Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart met expectations, as the game serves as a terrific example of what the PS5 can do. Alongside gorgeous visuals, Ratchet and Clank fans are given a massive arsenal to play around with. While the story may be predictable, it is a lot of fun, with the new additions of Rivet and Kit fitting perfectly into the established universe. With a ton of upgrades and an impressive amount of replayablity, gamers can spend a good bit of time hopping through rifts and blasting their way across planets.
However, while Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart boats an 88 on Metacritic and is easily one of the frontrunners for some Game of the Year accolades, it is hardly the only game that could bring home such awards. While there have been plenty of strong games this year, and there are other potential contenders coming in the last few months of 2021, some titles will likely get a bit more attention than others. As such, here are the most likely Game of the Year nominees from 2021 thus far.
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Considering that Returnal was Housemarque’s first AAA game, it is amazing how well the PS5 exclusive turned out. Boasting incredible load times, solid visuals, and intense gameplay, there is plenty to love about the brutally challenging game. Returnal features some diverse biomes that provide memorable enemies and bosses, with an unforgettable soundtrack accompanying the action. Some good weapon variety and interesting collectibles keeps the randomly generated areas engaging, and there is plenty to theorize about regarding Selene’s open-ended story. With an 85 on Metacritic, Returnal’s solid reviews will likely help it bring in some game of the year accolades.
Sitting at an impressive 88 on Metacritic, It Takes Two’s reviews have certainly been on the positive side. The game does an incredible job of putting a unique spin on co-op games, as players have tons of memorable experiences. While the story does have some cheesy moments, that adds to the charm in a way, as the game prioritizes fun over everything else. With an impressive amount of gameplay variety that sees players using mechanics from fighting games, third person shooters, and platformers, every location brings a new kind of adventure. While a friend is needed to truly make the game special, Josef Fares’ latest game seems primed for some Game of the Year nominations.
Monster Hunter Rise does a lot of things right, ranging from its mechanics to its impressive roster of monsters to fight. The Wirebug mechanic is interesting and adds a nice layer to the gameplay, while the connected biomes make hunts feel more engaging than ever before. The gameplay is as addicting as one would expect, and the visuals are impressive for a Nintendo Switch exclusive. With Monster Hunter Rise reviews being strong, and the game at 88 on Metacritic, it will likely make it into many game of the year discussions. Given that the game successfully brings some of the best elements of the series together, any awards would be well-deserved.
IO Interactive’s conclusion to the rebooted Hitman trilogy may be a dark horse candidate, but it certainly deserves some nods come award season. Hitman 3’s reviews speak for themselves, as the game boasts a strong 87 on Metacritic. Featuring an incredible amount of variety in its assassinations, as players have a ton of ways to approach every kill, there is just as much replayability as one would expect from a well-crafted Hitman title. With players also able to bring the content from the first two Hitman games over to the third title, it serves as a complete package and the best way to experience Agent 47’s most recent adventures.
Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is available now on PS5.