2021 is here, and what does that mean? New game releases, of course! 2021 is looking to be an amazing year with many anticipated games we all cannot wait to get in our hands. While we know a good portion of what to expect, there are still a lot in the works that will be revealed in the months to come.
Keep in mind with our list below that release dates can change. Our staff’s list is not put in any certain order; rather than it just picks of games that are anticipated overall. Should a game be delayed or setback, we will update this list accordingly. Now on to our most anticipated games of 2021!
10.) Persona 5 Strikers
A future warriors style beat-em-up that will hopefully give us another great story about our beloved phantom thieves: even though Persona 5 was an 80-hour experience minimum, I was dying for even more content and story once it was over if you were like me. I think that Persona 5 Strikers has the potential to scratch the continued itch of what happens next to our heroes. While this will be far from the standard Persona style gameplay, we will get a canon storyline and the ability to play as all our favorite characters. Hopefully, Strikers will reach a success level surpassing the currently popular Hyrule Warriors series of games.
By: Charles Cleveland
Of the games currently announced for 2021, I’d have to say that Persona 5 Strikers is one of the ones I’m looking forward to most. It mixes my love for the Persona franchise with the Dynasty Warriors franchise. If previous mixes such as Hyrule Warriors are any indication, I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this game right from start to finish. I would like it if the game brought a little more personality than previous Warriors outings, but if Atlus has their way, that will not be a problem at all; they’ve had zero issues bringing their own flavor to whatever they touch.
By: Kenny Keelan
9.) Back 4 Blood
I mean, what really has to be said here? From the same studio behind Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood looks to take everything that made Left 4 Dead so great and expand on it in interesting ways. Basically, it’s the Left 4 Dead 3 game we’ll probably never get to see.
Based on the snippets of gameplay shown so far, Back 4 Blood definitely has that Left 4 Dead feel. But, Back 4 Blood appears to improve many of the base mechanics and the classic formula behind Left 4 Dead. We’ve already seen bigger boss zombies, aim down sight capabilities for your weapons, and a staggering amount of zombies in between safe houses. And that’s all just from the brief gameplay trailer we saw from The Game Awards 2020!
There’s a reason why the original Left 4 Dead games are so highly regarded. It brings us back to a time where we hopped online with our friends to mow down hordes of undead and have some stupid fun. 2019’s World War Z is one of the few games that actually took that concept and ran with it. Turtle Rock Studios has all the ingredients needed for the next great zombie game with Back 4 Blood. Hopefully, they’ll be able to stick the landing.
By: Taylor Cole
8.) Hogwarts Legacy
From the moment I opened Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the 3rd grade, I wanted to be a wizard. And since I believe video games are the best art form for escaping into another world, you better believe my hype level is through the roof on this one. There are so many aspects I can’t wait to experience, from the mystical creatures to the jaw-dropping spells to exploring the Forbidden Forest in this hopefully engaging open world. Not only that, but we’ll be able to create our own character and chart our own path as a student at Hogwarts. The term “Day 1 Purchase” doesn’t do it enough justice.
By: Johnny Reynolds
7.) Horizon Forbidden West
Okay, call me a wishful thinker…Horizon Forbidden West hasn’t been officially announced for this coming year, but after seeing such an in-depth trailer earlier this year, I’m hopeful. Horizon Zero Dawn is easily one of my favorite PlayStation exclusives, and I am so eager to see how Guerilla will continue to evolve the already-vast world they’ve created. If the sequel to Horizon doesn’t end up coming out this year, Back 4 Blood is definitely one I’m looking forward to!
By: Shelby Royal
6.) Project GG
It’s a tough choice between PlatinumGames’s Ultraman-like Project GG and THE [email protected]: Starlit Season. But I’ll have to pick the latter since, one, Project GG hasn’t shown off anything resembling actual gameplay, and two, this will be the series’ debut on PC. As a 15th-anniversary celebration title, this popstars raising simulation game will finally add spin-off characters into a mainline game. It will be exciting to see how they expand the gameplay and character interactions this time around. And hopefully, Starlit Season ends up becoming a success. It prompts Bandai Namco to release (and translate) more of their lesser-known games to other platforms besides PlayStation again in the future.
By: Sidharta Rasidi
5.) Hollow Knight: Silksong
Team Cherry of Hollow Knight fame has proven themselves to be the above-average indie developer. Not only because of 2017’s imaginative Metroidvania title, but their above-average response to DLC. Silksong was originally created as a DLC to the original but became its own game as the development team started to introduce many new elements. Continuing in the Metroidvania style, Team Cherry is sure to impress with a new bountiful world following Hollow Knight’s steps. With much hype and promotion from Nintendo, Silksong is well on its way to being one of the most anticipated Indie sequels in recent memory.
By: Adam Alvernaz
4.) Dying Light 2
I think that the first Dying Light went under most people’s radar. After their work on the Dead Island series, developer Techland pulled out one of my favorite games of the last generation, and I really hope the sequel lives up to the love I have for the first game. The combat was visceral, the parkour was liberating, and the graphics were stunning. With a new console generation to take advantage of, those aspects can only get better with Dying Light 2. The news about development troubles give me cause for concern, but I know, with what they’ve shown off and what has come before, it has the potential to be a GOTY contender.
By: Ash Williams
3.) Halo Infinite
If The Last of Us was a terrific game for PlayStation exclusives, Xbox has what seems to be a top game of their own coming in 2021 — finally. Yes, I’m talking about Halo Infinite. It has been in development for so long, but it’s coming, and it promises to be something extraordinary. Halo Infinite will see the return of Master Chief, continuing directly from Halo 5. If early reactions are anything to go by, things don’t look bright. However, I have faith that they can iron out all of the criticism and create something special to complete the iconic, long-running video game franchise making it one of the most anticipated games of 2021.
By: Ashley Wilmhurst
2.) Deathloop
Deathloop looks like yet another phenomenal title out of Arkane Studios. Their Dishonored series is a masterclass in stealth gameplay, which leaves me nothing but enthralled in what Deathloop plans to be. We haven’t seen a huge amount of it yet, but what’s been shown seems to have the fluid moment-to-moment gunplay the studio is best known for. As long as they can top it off with an intriguingly mysterious story, I have faith Deathloop will be one of the best (if not the best) game I play in 2021.
By: Shawn Robinson
1.) Resident Evil Village
Hardcore fans were excited when a new game Resident Evil Village was announced. While all of us have waited, Capcom has done an amazing job with remastered versions of Resident Evil 2 and 3, making all franchise fans eager to know what will unfold next in the story. Waiting is the hardest part. The ever-growing Resident Evil teasers and the plot revealed that the next game would take place after the last release is a surprising twist compared to previous entries. What will the story be of Chris Redfield in Resident Evil Village? Will we have appearances of Ethan or Mia in the next game? Many questions, and hopefully, more trailers and news will soon be showcased in the months to come. I cannot wait until we find out more!
By: Jeremy Harris
