January theme - list of games

The monthly theme includes games that we most enjoyed playing in 2021. It doesn’t matter what the game’s release year is - what matters is that you played it in 2021 and enjoyed it so much that you would like to see other assassins experience it too. You can nominate up to 10 games. Feel free to also tell us why you liked these particular games, I’m sure a lot of us would love to hear why these games were special to you.

I would really really really appreciate it if you could include a “clean” list of games somewhere in your post. Please use this format to make skanda’s life easier. :)

```
* [Name of game 1](Steam store page link)
* [Name of game 2](Steam store page link)
* [Name of game 3](Steam store page link)
```

The list also includes the winners of the BLAEO Game Awards 2021.

Here are games that I have enjoyed very much ~~this~~ past year. You will find review for most of them in my reports or on my Steam page. ;)
Happy New Year and good hunting!

Pyre - definitely THE BEST.
Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition - go save the galaxy!
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - I simply love it, second best.
Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition - very nice.
BioShock™ Remastered - classic.
Crazy Plant Shop - cute little game.
SKYHILL - it’s fun.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - I have enjoyed the new perspective.
Prey - it’s really great, even for second run.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes - can be addictive.

* [Pyre](https://store.steampowered.com/app/462770/Pyre/)
* [Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1328670/Mass_Effect_Legendary_Edition/)
* [Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun](https://store.steampowered.com/app/418240/Shadow_Tactics_Blades_of_the_Shogun/)
* [Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/440540/Ara_Fell_Enhanced_Edition/)
* [BioShock™ Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/409710/BioShock_Remastered/)
* [Crazy Plant Shop](https://store.steampowered.com/app/292200/Crazy_Plant_Shop/)
* [SKYHILL](https://store.steampowered.com/app/382140/SKYHILL/)
* [The Walking Dead: A New Frontier](https://store.steampowered.com/app/536220/The_Walking_Dead_A_New_Frontier/)
* [Prey](https://store.steampowered.com/app/480490/Prey/)
* [Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes](https://store.steampowered.com/app/61700/Might__Magic_Clash_of_Heroes/)

Pyre, Prey and Bioshock, what a good gaming year. :) Added to the list!

Seems like I am going to stick to them even this year. :D

Some of these definitely out there and probably not owned much but idc. Most of these are my favourites of the months like attack on titan, sleeping dogs and others. Others just surprised me like lego ninjago or was a great addition to a series like witches tea party

* [Zanki Zero: Last Beginning](https://store.steampowered.com/app/819020/Zanki_Zero_Last_Beginning/)
* [Attack on Titan / A.O.T. Wings of Freedom](Attack on Titan / A.O.T. Wings of Freedom)
* [Sakura Succubus](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1202310/Sakura_Succubus/)
* [Remember Me](https://store.steampowered.com/app/228300/Remember_Me/)
* [The Men of Yoshiwara: Ohgiya](https://store.steampowered.com/app/447200/The_Men_of_Yoshiwara_Ohgiya/)
* [The Witches' Tea Party](https://store.steampowered.com/app/594950/The_Witches_Tea_Party/)
* [The LEGO® NINJAGO® Movie Video Game](https://store.steampowered.com/app/640590/The_LEGO_NINJAGO_Movie_Video_Game/)
* [Misao: Definitive Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/691450/Misao_Definitive_Edition/)
* [The Henry Stickmin Collection](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1089980/The_Henry_Stickmin_Collection/)
* [Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/307690/Sleeping_Dogs_Definitive_Edition/)

Thanks, added to the list!

Those are mine 9/10 this year:

* [Psychonauts 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/607080/Psychonauts_2/)
* [The Room 4](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1361320/The_Room_4_Old_Sins/)
* [Journey to the Savage Planet](https://store.steampowered.com/app/973810/Journey_To_The_Savage_Planet/)
* [The Forgotten City](https://store.steampowered.com/app/874260/The_Forgotten_City/)
* [The Pathless](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1492680/The_Pathless/)

Thank you, I’ve added them to the list!

