Immersive experiences you must try still this year

The year of 2021 has been a plentiful one for gamers around the world, with dozens of incredible games being released on multiple gaming platforms throughout these last few months. And even though we’re drawing close to the end of the year, there are still many new gaming experiences you must try that will certainly leave you mesmerized.

In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, several developing studios were forced to shut down physical operations, which led to the release of many awaited titles being delayed. This year, however, most of these studios, and also publishing companies, were able to return to their regular operations, and are finally launching some of these much anticipated games.

Also, it’s especially a good year if you’re thirsty for new exciting gameplays and immersive experiences, or even innovative mechanics to shake things up in a market dominated by multiplayer shooters, battle arenas, and battle royales. In 2021, the industry has been providing us with many new gameplays to quench our thirst for unique and original games.

Innovative mechanics

If you’re tired of the same mechanics being recycled over and over again, and want to try out some innovative games, there are many titles that were released this year that will probably provide you many hours of gameplay.

Developed by Luis Antonio, a former Rockstar Games and Ubisoft artist, Twelve Minutes is an interactive adventure game released in late August by Annapurna Interactive for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game features voice acting by renowned actors Willem Defoe and James McAvoy. Twelve Minutes takes place mostly in an apartment, and puts players in control of a husband who is stuck in a 12-minute time loop in which his wife is arrested for murder. Players must investigate the crime and change his wife’s fate before each loop.

One of the most ingenious blockchain games available, The Sandbox was recently launched by Animoca Brands on the Ethereum blockchain. The game is an open-world interactive experience in which players are able to build virtual worlds, design characters, scenery objects, and items, and apply different gameplay mechanics to create multiple adventures within the game’s fully decentralized revolving metaverse. The Sandbox even has its own cryptocurrency, called SAND, that can be used to monetize all content created, trade in the marketplace, and even earn money through play-to-earn features.

Interactive narratives

If you’re craving for some story-focused gameplays to just relax and take some time off, several interactive narratives and storytelling adventures were released this year, and there’s still a major title set to be launched later this month.

Released in 2020 for the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2, and adapted this year to Windows, macOS, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, Myst is a remake of the classic graphic adventure puzzle designed by the Miller brothers and developed by Cyan. The original game was a commercial and critical success, becoming the best-selling PC game until The Sims. This remake features the same adventure as the original game, with players solving puzzles and travelling to other worlds known as Ages. However, thanks to Unreal Engine 4, the game now features enhanced graphics in a real-time, first-person game play.

Scheduled to be released this month for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Serie X/S, Life is Strange: True Colors is a graphic adventure developed by Deck Nine and published by Square Enix. The fifth installment in the Life is Strange series – and the third entry in the mainline – this episodic adventure follows Alex Chen, a young woman who can experience and manipulate others’ emotions. Players must investigate scenes, interact with objects, and solve different puzzles to explore the different locations in the game’s setting.

Beautiful graphics and amazing soundtracks

In August, we saw the release of some games that were critically acclaimed for their graphics, art direction, music, and soundtracks, and will certainly provide you many hours of entertainment through beautifully-rendered virtual worlds.

Announced at The Game Awards 2015, Psychonauts 2 was finally released last month for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox consoles. The game was developed by Double Fine, who raised more than $4 million through a crowd-funding campaign on Fig to fund its development. Psychonauts 2 significantly improved from the original game, featuring astounding graphics, and brilliant level design. Players take control of Raz, a newly graduated Psychonaut who must travel through other people’s minds using his Psi-Powers, that include telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and levitation.

Certainly one of the most anticipated titles of the year, Hades was released last month for PlayStation 4, PlaySation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A roguelike dungeon crawler developed and published by Supergiant Games, the game puts players in control of Zagreus, the son of Hades, who is trying to escape from the Underworld and reach Mount Olympus. Upon its release for Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch last year, the game received critical acclaim for its gameplay, art direction, music and narrative, and won the Best Indie and Best Action awards at The Game Awards 2020.