Best games
Best RPG games of 2021
The 32 best RPG games released in 2021, ranked from 6,942 critic and player ratings.
The best RPG game of 2021 is Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, with a critic score of 92/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2021.
- 32 games are listed on this page, carrying 6,942 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 32
01
S
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Includes: - Full game. - Iki Island expansion: New story, mini-games, enemy types and more. - Legends online co-op mode. - Digital mini art book by Dark Horse. - Director’s commentary: The creative team sits down with a renowned Japanese historian to look at the world of Ghost of Tsushima and how it compares to the real-life events that inspired it. - One Technique Point. - Charm of Hachiman’s Favour. - Hero of Tsushima Skin Set: Golden Mask, Sword Kit, Horse, Saddle.
92
/100
02
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is an enhanced and expanded version of Final Fantasy VII Remake that features a new episode starring Yuffie and introduces an exhilarating new story arc with numerous gameplay additions for players to enjoy.
92
/100
03
Death Stranding Director's Cut
Death Stranding is an action game set in a post-apocalyptic United States. Players control Sam Porter Bridges, a courier tasked with reconnecting isolated cities via a communication network while delivering essential cargo. The gameplay blends traversal, resource management, and narrative elements, with a focus on social connectivity through asynchronous multiplayer. It is known for its unique mechanics, atmospheric world, and philosophical themes. The Director's Cut includes more character action, extended storylines through new missions and a unique Social Strand System to stay connected with other players around the globe.
91
/100
S
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Includes: - Full game. - Iki Island expansion: New story, mini-games, enemy types and more. - Legends online co-op mode. - Digital mini art book by Dark Horse. - Director’s commentary: The creative team sits down with a renowned Japanese historian to look at the world of Ghost of Tsushima and how it compares to the real-life events that inspired it. - One Technique Point. - Charm of Hachiman’s Favour. - Hero of Tsushima Skin Set: Golden Mask, Sword Kit, Horse, Saddle.
92
/100
02
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is an enhanced and expanded version of Final Fantasy VII Remake that features a new episode starring Yuffie and introduces an exhilarating new story arc with numerous gameplay additions for players to enjoy.
92
/100
03
Death Stranding Director's Cut
Death Stranding is an action game set in a post-apocalyptic United States. Players control Sam Porter Bridges, a courier tasked with reconnecting isolated cities via a communication network while delivering essential cargo. The gameplay blends traversal, resource management, and narrative elements, with a focus on social connectivity through asynchronous multiplayer. It is known for its unique mechanics, atmospheric world, and philosophical themes. The Director's Cut includes more character action, extended storylines through new missions and a unique Social Strand System to stay connected with other players around the globe.
91
/100
04
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an enhanced edition of the original role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It retains the core gameplay and narrative while adding full voice acting, new quests, additional endings, and other narrative revisions.
91
/100
05
Disco Elysium: Final Cut
90
/100
06
D
Valheim
Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
90
/100
07
The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction, and a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod of the same name. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colorful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.
90
/100
08
D
Deathloop
88
/100
09
Tales of Arise
On the planet Dahna, reverence has always been given to Rena--the planet in the sky--as a land of the righteous and divine. Stories handed down for generations became truth and masked reality for the people of Dahna. For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom. Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future. Featuring a diverse cast of characters, intuitive and rewarding combat system, and a captivating story set in a lush world worth fighting for, Tales of Arise delivers a first-class JRPG experience.
87
/100
10
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced. Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLCs from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors and packs. Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.
87
/100
11
Monster Hunter Rise
87
/100
12
Death's Door
87
/100
13
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
86
/100
14
Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition
86
/100
15
Metroid Dread
84
/100
16
The Riftbreaker
82
/100
17
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
82
/100
18
S
NieR Replicant v1.22474487139...
82
/100
19
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
81
/100
20
Diablo II: Resurrected
80
/100
21
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
80
/100
22
Eastward
80
/100
23
Scarlet Nexus
79
/100
24
New World: Aeternum
76
/100
25
Pokémon Unite
75
/100
26
Sable
74
/100
27
Outriders
73
/100
28
The Ascent
73
/100
29
Lake
73
/100
30
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl
73
/100
31
New World
70
/100
32
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
69
/100
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an enhanced edition of the original role-playing game developed and published by ZA/UM. It retains the core gameplay and narrative while adding full voice acting, new quests, additional endings, and other narrative revisions.
91
/100
05
Disco Elysium: Final Cut
90
/100
06
D
Valheim
Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
90
/100
07
The Forgotten City
The Forgotten City is a mystery adventure game of exploration and deduction, and a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod of the same name. Combat is an option, but violence will only get you so far. Only by questioning an intertwined community of colorful characters, cleverly exploiting the time loop, and making difficult moral choices can you hope to solve this epic mystery. Here, your decisions matter. The fate of the city is in your hands.
90
/100
08
D
Deathloop
88
/100
09
Tales of Arise
On the planet Dahna, reverence has always been given to Rena--the planet in the sky--as a land of the righteous and divine. Stories handed down for generations became truth and masked reality for the people of Dahna. For 300 years, Rena has ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping people of their dignity and freedom. Our tale begins with two people, born on different worlds, each looking to change their fate and create a new future. Featuring a diverse cast of characters, intuitive and rewarding combat system, and a captivating story set in a lush world worth fighting for, Tales of Arise delivers a first-class JRPG experience.
87
/100
10
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced. Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLCs from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors and packs. Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.
87
/100
11
Monster Hunter Rise
87
/100
12
Death's Door
87
/100
13
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
86
/100
14
Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition
86
/100
15
Metroid Dread
84
/100
16
The Riftbreaker
82
/100
17
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
82
/100
18
S
NieR Replicant v1.22474487139...
82
/100
19
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
81
/100
20
Diablo II: Resurrected
80
/100
21
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
80
/100
22
Eastward
80
/100
23
Scarlet Nexus
79
/100
24
New World: Aeternum
76
/100
25
Pokémon Unite
75
/100
26
Sable
74
/100
27
Outriders
73
/100
28
The Ascent
73
/100
29
Lake
73
/100
30
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl
73
/100
31
New World
70
/100
32
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
69
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best RPG game of 2021?
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut currently tops the ranking with a score of 92/100 across 255 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.