Welcome to the fourth BLAEO Game Awards!
We can’t pick the best games of 2021 without your help so please nominate your favourite games released in 2021* and make sure to return between December 20 and 29 to vote for your absolute favourites. Let’s see which games released this year were most loved by the BLAEO community!
The timeline for this event is as follows:
24 November - 18 December: Nomination phase
20 December - 29 December: Voting phase
31 December: The winners are announced
These are the proposed categories:
- Game of the Year
- Choices Matter
- Best Story
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game
- Best Free to Play Game
- Most Value for Money
- Best Game Under $20
- Best Addition to an Existing Series
- Most Addictive Game
- Prettiest Game
- Best Soundtrack
- Best DLC
- Best Early Access Game (Added to EA in 2021 or left EA in 2021.)
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem
- Best Character
- Best Console Exclusive
- Best Mobile Game
Nomination Phase
To nominate a game simply post a comment with a list of games you want to nominate in each category.
Please include games even if they have already been mentioned by other users. We might not be able to include every proposed game in the final vote and seeing how popular the games are will make it easier for us to make the final selection.
In a similar way we might not include all the categories in the final vote if there’s an obvious lack of interest/proposed games.
Guidelines for nominating games:
- Best Console Game category: games released on console for the first time between 1 December 2020 and 30 November 2021 can be nominated.
- Best Mobile Game category: games released on mobile for the first time between 1 December 2020 and 30 November 2021 can be nominated.
- Best DLC category: the DLC needs to have been released between 1 December 2020 and 30 November 2021, but the game can be older.
- All other categories: games released on PC for the first time between 1 December 2020 and 30 November 2021 can be nominated.
Please use the following format when nominating games:
**- Game of the Year:**
**- Choices Matter:**
**- Best Story:**
**- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:**
**- Best Free to Play Game:**
**- Most Value for Money:**
**- Best Game Under $20:**
**- Best Addition to an Existing Series:**
**- Most Addictive Game:**
**- Prettiest Game:**
**- Best Soundtrack:**
**- Best DLC:**
**- Best Early Access Game:**
**- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:**
**- Best Character:**
**- Best Console Exclusive:**
**- Best Mobile Game:**
WIP
- Game of the Year: Life is Strange: True Colors, Mass Effect Legendary
- Choices Matter: Life is Strange: True Colors, Maelstrom - A Yaoi Visual Novel, Mass Effect Legendary
- Best Story: Mass Effect Legendary, Life is Strange: True Colors
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Operation Tango
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money: Mass Effect Legendary, Life is Strange: True Colors
- Best Game Under $20: Maelstrom
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Life is Strange: True Colors
- Most Addictive Game: Mass Effect Legendary, Maelstrom
- Prettiest Game: Life is Strange: True Colors, Mass Effect Legendary
- Best Soundtrack: Mass Effect Legendary
- Best DLC: Our Life: Beginnings & Always
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Maelstrom?
- Best Character: Sawyer from Maelstrom, Stef from Life is Strange: True Colors, Liara from Mass Effect Legendary
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
Right, did I play a lot of games published in 2021? No, I didn’t, but at least this year I already own a few from this year! \o/
I also tried stoping myself from nominating Mass Effect in every category… It was hard D:
- Best Story: NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139… / ABYSS OF THE SACRIFICE / OMORI
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Forza Horizon 5
- Most Value for Money: usual honorary mention for Xbox Game Pass
- Best Game Under $20: Loop Hero, Inscryption, Death’s Door
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Forza Horizon 5
- Most Addictive Game: Loop Hero
- Prettiest Game: Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery / Forza Horizon 5
- Best Soundtrack: NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139… / OMORI
- Best DLC: Outer Wilds - Echoes of the Eye
- Best Early Access Game: The Slormancer
- Best Character: Kainé (NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…)
- Best Console Exclusive: Lost Judgment, Metroid Dread
- Game of the Year: Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story: Tales of Arise, NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money: Tale of Immortal
- Best Game Under $20: Tale of Immortal, Monster Sanctuary
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition, Tales of Arise
- Most Addictive Game: Tale of Immortal, Loop Hero
- Prettiest Game: ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights
- Best Soundtrack: ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights, NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…
- Best DLC: Monster Train: The Last Divinity
- Best Early Access Game: Tale of Immortal, Darkest Dungeon 2
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Perfect Gold
- Best Character: Illaoi (Ruined King: A League of Legends Story™), Emil (NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…)
- Best Console Exclusive: N/A
- Best Mobile Game: N/A
- Game of the Year: Skul The Hero Slayer. Idk still haven’t played it but its there and looks really good.
