10 Best PvE Games in 2021

10 Best PvE Games in 2021 ; minecraft.net · Mojang Studios · May 2009 · Sandbox ; riskofrain.com · Hopoo Games · March 2019 · Roguelike ; bungie.net ... 10BestPvEGamesin2021 byMitchGentry|Nov17,2021 Here,weselected10ofthebestPvEgamesandsplitthemintotwogroups:thetop5verybestandthebestoftherest. Manversuswildisataleasoldasstorytellingitself.ConsiderthemovieCastaway—TomHanks’charactercarriedanentirefilmonhisback(withverylittledialogue)bysimplylivingasacastawayonanunchartedisland.It’sanintense,grippingnarrative.There’ssomethingfascinatingabouttheresilienceofthehumanspirit,ourabilitytoconquertheuntamedandforgesomethingnew.Wecreatehomes,towns,andentirecivilizationsfrombareearthandsimpleresources.Weestablishplacesofpeaceandplentywhereoncewasbarrenland.Webeatbackthedarknesstoetchoutdotsonthemap,likethetwinklinglightsofacityafternightfall.  Andthen,onceinawhile,wemustremindthemonstersinthedarkwho’sboss.  Playervs.Environment(PvE)gamescapturethispursuitofbringingordertochaos,oftheraw,primaltriumphofthehumanspirit.Sometimestheyofferasolitaryexperience,likeCastaway.Sometimestheyinviteyoutogroupupandchallengethedarkwithyourfriends.Andsometimestheyofferthefantastic—likedinosaursandzombies.  Let’stakealookatthebestPvEGamesforyouoryournextDiscordget-together.  10BestPvEGamesin2021 We’vearrangedthislistbytop5picksfollowedby5runnersup,showingyouanumberofqualityPvEtitlestoscratchanygamingitchyoumayhave.SomeofthegamesfeaturedherealsoofferPlayervs.Player(PvP)andothermodes,butwe’verankedthembasedontheirpredominantmodeofplaybeingPvE. Withthedisclaimersoutoftheway,let’sbeginwithourpickforthebestPvEsurvivalgame. 1.Minecraft OurpickforthebestPvEsurvivalgame ImageCredit:MojangStudios/XboxGameStudios Website:minecraft.netDeveloper:MojangStudiosReleaseDate:May2009Genre:Sandbox Minecraftatnumberone?Yes,absolutely.PvEhasafewdifferentmeanings—moregenerally(andrecently),it’scometobeknownaspittingplayersagainstNPCopponents.Initspurestsense,however,PvEpitsplayersagainsttheenvironment.GameslikeMinecraft,ARK:SurvivalEvolved,andFactoriodowellatmakingtheworlditselfahazardthatmustbeconquered. Buildafortinthewilderness.BravetheNether,especiallyafterthemostrecentupdate.Plumbthedepthsoftheoceans,swimwithsquids,andloottheAtlanteanruinsthatliesleepingfarbelow.Craftanarsenalofweapons,brewpotions,orbuildanactualworkingCPUusingredstone.Andtheseareallthingsyoucanaccomplishwiththevanillagame.  ModdingaddsmorecontentthanIcouldreasonablyenumeratewithinasinglearticle.Justtonameafew:youcanaddVRsupporttotheJavaversionofMinecraftwithVivecraft,turnitintotheproceduralPokémonMMOofyourwildestdreamswithPixelmon,oraddanynumberoftweaksandfeaturesthroughmoddingplatformslikeBukkit.PartofwhatmakesMinecraftthebestPvEsurvivalgameisitsversatility.Itcanbejustaboutanygameyouwantittobe.Butforthepastdecade,thecoregamehasbeenawayforplayersofallgenerationsandskilllevelstoconnectandbuildtogether.  