Metacritic is looking back at the biggest games and scores from 2021, collecting the data together to decide who the best publisher was based on critical ratings. According to the results, Microsoft came out on top, despite only launching a handful of games.
Microsoft’s average Metascore for 2021 was 87.4, which is the only time any publisher has ever had an average over 85. This is thanks to review scores of its four titles: Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Psychonauts 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Sony took second place with an average Metascore of 81.3. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Ghost of Tsushima (PS5), and Death Stranding (PC) led the charge, with Destruction AllStars dragging the average down thanks to its Metascore of 62. Sony was also at a disadvantage due to releasing 10 distinct titles, compared to Xbox’s five.
In third place was Humble Games, which launched seven distinct titles, including Unpacking and Unsighted, two of the most celebrated indies of 2021. Activision Blizzard followed in fourth, thanks to reviews of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Diablo II: Resurrected, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. Away from the nostalgia bait, Call of Duty Vanguard pulled the average down thanks to an average Metascore of 71.
One of the most interesting data points is Nintendo – which launched 18 distinct titles – coming in at 14th, way behind most third-party and indie publishers. This is due to even its big hitters not managing to get a Metascore of over 90, and only half of its games getting what Metacritic considers a positive review.
Here’s the full list, via Metacritic:
- Merge Games
16 scored products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 61.5 -
Curve Games
11 products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 66.1 -
PM Studios
8 products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 69.3 -
THQ Nordic (incl. HandyGames)
22 products (12 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 67.8 -
Nacon
22 products (12 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 65.4 -
ININ Games (United Games Ent.)
19 products (11 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 68.5 -
Thunderful (incl. Headup & Rising Star)
20 products (12 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 68.1 -
All in! Games
10 products (6 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 65.5 -
Playism
9 products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 66.1 -
Idea Factory
8 products (8 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 68.2 -
EastAsiaSoft
7 products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 67.7 -
PQube
11 products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 71.2 -
Microids
14 products (8 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 70.5 -
Nakana.io
8 products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 73 -
Sold Out
15 scored products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 72.3 -
Koch Media
58 scored products (28 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 70.6 -
Take-Two Interactive
14 scored products (6 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 69.1 -
Team17
27 scored products (12 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 72.4 -
Xseed/Marvelous
11 scored products (8 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 70.6 -
Ratalaika Games
8 scored products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 71.0 -
NIS America
18 scored products (13 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 70.6 -
Maximum Games
38 scored products (15 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 72.4 -
Saber Interactive
11 scored products (6 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 70.7 -
Raw Fury
12 scored products (8 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 74.1 -
Ubisoft
28 scored products (12 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 74.2 -
Annapurna Interactive
17 scored products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 73.5 -
Focus Entertainment
24 scored products (10 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 72.5 -
Plug In Digital
19 scored products (10 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 73.3 -
Koei Tecmo Games
27 scored products (10 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 74.5 -
Nintendo
18 scored products (18 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 76.0 -
DANGEN Entertainment
11 scored products (6 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 73.8 -
Square Enix
54 scored products (24 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 75.3 -
Devolver Digital
20 scored products (9 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 76.5 -
505 Games
8 scored products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 75.7 -
Electronic Arts
36 scored products (14 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 78.3 -
Sega
38 scored products (19 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 77.6 -
Bandai Namco
24 scored products (11 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 78.5 -
Capcom
17 scored products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 80.6 -
Bethesda Softworks
15 scored products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 80.2 -
Activision Blizzard
17 scored products (6 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 80.6 -
Humble Games
17 scored products (7 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 80.9 -
Sony
11 scored products (10 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 81.3 -
Microsoft (Xbox Game Studios)
10 scored products (5 distinct titles)
Average Metascore (2021 games): 87.4
Written by Kirk McKeand on behalf of GLHF.
