Starring:
Valravn, level 5 Eladrin Bard of Eloquence
Fray, level 5 Halfling Barbarian of the Beast
Celeste, level 5 Half-orc Sun Soul Monk
Edmond, Level 5 Human Alchemist Artificer
Thimbleweed, level 5 Gnome Swarmkeeper Ranger
With the battle of the forge won, the party splits up into three different groups to tackle tasks around the fortress: rescue prisoners from the prison block, hurry after the fleeing warlord, and rush to the top floor and seal the doors to slow down the escaping Chardalyn Dragon.
Potions are usually little more than an afterthought in magic item supplements. A few sentences, pick a buff spell, and boom there’s a D&D 5e potion! Not so with Potions Unlocked, which treats each of its intricately detailed potions with as much loving care and attention as the alchemists who make them.
Starring:
Valravn, level 5 Eladrin Bard of Eloquence
Fray, level 5 Halfling Barbarian of the Beast
Celeste, level 5 Half-orc Sun Soul Monk
Edmond, Level 5 Human Alchemist Artificer
Thimbleweed, level 5 Gnome Swarmkeeper Ranger
After having ignited the rebellion in our previous session, the Marshals wade into the gigantic forge room to take on Xardarok and stop the Chardalyn Dragon from being released.
Sometimes I play video games. Sometimes. My delicate balancing act between freelance writing, running a Patreon-funded YouTube channel, and being a stay at home dad with the youngest entering the terrible toddler years has given me less and less time to devote to gaming.
We also got new puppies this past year, which I definitely don’t recommend alongside a new baby.
Lots of cute, and lots of poop.
So much poop.
And there’s the whole ongoing COVID pandemic, which is gradually receding into the background radiation of our lives as we collectively (and worryingly) become numb to the news and the death toll.
But I still managed to play a few games this past year. At least ten of them!
Before we begin my Game of the Year countdown, let’s take a look at my Most Anticipated Games list from January 2021. Here’s a reminder:
Baldur’s Gate 3
Monster Hunter Rise
Horizon Forbidden West
Back 4 Blood
State of Decay 3
Endless Dungeon
Griftlands
Bravely Default 2
Humankind
Songs of Conquest
Five of those games didn’t release this year. I did play the other five, though only the trial/demo for Back 4 Blood. That’s a better rate than last year!
Did any of my Most Anticipated Games make my final top ten? Let’s find out!
My Top Ten Games of 2021
10) Slipways
Played on: Steam
Slipways is a brilliant little indie puzzle game about creating trade routes between planets. The controls couldn’t be simpler: hold down the mouse to reveal new planets or asteroids, click on planets and choose their supply and demands, and drag routes between them.
The simply strategy is instantly compelling thanks to the complex supply chain between planets. Almost no two planets can supply each other; often I’ll need to create complex, interweaving chains of four or more planets. Add in faction side quests, space stations, and limited time, and you have one of my favorite indie games of the year.
9) Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Played on: Switch
The first Monster Hunter Stories on 3DS was a fun spin-off that combined the monster-battling genre dominated by Pokémon, with the hugely cool monsters of the MH series.
The Switch sequel expands the story and graphics, while only slightly refining the solid tactical combat and monster-fusing gameplay. Its hampered by awful pacing in the early game, however, taking forever to unlock the more interesting elements of the gameplay. Still, the series maintains a much-needed halfway point between the light simplicity of Pokémon and the hardcore complexity of the SMT/Persona series.
8) Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Played on: Steam
D&D has never been more popular than right now, yet officially licensed video games remain rare and mostly underwhelming in recent years.
Though it does some neat stuff with bringing custom player characters to life, I wish Solasta: Crown of the Magister had better production, voice acting, and writing. Despite its flaws, it’s easily the best D&D 5e game we’ve had yet, expertly replicating 5e turn-based combat far more accurately than upcoming D&D game, Baldur’s Gate 3 (which I’m still very much looking forward to when it finally hits 1.0).
7) Bravely Default 2
Played on: Switch
I have a mixed relationship with the Bravely Default series. On the one hand, I love how they feel like old-school, 90s era JRPGs with modern conveniences, such as speeding up combat animations and seeing enemies directly on the map. The job system of combining and synergizing all the classes is rewarding and enjoyable, and I really dig the simple, Chibi-like art style.
But on the other hand Bravely Default 2 is absolutely a gigantic grind to unlock all the cool jobs and abilities, and like most JRPGs, my patience begins wearing out around hour 50. Not my favorite RPG series, but the sequel still deserves a spot on the top ten list.
6) Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Played on: Steam
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous more than scratched my itch for an epic, party-based tactical RPG. In fact, it’s way too much for me, as I may very well retire after 50 hours of live streamed gameplay, only having finished the second act of five!
This stand-alone sequel is way better than the first game (Kingmaker), and features excellent writing and story-telling, memorable characters, and the amazing ability to seamlessly swap between real-time and turn-based tactical combat, giving me the best of both worlds.
5) Gloomhaven
Played on: Steam
Would you believe the official digital adaptation of one of the best board game RPGs ever made had been in Steam Early Access for two years? Gloomhaven finally hit 1.0 in 2021, and holy crap am I impressed.
Between my completed physical copy and our run on Tabletop Simulator, I have played hundreds of hours of Gloomhaven, and this version is still absolutely worth the time. The monster AI and the 3D graphics and animation are a huge plus, not to mention including the entire 90+ scenario campaign, as well as an additional 100+ scenario Guildmaster mode, with its own interesting system of unlocks and progression. And all of it features online four player co-op.