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story:
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: The Jackbox Party Pack 8
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money:
- Best Game Under $20:
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: The Room 4
- Most Addictive Game: Dyson Sphere Program (Because I can’t nominate factorio again…haven’t played much because of potato laptop)
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack: Psychonauts 2
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Space Gladiators
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
WIP
- Game of the Year: Psychonauts 2
- Choices Matter: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
- Best Story: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, The Forgotten City
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: It Takes Two
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money: Yakuza 5 Remastered
- Best Game Under $20: Yakuza 5 Remastered
- Best Addition to an Existing Series:
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack: Psychonauts 2
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Rain on Your Parade
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive: Lost Judgment
- Best Mobile Game:
Does Cookie Clicker count this year? It was released as a browser game some years ago, and this year it got released on Steam.
- Game of the Year: Forza Horizon 5, Deathloop, It Takes Two
- Choices Matter: /
- Best Story: /
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Forza Horizon 5, Deathloop, The Jackbox Party Pack 8, It Takes Two
- Best Free to Play Game: /
- Most Value for Money: /
- Best Game Under $20: Omno, Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Age of Empires IV, Forza Horizon 5
- Most Addictive Game: Forza Horizon 5
- Prettiest Game: Forza Horizon 5, Deathloop, Omno, Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Best Soundtrack: Deathloop
- Best DLC: /
- Best Early Access Game: /
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Omno, Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Best Character: Colt (Deathloop), Julianna (Deathloop), Dr Hakim (It Takes Two)
- Best Console Exclusive: /
- Best Mobile Game: /
- Game of the Year: Forza Horizon 5
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story: Cyberpunk 2077, Road 96
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: It Takes Two
- Most Value for Money:
- Best Game Under $20: Road 96
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Forza Horizon 5
- Most Addictive Game: Forza Horizon 5
- Prettiest Game: Forza Horizon 5
- Best Soundtrack:
- Best Early Access Game: Dorfromantik
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Dorfromantik
- Best Character: Panam Palmer (Cyberpunk 2077)
- Best Console Exclusive: Metroid Dread
- Game of the Year: Loop Hero; Before Your Eyes; Deathloop; Wildermyth
- Choices Matter: Twelve Minutes; The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
- Best Story: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…; Little Nightmares II
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: It Takes Two
- Most Value for Money: Loop Hero; Curious Expedition 2
- Best Game Under $20: Loop Hero; Unpacking; Papetura; Inscryption; TOEM
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Life is Strange: True Colors; Resident Evil Village
- Most Addictive Game: Loop Hero; Unpacking
- Prettiest Game: Papetura; Deathloop; Resident Evil Village; Lost in Random
- Best Soundtrack: NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…; Cyberpunk 2077; The Artful Escape
- Best Early Access Game: Potion Craft; Encased; Gloomhaven; Death Trash; Baldur’s Gate 3
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Blind Drive; The Sundew; The Big Con; Draft of Darkness; The Magister
- Best Character: Emil (from NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…); Deacon St. John (from Days Gone)
Once again, I don’t own any games that were released this year (except for a free game and a free remaster for an old game).
[Edit: I did find a game on an alt that was released in December 2020, but I haven’t played it.]
