Games Coming in 2021 Anticipate-All

What are you looking forward to? How many of those games are repeat appearances from last year?

My notables:

  • Sable -- this is the year
  • Bravely Default 2 -- I loved the first demo, but why haven't I tried the new one yet?
  • NEO The World Ends With You -- I should fit in a replay of the first one. One of Square's most underrated gems
  • God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West -- PS5 needs its marquee titles... if they come out this year
  • Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart -- actually, Astro's Playroom has sold me on playing a platformer on the PS5 before we get those cinematic games. Those portal-hopping teaser videos look impressive
  • Nier Replicant Re-release -- There are a lot of people like me who played Automata but who still need to see where this all started ("well actually, Drakengard," I hear you in the back)
  • Mass Effect Trilogy -- I've been been meaning to get around to this for, oh, almost a decade now. Smart of EA to give me a shove and make a buck doing it
  • In the Black -- Do I need another F2P shooter in my life? Possibly, if it feels like The Expanse: The Game

OUTRIDERS

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the only game I'm actively looking forward to.

None of my three most anticipated games are confirmed for this year, but I'm crossing my fingers so hard for one or more to make it:
Elden Ring
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Breath of the Wild 2

Of games confirmed for this year:
Monster Hunter Rise
Resident Evil Village
Deathloop
Horizon Forbidden West
Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart
God of War Ragnarok
(though I do not expect this one to hit its 2021 date)

I've got a smattering coming.

Rune Factory 5 (comes out in Japan in May, no date other than 2021 for localization)
Bravely Default 2 (lower priority than RF5)
Humankind (carryover from last year)
Nier Replicant Re-release (Automata got me interested)

And I feel like at least one of Breath of the Wild 2/Starfield/Elder Scrolls 6 will come out and be the big open world game for the year.

Stengah wrote:

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the only game I'm actively looking forward to.

Yeah, this is really the only game on my radar as well, assuming that Baldur's Gate 3 isn't "released" this year.

Some not confirmed yet for 2021 but here goes!

-Outriders - Co-op FPS with an awesome looking style and varied abilities/powers.
-Total War Warhammer 3 - Please come out in 2021! Chaos, Chaos Dwarfs, Ogre Kingdoms oh my!
-Battlefield * - I hope they learned from BFV...Not sure on the setting yet but hints are it is modern warfare and not 2043.
-Biomutant - Love the world and look of this game! Hope it's polished!
-Overwatch 2 - Love the first one and looking forward to the maps and characters for chapter 2.
-Humankind - Love me some Civ.

Edited to sneakily add Humankind because...because.

I mean even though it's kind of sort of out, it's still Baldur's Gate 3 for me. I have intentionally not played it yet.

Other than that:
The Mass Effect series remaster (maybe my only Day 1 purchase this year)
Humankind (already pre-ordered!)
Total War: Warhammer 3 (when it's announced)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 (awkward title and I'm a bit concerned about the news that came out about it last year)

...and of course:
The game that has not been announced yet but once it is I have to have it ASAP

"Confirmed" releases:
Humankind - A new take on Civilization. Sign me up.
Biomutant - Seems like it could be great. Also seems like it could very easily disappoint.
Impostor Factory - I loved To the Moon and Finding Paradise, so cant wait for this.
Pathfinder: Wrath of The Righteous - Hopefully less bugged than the first game, which was otherwise quite good.
Pharaoh: A New Era - I dont know how much they are modernizing it, except for the graphics, but I am hyped. Still the king of city builder/production chain games imo.

TBA:
Settlers - delayed indefinitely, so who knows if it will ever come out, let alone in 2021.
Elden Ring - FROM Software = instant buy.
Horizon II: Forbidden West - Who knows if it will be possible to get a console to play it on, but I very much want it
Baldur's Gate 3 - Baldurs Gate = instant buy. Well, as soon as it is out of early access anyway

Right now my only big anticipated release is the next expansion for Final Fantasy XIV. Should be announced next week, and I'm hyped.

Dragon Age (please)

For me, I've been patiently waiting for the game Starbase to finally release. They still have on Steam and their Facebook page that they plan to release in Q1 this year, but I'd imagine that'll get pushed back at least a bit.

Considering that I don't think I bought and finished any game in 2020 (except Cyberpunk and that was a bit of a letdown) that I was anticipating in 2019 I have to concur with Budo

Budo wrote:

...and of course:
The game that has not been announced yet but once it is I have to have it ASAP

From my list:

Hitman 3 (XSX) [1/20/21] [wait for sale]

I loved the zeitgeist around the first in the reboot trilogy, especially because GiantBomb and others kept it as a reoccurring series. It made me feel like I was playing with others, even though I wasn't.

Two, felt much more contained. I partially blame the episodic content rollout of the first one, and the fact that I didn't really get much out of it because it felt like I was playing it alone.

