Another year of gaming is coming to a close—and what a year it has been! Naturally, our thoughts turn to some of the greatest gaming experiences over the last 12 months, and we begin to ask ourselves, what could be our game of the year? Here are some of the games that captured our attention and kept us coming back for more.
Resident Evil Village
RE Village may be the 8th instalment in the series, but it still manages to deliver the same excitement and nerve-shredding horror we’ve come to love. The game’s first-person perspective and burst-action sequences add an extra layer of unpredictability and confusion, similar to the critically acclaimed RE4. The graphics are captivating, and the story keeps you glued to your seat until the very end.
New World
Amazon breathed new life into the MMORPG genre with the release of New World. The open-world MMO had a fantastic start, but issues and game-breaking bugs ruined the experience for many. Despite its struggles, New World was the first MMO to attract such a massive audience in quite a few years, proving that there’s still a market for high-fantasy, action-filled MMOs.
Growbot
Growbot is a 2D point-and-click space adventure that features cute characters, unique environments, and compelling gameplay. The game’s soundtrack will transport you to an otherworldly space station under threat, where you must solve challenging puzzles to save your home. Working on Growbot for marketing and social media content production over the last few years, we are biassed, to say the least, but we’re certain that the incredible artwork, adorable characters and fun story will win you over, as it did us!
Deathloop
Deathloop is an FPS with a unique twist. The story unfolds on the island of Blackreef, where two rival agents are stuck in a deadly time loop. Colt, the main character, needs to assassinate eight key targets, and every time he dies (or runs out of time), he starts over. You can play the game solo, but Deathloop’s unique multiplayer mode is where the real challenge—and fun—lies. You can have another player control Julianna (Colt’s rival), or you can choose to ruin someone else’s day by joining their campaign and playing as her.
Twelve Minutes
Twelve Minutes is another game inspired by a deadly time loop. This dop-down indie title, however, is less about combat and more about clever point-and-click interactions. It all starts with a romantic dinner, ending with the main character’s brutal death. You have just twelve minutes to solve the mystery and make sense of what’s happening around you. Twelve Minutes features fantastic voice acting by Hollywood superstars James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe.
Far Cry 6
Another AAA FPS title, Far Cry 6 builds on what made the franchise so famous in the first place. Players will find old and new weapons alike, explore a vibrant open-world environment, and experiment with a GTA-style notoriety mechanic. The game also supports eye-tracking, and one of the highlights of the year for Acorn was working with Spacefwd to run a campaign in partnership with Ubisoft and Tobii Gaming at launch. The community’s response was phenomenal, and several copies of the game and state-of-the-art eye-trackers were handed out to players.
Boyfriend Dungeon
If you ever wanted to date your weapons, Boyfriend Dungeon might be the game for you. Quirky and charming, this vibrant indie title masterfully combines dating sim and rogue-like elements for a truly unique gaming experience. The more you fight, the more you’ll learn about the character associated with your chosen weapon. At a time when video game giants have been hit with allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, Boyfriend Dungeon’s inclusive approach to gender and sexuality is a breath of fresh air.
Valheim
This Viking-inspired indie survival game was released in early 2021 and took the gaming world by storm. At one point, Valheim reached 500,000 simultaneous players on Steam—an impressive feat by all means. The game is set in a procedurally-generated world in which a maximum of 10 players assemble to gather resources, craft weapons, and face off against powerful enemies. Valheim kept—and improved—many defining elements of the survival genre. At the same time, it got rid of frustrating mechanics that didn’t make much sense (e.g., starving to death).
2021 was an eventful year for gaming. All of these titles were standout hits in their own regard, but which was game of the year for you? We’re looking forward to an equally interesting, fun-filled 2022!