This year has been the biggest year ever for Fortnite regarding outfits and cosmetics. With a record number of crossover events and characters, we repeatedly felt obliged to check the item shop again and again to have a chance to play as characters from our favorite franchises.
You might be surprised to learn that collaboration skins don't take up the majority of our list for the best Fortnite skins of 2021. No one knows why this is, but speculation would suggest that there have been so many crossover skins of such high-ranking quality that our tastes have changed to expect higher standards.
Best Fortnite Skins of the Year
Regardless of the reason, we see that most of the best Fortnite skins ranked by the players were made specifically for Fortnite's epic storyline. Here are the 10 best skins of the year based on our readers' ratings and number of votes!
Isabelle
Isabelle is easily one of the most popular skins in the game. Most players who know her are familiar with her different styles, and she has received more votes than any other non-crossover Fortnite character released in 2021.
We're not sure how she became so popular so fast, but her schoolgirl and superhero outfits have found their way to best-rated skins since their release earlier this year.
- Player Rating: 3.9
- Number of Votes: 1.1k+
Chun-Li
Chun-Li was an instant favorite for many players, particularly those that are fond of her character in the Street Fighter franchise. Fortnite hasn't always been perfect for bringing in characters from other universes, but their version of Chun-Li has been held in high regard since it was first introduced to the game.
As it stands, she has the higher number of votes for any characters introduced in 2021.
- Player Rating: 4.0
- Number of Votes: 1.4k+
Rebirth Harley Quinn
Fortnite surprised us with a skin we never even knew we wanted, and it instantly became a classic. The original Harley Quinn outfit was perfect already, but we are more than grateful for this revamped version (which is, somehow, better than perfect).
The Chun-Li skin only outranks this skin because of the number of votes, but otherwise, it would be the top Fortnite crossover skin of the year!
- Player Rating: 4.0
- Number of Votes: 700+
Marigold
Marigold followed in her brother's footsteps and reached the list of the best Fortnite skins of the year. So far, it seems like this family is set on being the most recognizable and favorited character in the game. Midas (Marigold's brother) appears on this list twice, and Jules (her niece) appears on this list once), making this group take up four spots on the top 10!
Most importantly: she was voted into the top 10 outfits by our readers. People's choice!
- Player Rating: 3.9
- Number of Votes: 800+
Shadow Midas
Although only recently released, the Shadow Midas skin delivered top quality for players who are fans of the character. There was plenty of hype around this character since he was leaked earlier in the year, and it instantly became a hit when it was finally released during the holidays.
The only downside to this outfit is that it doesn't have a lot of votes, but we're confident it will keep a rating higher than 4.0 when it gets as many votes as the other listings.
Midsummer Midas
Midas left us hanging in the summer of 2019 when he was responsible for the end of Chapter 1, but he's now hanging loose with this favored summer skin of 2021. The Midsummer Midas outfit instantly brought back recognition for his part in the story over the past couple years and made it known that he is still one of our favorite characters in the game.
- Player Rating: 4.0
- Number of Votes: 500+
Related: Worst Fortnite Skins of All Time
The Foundation
Technically this skin hasn't been released, but it became such a staple in the Fortnite story over the past year that this list wouldn't seem complete without it. The Foundation, voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, has made it his goal to defend the Fortnite reality and help Agent Jones. This character's skin is so epic that it not only came with his own cosmetic set, but he also brought entirely new weapons to the Island!
- Player Rating: 4.0
- Number of Votes: 700+
Chigusa
In regards to Fortnite skins, Chigusa was a sleeper hit. This is not a crossover skin, as many people thought it was. It was crafted specifically for the Fortnite storyline, but Epic Games has yet to capitalize on her history.
Still, she is currently one of the most frequently seen skins, and she has a high player rating to put her as one of the best skins in the game this year.
- Players Rating: 4.0
- Number of Votes: 550+
Beach Jules
Like father, like daughter. Jules's summer skin is the only other summer skin to make it to the top list (and it's only slightly less popular than her dad's summer outfit — Midsummer Midas).
Jules is known as a stoic and terse character who isn't interested in gossip and chitchat, so it's entirely possible that people loved this skin so much because she seems more relaxed!
- Player Rating: 3.9
- Number of Votes: 700+
Ariana Grande
The Ariana Grande concert in the middle of 2021 drew plenty of attention to Fortnite, and players instantly recognized her outfit as one of the top outfits of the year. Her style in-game matches her style in real life, and many players jumped at the chance to dress up in her concert uniform while they take down their opponents.
This outfit was easily the most popular outfit in the Icon Series cosmetics.
- Player Rating: 4.0
- Number of Votes: 600+
That's the complete list of the best Fortnite skins of the year! What skins do you think will make it to the top next year?
Did you know we keep up to date on the latest leaked skins for Fortnite? You can see them all here at our Fortnite Leaked Skins & Cosmetics List!