My thoughts on most of these can be found in my yearly report.

* [Nioh 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1325200/)
* [Tale of Immortal](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1468810/)
* [One Step From Eden](https://store.steampowered.com/app/960690/)
* [ATRI -My Dear Moments-](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1230140/)
* [Tales of Berseria](https://store.steampowered.com/app/429660/)
* [A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1111370/)
* [It Takes Two](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426210/)
* [A Hat in Time](https://store.steampowered.com/app/253230/)
* [ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1369630/)
* [G-senjou no Maou](https://store.steampowered.com/app/377670/)

I barely even know her lilies.

:notlikebloboctopus:

Can you tell what kind of game I’m practically predisposed to playing, at this point?

A Short Hike - Amazingly relaxing exploration game; if you ever need to catch a break, jump into it.
Batman - The Telltale Series - I fully owe my interest in Batman to this game…
Batman: The Enemy Within - …in fact, I was so interested that I ended up playing the sequel on the same year.
D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die - Oh, SWERY, why did this have to end up incomplete? Definitely one of the quirkiest games I played this year.
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator - The wildly unfair minigame achievement aside, this is a really fun romp through dad-dating land. Dadtastic!
Life is Strange - It’s got plotholes left and right, I can’t argue with that, but it’s one of the games that got me super into time travel and so I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t recommend it. Being in a similar demographic as myself would definitely help, though.
OnlyCans: Thirst Date - This one just took a bonkers idea and ran with it. It’s one of those games that honestly seem too good to be free.
Tell Me Why - Tell me, why did those twins have to get back in touch with their roots? Well, I guess you’ll have to find out for yourself.
The Walking Dead: Michonne - Michonne is a gosh darn badass, ‘nuff said. I just wish she was featured in the main games somehow.
The Wolf Among Us - Help, I think I’m in love with a wolfman.

* [A Short Hike](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540)
* [Batman - The Telltale Series](https://store.steampowered.com/app/498240)
* [Batman: The Enemy Within](https://store.steampowered.com/app/675260)
* [D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die](https://store.steampowered.com/app/358090)
* [Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator](https://store.steampowered.com/app/654880)
* [Life is Strange](https://store.steampowered.com/app/319630)
* [OnlyCans: Thirst Date](https://store.steampowered.com/app/417360)
* [Tell Me Why](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180660)
* [The Walking Dead: Michonne](https://store.steampowered.com/app/429570)
* [The Wolf Among Us](https://store.steampowered.com/app/250320)

And you even posted an alphabetical list, amazing. :)

Of course I did! Order is key :D

Yakuza 3 Remastered
Yakuza 4 Remastered
Yakuza 5 Remastered
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Don’t mind me, just posting almost half of my list in one go. I was very happy with SEGA’s decision of continuing to port the series on PC and even happier to find out 3, 4, 5 and 6 would be released on Game Pass.
After the 1 and 2 remakes (Kiwami), 3 and 4 are at this point the “oldest” in the series from a tech point of view; going from playing Kiwami 2 to 3 felt like a downgrade almost across the board, but the writing and characters were as good as ever so it was not too bad overall.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon

The odd one out (so far) of the Yakuza series, unlike the other main titles it’s a turn-based JRPG. I was honestly very sceptical going into it but after only a few hours I was completely on board. Now I’d convincingly say it’s in my top 3 favourites in the series and I look forward to the sequel that’s apparently in production
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Both of them were really solid and enjoyable, with Shadow in particular fixing some of the small grievances I had with Rise
Outer Wilds

I’ll copy what I wrote for my yearly recap, in short it’s the best game I’ve played this year. If the idea of slowly piecing together the story and the mechanics of a solar system and its past inhabitants by means of exploration and puzzle solving interest you, just buy it and don’t look up anything else.

