10. Little Nightmares 2 | 2021| Tarsier Studios | PlayStation, PC, Xbox
Little things can bring big surprises too. It’s harder for a sequel to not fall into lazy sequel territory or go the other direction of being completely unrecognizable and might as well be another game completely.
Mono and Six (this time) must escape Pale city a dark place that has everything from weird snake creatures and much much more horrible people who will attack you in a second if you make the mistake of trying to interact with them.
Jump to platforms, face many close encounters which make you think there is no way out or run for your life to the next stage, these are all the things that will have you tearing your hair out as well as cheering for joy, all at the same time.
9. Returnal | 2021 | Housemarque | PlayStation 5
Everybody loves a trier, well most of us at least respect the tireless workmanship. Sci-Fi nerds such as myself will always seek out a new space romp with something fresher than a glass of mouthwash and Returnal certainly answers this call.
You are Selene a pilot who has recently realized that she is caught in a time loop on a strange planet and will do everything she can to break the chain.
Minus the fact that the game is bloody hard, the levels are bloody long and the controversial lack of save points is a giant bloody thorn stuck in your side, however the brilliant weapons, graphics gently remove that spikey thorn and turns it into a nice massaging cushion.
8. Ratchet & Clank | 2021 | Insomniac | Playstation 5
You play as Ratchet who is once at odds against the infamous Dr. Nefarious and his villainous ways, this time the adventure involves dimensional travel on a more grand scale and the graphics and characters pop out the screen.
The game showcases the power of the PS5 and is a hell of a launch title to drop pleasantly in our laps. The world is vast and it is certainly the biggest Ratchet title ever released, everything else such as the weapons and new characters complements each other.
It's obvious that Insomniac has learned from the mammoth success of the Spiderman games and has certainly given this game a more cinematic feel which is greatly helped by the power of the mighty PS5.
7. Scarlett Nexus | 2021 | Bandai | PC, PS5, Xbox
Sometimes a TV or movie tie can help a title and spearhead it into orbit but what about the ones where no one has not heard of the show or game? Sadly this is the case with this project.
You have a choice of two characters to play as Kasane or Yuito both members of the OSF who are the team who protect the innocent from weird plant creatures which are scattered across the city, course there is a lot more of the story I recommend that you find out for yourself.
This is smack bang exactly why this list has been created and this title should be on the lips of all adventure gamers everywhere but for whatever reason, it seems it has fallen through the cracks and down the couch with a £5 note and pack of soft skittles for a month.
6. Valhelm | 2021 | Iron Gate Studio | PC, STEAM
Valhalla waits for us all, but mostly for the Viking lot who have been slain and are steadily on the path to its gates, but what about the path before they get to the legendary paradise of fit muscly people?
Well, this is exactly where you start in the game, the aim is for you to become strong enough to be worthy, prove you can hunt, build and protect in as many different ways as possible until those sexy gates are ready to open for you.
Ironically the subtlety, relaxing tone at times, and brutality as the combat begins, make this a stand out which I hope eventually translates into the magical survival title that it is. Valhalla hear I come!
5. The Ascent | 2021 | Neon Giant | PC, Xbox X, STEAM
Now a team of under 13 making a title these days is pretty incredible, to somehow make a decent title out of it should be sung from the rooftops with a large pint of ale accompanied by Gaelic singers, but here we are.
The adventure begins as you play a worker in the town who is on a mission to reveal what happened to the infamous Ascent group and live to tell the tale.
The game gives you that smoky, seedy blade runner feel when roaming through environments and the RPG and action elements are very addictive. Yes, it does suffer from performance issues and rate drops but it doesn’t take away from the overall great accomplishment.
4. Cyber Shadow | 2021 | Mechanical Head Studios | Switch, PC
You are a shadow, a cyber ninja with a chip on his shoulder while going after the man who betrayed him and his people.
Well, it’s a Metroid Vania game through and through, hard, frustrating, and a damn right scandalous at times, but of course, you will still love it as much as I did and still do until you reach the end.3. The Medium | 2021 | Blooper Team SA | X Box Series X, PlayStation 5, PC
Another surprisingly original mystery survival title that kind of fell by the wayside. A good mystery should always start with a decent premise and something that completely throws you off the scent at some point and it is fair to say that the game does at least half of those things in patches.
Your character Maryanne’s mystery includes her and her spooky medium powers which help and hinder her through the story as the plot continues to unfold in two worlds at the same time, you know that thing that men can’t do two things at once.
The game is the love child or many including Resident evil and most noir mystery flicks but the double dimension, weird foes, and a creature that stalks you through the game are enough to give this quiet little choir boy a loud voice.2. Blue Fire | 2021| Robi - Studios | PC, Nintendo Switch
So close to my number one choice but a few niggles push it to number one, still not a bad spot to be in considering all the other titles on the list.
In a simple game with a simple premise, a warrior is given a mission to defeat five gods and to clear out some dungeons. Acquire new skills, powerful and useful, learn all the enemy’s techniques and strike patterns to ensure you can make it to the next level. Simplicity was never so much fun.
Without the Zelda and Mario games, this may not exist but it is better to learn from the best and create its path in the sand than just play it safe amid the originators? Either way, it has enough creative-level design, platform jumping, puzzle-solving, and great moments to make it worth it.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy | 2021 | Eidos | PC, Xbox X, PS5
Well everyone loves an underdog, and what about a whole group of them? After an unexpectedly successful film in the marvel universe and this being their second attempt at a game, can lightning strike again?
Well, it looks like it can, this can is a bag of laugh and witty one-liners, squabbling compatriots, and silly space action that every adventure game should have in my books.
While the game may come across as simple and have basic controls, weapons, and nothing that particularly blows you away, I would say that the naysayers are not looking at the big picture. Great music and banter definitely can elevate even the most straightforward titles.
