Best Console Exclusive of 2021
First Runner-Up: Metroid Dread
Staff Writer, Omar Banat: Part of what makes an exclusive title great is the fact that it can only be played on the target hardware. This means developers only need to focus on optimizing the game for a single platform. No other Switch game exemplifies this idea more than Metroid Dread. The game looks stunning despite only running at 900p while the steady 60 fps frame rate assures the combat always feels as good as it looks.
Not only is the game incredibly optimized for the Switch, but there’s not really anything else that looks like it on the other current-gen consoles right now. There are certainly other Metroidvania titles, but none of them have this 2D style with 3D character models and environments. This art style alone, along with the cutscenes and other 2.5D moments, gives Metroid Dread a completely different feel from anything you can play on other consoles.
But the best indicator of all is that Metroid Dread would be a fantastic addition to any console’s library. Fortunately for Switch owners, Nintendo has a firm grasp on all of their IPs. Even though we don’t get Metroid games every two or even three years, the wait is almost always paid off with a fantastic game. The team at Mercury Steam absolutely hit this one out of the park and delivered one of the best exclusives of 2021.
