For seven years now, The Game Awards have been an annual event that celebrates all things gaming from esports and influencers to, of course, the best games to release that year. While 2021 has been a strange year for gaming defined more by the delays of highly-anticipated heavy hitters like God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West than equally huge new releases, that has only given some smaller games that may have otherwise been overshadowed a chance to shine.

This year, the six Game of the Year nominees cover a wide range of genres and interests, with indies, horror, long-awaited sequels and new IP all represented. Here's what gamers should know about the titles vying for The Game Award's top prize this year.

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Deathloop

Colt and Julianna fire at each othe rin a poster for Deathloop

Arkane Studios' PlayStation 5 and PC exclusive garnered a lot of attention when it launched in September for its unique approach to storytelling and gameplay. Deathloop tasks players with taking out eight targets (called Visionaries) on an island over the course of 24 hours, with the timeloop resetting should Colt die or fail to kill them all in time. Nominated in six other categories -- including two Best Performance nods for both Jason E. Kelley's Colt Vahn and Ozioama Akagha's Juliana Blake -- Deathloop is one of the most critically acclaimed games of the year.

While CBR's own review called Deathloop a "missed opportunity" that lacks "a solid gameplay identity," others showered the game in praise for its smooth gameplay and smart worldbuilding.

It Takes Two

It Takes Two 2

While 2021 saw the release of plenty of great indie games, the sole indie with a shot at the top award this year is EA Original It Takes Two, developed by Hazelight Games. A co-op only action-adventure game, It Takes Two tells the story of a couple on the verge of divorce who end up trapped inside their daughter's handmade dolls of them. As the two try and reach their daughter, hoping she can restore them to their human bodies, the couple is forced to work together, address their relationship troubles and remember why they fell in love in the first place.

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It Takes Two earned positive reviews for its story and focus on co-op gameplay. Also praised was its consumer-friendly Friend Pass, which lets those who own the game play it with friends who have not purchased it for no additional cost -- a helpful feature for a game with no single-player. It Takes Two is nominated for a total of five Game Awards, including Best Family Game and Best Narrative.

Metroid Dread

One of Nintendo's best known "canceled" projects became a reality this year when Metroid Dread was revealed for Nintendo Switch during E3. The first 2D Metroid title in nearly 20 years, Dread was originally announced in 2005 for Nintendo DS, and was further teased in 2007's Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Finally, after years of silence, fans were able to experience the continuation of Samus Aran's story as she explores the planet ZDR to investigate its mysteries.

Metroid Dread was developed by Nintendo and Mercury Steam, which was hired for its work on 2017's Metroid: Samus Returns for 3DS. At launch, it was praised by critics impressed by its challenging, engaging gameplay that manages to stand out from the crowded field of Metroidvanias, excelling within the genre it helped establish. In addition to the top award, Dread is also nominated for Best Action/Adventure Game.

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Psychonauts 2

Raz Makes His Return In Psychonauts 2

Another sequel to a game from the 2000s that some fans had given up hope of ever actually seeing, Psychonauts 2 proved to be worth the 16 year-long wait. Developed by Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studio -- which Microsoft acquired in the years between the two titles -- Psychonauts 2 brings back Raz, for another platformer that takes players into the mind and asks them to consider some difficult topics related to mental health, trauma and fears. Beyond its powerful, sometimes dark, story, the game is also a fun stylish adventure that old and new fans alike will enjoy.

Psychonauts 2 earned rave reviews when it launched, with critics praising its story, message and gameplay. It's also up for awards in three other categories, including Best Art Direction.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Ratchet and Clank flying through a purple rift in Rift Apart

In a year with a lot of cross-generation releases, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart shows off what the new generation is capable of. Unfortunately limited by its PlayStation 5 exclusivity and console scarcity, Rift Apart is the kind of experience that was simply not possible on older hardware. Rift Apart is a technical achievement that allows players to quickly warp between worlds as they shoot and platform their way through various dimensions to help a separated Ratchet and Clank reunite.

Beyond its gameplay, though, Rift Apart also tells an emotional story with great new characters, including a new Lombax named Rivet and a robot named Kit. The game's characters and stunning use of the PS5's hardware earned Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart plenty of critical praise. With a total of six nominations, it is among the most nominated titles at this year's Game Awards, also receiving nods for Best Game Design and Innovation in Accessibility.

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Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village box art showing a close up of Chris Redfield

Finally, the latest installment in the long-running franchise that created the survival-horror gaming genre has earned its place among the best games in the series. Resident Evil Village continues the story of Ethan Winters from Resident Evil 7: Biohazard as he searches a strange European village for his kidnapped infant daughter, Rosemary. Taking on various threats from werewolves to the fan-favorite Lady Dimitrescu -- whose actress Maggie Robertson was nominated for Best Performance -- Ethan must fight his way through the village, using the weapons he finds and solving puzzles to survive.

While a great entry in a franchise that has experienced plenty of ups and downs, Resident Evil Village is somewhat more divisive than the other Game of the Year nominees.  Though critics widely praised Village for its gameplay and design choices, some were disappointed that the game focused on action over horror, which was an area where its predecessor shined. Still, Village received a total of five nominations, including Best Game Direction.

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