Some people have their own preferred genre, a type of game they like best. Today’s awards are for those people, who want the best games of their kind to grace that genre this year.
- Best Platformer
- Best Arcade / Party Game
- Best Action Game
- Best Metroidvania
- Best Action-RPG
- Best RPG
- Best Strategy Game / Simulation
- Best Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel
- Best Puzzle Game
- Best Card Game
- Best Driving/Racing Game
- Best Sports Game
- Best Misc. Game
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Best Platformer
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury – It may seem like the easy, predictable thing to do, awarding Best Platformer to a Mario game. And what’s more, Super Mario 3D World isn’t even an entirely new game, being a port from a 2013 Wii U game. However, the upgrades made to Super Mario 3D World breathe new life into the game, making it faster, better-looking, and with more features. And then there’s Bowser’s Fury, an entirely new game packaged in here that gives us a taste of what open-world Mario could look like, albeit in a relatively short experience. Simply put, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is the best Platformer of 2021, and there’s enough new content here that it’s far, far more than just a rehash of an 8 year-old game.
Runners-Up:
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
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Best Arcade / Party Game
Fly Together! – Both Fly Together and Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania are strong contenders in this category, but I give Fly Together a slight edge because it is both more accessible, and because it supports up to 8 players. However, both of these games are a welcome addition to a party.
Runners-Up:
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
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Best Action Game
Boomerang X – Boomerang X features some immensely satisfying combat, and unique movement mechanics that make it an absolute blast to play. Plenty of other games on this list are well worth playing, but Boomerang X is the one I enjoyed the most.
Runners-Up:
Clone Drone in the Danger Zone
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Best Metroidvania
Axiom Verge 2 – Before you bring out the torches and pitchforks, hear me out. I thoroughly enjoyed Metroid Dread. However, I felt like its one major new mechanic, the EMMI robots, ultimately made for multiple issues that made that game worse to play, and the overall world design was unfortunately more disjointed than I feel best suits a Metroidvania. Meanwhile, Axiom Verge 2 is a game that does multiple clever things within the genre, including enemies that don’t damage you upon contact, bosses that are skippable, an alternate low-res world you explore with a drone with different gameplay mechanics… and all of this is in a game that plates very differently than the first Axiom Verge. Metroid Dread may be more visually-impressive and a more noteworthy release for what it represents, but no Metroidvania thrilled me more in 2021 than Axiom Verge 2.
Runners-Up:
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
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Best Action-RPG
Monster Hunter Rise – Those who follow eShopperReviews will undoubtedly know that I was not fond of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. However, Monster Hunter Rise is something else entirely, bringing back to Nintendo Switch lessons that were learned in Monster Hunter World, and then building on them to make a truly great game that has a lot to offer in its own right, with the new wirebug and malamute bringing a whole new verticality to traversal and combat. The result is a game that is a joy to explore, to grind for resources, and to share with friends.
Runners-Up:
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Best RPG
Shin Megami Tensei V – My selection for Best RPG this year ultimately came down to Shin Megami Tensei V and Bravely Default II. Bravely Default plays things fairly safe within the genre, but does what it does extremely well, presenting a quality traditional JRPG experience. Meanwhile, Shin Megami Tensei V streamlines its series’ offbeat take on the monster-collecting genre, and I feel like doing so resulted in a game that is not only extremely compelling, but wildly original.
Runners-Up:
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars
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Best Strategy Game / Simulation
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny – The Nintendo Switch has plenty of Strategy-RPG games at this point, including three prior entries in the Disgaea series, but Disgaea 6 nevertheless manages to do something truly unique and original with its series’ formula, transforming the game into one that can (optionally) be played as an Idle Game. As strange as it sounds, it works quite well, making for a game that is both fun to play and, oddly, one that’s fun to not play. While the Strategy-RPG half of the game isn’t quite up to par with Disgaea 5 for numerous reasons, this is nevertheless an exceptional entry in the genre, and while it may be divisive, it’s still a game I highly recommend.