ImageCredit:MojangStudios/XboxGameStudios EveryonehasanopiniononMinecraft.Manyfeelthattheblock-basedsurvivalgamehasrunitscourseorjumpedtheproverbialshark.I’llbethefirsttosaythatIdon’tplayitmuchanymore.IstartedwaybackinAlpha,anditseemedlikeatleastonepersonhadapublicserverupduringeveryblockoffreetimeincollege.I’veputinmytime,andIsupposeI’mcontenttoleaveitforthenextgeneration. Thatbeingsaid,Minecraftisoneofthebroadest,mostrobustPvEexperiencesyoucanhave.Whetheryouplaysoloormultiplayer,vanillaormodded,therearethousandsuponthousandsofhoursofcontentcrammedintothissuperficially-simpleproceduralgame.  Withmorecontentupdatesandnewgamesinthefranchiseonthehorizon,IseeMinecraft’sdominanceextendingformanymoreyearstocome.ButwhileMinecraftwastheindiedarlingofthedecade,thereareplentyoftop-tierindiegamesthatdon’thavethesamelevelofrecognitionfortheirgoodwork.RiskofRain2isonesuchsleeperindiehityouabsolutelyhavetotry,andit’sourpickforthebestco-opPvEgame.  VIEWONAMAZON 2.RiskofRain2 OurpickforthebestCo-OpPvEgame ImageCredit:HopooGames Website:riskofrain.comDeveloper:HopooGamesReleaseDate:March2019Genre:Roguelike WhileMinecraftincludesco-op,itsimplyisn’tbuiltwithco-opasadrivingfeature.RiskofRain2,bycontrast,isaco-opgamethroughandthrough.Itisn’tsimplythepresenceofcooperativeplaythatearnsRiskofRain2ourbestco-opPvEgametitle.Itstandsonitsowntwofeetwithrocksolidandfranticcombatcoupledwithshort-formlootprogressionallwrappedupina“trytosurvivewithyourfriendsaslongasyoucan”package.   Uptofourplayersinapartyfindthemselvesonapartiallyprocedurally-generatedplanet,populatedwithcreativeandaggressivemonsters.Progressingthroughanareayieldsplentyofweirdandwhimsicalitemsasloot,eachonechangingthewayyouplaybygrantingnewabilitieslikedoublejumps,finishingmoves,andmore.Attheendofeachrandomizedarealiesabossthatwilldemandperfectcoordinationfromyouandyourpartymembers.Onceit’sbeeneliminated,youallrollontothenextpartoftheplanetlikearavenoushordeoflocustswhosemealofchoiceissparkly,shimmeringloot.  ImageCredit:HopooGames YoucandefinitelytrytoplayRiskofRain2byyourself.Perhapsonaneveningwhereyoursquadfindsthemselvesotherwiseoccupied.Youmaybenefitfromthepractice,butthisgamewasbuilttobeoverwhelming.Evenwithanexperiencedandcoordinatedteam,it’sonlyamatteroftimebeforethegamegrindsyouallintothedust.Onewrongmoveonanyone’spartcanspelldisasterforarun.Fortunately,startingbackfromsquareoneonafreshlyrandomizedplanetisjustasmuchfunthehundredthtimeasitwasthefirst.WatercoolermomentsaboundwitheachplaythroughofRiskofRain2,andyou’llalwayscomeawaywithaclearplanforwhatyoucoulddobetterthenexttime.It’ssimplythebestco-opPvEgamearound.Ifyouhaven’ttriedityet,whatareyouwaitingfor?  VIEWONAMAZON 3.PathofExile OurpickforthebestfreePvEgame ImageCredit:GrindingGearGames Website:pathofexile.comDeveloper:GrindingGearGamesReleaseDate:October2013Genre:HackandSlash RiskofRain2maybebestdescribedasaco-opactionroguelike.PathofExile,ontheotherhand,isanactionRPGinitspurestform.ObviouslyinspiredbytheclassicDiablofranchise,PathofExileplacesyouinadarkfantasyworldbesetbymonsters,demons,andtheundead.Andyou,dearplayer,aretherighteousadventurerdestinedtosetthingsrightandredeemtheworld.  Justkidding—youandtheotherplayersaresimplyoutcaststhrownintoalandofeternaltwilightwheresurvivalisyouronlygoal.Survivalandself-improvement,thatis,asisoftenthecasewithactionRPGs.  