The most popular games in the world, according to my research.

While the real world continued to oscillate between open and closed, video games remained a constant for some of us here at The Times. Below, is a sampling of the titles that meant the most to us in 2021.

The year in video games was good, bad, and everything in between. It remained difficult to purchase new consoles like the Xbox Series X, the Nintendo Switch OLED

It’s difficult to put into words just how much impact video games have had on the lives of people around the world since their invention in 1958 by Ralph Beyer and Bill Rush at Sanders Associates. There are many top games from different genres, but I wanted to list my personal favorites, based on hours of gaming experience (not including computer games, as they don’t get nearly enough attention). This list only contains arcade and video games, not board or tabletop ones, so the best card game won’t make it on here, no matter how much I may love it myself!

Player Unknown’s Battleground:

This is a survival game with a twist – instead of killing monsters and other players that are out to get you, your goal is simply to stay alive for as long as possible. There are 100 people who start each match, and your goal is to be one of only 2-3 left standing at daybreak.

CS GO:

The 5v5 team-based first-person shooter offers one of gaming’s richest competitive experiences. If you want to give it a try—or if you’re simply curious about how CS GO works—be sure to check out our beginner’s guide for getting started with Counter-Strike.

League of Legends:

Developed by Riot Games, League of Legends is an online game that revolves around an objective-based battle format. With over 70 million monthly players and $1 billion per year in prizes, it's not hard to see why LoL is one of the most successful video games ever created. Despite its success, its popularity might have peaked -- there are reports that League of Legends lost almost a million players between November 2016 and January 2017.

Clash Royale:

$1.99 per month: Available on iOS and Android devices, Clash Royale is a card-based battle game that combines elements of tower defense and collectible card games. When you enter matches with other players around the globe (or against your friends), you’ll take turns building your army by placing cards on a battlefield and launching attacks. The gameplay is easy enough for anyone to pick up, but deep enough for seasoned players.

Fortnite:

The Battle Royale has taken over. In August 2017, Fortnite boasted a player count of 125 million—more than half of all people who play video games worldwide and four times that of its closest competitor. Popular among both kids and adults alike, Fortnite is available on PC and consoles, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices. Players are dropped onto an island where they must scavenge for weapons and build defensive structures while combating 99 other players trying to do the same thing. If you die, you’re out. The last person standing wins. It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and it can get pretty intense.