From indie games to cult favorite reboots, there are so many upcoming games to look forward to! 2021 is just around the corner, and we have a whole list of new games to watch out for aside from typical new years’ resolutions.
This year has brought fresh titles like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knock-out, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons into the mainstream. Most gamers are probably wondering at this point— what’s next in store?
Fortunately, some great titles are coming your way especially with the recent launch of next-generation consoles. The list can get overwhelming, so we’ve narrowed it down to 16 for easier searching:
Cyberpunk 2077
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure game set in Night City, a megalopolis that is described to be obsessed with power, glamour and body modification. From what we’ve seen so far, Cyberpunk 2077 features a futuristic Grand Theft Auto feel. What distinguishes it from the latter is the body modifications and stunning hyper realistic gameplay.
Players take on the role of V, a mercenary outlaw that’s going after a one-of-a-kind implant which is said to be the key to immortality.
It was originally set to be released on April 16, but it was pushed back to set for December 10. The title has been a long time coming but fret not, the waiting is finally nearing the end.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Wii U
There’s a lot for Nintendo to work on in a Breath of the Wild sequel, such as improving the popular title’s rather annoying rain mechanics and repetitive enemy types. If you like your games neat and perfect, you are entitled to expect better from Nintendo’s BotW dev team.
However, fans may have to continue doing a bit of waiting since there’s not much known about BotW 2 yet.
There was a short trailer at E3 2019, but there’s a chance for the game to be inevitably pushed back beyond 2021. We’re with you as we await for Ganondorf’s return!
Monster Hunter Rise
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Monster Hunter Rise is an upcoming action-packed RPG in the Monster Hunter franchise, developed and produced by Capcom for the Nintendo Switch console.
The Monster Hunter series has been a phenomenon in Japan for many years, before gaining global popularity with the 2017 title Monster Hunter World.
Basically, players have to hunt monsters, find improved loot and gear, then fight harder monsters on a sprawling fantasy island. Loyal fans are excited to see if the developers can bring the classic and beloved Monster Hunter experience over to Switch.
It is set to be released on March 26, 2021.
Hitman 3
Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC
Hitman, the popular assassination sandbox series, makes a comeback with Hitman 3. The game marks the 8th main installment in the Hitman franchise and the third and last installment of the World of Assassination trilogy, following Hitman and Hitman 2.
Players take on the role of Agent 47 as they partake in globetrotting missions of taking down targets in various picturesque locations. The game will be made available on PS5 and PS4, along with full PlayStation VR support.
It will be released on January 20th 2021.
Sable
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One
If indie games are your cup of tea, you might want to check out Sable. The stunning in-game graphics will undoubtedly take your breath away, as it is inspired by the likes of Moebius comics and Studio Ghibli.
The game’s minimalist art style depicts it like a moving painting. It also features no combat— but Sable, a young girl, who is trying to accomplish a rite-of-passage that will take her across vast deserts by returning a mask to her clan.
The upcoming open world exploration video game is scheduled to release in 2021.
Prologue
Platform: PC
From the developers of PUBG, the Battle Royale game that took the gaming world by storm, comes Prologue— which is described as “an exploration of new technologies and gameplay.”
No specific details about the project has been announced, but there’s a short teaser featuring rain, an environment with moss, the sound of breathing and a dog barking.
With the devs stating that the aim of the game is to give players “unique and memorable experiences, each and every time they play,” fans can best expect a narrative experience from the game with some dash of thriller/horror elements thrown in it.
Pokemon Snap
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Good news, Pokemon fans! There’s going to be an upcoming sequel to the original Pokemon Snap, which was released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64. It may have taken Nintendo more than 20 years but the title was considered as a classic masterpiece.
The character, Todd Snap, went around to photograph different Pokémons in their natural habitats and at the same time went through an adventure across unknown islands.
A launch trailer was revealed during a presentation in June 2020, but there hasn’t been an official and concrete release date yet.
Halo Infinite
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Halo Infinite was originally slated to be launched alongside the Xbox Series X/S, but the highly-anticipated title has been delayed into 2021.
It will be the sixth main entry of the Halo series, and the fourteenth Halo game overall. The game sees the return of Master Chief, following Halo 5: Guardians.
Devs reassured fans that their wait will be worth it, with launch trailers featuring lush landscapes and environments that make full use of the added processing power of the next-generation Xbox.
Gran Turismo 7
Platform: PlayStation5
A new gaming console release means there’ll be more car-focused games coming your way. Gran Turismo 7 is an upcoming racing video game published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, marking the eighth mainline installment in the Gran Turismo series.
Designed for the next-gen console experience, players can expect high rendering quality through ray tracing, along with support for 4K, HDR, and a targeted 60 FPS frame rate.
The title will also take full advantage of the PS5’s USP, the DualSense controller, which can aptly change resistance depending on what’s going on in the game. For instance, expect to actually feel the difference when driving with anti-lock brakes in the game!
Age of Empires 4
Platform: PC
The Age of Empire franchise has been enjoying total remasters of all three titles now. However, Age of Empires 4 will mark the series’ first totally new title since 2005.