ImageCredit:GrindingGearGames Inkeepingwiththegenre’scoregameplayloops,PathofExileispredominantlyaPvE-focusedgame.WhileyoucanengageinabitofPvPifsodesired,youcanalsoformapartywithotherplayersandsetouttoconquerthewildstogether.Theworldisfilledwithhordesofenemies,trovesoftreasure,legendaryequipment,andplentyofopportunitiestolevelupyourcharacter.Min-maxersrejoice—you’ddowelltakingapencilandnotepadwithyouwhendiggingintotheskilltree,whichisoneofthemostrobustandcomprehensiveinthegenre.  “Howmuchdoesatop-tieractionRPGlikethiscost?”Ihearyouask.PathofExileoffersasprawlingworldandinnovativemechanicsallforthelow,lowpriceoffree.It’sascreamingdealthatsimplycan’tbebeat.Evenifyou’renotafanofDiablo,youmightwanttoconsidergatheringyourpartyforanexcursionintoWraeclast.Youmayfindsomethingyoulike.  Andifyoudon’t,atleastyouaren’toutanyscratch.  FREEONSITE 4.Destiny2 OurpickforthebestmultiplayerPvEgame ImageCredit:Bungie Website:bungie.netDeveloper:BungieReleaseDate:September2017Genre:MMOShooter Bungiehasbeenmakingincredibleshootersandgeneration-definingexperienceslongerthansomeplayersofDestiny2havebeenalive.Isaythiswithcertainty,asmysonandIregularlyformupasafireteamtotakethefighttotheDarkness.HowtheywentfromHalotoasprawling,silver-agesci-fiMMOwithanongoingstory,eye-poppingartdirection,andshort-but-sweetgameplayloopsisanyone’sguess.Bymanymeasurements,Destiny2isthemostambitiousgamesincethelaunchofWorldofWarcraft.Butdoesitliveuptoitsvastandhubristicvision? Yes,itdoes.ThatfactalonemakesDestiny2thebestmultiplayerPvEgameofthisgeneration,andperhapsgenerationstocome.  ImageCredit:Bungie Ofcourse,theHouseofHalowouldn’tbecontentifthereweren’ttop-tierPvPexperiencesinthemultiplayersandboxaswell.Butthat’snotthetrueheartandsoulofDestiny,whichexcelsasaPvEexperience.ItwelcomesyoutorideintobattleonyourSparrowsolo(orbesideafireteamofotherGuardians)touncoverthemysteriesoftheDarknessandsavehumanityfromintergalacticthreats. Bungiehasalwaysinnovatedwithregardtoworldbuildingandloreingaming,andDestinyisnoexception.WhetheryoucometoscoureveryscrapofGrimoiretextandenvironmentalstorytellingorsimplykityourGuardianwithanastoundingarrayofvisuallyandmechanicallysatisfyinggear,Destinyhasthegoodsyou’relookingfor.   Hopacrossoursolarsystemfromplanettoplanet,grindlootinstrikes,participateinpublicevents,andbetheLightthatshinesinDarkness.It’sworthrestating—Destiny2isthebestmultiplayerPvEgameyoucanplay,especiallywithoutamonthlyfee.Withthelatestexpansion,BeyondLight,justaroundthecorner,nowisanexcellenttimetotakeyourfirststepsamidsttheruinsofhumanity’sGoldenAge.Eyesup,Guardian.  FREEONSITE 5.Left4Dead2 OurpickforthebestPvEzombiegame ImageCredit:ValveCorporation Website:store.steampowered.comDeveloper:ValveReleaseDate:November2009Genre:Zombie,SurvivalHorror It’sbeenelevenyearssinceValvereleasedLeft4Dead2,hotontheheelsofthefirstgameintheseriesjustayearbefore.Itwaspoorlyreceivedatfirst—playerswonderedwhyitwasn’tsimplymadeanexpansiontotheoriginalinsteadofafully-fledged(andfull-priced)entrytotheseries. Thenwealldugintothegameandthecomplaintsmeltedaway.  