2020 is in the books. It was far from the best year, but there were some small highlights – at least when it came to video games. We saw the beginning of the ninth console generation (great for those who were actually able to get one), and some fantastic releases including The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, and Doom Eternal. Obviously, there were some big disappointments this year as well – we’re looking at you, Cyberpunk!
But that’s all in the past and it’s time to look ahead to the New Year. As the next generation of hardware takes off, there’s lots to get excited about with some top-tier titles on the horizon. So, without further ado, here are our most anticipated games of 2021…
Untitled God of War sequel
Is anyone surprised to see this on the list? We are talking about the most anticipated games of 2021, after all. 2018’s God of War resurrected a near-perfect but seemingly complete series and reimagined it. Suffice to say, the results exceeded everyone’s expectations and left fans clamouring for more. While the follow-up to the almost three-year-old PS4 masterpiece is yet to receive an official title, fans have already bestowed the name ‘God of War: Ragnarök’ on it following the game’s initial teaser trailer which stated “Ragnarök is coming”. God of War ended with hints of the looming cataclysm to boot, so it’s a sure bet the next title in the franchise will centre on it. We can’t wait to see how it makes use of the PS5’s advanced capabilities, and we’re sure to be in for a treat when the eponymous anti-hero Kratos and his son Atreus make their next-gen debut.
Far Cry 6
By all accounts, Far Cry has been a series of ups and downs. That’s not to say there has ever been a bad instalment, but out of the five previous titles only Far Cry 3 broke ground. It also began the trend of having a memorable villain as the focal point of each game (who could forget Vaas?). For Far Cry 6, Ubisoft are bringing in Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame to star as primary antagonist ‘El Presidente’ Antón Castillo. It sounds like they’re pulling out all the stops to repeat the success of 2012’s hit, and the game’s setting and synopsis certainly piqued our interest. You’ll play as guerrilla soldier Dani Rojas on a fictional Cuba-esque Carribean island as he attempts to topple fascist dictator Castillo.
Back 4 Blood
In many ways, Back 4 Blood is the third Left 4 Dead we all desperately wanted but never got. With a development team comprised of the first Left 4 Dead’s creators, delightfully similar gameplay, and a 4 in its name, it’s plain to see that this is a true spiritual successor to L4D and may be as close as we ever get to a bona fide sequel. Featuring familiar four-player co-op, Back 4 Blood takes place in a zombie-infested post-apocalyptic world and pits player characters known as the ‘Cleaners’ against hordes of the undead called the ‘Ridden’. Does it sound revolutionary? Nah. But do we think it’ll be fun as hell? YES – and that’s all it needs to be.
Resident Evil Village
After more than a decade of action-orientated instalments, Resident Evil had gotten stale. Having played both 5 and 6 on release, I thought they were generic and boring – particularly compared to the first two Dead Space games which came out around the same time. But Resident Evil 7: Biohazard breathed new life into the franchise with a return to the series’ survival horror roots and introduction of a first-person view (thanks, P.T.). Village – which is the eighth main entry – takes place a few of years after the last game with Ethan Winters returning as the main protagonist. Ethan is searching for Chris Redfield in a spooky European village after Chris inexplicably kills Ethan’s wife Mia. Judging from its reveal trailer, number eight draws influence from medieval folklore and will likely feature witches and werewolves in some form. It’s something new and different for Resident Evil, but as long as it goes hard on the survival horror, we’ll be happy.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Zero Dawn was one of the best-selling PS4 titles and generated a substantial following after its release in early 2017. It even received a PC port this past August. Gamers controlled huntress Aloy in a post-apocalyptic, action-orientated RPG adventure as she battled against the dinosaur-like machines that rule over the planet. Forbidden West will pick up were Zero Dawn left off, with Aloy embarking on a journey across the remains of Nevada, California, and Utah to find the cause of a deadly plague. Of course, the sequel will feature a plethora of new environments and landscapes to explore – including underwater settings. Some familiar machines will return, too, with ample new ones being added to help mix things up. It’ll also be a big test of Sony’s cross-generational ambitions, with Forbidden West arriving on PS5 and PS4. There was a fair amount of surprise (and disappointment) when this was confirmed back in September and raised some concerns that it’ll hinder the next-gen version. It’ll be interesting to see if Guerrilla Games can deliver an unencumbered version of the game for both consoles. But for now, we’re just excited to step back into this world again.
Do you agree with our list? What are your most anticipated games of 2021? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
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Featured Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