AoE4 first made an appearance at XO19 in November with an official gameplay trailer. It is confirmed that the game will be set in the Medieval period, which looks like a more detailed and colorful game world than players have ever seen from the strategy series.
As of writing, there is still no official Age of Empires 4 release date. Fans can assume it’s still in full development.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Nintendo Switch, PC
Many gamers believe Immortals Fenyx Rising title is Ubisoft’s own take on a Nintendo classic, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The action-adventure video game was previously known with a working title of Gods and Monsters, since this game will pit players against many Ancient Greek Gods and Monsters, err, monsters— Gorgons, Cyclopes, and Hydras.
Take on quests, explore dungeons, solve puzzles, and ultimately bring grand mythological adventure to life! The game’s release date was on December 3, 2020.
The Witcher: Monster Slayer
Platform: Mobile (iOS and Android)
The Witcher turned out to be a fan-favorite Netflix series in early 2020, and now the beloved franchise is venturing into the mobile market in the form of a brand new mobile game.
As for the general premise of the game, players will take on the role of an early Witcher (who existed hundreds of years prior to Geralt of Rivia) to travel around the real world, track prey lurking nearby, and become the monster slayer.
The mobile title promises console-quality in-game visuals with a great crafting system to concoct potions, traps, and more.
Apex Legends Mobile
Platforms: Mobile (iOS and Android)
EA previously confirmed that Apex Legends Mobile would be released around the end of 2020, but the release date has now been pushed back to 2021. One thing is for sure, though, the hit battle royale title is coming to mobile devices soon.
Like other popular BR titles such as Fortnite and PUBG, players land on an island to search for weapons and supplies before attempting to outplay and ultimately defeat other players in combat.
But what makes Apex Legends unique is its growing roster of legendary characters with powerful abilities. Players can then enjoy strategic squad play and innovative gameplay in the next evolution of Battle Royale games.
Resident Evil 8: Village
Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5, PC
Resident Evil Village presents the next generation of survival horror games, which marks the eighth major entry in the Resident Evil series.
It will bring back the series’ newfound first-person gameplay with profound inspiration from iconic horror movies like The Exorcist and Blair Witch.
The game promises ultra-realistic graphics powered by the RE Engine. Players will have to fight for survival as danger is lurking around every corner. Resident Evil 8 is slated to launch next year, sometime in 2021.
Roller Champions
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Heads up, sports video game fans! Roller Champions is an upcoming free-to-play sports game published by Ubisoft scheduled for release in 2021.
The game will be a skill-based, PvP eSports game as two teams of three race around a banked track to score points. Ubisoft wants to grow a competitive scene on the upcoming game, ensuring that it is “as fun to watch as it is to play.”
Get ready to do some wall-riding, pumping, and good momentum management to pull off incredible plays!
Deathloop
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Deathloop is an upcoming action-adventure game, where players are put in the shoes of an assassin and has to eliminate a series of targets using Dishonored-like powers and weapons in a seemingly never-ending loop.
The game also has a multiplayer component, where another player can join your game as a rival assassin and work to disrupt your cycle.
It is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 and PC on May 21, 2021, under an exclusive one-year console exclusivity deal.
Having a hard time choosing which game to try out?
There’s no need to get overwhelmed with the variety of options you can choose from. To make it easier for you to pick a game to try out, here are some tips to keep in mind:
-
Choose a game closest to your heart
Some upcoming games aren’t relatively new to the gaming scene. In fact, some are reboots or remastered versions of previous titles made better with improved gameplays. If some titles are familiar to you because you’ve played them in the past, it may be a good reason to try it out once released! It might give you a nostalgic feeling as you play the game.
-
Don’t hop into bandwagon and stick to your preference
It’s tempting to play the games everyone’s hyping about. That can be a good thing, especially if you happen to enjoy these games, but if you don’t — there’s no reason for you to force yourself.
Stick to your preference and try out the games you actually have fun playing, especially if you’re aspiring to be a video game streamer. The last thing you want is to end up having a “burn-out” sensation from streaming.
-
Make sure the game is compatible with your device
Some games aren’t cross platform. There are games limited to consoles only (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), on mobile or tablets, while some games may only be played on the PC.
Before you consider trying out any upcoming game, make sure you can access and play them on the devices available to you.
-
Read reviews before playing!
Online reviews can give you an idea as to what the game is all about and if it’s worth trying out. For instance, you can watch gameplays on YouTube to see what the game’s perspective will be like as a player.
Positive reviews give you more reasons to check out a certain game, while negative reviews can save you the time and frustration from wasting your time over games which probably won’t be of your liking.
Conclusion
It’s a yearly tradition for gamers to look forward to upcoming game releases — that’s the reason why game developers are doing their best to push their games to a higher level and learn from the previous versions which needs improvement. All this is done to ensure that each game is worth spending your money for.
Contrary to popular belief, buying games isn’t a total waste of money as long as it gives you satisfaction and happiness. Disregard what others say as long as you purchase these games legally, without affecting anyone or hurting your finances.
Sit back and relax because we’re looking forward to enjoying these games with you, gamers!