ImageCredit:ValveCorporation WhenitcomestoPvEzombieshooters,Valvehasthemarketcornered.Theremightbeothergamesthatoffera“playerversusthehorde”zombieexperience,butLeft4Dead2doesitbetteronalmostallfronts.ThatimmaterialValvepolishgleamsineveryfacetoftheexperience.Thegunplayistight,theAIDirectorsystemensuresthateveryplaythroughisintenseandnotwoarethesame,andthecharacterizationpresentintheplayablesurvivorshasledtoquotesmyfriendsandIstillusetoday. Thegameplayloopisremarkablyairtightevenmorethanadecadelater,offeringsimpleprogressionwiththeweaponsyouscavengeandintensegunbattleswhenyousummonthehordeoratank.Hearingthetell-talemusicalcueofanapproachingtankisstilljustasnerve-wrackingasitwasthefirsttimeIheardit.  IfyoulovezombiesandPvEexperiences,you’veprobablyalreadyplayedLeft4Dead2.Butifyouhaven’t,restassuredithasagedlikefinewine.That’swhyLeft4Dead2isourchoiceforthebestPvEzombiegame.  VIEWONAMAZON Runners-Up:BestPvEGames Nowthatwe’vegotthetopgamesinfan-favoritecategoriescovered,let’sdigintotherestofthebest. TherearealotofotherqualityPvEgamesthatdidn’tquitebeatouttheonesaboveintheirrespectivesubcategoriesbutarewellworthmentioningnonetheless. Ifyou’relookingforafewmoregamestoroundoutyourPvEgaminglibrary,Irecommendcheckingoutthesetitles: 6.Warhammer:Vermintide2 ImageCredit:Fatshark Website:vermintide.comDeveloper:FatsharkReleaseDate:February2018Genre:Action Rainrunsinrivuletsoffburnishedarmor.TheSkavenrat-menscreechwarcriesinanadjoiningalley.ChaosiscomingforwhatremainsoftheworldofMen,Elves,andDwarvesintheEndTimes.Andit’suptoyouandyourrag-tagbandofheroestoturntheVermintide.  Warhammer:VermintideIIisthecritically-acclaimedsequeltothebreakouthitthatmarriesthegameplayofLeft4DeadwiththedarkandgrittyfantasyoftheWarhammeruniverse.Takeuparmsasamelee,ranged,ormagic-focusedheroandbattlethroughprocedurallyenhancedlevels.Grindforloot,levelup,andmakegoodonyournewfoundskillsinthebeststepforwardforthe4-playercooperativePvEgenre.  VIEWONAMAZON 7.KillingFloor2 ImageCredit:TripwireInteractive Website:killingfloor2.comDeveloper:TripwireInteractiveReleaseDate:November2016Genre:SurvivalHorror KillingFloorwasaLANpartystapleinthemid-00s.Itranonjustaboutanything,includingdustyoldlaptopspulledfromclosetswhenmorepeoplejoinedthepartythanwehadcomputers.AndwhenitwasKillingFloortime,therewerelotsofpeoplewhowantedtheirturntosurvive.  KillingFloor2takesthesameformulaandtransformsitintoamoderngamingexperience.It’spoetryinmotionasyouandyoursquadmakeyourlaststandbehindweldeddoorsandmowdownseeminglyendlesshordesofzombies.It’stheperfectblendofwave-basedPvEshootingandmildprogressiontokeepyouscreamingformedicalsyringeswhenyouaren’tbeingstartledbyFleshpoundslongintothenight.  VIEWONAMAZON 8.ARK:SurvivalEvolved ImageCredit:StudioWildcard Website:studiowildcard.comDeveloper:StudioWildcardReleaseDate:June2015Genre:Action-Adventure,Survival Whodoesn’tlovedinosaurs?Andifyouplayedanygamesinthepastdecadeortwo,youlikelyplayedagoodnumberofPvEsurvivalgamesintheprocess.SoitwasonlynaturalthatStudioWildcardidentifiedanareaofopportunityimmersingplayersinthewildandprehistoricworldofearth’sgreatestreptiles(orbirdsorsomething;scienceisstilltryingtofigurethatout). Butit’snotallprehistoryinARK;thereareplentyofsci-fiinfluencesthatwilldriveyourbandoftribalsurvivorsintheendgame.Untilyougetthere,however,you’llcarveoutahomeonanuntamedislandteemingwithancientpredatorsandprey.Craftyourselfasaddle,andyoucaneventameafew—forflight,fordefense,orsimplytofast-harvestanentiremountainsideofberries.WhenitcomestoPvEsurvival,itdoesn’tgetmuchbetterthanthis.  