The third one, while looking wonderful, falls into the trap of the second one, where I'll be playing it alone, so I'll wait for a sale, at best. Also, I'll be playing it on Series X, so my PS4 purchases of the first and second won't get upgraded to the Hitman 3 engine for free.

The Medium (XSX) [1/28/21] [game pass]

Not a big scary games or horror fan, but I will likely queue this up for some shenanigans with the wife. She loves scary stuff, and it's on game pass, so it's an easy grab.

Far Cry 6 (XSX) [4/1/21 or later] [wait for sale]

Say what you will about Ubisoft games, but ever since Far Cry 2, I have enjoyed my discount excursions in 3 and 5, particularly. I don't expect much to change for 6, but I'm a sucker for a map that needs some clearing out. See my 300+ hr, triple playthrough of Assassin's Creed Odyssey for proof.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition [4/1/21 or later] [wait for sale]

Gonna see how this one is received, and if they tinker with my dear ol' Mako. I've got them all queued up to play through the EA Play / Game Pass integration on my Series X, and am just waiting for more info before I consider my fourth playthrough.

Disco Elysium (XB1)

Been waiting with baited breath for a console release. Depending on the pile, it's either [wait for sale] or [day one purchase].

trueheart78 wrote:

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition [4/1/21 or later] [wait for sale]

Gonna see how this one is received, and if they tinker with my dear ol' Mako. I've got them all queued up to play through the EA Play / Game Pass integration on my Series X, and am just waiting for more info before I consider my fourth playthrough.

I'm fully expecting them to put the games into the Andromeda engine, so better combat but horrific 'procedural animation' or whatever they called it. Probably will be a pass for me if that's the case.

The only other thing really on my list is Humankind and I'm crossing my fingers for XCOM3.

Things that are definitely on my list:
Sable - I've been waiting for this since I first saw it.
Deathloop - Arcane keeps making interesting games and I hope they keep it up.
Nier Replicant Re-release - I started playing Nier: Automata a couple weeks ago and it is currently sitting at my #1 spot for the 2021 Game of the Year.
Evil Genius 2 - will this version nail the formula that the original was a near-miss on?

Budo wrote:

...and of course:
The game that has not been announced yet but once it is I have to have it ASAP

Also this. Or a game that has been announced and I just haven't heard of it yet.

Btw thanks to everyone who mentioned Starbase. It is now on my Wishlist.

I would say zelda breath of the wild 2 if it does release in 2021

The only games I plan on buying on release are Deathloop, Open Roads, and Psychonauts 2 (assuming it comes out this year).

Definites

Subnautica: Below Zero
Baldur's Gate 3
Humankind

Keeping an eye on, hope reviews are good

Farthest Frontier
Vampire Bloodlines 2
Evil Genius 2

Please hurry up and make

Total War: Warhammer 3
Diablo 4

FFXIV expansion.
Persona 5 Strikers.

The Forest 2 The first game was great but you could feel the bugdet limitations and the animation wasn’t great. The second game is looking like there is more money behind it and the animations, for crafting at least, look great.

Elden Ring It’s more From Soft. I hope there’s co-op.

God of War: Ragnarok I want to fight Thor. I may regret saying that.

Dying Light 2 I only just played the first game and it was a bloody, violent delight. The second one looks incredibly ambitious. Potentially too ambitious for it’s own good but, with leaks of the collectors edition making the rounds, it looks like the game is indeed on the way.

The Last of Us: Part 2 multiplayer The first multiplayer was fantastic but unbearably tense at times but I didn’t get to play a lot of it, partly because I came in late. I’m looking forward to getting into the new one on the ground floor where there are many players who are as inexperienced as me.

Some things I am looking forward to. Lot of strategy games that got pushed into 2021.

War in the East 2: The sequel to war in the East, this is a mammoth WWII Eastern Front game with updated UI and systems brought forward from the excellent War in the West. I cannot wait for it.

Distant Worlds 2: The best space 4x gets a sequel.

WarPlan Pacific: I do hope the developers took to heart some of the criticisms from WarPlan, but I really want a strategic level War in the Pacific replacement that has modern UI and is not so fiddly.

Humankind: This looks super interesting.

Back 4 Blood: Up to date Left4Dead-ish game? Yes, please.

Aircraft Carrier Survival: The "ant farm" cut away of your carrier looks so cool. I do wonder how much game there is though.

Farthest Frontier: Banished with diseases and combat from the devs of Grim Dawn? That all sounds kid of awesome to me.

Alliance of the Sacred Suns: Crusader Kings in a space 4X, this looks super-intriguing.

Star Dynasties: I guess I want a Crusader Kings in a space 4x because here is another one of those.

Old World: I pre-ordered based on the Soren Johnson name and the interesting-seeming extensions to the tired old Civ formula.

Budo wrote:

...and of course:
The game that has not been announced yet but once it is I have to have it ASAP

Yes! As always! Probably more than 1!

