2020 is almost over, and it’s been a year full of surprises and intriguing developments in the world of video games. This year, fans have gotten access to a new console generation and have seen the release of some popular games, likeGhost of Tsushima, Hades,andThe Last of Us 2.While many games have had their fair share of controversy, some of2020’s best video game releaseswill no doubt remain favorites in people’s libraries for years to come.
Now that people have seen what the beginning of a new decade of video game making looks like, many potential buyers are on the edge of their metaphorical seats in looking forward to next year’s releases. While there are still some surprises remaining forvideo games releasing in 2021that haven’t been revealed yet, it may intrigue some people to have a handy guide to what’s planned for 2021. Here are some of the games people are looking forward to the most that are scheduled for release next year.
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January
Almost at the very beginning of the year is a nice surprise for fans of thecult classic indie gameScott Pilgrim vs. the Worldafter a long time of fans clamoring to get the game back. The horror gameThe Mediumwas delayed to early 2021 back in November, with the corresponding tweet referencing the “COVID-19 situation in Poland.“The final installment in theHitmantrilogy is also highly anticipated, and will only be available for PC players via the Epic Games Store.
The Pedestriangarnered very positive reviewson Steam when it released on PC early in 2020, and its console release is something of interest to many puzzle gaming fans. Fans of video game collections might be intrigued to see both theFive Nights at Freddy’sandYakuzaseries getting collections released in January 2021.
February
The World of Darkness realm is scheduled to get a lot of video game releases this year, withWerewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthbloodcoming out in February, andVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2being pushed back to the third or fourth quarter. And fans of thePersonagames are finally getting a Switch version, entitledPersona 5 Strikers.This is an intriguing month for Switch players in general, with the remasteredGhosts ‘n Goblins, a remake of the 1980s game, coming to Switch, as well as theBravely Defaultsequel. And of course, fans ofSuper Mario 3D Worldwill now be able to play that game plus new content known asBowser’s Furyon Switch.
March
For fans of theAnimal Crossinggames andStardew Valley, a nostalgic trip is starting the month off withHarvest Moon: One World.That same day, PS5 players will be able to get up tocrazy antics inYakuza: Like a Dragon. Just a couple weeks later,Yakuza 6: The Song of Lifewill be available to PC and Xbox One users. Another dose of nostalgia comes along midway through the month with thePrince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake. And for fans of the award-winningDisco Elysiumwho just didn’t get enough with the original version of the game,The Final Cutwill release sometime in March.
April, May, June
As is expected for the yearly calendar, the number of confirmed video game release dates thins out later on in the year, as players will have to wait until 2021 to learn when exactly the games they anticipate will come out. One game that stands out with a confirmed April release date is the long-titledNieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 . . ., which got gameplay footage during 2020’s Game Awards. For people who played theRune Factorygames when they released for previous consoles, includingRune Factory 4for 3DS almost a decade ago,Rune Factory 5will finally be out in late May.
Games Confirmed for 2021
As usual, the longest list of games is those that don’t yet have confirmed dates, and there are some real gems on this list. Sequels, anticipated standalones, remasters, and more are slated to fill out 2021. Of course, with the slew of delayed games in 2020, people may have to prepare themselves for some disappointments and pushed-off release dates. Hopefully, some of the most hotly-anticipated titles on this list will get confirmed dates or clearer release windows soon, even with titles likeVampire: The Masquerade 2 - Bloodlines continuing to be pushed off. But, from the length of this list alone (and this isn’t even every title), fans of all sorts of different games will have a lot to look forward to as studios and publishers make their announcements and reveals next year.
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