5 best adventure games of 2021

From Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy to Resident Evil Village, 2021 saw the release of some amazing adventure games. They let the players assume the role of the protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and/or puzzle-solving. The genre's focus on stories allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media, literature, and film.

2021 may not have seen quite as many blockbuster releases as in previous years, but it certainly had quite a few strong titles sprinkled throughout. With that said, let’s discuss some of the best adventure game titles of 2021.

---

Best adventure games released in 2021

Adventure games are some of the most acclaimed titles amongst all genres. From platformers to shooters with RPG elements, adventure games take players on a journey. We take a look at some of the best such titles released this year.

2021’s best adventure games

• Metroid Dread
• Resident Evil Village
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Psychonauts 2
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

---

Metroid Dread

• Developer/ Publisher: Mercury Steam, Nintendo
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Release date: October 8, 2021

In many ways, Metroid Dread follows the success of Metroid Samus Returns and builds on the series’ 2D side scroller legacy. Developed by Mercury Steam, the game introduces stealth elements, with Samus avoiding the EMMI robots in certain areas by hiding, reducing her noise, and using the Phantom Cloak.

---

Resident Evil Village

• Developer/ Publisher: Capcom
• Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows
• Release date: May 1, 2021

The follow-up to Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Resident Evil Village continues the story of Ethan Winters. The title evolves the series in a new direction that is certain to make fans nostalgic about the older Resident Evil titles, particularly Resident Evil 4. With both returning and new characters featured, it is a must-play title.

---

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

• Developer/ Publisher: Insomniac Games, Sony
• Platform: PlayStation 5
• Release date: June 11, 2021

Arguably the best PlayStation Exclusive of the year, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart not only delivers an amazing game but really showcases the next-gen capabilities of the PlayStation 5 console. From advanced ray-tracing effects to seamless transitions between worlds using its fast SSD, the game’s amazing visual style and smooth gameplay make it one of the best releases of the year.

---

Psychonauts 2

• Developer/ Publisher: Double Fine, Xbox
• Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
• Release date: August 25, 2021

The follow-up to 2005’s Psychonauts might have kept fans waiting for over 15 years, but it certainly was a well-worth wait. Developed by Tim Schafer and Double Fine Studios, Psychonauts 2 feels like a continuation of the mind-bending psychological adventure-platformer which continues the story without dropping a beat.

---

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

• Developer/ Publisher: Eidos Montreal, Square Enix
• Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
• Release date: October 26, 2021

Prior to its release, everyone was skeptical of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Square Enix’s previous Marvel game, Marvel’s Avengers (2020), was anything but what fans wanted. Despite having one of the biggest IPs in entertainment history, the game was panned for its heavy usage of microtransactions and grind-based gameplay. Thankfully, Marvel’s Guardian’s of the Galaxy takes a different path than its predecessor and delivers a memorable story-based action-adventure experience.