Best 8 games of 2021

Despite unique challenges, the year has been a good one for the video game industry. [Courtesy]

With more people staying in due to the pandemic, online and offline gaming has one of the best ways to pass time. Here are some of the best video games of this year.

Forza Horizon 5

This racing video game became an instant hit after its release. Set in an open world environment and based on a fictional representation of Mexico, it has the largest map in the entire Forza Horizon series. The map contains areas like an active caldera volcano, jungles and beaches, ancient Mayan temples and cities such as Guanajuato. The new additions of exploring the world freely and allowing one to compete in multiplayer races and complete the campaign mode made it a force to reckon with. It has seen more than 10 million players since its launch.

Halo infinite

This is a first-person shooter campaign mode that features a semi-open world structure; players can freely explore parts of the setting, the ringworld Zeta Halo, which are segmented off from each other and initially impassable. The new multiplayer mode came with the added ability for pickups, which allowed a player to activate a special power a limited number of times, such as dashing, active camouflage, and “repulsor” charges that could knock enemies and projectiles back. The game became number one on both the most played and free games charts.

Hitman 3

Hitman 3 is the dramatic conclusion to the World of Assassination trilogy and took players around the world on a globetrotting adventure to sprawling sandbox locations. Agent 47 returned as a ruthless professional for the most important contracts of his entire career.

Death loop

Death loop brought a whole lot of new ways to gather intelligence while pitting two rival assassins together. This next-gen first-person shooter puts the players in a continuous-time loop doomed to repeat the same day for eternity. Every loop brought an opportunity to change things and find new abilities. Players assume the role of Colt and the only chance for escape is to end the cycle by assassinating eight key targets before the day resets to break the loop.

Metroid dead

Adventure games seem to have taken over this year. In this action-adventure game, players join an intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores the planet ZDR investigating a mysterious transmission sent to the Galactic Federation, which has been overrun by vicious alien life forms. The game has been described as a masterclass of tension and atmosphere.

Bowser’s fury

This open-world Mario game lets one travel between islands seeking hidden secrets and treasures, periodically transforming into a massive cat to battle a Godzilla-sized Bowser. It is a blueprint for what a truly next-generation Nintendo platformer could look like.

Valorant

This colourful mix of tactical and hero-based shooter video games became so popular that it has over 14 million monthly users. Its defining features include its cast of characters and no-scope shooting style like “CSGO.” The game has hosted many worldwide tournaments, including one here in Nairobi.

Tales of arise

This action role-playing game follows a man and a woman from the opposing worlds of Dahna and Rena and their journey to end the Renans’ oppression of the Dahnan people. Although the series dates back to the ’90s, this entry became the fastest-selling and sold over a million copies in its first week of release.