Chase’s Top…However Many Games of 2021 (kinda)

Is it too late to do one of these? It feels too late to do one of these. Maybe the reason this is so late is that these are becoming a little harder to do. 2020 was so odd that I ended up changing the format of GOTG’s GOTY show and didn’t do a top 10 list at all.

And 2021 doesn’t really feel any less odd. The pandemic is still in full force and many games are still being delayed. And it doesn’t help that it’s harder than ever to define what a “handheld game” is these days. Apple Arcade games can all be played on a TV, laptops are good enough to run most PC games (especially when it comes to the indie titles that are most interesting), and the Switch remains so popular, Valve decided to make one of their own with the Steam Deck that’ll drop sometime in 2022.

With all that in mind, this below list of games is more freeform than in years past, and I think I’m ok with that. So let’s just talk about a handful of cool games that came out in some form in 2021, all of which play on something vaguely portable.

Mario Golf: Super Rush (Switch)

This is the most mechanically satisfying Mario Golf game that’s ever been made. It’s too bad that it’s kind of ruined by mostly gimmicky courses, a focus on a not so fun speed golf mode and a story mode that goes completely off the rails. I’m also pretty unhappy they stripped out the incredible asynchronous multiplayer modes from the previous 3DS game.

But then I just load up 18 holes and end up having a great time anyway. It just could’ve been so much better, and that’s what stings.

Everhood (Switch/PC)

Everhood is strange, in a very good way. Borrowing heavily from the style and tone of Undertale and Earthbound, Everhood also manages to find its own voice thanks to a really interesting “reverse rhythm game” mechanic. When you get to an action sequence, you’ll find your character on a Guitar Hero/Rock Band-style note highway, but you’re not trying to hit notes, they’re trying to hit you. And you have to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge to avoid them. Which becomes pretty tough when the game starts throwing psychedelic fever dreams at you with glitchy visuals and rotating stages. It’s just a really cool thing. And the music kicks ass.

Nuts (Switch/iOS/PC)

You know what didn’t bum me out? This charming and visually striking game about taking photos of squirrels. Trial and error is usually not a thing I love, but the way you use deductive reasoning to set up your cameras, see what footage you capture and then adjust your plan for the next night was oddly satisfying and more than makes up for the watered-down Firewatch of a story.

Loop Hero (Switch/PC)

An early 2021 indie darling, Loop Hero utilizes a unique mix of Diablo-style loot with a sort of inverted tower defense gameplay mechanic as you place structures in front of your protagonist to defeat, loot and level up. The strategy of choosing which structures to bring into each run and where to place them was awesome, as was the tinkering with character builds throughout. What was less fun was the town building side of the game that take place outside of the normal runs, which were a little too inscrutable for my tastes.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Switch/PC)

The original Monster Hunter Stories was my GOTY in 2017, beating out such titles as Sonic Mania, Breath of the Wild and Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (looking back, Fire Emblem got robbed.) So I had high hopes for the sequel, especially now that it was upgrading from the 3DS to the Switch. And I was mostly pretty pleased with what I got. More monsters, new areas and a more cinematic story. Performance on the Switch is…let’s say lacking, but this is a deep RPG that continues to build on the original’s foundation.

Super Robot Wars 30 (Switch/PC)

Now that both sets of DLC are out, I’m finally diving into Super Robot Wars 30, the newest game in a series that has quickly earned my obsession since I first learned of it in 2018. SRW30 represents a pretty big change for the franchise, giving you way more branching paths in the story than in previous entries, along with ever deeper customizations of your team. I’ve still got a lot of game left to play, but I’m giddy to jump back in (also, just a note: while the game did officially get a Western release on PC, the Switch version is still locked to Japan and Southeast Asian countries, so if you want it there like I did, you’ll have to import it or do some eshop shenanigans.)

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Switch)

Pokemon remakes are always really fascinating to me. What’s going to get updated, and what’s going to stay the same? In BDSP’s case, way more stayed the same than I expected. In previous remakes, Pokemon from later generations would pop up, usually in the post game. The story might change slightly or new areas might get added. That uh…doesn’t seem to be the case here for BDSP. What we get is Pokemon Diamond & Pearl with updated visuals (if you could call them that) and a couple of quality-of-life updates. I just wanted more from these games, and I didn’t get it. What I did get though was a new idea for a series on my YouTube channel, as my friend Johnny and I attempt our first ever nuzlocke. It’s been pretty fun so far!

Toem (Switch/PC/PS5)

A new Pokemon Snap game came out this year, but if you want to play a cool game about photography, you should definitely play Toem instead (and then play Nuts). Toem is a great little puzzle/adventure game set in a black and white world with so many fun nooks and crannies to explore. It’s short, it’s great. Play Toem.

Unpacking (Switch/PC/Xbox)

Speaking of great, short games you should play, Unpacking was a big favorite among the GOTG extended family in 2021. Unpacking is essentially a puzzle game where you move into new living spaces over the course of your character’s life, placing all the bits and bobs you’ve acquired over the years into your different rooms. But through this puzzle-like gameplay, you start to learn more about your character, who she is and what she values (even though you never see or hear her). With little more than a phrase at the end of each stage, the story tells a wordless, yet emotionally rich tale. And those sound effects are just too good.

Inscryption (PC), Fights In Tight Spaces (PC/Xbox), Monster Train (Switch/PC)

I’m bunching these last three together 1) because I’m tired and 2) because all filled similar space for me in 2021. They’re all roguelike deck builders, but each had enough personality to stand out from the others. Inscryption is a creepy Magic The Gathering-style game that is constantly throwing you curveballs to keep things fresh and exciting. Monster Train is technically a 2020 game, but it did get a Switch port in 2021 that I played A LOT. Monster Train has that Risk of Rain or Binding of Isaac gameply loop of crazy combos and upgrades that make you feel like a god…right up until an enemy completely subverts your build and flattens you. And Fights In Tight Spaces is one of the most mechanically sound games I’ve played since Into The Breach, where you’ll need to utilize every trick and tactic you know to pull out victory. All three are stellar additions to this tactical and creative genre that I doubt I’ll ever get tired of.

And that’s 2021. I mean, I also played another billion or so hours of Animal Crossing New Horizons, but I thought I’d spare you. 2022 seems like it’ll be a big year for Nintendo, plus the Playdate and Steam Deck will open up a lot of new possibilities for games you can take with you. And the Analogue Pocket has me really excited to dust off a ton of old games too, which could make for a lot of new GOTG content this year!