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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →By Metacritic’s all-platform critic-score ranking, the highest-scoring 2021 entry is The House in Fata Morgana – Dreams of the Revenants Edition at 96. The current page snapshot lists 545 results and excludes titles with fewer than seven critic reviews; scores and placements can change as the record changes. This is a critic-score ranking, not a claim that every entry is a new, standalone game or playable on the same system.
Metacritic’s highest-scoring games of 2021
The table follows the order and scores shown on Metacritic’s all-platform 2021 page, retrieved in 2026. The page is undated, so treat the figures as a current snapshot rather than a frozen year-end chart.
| Rank | Game or release | Metascore | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The House in Fata Morgana – Dreams of the Revenants Edition | 96 | A gothic suspense visual novel set across nearly a millennium. This is a named edition, not a new franchise. Source: Metacritic’s 2021 all-platform ranking. |
| 2 | Forza Horizon 5 | 92 | Open-world racing set in Mexico. Metacritic’s description cites 11 biomes and nearly 600 roads. Ranking; game details. |
| 3 | Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | 92 | The fourth expansion pack for Final Fantasy XIV, rather than a standalone new game. Source: Metacritic’s 2021 all-platform ranking. |
| 4 | Chicory: A Colorful Tale | 90 | An adventure centered on an artist with a paintbrush and a colorful world. Source: Metacritic’s 2021 all-platform ranking. |
| 5 | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | 89 | A Nintendo Switch release with local or online cooperative play for up to three additional players. Source: Metacritic’s 2021 all-platform ranking. |
How to interpret the ranking
Metacritic aggregates critics’ reviews into Metascores; its 2021 page excludes games with fewer than seven critic reviews. The list mixes platforms and release types, including an edition and an expansion, so a higher position alone does not tell you whether a title is the right purchase for your system or whether you need an existing game to play it. Check the specific platform and release before choosing.
Why Metacritic also named Forza Horizon 5 its 2021 Game of the Year
There is no contradiction between The House in Fata Morgana topping the all-platform ranking at 96 and Metacritic naming Forza Horizon 5 its annual Game of the Year. The latter designation is specifically for the Xbox Series X entry, which Metacritic lists with a 92 Metascore; its annual-winner feature names Chicory: A Colorful Tale for PC as runner-up. Those are distinctions from a separate annual feature, not a replacement of the all-platform ranking. Metacritic’s 2021 Game of the Year feature reproduces GameGrin’s review opinion that Forza Horizon 5 “looks phenomenal” and is “practically flawless”; that is the quoted reviewer’s assessment, not a neutral fact.
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#1 Best Overall
- Brand New Game Console: This handheld video games built-in 230 newly designed educational puzzle and leisure, racing, fighting, adventure games without repetition. Also comes with 3 game cartridges, each with a separate classic game. Have fun playing the game console while they work on important developmental skills such as hand-eye coordination, thinking and problem-solving skills
- Larger and Clearer Screen: 3 inch high definition display and substantially more stable, no longer prone to black screen. To ensure the portability and the comfort of playing the game. Our gameboy is not too bulky or too small, perfectly tailored for children. Warm tip: Please tear off the protective film before use
- Rechargeable Battery: Our handheld games built-in 800mAh high-capacity lithium battery, which can be charged and played at the same time. After each full charge, the game can be played for 5 hours. When you are on a business trip, travel, camping, you don't have to worry about running out of power. (Note: Please fully charge the battery before the first use
- Sturdy and Durable: The shell of this handheld game console is made of sturdy and environmentally friendly plastic. Anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch. Tested for a long time and real experience, it is strong enough to withstand daily drops
- Perfect Gift for Kids & Adults: This retro handheld game systems can definitely bring you and your children a surprise. It is perfect as a gift for birthday, Christmas, party
Other 2021 “best of” lists use different criteria
TIME’s editorial picks
TIME’s December 14, 2021 top ten begins with Metroid Dread and also includes It Takes Two and Chicory: A Colorful Tale. It is an editorial selection, not a critic-score aggregate, so it answers a different version of “best.” See TIME’s 2021 list.
PlayStation’s community-voted awards
In results reported December 20, 2021, the PlayStation Blog named Resident Evil Village the community-voted Best Story winner and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart the Best Art Direction winner. These category awards came from a PlayStation community poll, not a cross-platform critic ranking. The report describes a large turnout and closely contested categories but gives no precise turnout figure. Read the PlayStation Blog results.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
- The official videogame of the 2021 Formula One world Championship
- My team mode - create a driver, choose a sponsor, an engine supplier, hire a teammates and compete as the 11th team on the grid
- Expanded driver stats that now include 'focus' And new team-critical department events to address
- Acclaimed ten-year Career mode, including updated research and development and Practice Programmers, and new quick Practice
- F1 2021 supports Xbox Smart Delivery and PlayStation’s free upgrade when players switch to an Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5
Rank #3
- 【Relive Memories with Everyday Fun】Dive into nostalgia with our retro gaming console, pre-loaded with 2000+ classic and modern titles across 9 emulators. As one of the top game consoles with built in games, it offers endless variety so you never play the same game twice.Support for 24 language settings allows you to enjoy the game in your most familiar language.
- 【Versatile Entertainment for All Ages】Our dual wireless game console is the ultimate all-in-one solution, serving as both handheld video games for adults and tv games for kids. With its portable design and seamless TV connectivity, it transforms any space into a gaming hub, making it a perfect game system for family fun.Enjoy over 2000 built-in games that cater to every generation.
- 【High-Definition&Plug-and-Play Setup】Experience crystal-clear graphics with 1080p HDMI output,turning your TV into an instant arcade with plug and play video games for tv. The included 64GB TF card ensures ample storage for all your games, while the wireless design eliminates clutter. It's a user-friendly game stick-style device that requires no downloads or complicated installations—just connect and play!
- 【Kid-Friendly&Family-Oriented Design】With 2 PCS 2.4GHz wireless controller adapters, the connection is stable,the maximum connection distance is 32.8 ft.Console encourages cooperative play with its dual-user capability. It's an ideal game console for children to enjoy educational and entertaining titles, while adults can join in for multiplayer fun. The simple interface and robust build make it a reliable choice for everyday use, promoting bonding through shared gaming sessions.
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Rank #2
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output,4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition; DualSense; USB cable, HDMI cable.
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