I have played only 4 games released in 2021, so my list will be very very limited:
- Game of the Year: Wildermyth; Loop Hero
- Choices Matter: Wildermyth
- Best Story: Wildermyth
- Best Game Under $20: Wildermyth (hm, see a pattern?).
- Most Addictive Game: Loop Hero
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Wildermyth
I’m not 100% sure, but I think you liked Wildermyth. :P
Haven’t really played much released in 2021 so lets see
- Best Story: THE CORRIDOR
- Best Game Under $20: Tiny Lands
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: 100 hidden birds 2
- Most Addictive Game: Can I vote the whole 100 hidden series? I have played like 15 of those
- Prettiest Game: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Best DLC: Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Iberia
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Diorama Builder
Also I am ashamed to say that Hades, the game I have won from last years BLAEO game awards, defeated me :( I tried so hard for so long but the best I have gotten was the 2nd phase of the last boss fight :( great game tho :D
I guess I’ve played most of the major 2021 games at this point except RE: Village, Psychonauts 2 and some MP stuff. This will be fun!
- Game of the Year: Forza Horizon 5
- Choices Matter: Mass Effect Legendary Edition
- Best Story: NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Forza Horizon 5
- Most Value for Money: Mass Effect Legendary Edition
- Best Game Under $20: Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Tales of Arise
- Most Addictive Game: Forza Horizon 5
- Prettiest Game: Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- Best Soundtrack: NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Little Nightmares II
- Best Character: Emil (from NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…)
Have yet to play some indies like Eastward and Impostor Factory too, but I don’t think they would have affected my choices that much.
I didn’t play any 2021 game :eye:
Telmi rich
I haven’t played a bunch of newly released games but I’ve only played one game that came out in 2021, apparently. Go me.
- Game of the Year: Biomutant
- Game of the Year: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Choices Matter: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Best Story: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Best Free to Play Game: NEKOPARA - Catboys Paradise
- Most Value for Money: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Best Game Under $20: Dorfromantik
- Most Addictive Game: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition, Spellcaster University, Dorfromantik
- Prettiest Game: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Best Soundtrack: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition, Spellcaster University
- Best Early Access Game: Dorfromantik
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Spellcaster University
- Best Character: Garrus Vakarian (Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition)
- Game of the Year: Death’s Door, The Wild at Heart
- Choices Matter:
- Best Story: The Wild at Heart
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game:
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money: Mini motorways, Dorfromantik (and the all time winner, the Xbox game pass)
- Best Game Under $20: Death’s Door, Alba A Wildlife Adventure, Dorfromantik
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Mini Motorways (? if you count minimetro as the first in the series, I understand if it doesn’t)
- Most Addictive Game: Dorfromantik, Mini motorways, Loophero
- Prettiest Game: The Wild at Heart, Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery
- Best Soundtrack: NieR Replicant™ ver.1.22474487139…
- Best DLC: Monster Train: The Last Divinity
- Best Early Access Game: Dorfromantik, Dysmantle
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Alba A Wildlife Adventure, Omno
- Best Character: Stan & Mitch (Road 96)
- Best Console Exclusive: Metroid Dread
- Best Mobile Game:
Starting my list here. Will definitively update in the next days
- Game of the Year:
- Choices Matter: Cyberpunk 2077
- Best Story: Cyberpunk 2077
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Outriders
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money:
- Best Game Under $20:
- Best Addition to an Existing Series:
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack:
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
I don’t think that I find a game for each category, but at least I try
- Game of the Year: Resident Evil Village