Runners-Up:
.
Best Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles – While the Nintendo Switch got some truly creative and original entries in the Visual Novel and Graphic Adventure genres this year, the Ace Attorney series once again proved it’s the king of arguably both genres by taking its tried and true formula, modernizing its visuals, and taking it to a completely new time period with a cast of different (but in some cases suspiciously familiar) characters. Everything the Ace Attorney series does well is on prominent display here, with great story, excellent characters, some wonderful puzzles to solve during the game’s trials and in between them, and with everything now wrapped in some absolutely wonderful visuals. Oh, and did I mention that The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, is actually two games, not just one? Even if you’re not normally a fan of this genre, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a game you should get your hands on.
Runners-Up:
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
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Best Puzzle Game
Tetris Effect: Connected – I’ve said multiple times now that Islanders is one of my favorite games of this year, but it straddles both Puzzle and Simulation genres without truly excelling at either on its own. Meanwhile, Tetris Effect is arguably the best version of one of the greatest Puzzle games ever made. So this is where I put personal preference aside, and give this award to Tetris Effect: Connected. This is an absolute no-brainer for Puzzle game fans on the Nintendo Switch, as it gives the classic game an absolutely gorgeous presentation, a beautiful soundtrack, some excellent multiplayer gameplay (far more balanced than what’s in Tetris 99, I will note), and overall presenting an experience as close to Falling Block Puzzle perfection as possible.
Runners-Up:
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection
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Best Card Game
The Solitaire Conspiracy – How do you make a Solitaire game more compelling than the best Collectable Card Games and Roguelike Card Games the Nintendo Switch has to offer in 2021? Start by making simple compelling, accessible gameplay, and then add an outstanding, slick, modern presentation, with a fun story about covert spy organizations. The result makes The Solitaire Conspiracy feel like it’s about something more than cards, it’s about an intense high-tech espionage game where the cards represent your team members, and your leadership is the only thing that will see their mission through to success. Even if you’re not into Card Games, if you enjoy a good Puzzler, this one is well worth trying out.
Runners-Up:
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle
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Best Driving/Racing Game
Cruis’n Blast – This was one of the closest competitions in the awards this year, with it being close to a three-way tie between Cruis’n Blast, Rush Rally Origins, and Hot Wheels Unleashed. Each of those games offers something unique, but also has its drawbacks. In the end though, I had to go with the game that brought me a feeling of childish glee the entire time I played it. Cruis’n Blast is a roller coaster ride of a racing game, both in that it is a non-stop thrill ride, and in that it is an experience largely on rails that creates those thrills via artificial means. However, even after seeing the scripted events and nasty rubber-banding under the hood of this game, I can’t deny that I still had fun every minute I was playing it.
Runners-Up:
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Best Sports Game
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 – I’ll be honest, this year for sports games on Nintendo Switch it was just Tony Hawk… and everything else. The Hawkman might have had to get a graphical downgrade in transition to Nintendo’s handheld, but this is still a perfectly playable version of a truly great skateboarding game, and the result is the best handheld skateboarding game since Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix on PlayStation Portable in 2005. So if you like Skateboarding games, I think it goes without saying that this one is a must-have.
Runners-Up:
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Best Misc. Game
New Pokemon Snap – Part wildlife sim, part On-Rails First-Person Shooter, New Pokemon Snap isn’t quite like any other game out there… well, except its predecessor back on the Nintendo 64. As it happens, New Pokemon Snap is a spectacular sequel, with gorgeous graphics, beautiful music, and great camera-based puzzle gameplay that combines to make for a wonderful experience that truly delivers a sequel worthy of the cult classic.
Runners-Up:
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For commentary on today’s awards, please check out the eShopperReviews 2021 Game Awards Day 4: Genre Awards Podcast!
That’s all for today! to keep up with all of the eShopperReviews 2021 Game Awards, be sure to check back at the Awards’ Start Page, which I’ll be updating throughout the week!
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