Best Games of 2021

The best games released in 2021, ranked by Belly Score. The Belly's definitive 2021 game rankings.

The Belly's definitive rankings for games released in 2021. Every title from 2021 that earned a Belly Score appears here, sorted from the highest verdict down. It's a year-by-year snapshot of what The Belly thought of the releases — the standout hits, the disappointments, and everything in between from 2021.

9.6

Returnal

Shooter

PlayStation 5 · PC

Sci-FiAlienPsychological+1

IntenseFast-PacedChallenging+3

9.5

GUILTY GEAR: STRIVE

Fighting

PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Nintendo Switch

Sci-FiFantasyMartial Arts

IntenseFast-PacedCompetitive+2

9.4

Lost Judgment

Action-Adventure · RPG

PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · PC · Amazon Luna

Detective / MysteryCrimeSchool / Academy+1

AtmosphericIntenseCinematic+2

9.4

PHIGHTING!

Action · Shooter

PC · Mobile · Console

Sci-FiFantasyComedy

Fast-PacedChaoticCompetitive+2

9.4

Decaying Winter

Shooter · Survival

Roblox

Sci-FiPost-ApocalypticDark / Grim+1

TenseIntenseChallenging+3

9.4

MONSTER HUNTER RISE

Action · RPG

Nintendo Switch · PC · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S

FantasyFolkloreMonsters+1

AdventurousFast-PacedChallenging+3

9.3

Guts & Blackpowder

Shooter · Action · Survival

Roblox

ZombiesWarAncient / Historical+1

AtmosphericCooperativeTense+3

9.2

Hell Let Loose

FPS · Strategy · Simulation

PC · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X

Ancient / HistoricalMilitaryWar

IntenseStrategicTactical+3

9.2

Michael's Zombies

Shooter · Survival

Roblox

ZombiesPost-ApocalypticMilitary

IntenseCooperativeMulti-Player+2

9.1

MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA

Fighting · Action · Visual Novel

PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · PC

SupernaturalVampiresUrban Fantasy

Fast-PacedCompetitiveIntense+1

9.1

Deepwoken

Action RPG · Adventure

Roblox

Dark FantasyDark / GrimNature / Wilderness

AtmosphericChallengingBrutal+3

9.0

Pilgrammed

Action RPG · RPG · Survival

Roblox

FantasyDark FantasyNature / Wilderness

AdventurousExploratoryChallenging+3

9.0

Find the Chomiks

Adventure

Roblox

FantasyComedy

AdventurousExploratoryDiscovery-Driven+2

9.0

Cruelty Squad

Shooter · FPS · Simulation

Windows

CyberpunkDystopianSatire+1

WeirdSurrealChallenging+3

8.9

World Tower Defense

Strategy

Roblox

MilitaryWarSci-Fi

StrategicTacticalIntense+2

8.9

Disillusion

RPG · Adventure

PC

SurrealDreamlike

AtmosphericDreamlikeSurreal+2

8.5

Slap Battles

Fighting · Action

PC · Mobile · Xbox · PlayStation

ComedySatire

ChaoticCompetitiveRage-Inducing+3

8.4

DELTATRAVELER

RPG · Adventure

Windows · Linux · macOS

FantasySupernaturalComedy+1

AdventurousExploratoryDiscovery-Driven+3

7.8

Sub Rosa

Action · Shooter · Simulation

Windows · macOS · Linux

CrimeWorkplaceModern

TenseChaoticSocial+3

7.3

Outriders

Shooter · Action RPG

PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Windows · Stadia

Sci-FiPost-ApocalypticDark / Grim+1

IntenseFast-PacedChaotic+3

3.8

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood

Action RPG

Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S

Urban FantasySupernaturalDark / Grim+1

IntenseAdrenaline-FueledBrutal+2

3.3

Gucci Garden

Simulation · Sandbox

Roblox

ModernSurrealDreamlike

ExploratoryImmersiveAtmospheric+3