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The 24 Most Anticipated Video Games[Gamer Guide]

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In 2020, we’ve seen the resurgence of people buying video game consoles thanks to COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns worldwide. From the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles to the release of the next-gen Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, video games have seen it all this year. Plus, with captivating games released this year, such as Marvel’s Avengers, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, game developers have a lot of work to do behind-the-scenes to compete with this year’s releases. 

So, if you missed all the 2020 Cyber Monday video game deals on Amazon and Apple iOS, you’re sitting at home wondering what you should get your gamer as a gift next year or you’re bored of the games you currently have, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the 24 most anticipated video games in 2021 for every style of gamer. 

*Note: This article was created on December 11, 2020, and release dates for individual games may change due to unexpected delays from game developers.  

List of Games Available on Multiple Consoles 

True gamers have multiple consoles, so it makes sense to start off with the games coming out on multiple platforms for ultimate gameplay. 

Far Cry 6 

This popular first-person shooter series developed by Ubisoft takes you to Yara — a fictional Caribbean island based on Cuba — where you control Dani Rojas and join a guerilla fighter group as they attempt to overthrow dictator Antón “El Presidente” Castillo and his prodigal son Diego. 

As the sixth game in the series, Ubisoft has announced that this will be their largest open-world game to date, with DLC (downloadable content) to be released later. With no release date specified in 2021, this game will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, Google Stadia and PC gaming systems. 

Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 

Based on the World of Darkness series, you take control of a human who has been killed but resurrected as a weak vampire in 21st century Seattle. Follow the storyline and increase your vampire’s strength in this first-person game that will be available on Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

HITMAN 3 

HITMAN 3 is a stealth-based game playing as assassin Agent 47 from the third-person perspective. As Agent 47, you’ll travel to locations across the globe such as Dubai, Dartmoor and Chongqing to fulfill contracted assassinations and track criminal targets. 

HITMAN 3 will be compatible with PlayStation VR and is set to be released on all platforms on January 20, 2021.

Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny 

In this tactical role-playing game, you’ll take the form of Zed, a zombie in the lowest level of the Netherworld, to fight off attacks from a God of Destruction. Team up with your sister Bieko and see if you can transform Zed from a zero to a hero. 

The game will be released in the United States of America on the Nintendo Switch in the summer of 2021, with a January 2021 release on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan only.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake 

Take a step back in time and enjoy this remastered 2003 game that will be available on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 gaming systems. Follow the journey of an unnamed Prince and Farah, a young Princess who knows the power of the Sands, to help stop an evil Vizier’s plan to turn citizens into sand monsters and control them. Gameplay is heavily based on platforming and fighting sand creatures. The remake will hit the shelves on January 21, 2020. 

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine 

With an ever-changing release date, this edition of the Tom Clancy games is a three-player tactical co-op shooting game in which you’re tasked with helping stop the spread of an alien parasite that is destroying the nation. The latest release date that Ubisoft has set for the game is March 2021.

Elden Ring 

This dark fantasy role-playing game is a collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki — the developer of the Souls video game series — and fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin. 

There hasn’t been any officially shared gameplay or spoilers, but FromSoftware developers have announced that this will be their largest open-world game to date. No specific date has been set for the 2021 release.

Chivalry 2 

This first-person slasher game is inspired by medieval movie battles and allows you to team up with friends to lead the cavalry charges, siege castles, protect your kingdom and leave your mundane life behind to become a hero. 

This game has had multiple delays and release date changes; however, the developers have confirmed that they will officially publish the game in 2021. It will be cross-platform compatible and playable on the Xbox, PlayStation and PC gaming systems. 

Outriders  

Set to be released on February 2, 2021, Outriders is a third-person shooting game set on the planet Enoch, where humans are currently attempting to colonize the lands. A storm named “The Anomaly” brings a massive energy surge to the planet, giving the current inhabitants and the humans entering the planet superpowers. This game will be available on Xbox and PlayStation gaming platforms. 

Balan Wonderworld 

In this platform game, you’ll control either Leo Craig or Emma Cole as they follow Balan through Wonderland, solving riddles, collecting new costumes and completing adventures. The story will be broken up into a series of 12 stories and will be released on March 26, 2021. 

Deathloop 

Take control of Colt in this action-adventure game where everyone on the mysterious island of Blackreef is stuck in a time-loop with no memory of the previous day’s actions. Only Colt can remember everything, so he spends his time learning all the other residents’ behavior and actions to find a way to stop the loop.

The game is set to be released for the Xbox and PlayStation gaming systems on May 21, 2021. 

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood 

As an addition to the World of Darkness series by Nacon, this action role-playing game allows you to live the life of Cahal, an eco-terrorist werewolf who has been banished from his werewolf tribe. Cahal’s primary goal is to fight against the Pentex corporation and put an end to the pollution it creates in the American Northwest. 

Play this game on the Xbox or PlayStation gaming systems starting February 4, 2021. 

Little Nightmares 2 

In this game, you’ll take control of Mono, a boy who wears a brown paper bag as a mask, to get the television-addicted citizens of the decaying Pale City away from the screen. Team up with Six to defeat the Thin Man and stop his television transmission from controlling the citizens.

The game will be released on February 11, 2021, for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation and PC gaming systems. 

Resident Evil 8: Village 

This survival horror game is not meant for the weak-of-heart as you follow a series of events that leads Ethan Winters, your character, to a mysterious village with his strangely-acting friend Chris Redfield. You can attempt to survive this game on Xbox, PlayStation or PC. 

No date is set for the game’s release. 

