The best of video games in 2021, part 1 – Reader’s Feature

metro.co.uk:

A reader offers his own mini-award show for 2021, including best video game graphics, best character, and biggest disappointment.

Here’s my take on the year 2021. My own personal likes and dislikes and a rundown of my favourite games.

Best Graphics

Winner: Forza Horizon 5 Runners up: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and The Matrix Awakens Ratchet & Clank looked pretty spectacular at times. The Matrix Awakens looked great but ultimately wasn’t a game but a tech demo. Forza, however, looked amazing and you could get some insane looking visuals in photo mode. I was playing on the Xbox Series S rather than the Series X and it was still incredible.

Best Art Design

Winner: Metroid Dread Runners up: Life Is Strange: True Colors and Guardians Of The Galaxy Metroid Dread managed to look impressive despite being in 2D and on a device that is now essentially two generations old. I think this is due to the amazing artwork and creature design. Also, although I’ve not played much, Guardians Of The Galaxy looks amazing in terms of the landscapes and world design. Life Is Strange looks unique from most games.

Best Soundtrack

Winner: Life Is Strange: True Colours Runners up: Forza Horizon 5, Metroid Dread, and Deathloop Forza Horizon 5 made good use of licensed music and I felt the soundtrack in Deathloop and Metroid Dread added to the general feel of the game. However, so much of Life Is Strange revolves around the music and Blister in the Sun was a great song in a key part of the game.

Best Sequence

Winner: Resident Evil Village – House of Beneviento Runners up: Forza Horizon 5 – opening race and Metroid Dread – Kraid boss I usually hate boss battles and granted they can still be frustrating in Metroid Dread, but you also get an immense satisfaction