2021 in Gaming

Charles Albano, Reporter

This year, much like 2020, was unlike any other year. That being said, people like myself needed an escape from all the tumultuous chaos that ensued throughout the year. And what better escape is there than through gaming. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, continued to impact the industry.

A major factor brought on by the pandemic is with the continuation of video game delays. Titles like Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok were delayed into 2022. While nobody wants their favorite games to be pushed back, it can be just as bad if a game is rushed to come out. Remember the disastrous Cyberpunk 2077 launch? Delays, although a nuisance, are sometimes a necessity to make sure video games are at their very best.

The brand new next gen consoles Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S continued to be in high demand everywhere. It seemed like every store was sold out of them and once they did have either one of the consoles in stock, gamers rushed in to buy it. That being said, many of the video games launched for the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were available on their last gen consoles, the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. I, along with others who can’t buy a new $499 system, are grateful for that decision, but I feel as if it doesn’t give others a reason to upgrade. Why get a new system when it has the same games as the one you already own? My hope for 2022 is that the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S get their own exclusives in order for them to grow.

With that aside, let’s talk about the actual video games. Some of the best video games from 2021 included Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Deathloop, Resident Evil Village, Metroid Dread, Returnal, Psychonauts 2, It Takes Two, and much more. Whether you were a veteran of gaming or just getting into it, 2021 in gaming had something for everyone. Here’s to 2022!