I’d have included A Way Out and Forza Horizon 5 but they’ve already been mentioned :3

* [Outer Wilds](https://store.steampowered.com/app/753640/Outer_Wilds/)
* [Rise of the Tomb Raider](https://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/Rise_of_the_Tomb_Raider/)
* [Shadow of the Tomb Raider](https://store.steampowered.com/app/750920/Shadow_of_the_Tomb_Raider_Definitive_Edition/)
* [Yakuza 3 Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1088710/Yakuza_3_Remastered/)
* [Yakuza 4 Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105500/Yakuza_4_Remastered/)
* [Yakuza 5 Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105510/Yakuza_5_Remastered/)
* [Yakuza 6: The Song of Life](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1388590/Yakuza_6_The_Song_of_Life/)
* [Yakuza: Like a Dragon](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1235140/Yakuza_Like_a_Dragon/)

Maybe I should finally get back to Outer Wilds…

Yes

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure - The most adorable and feel good game I played this year.
The Wild at Heart - A super pretty pikmin style adventure
Death’s Door - My favorite Zelda-like I’ve played this year, hands down
Mini Motorways - As addictive as mini metro
Dorfromantik - Super zen tile placement game that can be as chill or as hard as you want depending on if you’re trying to score high or just build a cool map
It Takes Two - Suprisingly good coop game despite the questionnable storyline. Deserves all the awards it’s getting.
Subnautica Below Zero - Loved this one, as much or more than the original.
Inscryption - Weird game with more gameplay than what it sells itself for. To enjoy it the most, don’t read about it, just play it.
Loop Hero - Addictive loopy roguelike gameplay.
Garden Story - A cute Zelda-like. Not too difficult but worth your time.

* [Alba: A Wildlife Adventure](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1337010/)
* [The Wild at Heart](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1093290/The_Wild_at_Heart/)
* [Death’s Door](https://store.steampowered.com/app/894020/)
* [Mini Motorways](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1127500/Mini_Motorways/)
* [Dorfromantik](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1455840/Dorfromantik/)
* [It Takes Two](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426210/)
* [Subnautica Below Zero](https://store.steampowered.com/app/848450/Subnautica_Below_Zero/)
* [Inscryption](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1092790/Inscryption/)
* [Loop Hero](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1282730/Loop_Hero/)
* [Garden Story](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062140/Garden_Story/)

:lynx:

Most likely I was one of the last who hadn’t played most of those games, but I really enjoyed all of them :)

* [7 Billion Humans](https://store.steampowered.com/app/792100/)
* [AVICII Invector](https://store.steampowered.com/app/986800/)
* [Baba Is You](https://store.steampowered.com/app/736260/)
* [Book of Demons](https://store.steampowered.com/app/449960/)
* [Cat Quest II](https://store.steampowered.com/app/914710/) 
* [Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice](https://store.steampowered.com/app/414340/)
* [Human: Fall Flat](https://store.steampowered.com/app/477160/)
* [Ori and the Blind Forest](https://store.steampowered.com/app/261570/) / [Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/387290/)
* [The Gardens Between](https://store.steampowered.com/app/600990/)
* [The Talos Principle](https://store.steampowered.com/app/257510/)

I’ve been constantly whistling the Ori theme song for the past few days. :3

Not as easy as I thought. Guess I would be able to easily nominate 15 games

* [Control Ultimate Edition](http://store.steampowered.com/app/870780)
* [Desperados III](http://store.steampowered.com/app/610370)
* [Deus Ex: Mankind Divided™](http://store.steampowered.com/app/337000)
* [Human: Fall Flat](http://store.steampowered.com/app/477160)
* [Leaving Lyndow](http://store.steampowered.com/app/585840)
* [Out of Space](http://store.steampowered.com/app/400080)
* [RiME](http://store.steampowered.com/app/493200)
* [The Room Two](http://store.steampowered.com/app/425580)
* [The Room](http://store.steampowered.com/app/288160)
* [Unravel](http://store.steampowered.com/app/1225560)

Thanks for the (alphabetical :3) list!