This is a game I’ll be playing a lot more of in the months to come — check out our new run through!
4) It Takes Two
Played on: PlayStation 5
I was late to the party with this co-op 3D platformer that recently won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021. This is not a genre I usually enjoy, but It Takes Two is perfectly designed from the ground up for two players working in tandem through a variety of clever puzzles and interesting locations, whether we’re operating magnets underwater, racing down ski slopes, or battling through a toy castle.
It’s a bit like Honey I Shrunk the Kids meets Portal, wrapped up in a satisfyingly heart-warming story. If you have a gaming partner, you have to play It Takes Two.
3) Monster Hunter Rise
Played on: Switch
I’m prepared to admit I’ll never love a Monster Hunter game as much as my first, 2018’s Monster Hunter World (and my #1 game that year).
But the Switch follow-up is a worthy successor. What it lacks in graphics Monster Hunter Rise makes up for with fun new additions: the Palamute (a cute doggie mount!) and the wirebug (new attacks + mounting monsters!). The gameplay loop of attacking big boss monsters with impressive AI to get more powerful gear is just as fun in World, and I still dumped over 70 hours into Rise. I’m looking forward to the big expansion coming in 2022!
2) Pokémon Unite
Played on: Switch
Pokémon + MOBA is a winning formula, yet I never thought I’d be seduced by a free-to-play Pokémon game. I’m glad to be wrong.
Pokémon Unite is a refreshing, fast-paced MOBA of 10-minute matches, simple controls, and a sports-like scoring system. New Pokémon have been added at an impressive pace, and though Aeos Coins come slowly, I haven’t quite felt the need to drop any hard cash. Yet.
But the real treat is being able to play a competitive multiplayer game with my wife and oldest child together — in fact we literally got my wife her own Switch mainly to play Unite with us!
1) Humankind
Played on: Steam
Despite my love of strategy games, an actual 4X strategy game rarely dominates my end of year top ten list. But 2021 was a strange, stressful year, and Humankind provided a refreshing refuge.
Humankind changes just enough from the Civ formula to make it fresh and exciting, starting with changing cultures upon entering each new era, as well as satisfying tactical combat and intriguing district management. It’s not without some flaws, mostly when it comes to balance, but of all the games on this list, this is the one I’m most likely to return to and play for just one more turn.
End of Year Awards
Most Played:Monster Hunter Rise (70+ hours)
Best Multiplayer: Pokémon Unite
Best Cooperative Game: It Takes Two
Biggest Surprise: Humankind
Most Disappointing: Back 4 Blood
Best Early Access/Beta Game: N/A
Best Original Music: Humankind
Best Art Design: Spiritfarer
Best World Building/Atmosphere: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Best Writing: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Best Game Nobody Else Played: Slipways
Most Improved Sequel: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Favorite New Game Mechanic: Seamlessly swapping between real-time and turn-based combat (Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous).
Most Innovative: It Takes Two
Best New Character: Ember (Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous)
Favorite Moment: Playing Pokémon Unite with my wife and daughter.
Best Industry Trend: D&D (or D&D-adjacent) RPGs!
Worst Industry Trend: COVID delaying many games into next year
Didn’t Have Time to Play: Jurassic World Evolution 2
Too Long; Didn’t Finish: Bravely Default 2, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Favorite 2020 Game of 2021: Marvel’s Miles Morales
Total Games Finished in 2021
Immortals Fenyx Rising
Children of Morta
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth
Smelter
Monster Hunter Rise
Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
New Pokémon Snap
Legend of Keepers
Cyberpunk 2077
Persona 5
Heroes Chronicles: Conquest of the Underworld
Solasta: Crown of the Magister
Roguebook
For the King (first scenario)
Marvel’s Avengers (+1st Hawkeye DLC)
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Marvel’s Spider-Man (+City that Never Sleeps DLC)
Marvel’s Miles Morales
Thanks for reading, and let’s all have a good, or at least a better, 2022!
Is it awkward that my first review of 2022 is also one of the best products I’ve reviewed on the DMs Guild?
Dread Metrol is an awesome crossover between Eberron and Ravenloft, shunting a ruined city in the Mournlands into its own demiplane where an authoritarian Queen rules over an increasingly desperation populace, besieged every night by a never-ending army of undead.
If the Ranger is the martial version of a Druid, and the Paladin the martial version of a Cleric, then The Scion is the martial version of a Warlock. The martial-spellcasting hybrid includes full level 1-20 progression, four subclasses, and three new backgrounds.
One of the more challenging scenarios for a game master to concoct is the initial meeting of the player characters. To help avoid the “you all meet in a tavern” trope, the Academy of Adventure drops level one PCs in an adventuring school for young adults.
Starring:
Valravn, level 5 Eladrin Bard of Eloquence
Fray, level 5 Halfling Barbarian of the Beast Celeste, level 5 Half-orc Sun Soul Monk
Edmond, Level 5 Human Alchemist Artificer Thimbleweed, level 5 Gnome Swarmkeeper Ranger
After a brief battle in the interrogation chamber, the party discovers just how close Xardarok is to fulfilling his grand plans, and how little time they have to act.
Inspired by blood sport adventures such as Running Man, The Hunger Games, and Gladiator, Dragonbowl invites a sixth level D&D party into a humorously corporatized sporting event that’s one part Superbowl and one part Battle Royale.
Eric Watson 