- Choices Matter: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Best Story: Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: It Takes Two, Halo Infinite
- Best Free to Play Game: Halo Infinite
- Most Value for Money:
- Best Game Under $20:
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Resident Evil Village
- Most Addictive Game:
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack:
- Best DLC: Outer Wilds - Echoes of the Eye
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:
- Best Character:
- Best Console Exclusive:
- Best Mobile Game:
- Game of the Year: Neo: The World Ends With You
- Choices Matter: House of Ashes
- Best Story: Imposter Factory
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: It Takes Two, House of Ashes
- Best Free to Play Game:
- Most Value for Money:Neo: The World Ends With You
- Best Game Under $20: Loop Hero
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Neo: The World Ends With You
- Most Addictive Game:Loop Hero, Neo: The World Ends With You
- Prettiest Game:
- Best Soundtrack: Neo: The World Ends With You
- Best DLC:
- Best Early Access Game:
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem:Neo: The World Ends With You, Cozy Grove
- Best Character: Sho Minamimoto (Neo)
- Best Console Exclusive:Pokemon BD/SP
- Best Mobile Game:
- Game of the Year: It takes two
- Best Story: It takes two
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: It takes two
- Most Value for Money: Totally reliable delivery service
- Best Game Under $20: Wattam
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Yakuza 3 Remastered
- Most Addictive Game: KeyWe
- Prettiest Game: It takes two
- Best Soundtrack: Narita Boy
- Best DLC: Maneater : truth quest
- Best Early Access Game: TABS (totally accurate battle simulator)
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: KeyWe
- Best Character: Dr Hakim from it takes two
- Best Console Exclusive: Super Mario 3d world + bowser’s fury
I actually played some games that released this year, most unusual. I know I’ve shown a lot of love for It takes two here, but seriously, it’s worth it. That game was so much fun to play through with my wife. And we’ve also been having some fun with KeyWe.
- Game of the Year: Valheim
- Choices Matter: Twelve Minutes
- Best Story: NieR Replicant, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Morkredd, Wildermyth, Valheim
- Best Free to Play Game: Portal Reloaded, Find Love or Die Trying, Arid
- Most Value for Money: Valheim
- Best Game Under $20: Valheim
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: NieR Replicant, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
- Most Addictive Game: Valheim
- Prettiest Game: OPUS: Echo of Starsong
- Best Soundtrack: NieR Replicant, OPUS: Echo of Starsong
- Best DLC: Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands
- Best Early Access Game: Valheim
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Sunshine Heavy Industries, Cats in Time
- Best Character: Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!)
- Best Console Exclusive: Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
- Best Mobile Game:
Haven’t played that many 2021 releases or rather own them either except seems like quite a few late bundle games would be in parameters, but guess can at least pick some. o.-
- Game of the Year: Resident Evil Village
- Choices Matter: Curse of the Dead Gods To make a blood sacrifice or not!
- Best Story: Runo
- Best Co-op/Multiplayer Game: Morkredd
- Best Free to Play Game: Runo
- Most Value for Money: Curse of the Dead Gods
- Best Game Under $20: Curse of the Dead Gods
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: Resident Evil Village
- Most Addictive Game: Necromunda: Hired Gun
- Prettiest Game: Minute of Islands
- Best Soundtrack: Necromunda: Hired Gun
- Best DLC: -
- Best Early Access Game: Curse of the Dead Gods
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Necromunda: Hired Gun
- Best Character: Lady Alcina Dimitrescu / Maggie Robertson (Resident Evil VIllage)
- Best Console Exclusive: -
- Best Mobile Game: -
Can I nominate my game? Because it’s freaking tempting :D
I’m not gonna do this, but I will propably edit this list later, cause I’m buying some incredibly rated games on this sale.
- Game of the Year: Psychonauts 2
- Best Story: Strangeland
- Best Game Under $20: The Room 4: Old Sins
- Best Addition to an Existing Series: The Room 4: Old Sins
- Prettiest Game: Hoa / Behind the Frame
- Best Soundtrack: Psychonauts 2
- Best Underdog/Hidden Gem: Alekon
- Best Character: Helmut Fullbear from Psychonauts 2
Maybe in the future we can introduce a “Best game made by backlog assassins” category. :)