Last year was a big one for play. Final Fantasy 7 Remake launched after 15 years of hype, followed by The Last of Us 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 blockbusters. Animal Crossing declined as we were sequestered in our homes, and became an unexpected hit. And Sony and Xbox both have their next generation platforms in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X respectively | S introduced.
What will happen in 2021? Very. Unfortunately, most major titles for this year do not yet have an issue date. Here are five promising ones, followed by a list of titles that do not.
IO Interactive
IO Interactive has re-launched Hitman, the classic stealth franchise in which you play as a suitable trading agent 47, in 2016. After a strong sequel (the Hitman 2 of 2018), the series peaks with the third installment on January 20th. “You get to travel the world and kill interesting people,” teases a recent trailer. Can’t say no to that.
Hitman 3 launches on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Switch, Stages and PC.
Nintendo
Super Mario 3D World is the latest WiiU game transferred to Switch. This is not a bad thing, as the WiiU was home to several excellent games that did not get their time in the sun. These include Mario Kart 8, the best-selling Switch game yet.
Super Mario 3D World has received universal praise with its original release, so it’s definitely worth playing if you’ve missed it before.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake
Issue Date: March 18
Ubisoft
Remasters are cool, but remakes can be really magical. After Shadow of the Colossus, Resident Evil 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake, three fantastic remakes, bring 2021 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Originally released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2, Ubisoft gives the platform a complete 2021 do-over.
Price of Persia: The Sands of Time launches on PC, Xbox One and PS4.
Capcom
Following the well-received Monster Hunter World, launched on PS4 and Xbox One in 2018, and the transfer of the 3DS game Monster Hunter Generations to the Switch, Nintendo’s console is finally getting its own, brand new Monster Hunter game. Like other games in the franchise, it promises a giant world and hundreds of hours of killing animals.
Bethesda
After years of focusing primarily on Dishonored, developers are moving Arkane Studios to a new IP in Deathloop. And it looks sick.
This is the idea: you are an assassin trapped in a time loop that is restored after every day. To get out, you have to kill eight “visionaries” scattered across an island. The proviso is that you must do so within one time frame. The second warning is that a rival assassin is holding her busy while you search for the eight visionaries hunt you.
Deathloop will appear on the PlayStation 5 and PC on May 21, with an Xbox version coming soon next year (it has a time frame for the console for one year).
Games coming ‘TBA’ 2021
The following titles will be released this year. We will update this page as games get an official release date.
Warner Bros.
Lego Star Wars is back after five years. The last time we saw the franchise was The Force Awakens of 2016. This game looks much more ambitious: The Skywalker Saga Lego-izes all nine Star Wars movies.
The Skywalker Saga does not yet have a final release date, but it is expected in the first or second quarter. When released, it hits PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Switch and PC.
Far Cry 6
Release Date: 2021
Ubisoft
Originally planned for February, Far Cry 6 was postponed to an unknown date in 2021. But it is the largest, most popular Far Cry to date and is located in the tropical region of Yara – loosely based in Cuba.
The game will not only be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X | S, PC and Google Stadiums will be launched, but also on Amazon’s Luna platform.
The preview for last year’s Game Awards was a new Mass Effect. It’s probably still a long way off. The upside down? More time for a new mass-effect goodness. Mass Effect Legendary Edition consists of updated (but not remade) versions of Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 and will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Gran Turismo 7
Release Date: 2021
Sony Interactive
Gran Turismo has been a major part of PlayStation consoles since the original GT was introduced in 1997 on the original PS. Gran Turismo 7 was announced for the PlayStation 5 last June, and we know little about it except that it is linked to a 2021 release.
Microsoft
Halo Infinite is meant to be the big thing that comes with the Xbox Series X | S was launched, but after poor response from fans to a preview last year, it finally delayed until the fall of 2021. The name of Halo alone makes it a must-play for most Xbox owners, and developers 343 Industries, try something new by playing the multiplayer for free.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Release Date: 2021
After the two Middle-earth games showed that Lord of the Rings games can still rock, 2021 will bring another ministry in the form of Lord of the Rings: Gollum. It was not the action RPG that the Middle-earth games were, but rather on Gollum’s cunning and cunning, but it seems intriguing.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be released on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X | S, Switch and PC come.
Horizon Forbidden West
Release Date: 2021
Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the best games on the PlayStation 4, and its sequel comes in 2021. Horizon Forbidden West follows Aloy’s journey to 30th century Utah, Nevada, and California, while tracing the origins of a killer virus. Truly a game for our time.
Horizon Forbidden West launches this year on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
God of War: Ragnarok
Release Date: 2021
Sony Interactive
Speaking of outstanding PS4 games and their sequels, God of War: Ragnarok is also coming to PlayStation 4 and 5 this year.
That’s actually all we know about the game so far, as the teaser for the game only contains a half logo and the 2021 release window.
Hogwarts Legacy
Release Date: 2021
Warner Bros.
Hogwart’s giant story history of witchcraft and sorcery is a perfect opportunity for a top game. Later this year we’ll see if developers Avalanche Software can get the trick with Hogwarts Legacy. The game is set back in the 1800s, before the time of Harry Potter, and will mix role-playing elements with Potter lore.
Hogwarts Legacy Launches on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X | S and PC.
Resident Evil Village
Release date: 2021.
Capcom
Do not let the name fool you: Resident Evil Village is really Resident Evil 8. It’s a direct sequel to Resident Evil 7’s story, but developers call it ‘Village’ to indicate how the village in which the game takes place is a key element is. Not so subtle – but certainly narrow.
We do not know when Resident Evil Village will launch other than the “2021” window, but when it will, it’s on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X | S and PC.