Upbeat PC games 2021 are here! Kind of, at least. It is 2021, and we sure could use a bit of gaming escapism right about now with what's happening in the world. Though we've had precious few game releases in 2021 so far, we thought it would be a great idea to come up with a list of totally upbeat PC games to keep the spirits high in the meantime. In some cases, this meant we needed a few retro platformers. In others, we resorted to good old-fashioned car crashes and beater racing. The sort of titles where violence and grimdark sensibilities are kept to a relative minimum, really.
Now, it's worth pointing out that we aim to keep updating this list as we go along. The games you're about to check out are merely the beginning of a lovely and - hopefully - positive year of gaming. If that's the sort of thing you're in need of, you're probably going to want to bookmark this page right about now. Month in, month out, we'll deploy a new batch of upbeat PC games for 2021 that will keep you going. Whether it's the pandemic that's bothering you or something else, perhaps we can lend a hand with gaming. So, without further ado, let us get started with our January list of happy PC games!
January List of Upbeat PC Games 2021
Monster Sanctuary
Monster Sanctuary is and was one of the best Pokémon sub-genre redefinitions we've seen yet. Essentially a ridiculously cool combo between the usual turn-based JRPG-like combat and Metroidvania-tier world exploration, Monster Sanctuary lets you get lost in a fantasy world where pitting magical animals against one another is a valid conflict resolution technique. If you're keen on top-of-the-line graphics and presentation you're probably going to need to get used to the game's old-school visuals at first. Trust us, though, when we say that it's well worth the trouble. This is a fun time-sucker that will keep you coming back for more over and over again.
Space Crew
If Star Trek is your idea of a good time, then you're in for a hoot with Space Crew. Essentially a game about managing your own space-faring vessel on its many, many perilous travels, Space Crew lets you explore the universe while also micromanaging your ship and crew. At the core of the game is a singular extraterrestrial threat, sure, but there are more side-quests here than you could shake a stick at. You are, after all, exploring the universe. Space Crew can get tough, for sure, but strategically-minded players will find its space survival simulation more than enjoyable enough to keep going. It's fun, it's neat, and it's loaded with content: what more could we have asked for?
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 4 Golden is one of those games that keep popping up rather often in our recommendation articles. For good reason, too, because ATLUS' first proper foray into PC Persona releases is a lovely game indeed. Perhaps the most fully-realized RPG on this list, Persona 4 Golden offers you a unique insight into a franchise that used to be PlayStation exclusive, and which will hopefully keep coming to PC over the next couple of years. Even when the going gets tough, Persona 4's most valuable assets are its characters and a masterfully told narrative that keeps getting crazier with each new instalment.
Wreckfest
There's something majestic about watching wanton destruction, we think. Though video games are filled to the brim with that, it's usually pretty hard to separate the sheer act of wrecking something from abject violence. As its name probably implies, Wreckfest does indeed manage to do just. Coming from developers of the legendary FlatOut franchise, Wreckfest lets you crash cars to your heart's content. Sure, okay, there's racing and mini-games and whatever else included, too, but massive, ridiculous car crashes are the name of the game in Wreckfest. Believe it or not, the game is all the better for it, and truly a sight to behold.
Rayman Legends
We'll never not recommend Rayman Legends. One of Ubisoft's best and greatest releases ever, the latest Rayman game has it all: a huge, sprawling campaign mode with heaps of bonus content that's just about impossible to top. Innumerable bonus unlocks and collectibles are strewn across its dozen-or-so worlds, and the uniquely amusing Kung-Foot multiplayer mode is just a cherry on top of Legends' massive vanilla sundae. Did we mention that the game is fully playable from start 'till the end in cooperative multiplayer? It's got 4-player support, even, with a potential extra tag-along that's just perfect for the younger or less technically gifted players. A must-have in every gaming library, no matter where your genre allegiances might lie.
