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Game developers showered action game fans with new titles throughout 2021. Blending genres from open-world to rogue-like, action games such as Returnal and Deathloop not only delivered on what was promised, but took it to the next level.
2021 also saw many high-profile titles' get postponed due to difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. From Gotham Knights to God of War Ragnarok, several prominent action games were pushed to 2022. That said, gamers were never left without stellar options over the past year, and we look back at the best action games that were released.
Best action games released in 2021
2021 saw the release of several notable action games. From sequels to AAA franchises like Far Cry 6 to game of the year contender Deathloop, action game fans had plenty to be satisfied with.
2021’s best action games
- Returnal
- Back 4 Blood
- Chivalry II
- Deathloop
- Far Cry 6
Returnal
- Developer/ Publisher: Housemarque, Sony
- Platform:PlayStation 5
- Release date: April 30, 2021
Developed by Housemarque, the PlayStation 5-exclusive Returnal takes the rogue-like genre to the next level. Players follow Selene, a space pilot stuck in a time loop equipped with a suit and armed with high-tech weapons. It blends psychological horror elements with science fiction to create a narrative journey. Returnal was awarded Action Game of the Year at this year’s Game Awards.
Back 4 Blood
- Developer/ Publisher: Turtle Rock Studios, WB Games
- Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Release date: October 8, 2021
Developed by Turtle Rock Studios — the studio behind the iconic Left 4 Dead games — Back 4 Blood was poised to be a true evolution of the series. The game takes the tried-and-true four-player co-op zombie shooter and incorporates new advancements in the form of cards to make each playthrough unique.
Chivalry II
- Developer/ Publisher: Tom Banner Studios, Tripwire Interactive
- Platform:Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Release date: April 23, 2021
In the follow-up to 2012’s Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, Chivalry II builds on its predecessor to deliver a realistic interpretation of medieval warfare. The first-person hack-and-slash title lets players pick up different melee weapons such as longswords, sledgehammers and battle-axes, before facing off on the battlefield.
Deathloop
- Developer/ Publisher: Arkane Studios, Bethesda
- Platform: PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows
- Release date: September 14, 2021
Developed by Dishonored developer Arkane, Deathloop interprets the rogue-like genre in its own way. Players take on the role of Colt Vahn with the aim of taking out all the targets and breaking the loop. Meanwhile, Julianna Blake attempts to stop Colt and preserve the loop.
Far Cry 6
- Developer/ Publisher: Ubisoft
- Platform: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Amazon Luna, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows
- Release date: October 6, 2021
Far Cry 6 not only addresses some of the shortcomings of Far Cry 5, and New Dawn, but evolves the franchise to provide exactly what fans want from a Far Cry game. Players take on the role of Dani Rojas, a guerrilla fighter who must go up against Supreme Leader Anton Castillo (played by Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame) to save the beautiful nation of Yara (loosely based on Cuba) and its people.
