I didn't really feel it was a stellar year, and I didn't buy that many things in 2021 so I'm not going to do a top ten because it would be padded with stuff that in my heart I know isn't that good. Instead, I've just categorised every figure I purchased in 2021.

Figures That Stood Out
Studio Series Starscream (Bumblebee Movie Version) - Everything I want from a Cybertronian alt mode, with a great posable bot mode thrown in too. Makes me viscerally angry that I bought WFCS Starscream because this figure does the same concept 100 times better.
WFCK Leader Beast Megatron - 10 years ago we'd have called this a masterpiece. Hands down the best beast mode of any retail figure in Transformers, and a robot mode with oodles of character.
Netflix Voyager Optimus Prime (the WFCE Leader Class repack without trailer - On the one hand, this is great. I love that this was offered as a Voyager without the giant accessory, and it is a really good figure. On the other hand, stop making G1 Optimus Prime figures now. I'm sick of seeing them and it's not going to get any more accurate or better than this mold.

Figures That Existed Without Standing Out Or Annoying Me
WFCK Tigatron
WFCK Air Razor
WFCK Optimus Primal
WFCK Cyclonus
Studio Series Dino
WFC Trilogy Cover Agent Ravage


Figures I Found Innately Disappointing
WFCK Dinobot - Gorgeous robot mode but the dinosaur mode isn't great. I think I was possibly spoiled by WFCK Megatron's rex mode, but this is an ugly brick in comparison. I had such high hopes for this one.

Some Third Party figures I bought this year that were excellent: Planet X Cacus (IDW Grimlock), Iron Factory City Commander (IDW Lost Light Ultra Magnus), BigFireBird Kalavinka, MMC Eris.