Best Tabletop Game
Obviously, gaming can extend far beyond your favorite console or device, with an ever-growing number of tabletop games to take players into immersive worlds. The world of tabletop gaming has hit a fever pitch — and this year’s crop of titles were no exception.
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D&D: Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons
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That Time You Killed Me
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X-Men United
Best Ongoing Game
Like many, we spent most of our time this year playing games that didn’t release this year. This category celebrates not just the games we keep coming back to, but games that continue to evolve over time thanks to excellent post-launch support and community management.
The nominees are:
- Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment)
- Call of Duty: Warzone (Raven Software)
- Final Fantasy XIV: Online (Square Enix)
- Fortnite (Epic Games)
- Genshin Impact (miHoYo)
Best Multiplayer Game
Whether it’s playing on the couch with meemaw or hopping online for a late night with the boys, 2021 had you covered with great multiplayer games. Between the triumphant return of a hibernating giant and titles pioneering both emerging genres and those thoroughly worn, there was a great variety for those who prefer to play with others.
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (Sledgehammer Games)
- Chivalry 2 (Torn Banner Studios)
- Halo Infinite (343 Industries)
- It Takes Two (Hazelight)
- Valheim (Iron Gate Studio)
Best Single-Player Game
A few years ago, there were worries that single-player, narrative-driven experiences were dying to make way for online, live-service games. 2021 is the latest proof that suggests otherwise. This year was another great year for those who prefer the good ol’ days of getting lost in games all by themselves.
- Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos Montreal)
- Metroid Dread (Nintendo)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
- Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
Game of the Year
Nobody needs an introduction to what “Game of the Year” means but in case this is your first rodeo, the games above and below are the aforementioned best of the best 2021 had to offer. Like every year, picking five games wasn’t easy and every game nominated survived a great gauntlet of rigorous criticism.
- Deathloop (Arkane Studios)
- Forza Horizon 5 (Playground Gams)
- Metroid Dread (Nintendo)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
- Resident Evil Village (Capcom)