Hogwarts Legacy

All you Harry Potter fans — your Hogwarts content just got a little more interactive. This RPG (role-playing video game) is based in the 1800s in an open world where you, a student at Hogwarts, select your Hogwarts House, take classes at the school and complete missions in familiar locations such as Hogsmeade Village and the Forbidden Forest

No specific date has been set for the 2021 release.

Märchen Forest

Mylne, an apothecary, is a young lady sent out into the forest to search for ingredients to add to her potions. Her small trip turns into an adventure as she stumbles across the Underground Ruins and must take on a new mystery with fantastic foes. 

Pick this game up for your Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 or Xbox One on January 28, 2021.

Goodbye Volcano High 

This narrative adventure game follows the anthropomorphic dinosaur characters in the VVorm Drama band. Navigate their senior year at Volcano High, take on the highs and lows of a high school student with graduation sneaking up on them all. This game has no set release date in 2021 and will be available on the PlayStation gaming systems and Microsoft Windows. 

Related: The 5 Best TVs Of 2020 [Under $1,000] 

Only available on Xbox 

All you Xbox lovers probably know of these releases already, but here is some more information. 

Halo Infinite 

Picking up where Halo 5: Guardians left off, continue on Master Chief’s journey to save mankind. Fight against familiar foes such as the Banished, a violent mercenary group set on a mysterious Halo ring. This game is only available for Xbox gamers and has been a staple of the Microsoft gaming community since the release of the original Xbox and Xbox One.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide 

This next installment of the Warhammer 40,000 universe is a first-person RPG (role-playing video game) of Imperial Guards that takes you to the planet Atoma Prime to investigate rumors of a dangerous cult. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will only be available on Xbox gaming consoles and Microsoft Windows PC systems with no specific release date in 2021.

The Medium 

This psychological horror video game allows you to control Marianne, a medium that can enter the spirit realm, in the third person to complete puzzles and survive a dystopian surrealism environment. The game is scheduled for a January 28, 2021 release.

Only Available on PlayStation 

And of course, we can’t forget about the PlayStation gamers! We’ve got you covered with these 2021 releases. 

Yakuza: Like A Dragon 

In Sega’s newest addition to the Yakuza series, you take control of a new-to-the-series protagonist named Ichiban Kasuga. Follow Ichiban as he tries to uncover why his former boss betrayed him after he spent 18 years in prison and join forces with other playable characters in the fictional recreation of Kabukichō, called Kamurocho. 

Yakuza: Like A Dragon was released on November 10, 2020, for the Xbox and PlayStation 4, but will have a special release for the PlayStation 5 on March 2, 2021. 

Only Available on PC 

Here are a few games for our PC lovers out there.

Stronghold: Warlords 

Set to be released on January 26, 2021, this strategy PC game recreates East Asia’s castle economies as you build your empire and defend it from other Warlords looking to take your kingdom. 

This will also be the first game in its series where you can recruit, upgrade and command AI lords in your squadron. 

Related: The 7 Best Computer Monitors [For Work & For Play]

Only Available on the Switch 

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Super Mario 3D World was first created for the Wii U home video game console in November 2013, but the remake of this game for the Nintendo Switch is set to release on February 12, 2021. 

Join Mario and his comrades as they fight to rescue fairy-like creatures named Sprixies from Bowser, who invaded the Sprixies Kingdom. This game features a special power-up called Super Bell, which allows your selected character to transform into a cat and climb walls and use a scratch attack. 

Bowser’s Fury 

This new Mario content comes bundled with the Nintendo Switch Super Mario 3D World remake. So far, it doesn’t have much information released to the public; however, gaming experts have perceived the addition to be an add-on battle with Bowser at the end of the Super Mario 3D World game. Get the complete edition of the Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury game on February 12, 2021.

Monster Hunter Rise 

Set for a March 26, 2021 release, Monster Hunter Rise is the Monster Hunter Series’s newest installment. 

Take control of a Monster Hunter and slay or capture mystical creatures with various tools and weapons to gather loot and upgrade your armory to fight even stronger monsters. As the name “Rise” indicates, this game is focused on vertical growth and takes you to new heights to fend off dangerous foes. 

Delayed Announcements 

Kerbal Space Program 2 

This game has recently been pushed back to a 2022 release after internal changes and integrations made by the involved development companies. The Kerbal Space Program 2 is a space flight simulation game that allows you to control a space station run by green aliens called “Kerbals.” 

Now, we wait…

That wraps up our list of games that are projected to be released sometime in 2021. What video game release are you looking forward to most next year? Is it on our list? If not, let us know what game and why it should be on this list of games to look out for next year. 

If you’ve got a video game itch and can’t wait until these games get released, check out this list of video games turning into movies to find some classic games to get back into or get excited to watch your favorite games played out for you.

You might also like: Ways Technology Has Changed Our Lives Since the ’90s (For Better or Worse) 

24 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2020:

  1. Far Cry 6 
  2. Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 
  3. Hitman 3 
  4. Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny 
  5. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake 
  6. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Quarantine 
  7. Elden Ring 
  8. Chivalry 2 
  9. Outriders
  10. Balan Wonderworld 
  11. Deathloop
  12. Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood 
  13. Little Nightmares 2 
  14. Resident Evil 8: Village 
  15. Hogwarts Legacy
  16. Märchen Forest
  17. Goodbye Volcano High 
  18. Halo Infinite 
  19. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide 
  20. The Medium 
  21. Yakuza: Like A Dragon 
  22. Stronghold: Warlords 
  23. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury 
  24. Monster Hunter Rise 

Trevor Peters

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