Indivisible
Indivisible is very heavy on the narrative side of things, and though its platforming might not be perfect, and its combat balancing might be a tad off, Indivisible's characters and storylines are more than good enough to carry an interested player through this turn-based Metroidvania. There's a bunch of unique gameplay mechanics on show here. Combat, for example, is an out-of-turn initiative based system, though mechanical skill does come into play, too. We'll admit that Indivisible won't really be for everyone, but if you appreciate great characters and a solid story (at the cost of gameplay), be sure to give it a shot.
Sonic Mania
Nothing quite like a dash of nostalgia to start the year with, right? Sonic Mania is well-acclaimed as, perhaps, the very best Sonic game ever made. This, we feel, is warranted. In the simplest terms possible, Mania takes the community's idea of what a Sonic game should be, does away with decades of nonsense that was stacked atop the IP, and makes a game out of that. The end result is... well, perfect. Loaded full of content that's unique to Sonic and Sonic alone, Mania is a game that needs to be played for someone to fully appreciate what it offers. No other platformer plays quite like this. Though it remains to be seen whether the franchise continues in this direction, Sonic Mania proved that the blue hedgehog does still have a kick to him. Don't let it go to waste!
Grow Up + Grow Home
Another wacky Ubisoft offering, the Grow games aren't for players suffering from vertigo. They are, however, for those who want something new and different! Grow Home has you take control over a seeding bot that needs to grow plants upwards in order to reach its goal. During its adventure, BUD will need to adapt to ever-changing situations and employ a growing roster of skills and gadgets to succeed. Grow Up is a direct sequel that evolves this idea of gameplay-driven growth even further, and we'd be amiss not to recommend them together. Our suggestion is for you to play these games back-to-back. Though it might not seem like it at first, BUD is a lovely character that's bound to grow on you rather quickly. It does help that the games' gameplay is pretty darn fun, too!
Play Grow Home and Grow Up today!
Yooka-Laylee
Everyone's always talking about its (better) successor, the Impossible Lair, but we think the original Yooka-Laylee is a great game, too. Strange as that might sound, there's a severe lack of 3D platformers on PC nowadays. This goes doubly so for mascot-driven 3D platformers, like, say, the Spyro games. Yooka-Laylee delivers precisely that in a modernized package. It's far from perfect, to be sure, and it is a rather short game to boot, but we found ourselves enjoying this breath of nostalgic air not too long ago. If you grew up on Jak & Dexter, Crash, and similar titles, we reckon you're probably going to enjoy the Yooka titles, too.
Ōkami HD
A venerable gaming classic, Ōkami HD is one of those games that you can't really go without. Phenomenal through-and-through, whether we're talking about its story, its gameplay, or the way these two mingle and mesh together every step of the way, Ōkami HD needs to be played to be believed. It's an old game, to be sure, but owing to its watercolor visual style, it hasn't really aged all that much. Did you know that Ōkami was made by developers who would eventually go on to form Platinum Games? Yes, the Platinum Games! Perhaps that adds a bonus layer of context as to what makes this game such a classic. Truthfully, some of its story loops do hit hard. That's not a negative, mind! If you're going to play a single game from this list, make it be Ōkami HD. You can thank us later.
Will our hand-picked selection of Upbeat PC Games 2021 help?
We reckon they honestly should! Not only does each of these games afford you a chance to get lost in an all-new fantasy (or sci-fi) universe, but they're also pretty dang delightful! Each game in its own right, of course. Whether you're leaning more heavily towards the magical qualities of Ōkami HD or, perhaps, towards the ridiculous car-crashes of Wreckfest, playing these games is bound to help out with the daily stressors. As we said before, we'll keep this list up-to-date as new, actual upbeat PC games 2021 come out. Check-in from time to time, of course!
Don't forget to check out the full selection of deals on the 2Game Store, either. We've got ongoing sales basically all the time, and 2021 holds heaps of exciting developments for you. Have a good one, and happy gaming in 2021!
Upbeat PC games 2021 are here! Kind of, at least. It is 2021, and we sure could use a bit of gaming escapism right about now with what’s happening in the world. Though we’ve had precious few game releases in 2021 so far, we thought it would be a great idea to come up with a […]
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