The 22 best games you missed in 2021
13.1.2022
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Very few games enjoy the name recognition of «Forza Horizon 5». But don’t worry, I’ll tell you which games you missed in 2021 and should definitely catch up on.
The gaming year gets off to a sleepy start. Major titles «Horizon Forbidden West», «Dying Light» and «Elden Ring», won’t follow until February. Which is exactly why now is the perfect time to play some gems you overlooked in 2021.
«Unpacking»
The gameplay is simple yet simultaneously mesmerising. All you do is unpack moving boxes in lovingly designed rooms. Not only is this extremely satisfying, there’s also a touching story to go along with it. Even without a single line of text or dialogue.
Available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Switch
«Jurassic World Evolution 2»
Dinos are on the loose once more. Well, only if you forgot to fix the electric fence. Jurassic World Evolution 2 has you build your own dinosaur park, just like in the first instalment. Breed new dinosaurs, develop transport systems and make sure that both your visitors and inhabitants are always well fed and satisfied. At last, there are flying and water dinos. A must for fans of both dinosaurs and amusement parks.
Available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Chorus»
«Chorus» is a gripping space action game in which you fight a cult using your talking spaceship. Don’t just blindly follow the main quest, you can also complete side quests in typical open-world fashion. The ship is controlled smoothly, and there’s a lot to marvel at. What more could you want?
Available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Cruelty Squad»
«Cruelty Squad» doesn’t really have what you’d call retro charm. It would’ve been considered ugly even 20 years ago. But don’t let that get in your way. What makes the game special is the incredible tactical freedom. You’re a biologically enhanced assassin carrying out hits for a secret organisation. As your abilities grow, the possibilities become more diverse.
Available for PC.
«Into the Pit»
Into the Pit is another retro title. However, not only is its action convincing, but the sparkly pixel graphics aren’t anything to sneeze at either. Even the sound properly puts you in the zone. In «Into the Pit», you’ll fight your way further and further down into the eponymous pit. Shoot down all your enemies in small arenas and activate a handful of altars. During down times, you can learn new attacks, regenerate your health or collect coins for future permanent upgrades. «Into the Pit» is the perfect game for casual mindless slaughter.
Available for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Sable»
«Sable» is much more relaxed. Discover your life’s mission in a foreign world filled with foreign cultures. Fly your glider through picturesque deserts filled with remnants of long forgotten spaceships. There’s no combat system. «Sable» focuses wholly on exploration. The game is almost meditative, and not at all boring.
Available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Echo Generation»
To me, this is one of the biggest surprises of 2021. I only tried it out because it was in my Game Pass, playing through it in a few days. «Echo Generation» is an incredibly atmospheric adventure about a brother and sister who solve a series of eerie incidents. Mostly, it’s just a matter of getting the right item to the right person, but the increasingly wacky locations provide a surprising amount of suspense. The turn-based battles are simple, but varied enough. This is also due to the creative enemy design, ranging from cheeky raccoons to giant rocket worms.
Available for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Inscryption»
A card game that’s clearly more than it seems, Inscryption is one unforgettable trip, with its complex story, clever gameplay mechanics and plenty of WTF moments.
Available for PC.
«The Artful Escape»
«The Artful Escape» tells the colourful story of an unrecognised musician suffering from his famous uncle’s success. It starts with a small village concert and ends with guitar duels against giant, dancing, space moths. «The Artful Escape» is an absolutely wacky trip that reminds me of a cross between «Bill and Ted» and «Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy».
Available for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«The Forgotten City»
A portal transports you to a forgotten Roman city suffering from a mysterious curse. Any single sin will trigger the downfall of the city, turning everyone into golden statues. The Forgotten City tells an exciting story and uses its time loop cleverly without becoming repetitive.
Available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Boomerang X»
After five minutes, you’ll have tendinitis from gripping the mouse. «Boomerang X» requires lightning-fast reflexes and equally quick thinking to master arenas filled with more and more monsters. An ingenious game that’ll make you swear quite often and loudly. A, uh, friend told me that.
Available for PC, Switch.
«Overboard»
«Overboard» is the exact opposite of «Murder on the Orient Express». You’re on an ocean liner and you pushed your husband overboard. It’s up to you to evade suspicion until the ship docks. A truly terrific puzzle game with different endings. It gets a bit repetitive at times, but the experimentation is enormously enjoyable. Made by the developers of «80 Days».
Available for PC, Switch, iOS and Android.
«Wildermyth»
«Wildermyth» manages to reproduce the magic of «Dungeons and Dragons» like no other game. The graphics look rudimentary, but they certainly have a kind of charm. Join and control a growing group of heroes on their adventures. A complex dialogue system allows for surprising twists and turns. Your characters will age throughout the game and carry permanent scars or other changes. Once a campaign is complete, your heroes retire. You can recruit them again and benefit from their experience, but time halts for no one. So watch out!
Available for PC.
«Slipways»
«Slipways» is a strategy game in which the goal is to connect planets. Each planet has needs and provides raw materials. Its difficulty lies in drawing the right connections to cover needs and allocate resources optimally. Your connections are limited, cost resources and mustn’t cross each other (at least not initially). Planets that have to wait for resources suffer negative effects. Definitely a «Just one… more… turn…» type of game.
Available for PC.
«Mundaun»
A game from Switzerland about Switzerland. «Mundaun» takes you on an eerie journey into the snowy mountains of Graubünden. The death of your grandfather brought you back to a remote village. You quickly realise that something is seriously wrong. The hand-drawn style and unusual setting create a unique atmosphere.
Available for PC.
«Before your Eyes»
«Before your Eyes» is controlled with, well, your eyes. Your webcam registers when you blink, thus influencing the scenes. This idiosyncratic gameplay works surprisingly well. Especially if you’d like to know more, but just can’t keep your eyes under control. Which isn’t uncommon in a story about life and death.
Available for PC.
«Necromunda: Hired Gun»
There’s a bit more action in «Necromunda: Hired Gun». The game is set in the futuristic «Warhammer 40 000K» universe. Below a huge city, you’ll fight a gang and uncover a conspiracy. The world is dirty and gloomy, just as you’d expect from the dystopian Necromunda. Numerous weapon upgrades, your battle dog companion and special abilities allow for different play styles. In addition, there’s brutal action with lots of blood and impressive level design.
Available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Toem»
«Toem» is a relaxed photo adventure where you’ll complete tasks in small levels. It’s mostly about finding and photographing an object or person. Uniquely, you see the levels from a bird’s-eye view. When you switch to photo mode, you view the world from a first-person perspective. The black and white design is simple, but lovingly drawn. Fun for two players as well, four eyes see more than two.
Available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Switch.
«Fights in Tight Spaces»
«Fights in Tight Spaces» is a mix of card game and turn-based battles ending in «John Wick»-like action sequences. A wild combination, but one that works surprisingly well.
Available for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Circuit Superstars»
The game looks like a chibi-fied version of «Micro Machines». But don’t let that fool you. The races require a lot of skill and the vehicles also feel interestingly unique.
Available for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.
«Eastward»
«Eastward» is a role-playing game bursting with charm and dreamlike pixel graphics. The world is on the brink of collapse. Control both a bearded miner wielding a frying pan as well as a mysterious girl. They’re both looking for a way out of their situation, experiencing wild adventures as they go along.
Available for PC, Switch.
«Chicory: A Colorful Tale»
You play a dog with a magic brush who solves puzzles in a colouring book, makes friends and paints the whole world. Deeper than I expected. Artistic skills aren’t necessary, but those who have them can be creative.
Available for PC, PS4, PS5 and Switch.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
