! Also great “shooty shooty bang bang.”
What I didn’t like: Open world design feels like fluff.
Recommendation: If you have anything from an Xbox One to a Series X, or even a mid-tier PC you can play this. You should play this.
Games I Didn’t Finish, But Will… Probably
Returnal – PS5: Timing wasn’t great for me here. I just finished Ultra Nightmare, so I was pretty burned out with perma-death games. The game is beautiful, buttery smooth, skill based, and action packed in a creepy sci-fi atmosphere. I will be “returning” (see what I did there?) to this game at some point.
Demon’s Souls Remake: - PS5 I like souls-like games. I am not good at souls-like games. I’m roughly halfway through this one and I will eventually see it through. This features one of the most detailed worlds ever put in a game and is truly a next generation experience (even though it’s a remake).
Nioh 2 – PS5: I repeat I like souls-like games. I am not good at souls-like games.
Crysis Remastered Trilogy – Xbox Series X: Should have called it Threemastered… crickets. This is the game that originally soured me on pc gaming because my machine couldn’t run it at more than 5 frames per second. Looks and plays awesome on Series X, just not in a big hurry to sprint through all of them.
Backlog
Project Warlock – PS5: Indie boomer shooter. Plays like Doom/ Wolfenstein… the old ones. Right up my alley.
Serious Sam 4 – Xbox Series X: Waiting for my schedule to sync up with my other 30-year-old gamer friend to co-op this one. You play Serious Sam games by holding the trigger and running backwards like hell.
Spiderman Miles Morales – PS5: Came with my PS5. Love superheroes but don’t love most open world games. Heard it’s good so I’ll give it a try at some point.
Turok – PS5: Nightdive studios does the lord’s work with remastering classic titles. Sucked at this game on an N64 controller, maybe will suck less on a dualsense.
Terminator: Resistance – PS5: Terminator themed fps that did poorly with critics but did well with actual players. Why not?
Republic Commando – PS5: I LOVE STARWARS, I didn’t have an Xbox growing up.
Games I’m Looking Forward To in 2022 (Hopefully)
Chorus – I started this already so it’s kind of cheating. Fast-paced arcade space combat.
Shadow Warrior 3 - Old school FPS with a fun art style, a dash move, and a grappling hook. GRAPPLING HOOK!
Wrath: Aeon of Ruin – Boomer shooter on a modified Quake 1 Engine. Please don’t get delayed again.
Prodeus – Boomer shooter that is hopefully released from early access prison this year.
Evil West – Western demonic themed over the top third person shooter zero punctuation required