Can we include DLC? Because if so I’m looking forward to continuing my Crusader Kings 3 run with new rulers/mechanics.

Other than that, I’m most looking forward to Mass Effect remake, Vampire 2, and two Warhammer games - Warhammer Total War 3 which was just teased and the Vermintide in 40K land.

Looking forward to:
Beyond Good & Evil 2 (I still believe!)
Psychonauts 2
The Wolf Among Us 2 (yeah baby!)
Vampire: Bloodlines 2
Evil Genius 2
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
I've definitely got a theme going here
No More Heroes III
Dangit!

Also, assuming I can import my Mass Effect 2 save and finish out the trilogy that way, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.
Might pick up The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes, but I really need to start playing these games and not just buying them for some indefinite point in the future.

I have no idea what Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual is going to be like, but I'll keep an eye on it and hope it's good.

Last year's list and how it fared:

AUs_TBirD wrote:

Definitely:
Beyond Good & Evil 2 (didn't release)
Cyberpunk 2077 (buggy as crap, didn't buy yet)
Ghost of Tsushima (didn't buy yet, will get it when I buy a PS5)
No More Heroes III (didn't release)
Psychonauts 2 (didn't release)
The Last of Us Part II (didn't buy yet)
System Shock remake (didn't release, beginning to doubt it ever will)
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope (bought, haven't played)
Half Life: Alyx (haven't bought as I don't have VR gear for PC)
Persona 5 Royal (didn't buy and don't think I will until I play through at least P3 or 4)

Axiom Verge 2
Diablo 4
Disco Elysium: Final Cut
Elden Ring
Returnal
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

I would say my most anticipated games that I know of this year are:

1. Ruined King
After loving Battle Chasers: Nightwar and Darksiders Genesis last year, Airship Syndicate's new game is at the top of my list for sure.

2. Little Nightmares II
I adored the first one, and this one looks even more demented. It comes out on February 11th... allegedly.

3. Guilty Gear: Strive
I am not a fighting game person, but this game just looks incredible and I've been known to dabble in the genre every once in a while.

4. Biomutant
I've been following the development of this game since it was first announced three or four years ago. Will it be great? Well, I guess we'll see. It will have to come out first. They are saying May...

5. F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch
It's allegedly coming out in April, but we'll see. Whenever it ends up releasing, I hope it is as amazing as it looks.

I would include Persona 5 Strikers, but I still have not started Persona 5 Royal, which I got in December, so maybe I'll wait until I play that one before getting super excited about Strikers. It does look cool, though.

Finally, I would mention Beyond Good & Evil 2, but while I still want to believe (like AUs_TBirD), I am trying to be realistic about this list. Maybe 2023?

Finally for real, I would include Returnal, but I doubt I'll get a PS5 this year, so I'll have to wait until 2022, most likely. (Also most likely, I will play this game before Beyond Good & Evil 2) releases.

farley3k wrote:

Considering that I don't think I bought and finished any game in 2020 (except Cyberpunk and that was a bit of a letdown) that I was anticipating in 2019 I have to concur with Budo

Budo wrote:

...and of course:
The game that has not been announced yet but once it is I have to have it ASAP

And already added one!

YS IX: Monstrum Nox review | Monstrum regiment

Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart - Probably my favorite video game series and this one looks amazing. Might be the game I'm looking forward to most.

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time Remake - I'm not clear how much this is a remake vs remaster. If it's any good though I'm all over it, have so much love for the original Sands of Time.

New Pokemon Snap - I've never played the original Pokemon Snap but this looks like a game my kids might love so I'm keeping an eye on it.

Dark Alliance - Extremely cautiously optimistic on this one. I know it's nothing like the Dark Alliance games of old (which I also have so much love for) but if it offers a good online co-op experience then I'm probably in.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Looks gorgeous. I'm in.

Psychonauts 2 - If this can capture any of the original magic then this will probably be at the top of my list for the year.

Rune Factory 5 - Brand new Rune Factory? Yes please.

Loop Hero - Love me some deck builder roguelikes and this looks totally up my alley.

Fights in Tight Spaces - I'm a big fan of mode7's games, particularly Frozen Synapse. I've played the demo of this quite a bit now and another deck builder roguelike that seems awesome. It kinds feels like a mix between Slay the Spire and Into the Breach (with small maps featuring tactical turn based combat).

Humankind - Keeping an eye on this to see how it is received.

Things I have no idea if they are coming this year:

God of War Ragnarok
Gran Turismo 7
Horizon: Forbidden West

Ok, thought of a few more I'm looking forward to:

New FF14 Expansion (already mentioned)
Persona 5 Strikers
Shin Megami Tensei 3 remaster
Open Roads, Fullbright's new game

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance - I have 1,001 hours played on the PC, and hundreds more on Playstation between BoI and the expansions so far. Definitely my game of the century so far, and I can't wait for the expansion!