The Best Games Coming In 2021: A Guide

Release dates for video games are terribly fickle; you never know when a game is going to get delayed. At the time of writing this there are still very few major releases with confirmed release dates, yet there are countless games coming in 2021 to be excited for, if vague release windows are to be believed. This is my personal list of my most anticipated games coming this year because I’m a narcissist, apparently. Still, my rankings will hopefully help you discover a few new games to anticipate. Read through to the end for an extended list of games that are officially targeting a 2021 release.

Resident Evil Village (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC)

I must admit, I’m not really a huge fan of the “Resident Evil” franchise, or horror games in general, but this one has me intrigued. After playing the “Maiden” demo, I am riding full steam ahead on the vampire lady hype train. It’s not just because the nearly 10-feet tall Lady Dimitrescu can dominate me like the helpless survival horror protagonist that I am, but it doesn’t hurt either. Indeed, the demo showcased an atmosphere that evokes Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” but with sexy vampires, and I can’t wait to get bit when the game releases on May 7.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC)

This long awaited sequel to the cult PC hit from 2004 promises to be many people’s first experience of the vampire RPG series. Realistically, a 2021 release feels dubious, as it was originally supposed to come out early last year, and still only has a vague release window of this year, but I’m still optimistic. I love the dark and dingy art style showcased in the gameplay demo from 2019, and role-playing as a vampire is a severely under precedented concept in gaming. I guess what I’m trying to say with these first two entries is that vampires are awesome.

GhostWire: Tokyo (PS5, PC)

One of the more mysterious games on this list, this first-person action-adventure game boasts a unique art style that depicts a spectral Tokyo through which the player will navigate while casting spells like Dr. Strange. It’s a timed exclusive, so it will be coming out for Xbox Series X eventually, but in the meantime this PS5 focused game aims to make great use of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback. This feedback is such an incredible feature but has almost no meaningful applications so far, so this one has me very excited to make good use out of my console.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)

One of Sony’s most enduring game franchises returns, marking one of the first truly next-gen games to get an actual release date, which is June 11. It looks to put the PS5’s SSD to good use, with nearly instant load times between areas. You can quickly hop between dimensions in this family friendly title from Insomniac Games. I’m particularly interested in the combination of unabashed nostalgia and technological wonder that this title is likely to provide.

Biomutant (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Admittedly, the circumstances of this game’s development have me a bit worried, as it was originally supposed to release years ago, then went quiet for a long time. Still, we have a real release date now, May 25. It’s an RPG that looks to take cues from Fallout, Devil May Cry, The Legend of Zelda and… furries? Regardless, it looks to be one of the more unique and fun games coming this year.

Stray (PS5, PC)

The elevator pitch for this game is simple yet very persuasive. You play as a cat in a city full of robots. If that’s not enough to sell you, I don’t know what to say, other than that you should introduce a little joy into your life every once in a while. Annapurna Interactive tends to publish some of the most forward-thinking indie games in the industry, and this adorable cat simulator is a must-play.

Little Devil Inside (PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Switch)

One of the most intriguing reveals from last year’s PS5 reveal event was this timed exclusive that finds its origins on Kickstarter. It’s cartoonish art style, sense of ambition and sheer whimsy really caught my attention. It is billed as an open-world survival RPG, but what really sold me was the explosive poop joke from the trailer.

Atomic Heart (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC)

I have no idea if this game is even real or not, but it’s so Bioshock-esque that I can’t help but be intrigued. This first-person action RPG is set in an alternate reality Soviet Union that puts technology front and center. I really hope this game can deliver on its premise and style.

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits (PS4, PS5, PC)

This action-adventure game looks straight up like a Pixar movie. It appears to emulate The Legend of Zelda and Horizon Zero Dawn, but perhaps the most important facet of this game is that you’ll be collecting spirits known as Rot, a deceptive name for the cutest little critters you’ll ever see. While it is still rumored to be released in March at the time of writing this, it still doesn’t have a firm release date, which is not good news. By the time this is published we’ll almost certainly know more about this game’s release.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

I don’t normally get excited about remasters, but how could I not be elated that one of the greatest trilogies of all time is getting a 4k makeover? So many players will get to experience the wonderous space opera for the first time, and with the recent disappointments of Mass Effect Andromeda and Anthem, developer BioWare desperately needs a victory, and this is it. A new generation of players will be able to experience the intergalactic romance in unparalleled fidelity on May 14.

Deathloop (PS5, PC)

It’s time to acknowledge that I don’t love the anti-consumer practice of timed exclusivity, because it rears its ugly head yet again. Still, I can’t let that quash my excitement for the next game from Arkane Studios, developers of the incredible Dishonored series. Deathloop appears to be in the same vein, but with even more style and an intriguing concept, merging Dishonored’s combat and level design with the gameplay loop of the rogue-like genre. Come May 21, I’ll surely be dying over and over, loving every second of it.

Horizon Forbidden West (PS4, PS5)

When Horizon Zero Dawn released back in 2017, it instantly created a new Sony superstar in protagonist Aloy. The game world was absolutely stunning and teeming with mystery and mechanical wildlife. The machines that inhabit this post-apocalypse are among the coolest enemies in the history of games. If the sequel does in fact come out this year, it will surely find its place on many year-end lists.

God Of War: Ragnarok (PS4, PS5)

We literally only have this cryptic teaser trailer to go off of, yet this highly anticipated sequel is still supposed to be coming out this year. Simply put, 2018’s God Of War reboot is one of the best games ever, and the sequel has tremendously large shoes to fill, but I don’t see any reason to doubt developer Santa Monica Studio’s ability to deliver the goods.