VIEWONAMAZON 9.Factorio ImageCredit:WubeSoftware Website:factorio.comDeveloper:WubeSoftwareReleaseDate:February2016Genre:ConstructionandManagementSimulation Look—noonelikespollution.It’sdirtyandsmelly,anditgetseverywhere.Butwhenyou’reanalienonanunchartedworldlivingyourbestalienlife,thelastthingyouwantisplumesoftoxicfumeschokingupyourskylinefromsomemegafactorythatappearedovernight.ThisistheconflictattheheartofFactorio,theverybestinPvEfactorysimulation. Astheplayer(s),youmustforgeafactoryfromtheresourcesyouscavengewiththeultimategoalofbuildingaspaceshiptoreturntothestars.Butitisn’tsoeasy—onceyoureallygetgoing,thenativealienfaunawilltakenoticeofyouractions.Toputitsimply,theyaren’thappyaboutyourpresence.Canyoubuildasprawlingnetworkofassemblylines,powerstations,automatedfactories,andmovequicklyenoughtoescape?Orwillyou(likeme)endupburiedbeneathamountainofaliencarapacesandspentbrass?Goodluck,you’regoingtoneedit.  VIEWONSTEAM 10.TheWalkingDead:Saints&Sinners ImageCredit:SkydanceInteractive Website:vrwalkingdead.comDeveloper:SkydanceInteractiveReleaseDate:January2020Genre:Zombie,First-PersonShooter IwaswalkingthestreetsofNewOrleans.Thingswereoddlyquiet;normallyIseeawalkerortwo,butthisstretchofroadseemedempty.ThenIspotahumanfigureinthedistance.AsIapproach,Irealizeheisn’tundead. IwashopingforaquestorperhapssomeoftheenvironmentalstorytellingTheWalkingDeadisknownbestfor.Itendedupbeingthelatter,butIwasn’tpreparedforwhatcamenext.  “Givemeyourfood,”hesaid,pointingaguninmyface.Iwasonthehuntforfoodmyselfbuthecouldn’thaveknown.Heinsisted,andIcouldseehimgraduallygrowingmoreirateatmyinaction.Itwasn’tgoingtogodownlikethis.  TurnsoutIcanwinaquickdrawduel,evenwiththehandicapofmyopponenthavinghisgunalreadydrawnandleveled.Thegunshotechoedthroughthestreetsandalleys.Achorusofmoansandhaltinggaspsfollowed,andIrealizedtheareawasn’tasemptyasIthought. ThisisTheWalkingDead:Saints&Sinners,andthisisoneofthemostgrippingPvEexperiencesaroundevenwithoutqualifyingitasaVRtitle.IfyouhaveanHMDorareboundtopickoneup,thisgameisamust-play.Justbeforewarned—whetheryoustumbleacrossthelivingortheundead,you’reallaloneonthestreetsofpost-apocalypticNewOrleans. VIEWONHUMBLE RelatedReading: SUPERHOT:MINDCONTROLDELETEReview5BestISPsforGamingin2021TerrorariumReviewBestLooterShooterGamesin2021TheErgonomicsGuideforGamers SubmitaCommentCancelreplyYouremailaddresswillnotbepublished.Requiredfieldsaremarked*CommentName* Email* Website Savemyname,email,andwebsiteinthisbrowserforthenexttimeIcomment. Δ FollowUs Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Instagram HGGNewsletter SubscribetotheHighGroundReportSignupfortheHighGroundReportnewsletterandget thebestofHGG deliveredstraighttoyourinbox. GoGoGo! Thanksforsubscribing! RecentArticles Destiny2:10BestWeaponstoBuyWithanExoticCipher Destiny2:GraspofAvariceDungeonGuideWalkthrough ESOStartingZonesGuide:BestZoneforEachRace 5BestOff-RoadCarsinGTAOnline(2022) AllVehiclesinHaloInfinite,RankedWorsttoBest BuyingGuides Best60PercentGamingKeyboardsin2021 BestGamingChairsin2021 BestMotherboardsforGamingin2021 BestMicroATXCasesin2021 BestGamingDesksin2021