Who triumphed in the war of the charts
It's unfortunate that this year has seen a plethora of delayed games from studios across the world - however, we've still had some pretty awesome game launches in 2021.
Since January, lots of lots of games have been flocking onto our screens and into our libraries across a multitude of platforms, taking us on new adventures and discovering epic characters, gripping stories and, above all, plenty of fun with friends. As the year draws to a close, some of you may have pondered what games hit a high note with fellow players.
Here, we've put together the top 50 PC games of 2021 - as rated by gamers/users on Metacritic - to look back on which AAA and Indies have been a well received this year, along with some wise words from the critics too.
50-41
50 - Farming Simulator 22 - 5.4/10
49 - INDUSTRIA - 5.8/10
48 - The Good Life - 5.8/10
47 - Astria Ascending - 6/10
46 - JETT: The Far Shore - 6.1/10
45 - Jurassic World Evolution 2 - 6.4/10
44 - Solar Ash - 6.4/10
43 - Riders Republic - 6.5/10
42 - Time Loader - 6.8/10
41 - FORZA HORIZON 5 - 6.9/10
"The graphics, lighting and weather effects are some of the best we've seen in a racing game, but of course it's all about the cars" - Het Nieuwsblad - 100/100
40-31
40 - Killsquad - 7/10
39 - After the Fall - 7/10
38 - Football Manager 2022 - 7.1/10
37 - Chorus - 7.1/10
36 - Halo Infinite - 7.1/10
35 - Bright Memory: Infinite - 7.2/10
34 - Crysis Remastered Trilogy - 7.3/10
33 - Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One - 7.3/10
32 - Hextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Story - 7.3/10
31 - FIGHTS IN TIGHT SPACES
"A fantastic blend of turn based strategy, deck builder and roguelike games, Fights In Tight Spaces belongs among the best these genres has to offer" - Finger Guns - 90/100
30-21
30 - Lemnis Gate - 7.4/10
29 - Exo One - 7.4/10
28 - Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade - 7.5/10
27 - AWAY: The Survival Series - 7.6/10
26 - Unsighted - 7.6/10
25 - Ruined King: A League of Legends Story - 7.7/10
24 - Gloomhaven - 7.8/10
23 - Unpacking - 7.8/10
22 - The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes - 7.9/10
21 - AGE OF EMPIRES IV - 7.9/100
"Age of Empires 4 builds greatly on the series' reputation that began in 1997. If you're a fan of RTS games, world history, or both, this should be an easy recommendation" - Windows Central - 100/100
20-11
20 - In Sound Mind - 8/10
19 - Happy Game - 8/10
18 - Archvale - 8/10
17 - Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon - 8.1/10
16 - Aeterna Noctis - 8.1/10
15 - The Eternal Cylinder - 8.2/10
14 - Hot Wheels Unleashed - 8.2/10
13 - The Legend of Tianding - 8.2/10
12 - Blue Reflection: Second Light - 8.2/10
11 - SHADOW TACTICS: BLADES OF THE SHOGUN - AIKO'S CHOICE - 8.2/10
"A masterful, methodical journey through the shadows of Edo Japan – brilliantly polished and perfectly paced, my only real sadness is that there was not more of it" - WellPlayed - 95/100
10-1
10 - Grow: Song of the Evertree - 8.3/10
9 - Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan - 8.4/10
8 - Lone Echo II - 8.4/10
7 - Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster - 8.4/10
6 - Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye - 8.5/10
5 - Impostor Factory - 8.5/10
4 - Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - 8.5/10
3 - The Riftbreaker - 8.6/10
2 - Inscryption - 8.7/10
1 - FINAL FANTASY XIV: ENDWALKER - 9.5/10
"Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker caps off a lengthy story arc in the best way possible" - GamingTrend - 100/100
Some of the top Steam PC games of the year are available right here at Fanatical - check them out!