Oh shoot! I didn’t think of that. Let’s see if I can fix before you get to mine.

very welcome. Very easy to sort with Notepad++ :D

Tempête Joachim

* [Dicey Dungeons](https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/Dicey_Dungeons)
* [Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/373420/Divinity_Original_Sin__Enhanced_Edition/)
* [Forza Horizon 5](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1551360/Forza_Horizon_5/)
* [The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158850/The_Great_Ace_Attorney_Chronicles/)
* [Inscryption](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1092790/Inscryption)
* [Roguebook](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1076200/Roguebook/)
* [Roundguard](https://store.steampowered.com/app/848030/Roundguard/)
* [Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205450/Turnip_Boy_Commits_Tax_Evasion/)
* [Wildermyth](https://store.steampowered.com/app/763890/Wildermyth/)
* [Yakuza 4 Remastered](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105500/Yakuza_4_Remastered/)

Thanks, I’ve added them to the list!

Sorry I didn’t think about / get around to this until just now. Happy New Year!

Agent A: A puzzle in disguise: Awesome little point-and-click, no “moon logic” puzzles, great setting.
The Cave: single-player (control 3 chars) or local co-op…puzzle/adventure game with light platforming.
Eliza: Maybe a niche title, but a story-based visual-novel about AI, corporations, dystopian society. Some “choices matter” elements.
The House of Da Vinci: just finished this week, it’s a great “The Room” clone, but maybe even a little better?
Legend of Grimrock: I believe it was in the first Humble Monthly bundle. A classic dungeon-crawling RPG.
Little Misfortune: One of my favorites of the year, which says something about me maybe…dark humor, p-n-c.
The Silent Age: Er, another point-and-click. Cool story. Try it if you like the genre.
Whispering Willows: story-based adventure, elements of horror/supernatural. Switch from human to ghost form to solve puzzles!

* [Agent A: A puzzle in disguise](http://store.steampowered.com/app/801480)
* [The Cave](http://store.steampowered.com/app/221810)
* [Eliza](http://store.steampowered.com/app/716500)
* [The House of Da Vinci](http://store.steampowered.com/app/522470)
* [Legend of Grimrock](http://store.steampowered.com/app/207170)
* [Little Misfortune](http://store.steampowered.com/app/714120)
* [The Silent Age](http://store.steampowered.com/app/352520)
* [Whispering Willows](http://store.steampowered.com/app/288060)

What other pnc games would you say Agent A is most similar to? It’s on a deep discount right now and I do like the “no moon logic” aspect you’ve mentioned…

Hmm. I looked through all of my played games and all of my unplayed point-and-click games, and didn’t really find a game particularly similar to it. The closest I came was A Case of Distrust, in that both are detective/mystery, female protagonist, point-and-click games, and could be described as “stylish”…but art style, environment, and really gameplay are pretty different. It also has some hidden object elements which Distrust doesn’t have.

Would you permit me to gift it to you while it remains on sale as a thank you for all of your hard work on the site? Although it occurs to me that I may not be able to gift to your region… :(

That’s really sweet of you, but the offer itself is already more than enough of a thank you. :)

Warning, list includes gay games with very detailed stuff going on O.O

Our Life: Beginnings & Always - It’s a free to play game and probably the most adorable game ever. You can either play as boy or girl and watch the MC grow up with their neighbour Cove in 8 year intervals. You can influence where this goes and omg, it can be the most precocious love story ever! <3
Tell Me Why - Drama, special powers, loveable characters - what’s there not to like? <3
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games - Ok, I still wonder how I never knew about this Gem! It’s just awesome! Play it! NOW!
Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition - ME relaoded. Nin in heaven <3
Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma - More Zero Escape! More awesome! Although the first one was the best one.
My Burning Heart - Romance in a male harem. With conflict and sex and love. And voice-over. I totally melted at some points… :3
Maelstrom: A Yaoi Visual Novel - At times it completely freaked me out bc of the brainbox, but it was so gooood at other points. Gay, obv :3
A Plague Tale: Innocence - My stealth game of the year! I really do not like rats in this game. They creep me out. But I loved the gameplay! Excited for the second one!
Life is Strange: True Colors - I don’t even know what to say here. I just loved it!
Room No. 9 - Right, this one blew my mind - and it’s really really really naughty with the sex stuff. Don’t touch it, if you don’t like stuff like that. Don’t even look at the store I guess. Only let down: There was no end, which satisfied me D:

* [Our Life: Beginnings & Always](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1129190/)
* [Tell Me Why](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180660/)
* [Zero Escape: The Nonary Games](https://store.steampowered.com/app/477740/)
* [Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1328670/)
* [Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma](https://store.steampowered.com/app/311240/)
* [My Burning Heart](https://store.steampowered.com/app/921900/)
* [Maelstrom: A Yaoi Visual Novel](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1485190/)
* [A Plague Tale: Innocence](https://store.steampowered.com/app/752590/)
* [Life is Strange: True Colors](https://store.steampowered.com/app/936790/)
* [Room No. 9](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1354760)

Added them to the list, thanks!

:3

* [DEATHLOOP](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1252330/DEATHLOOP/)
* [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/Deep_Rock_Galactic/)
* [Dogs Organized Neatly](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1597730/Dogs_Organized_Neatly/)
* [Forager](https://store.steampowered.com/app/751780/Forager/)
* [Hades](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145360/Hades/)
* [Red Dead Redemption 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1174180/Red_Dead_Redemption_2/)
* [Röki](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1067540/Rki/)
* [Superliminal](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1049410/Superliminal/)
* [Timelie](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1150950/Timelie/)
* [Watch Dogs: Legion](https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/watch-dogs-legion)

(Skipping some games that were already mentioned before.)

Skipping games that have already been mentioned before:

* [NieR:Automata](https://store.steampowered.com/app/524220/NieRAutomata/)
* [One Finger Death Punch 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/980300/One_Finger_Death_Punch_2/)
* [Rain on Your Parade](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1213230/Rain_on_Your_Parade/)
* [Tetris Effect: Connected](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1003590/Tetris_Effect_Connected/)

Thanks for the list!

MrJohnnyTwoShoes

My recommendation:

LIMBO

Added, thanks.

Nothing unusual, just big name titles

A Plague Tale: Innocence - Interesting setting, awesome gameplay.
DOOM Eternal - One of the best FPS from the last years. Or maybe the best?
Hades - It has many positive aspects, but Dusa still friendzoned me, meh
Half-Life 2 - It’s one of the best game that I ever played, and I still played it in 2021, so it counts.
Mafia: Definitive Edition - Remake for a classic game that improved original in every way.
Metro Exodus - Good game, crappy execution. Too many bugs.
Resident Evil 2 -Yeup, I keep playing it.
Resident Evil 7 - Finally I got my hands on it.
Resident Evil Village - Game of the year in my opinion.
The Witness - Mindfuck of the year.

* [A Plague Tale: Innocence](https://store.steampowered.com/app/752590/A_Plague_Tale_Innocence/)
* [DOOM Eternal](https://store.steampowered.com/app/782330/DOOM_Eternal/)
* [Hades](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145360/Hades/)
* [Half-Life 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/220/HalfLife_2/)
* [Mafia: Definitive Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1030840/Mafia_Definitive_Edition/)
* [Metro Exodus](https://store.steampowered.com/app/412020/Metro_Exodus/)
* [Resident Evil 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/883710/Resident_Evil_2/)
* [Resident Evil 7](https://store.steampowered.com/app/418370/Resident_Evil_7_Biohazard/)
* [Resident Evil Village](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1196590/Resident_Evil_Village/)
* [The Witness](https://store.steampowered.com/app/210970/The_Witness/)

Thanks, I’ve added them to the list!