I don’t have a lot of free time these days (who would’ve known a baby requires a lot of time/energy/effort?!) but every once in a while I try to see what’s hip and cool with my friends on Twitter. It was about a week or so ago that my timeline was flooded with folks commenting on the latest major delay: Horizon Forbidden West has reportedly been delayed into early 2022.
Regardless of whatever year it releases, Horizon Forbidden West has a VERY good shot at being one of my GOTY contenders. And that got me thinking – what IS my current GOTY for 2021? What have I even played this year? What’s even releasing LATER this year?! Seriously, my brain can’t remember shit, and I think I have my lovely lil’ parasite child to thank for that. Having pregnant brain for the first half of 2021 will do that to you, and if that doesn’t do it, the sleep deprivation will. (But it’s worth it!)
So anywho, I just looked at a running note on my iPhone that tracks games I’ve played this year and it boggled my mind. Some of these games feel like they were played a lifetime ago. Were the majority of these really from 2021? Granted, some titles I’ve played this year are older games I revisited, but still:
Since Resident Evil Village (AKA since giving birth) I haven’t had the chance to really dive into anything. I played a shit-ton of Miitopia in the beginning because it was the perfect “chill the fuck out while keeping the child alive” game, I dabbled quite a bit in Outward’s latest DLC and Sea of Thieves’ DLC, and now I’m working on The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles and playing a few matches of Pokémon Unite, but since May I haven’t touched as many games as I’d like.
I still wanna try:
- Biomutant
- Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Yuffie’s DLC)
- D&D: Dark Alliance
- Legend of Mana
- Mario Golf
- Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Tribes of Midgard
- Death’s Door
- Skyward Sword HD
- Scarlet Nexus
- The Ascent
- Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
I literally just stared at that list for, like, three minutes. There’s NO way I’m getting through a fraction of those before the end of the year. O_O
Here’s what’s coming up that I’m really looking forward to – in order of (current) release date:
- 12 Minutes
- Ghost of Tsushima expansion
- Psychonauts 2
- KeyWe
- Life is Strange: True Colors
- Tales of Arise
- Deathloop
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Diablo II: Resurrected
- Lost Judgment
- Far Cry 6
- Back 4 Blood
- Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Pearl
- Dying Light 2
- Halo Infinite
I’m sure I’m missing something.
BUT HOLY SHIT
YOU GUYS
I AM NEVER GONNA GET THROUGH THIS LIST
But…I think that’s okay. Let me reiterate: It’s okay-ish. Now that my maternity leave is almost over I’m really gonna have to find a balance between playing video games (it’s kinda important in my line of business), self-care (ie working out, getting outside, etc.) and most importantly, keeping the child alive.
For shits, let me guess what my top 10 GOTY contenders are gonna be by the end of this year. I suppose I gotta realistically choose games I know I’ll make time for.
- Lost Judgment
- Resident Evil Village
- Ghost of Tsushima expansion
- Psychonauts 2
- Life is Strange: True Colors
- Deathloop
- Dying Light 2
- Halo Infinite
- It Takes Two
- Outriders
Y’know that’s a pretty good list! It’s a good BRITT list. Now, knowing me and whittling this down a bit, I think my top five GOTY contenders are gonna come down to the following:
- Resident Evil Village
- Lost Judgment
- Halo Infinite
- Dying Light 2
- Ghost of Tsushima expansion
PLACE YOUR BETS NOW LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. That last spot was a serious toss-up between Ghost and Life is Strange. Life is Strange could take it over if I connect with it on a deep emotional level, but…Jin Sakai, man. Jin. Sakai’s. Ass.
What about you? How’s this year looking for your GOTY?