If you’ve been wondering what games to watch out for in 2021, there’s a lot coming this way, but, these 10 titles are ones we consider must-haves for the year.

When it comes to knowing what games are headed this way, 2021 is throwing a lot at us, and unfortunately for some, it isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. We’ve been seeing announcements being thrown at us left and right. 2021 is a busy year with the upcoming releases of titles such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Alien: Fireteam, and even Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2.

Now, you might be wondering, how can we cut down to 10 titles out of the dozens there are? Through the process of elimination on games that our editor’s discussed until there were only 10 left out of over 40 games. So let’s take a look at those 10 games and see what ones made the cut and why. Unlike most sites, however, you won’t need to click through multiple tabs or endless ads, just keep on scrolling!

Please note as well, we also will state whether or not the game’s are next-gen compatible or not in our write-up.

• Title: Deathloop
• Platform(s): PC and PlayStation 5
• Release Date: May 21st, 2021

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stuck in a loop in the life of an assassin by the name of Colt? Well, Arkane Lyon is giving you that very experience with their upcoming game, Deathloop. In their upcoming title, Arkane is putting players in through another loop with Deathloop where Colt has 24 hours to take out eight keepers called Visionaries in order to break the loop or it resets again.

Unfortunately for Colt, if he dies, the loop resets and Colt will once more need to work his way through it as quickly as possible. There’s also one last thing to it: The hunter is being hunted and he will have others attempting to take him out. The catch? She will do anything to stop Colt from completing his mission.

If Arkane Lyon does as they had in previous titles, the graphics and performance will be top-notch and putting hardware to the test.

• Title: Samurai Warriors 5
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: June 24th, 2021

When it comes to one of the most legendary franchises out there, Samurai Warriors is no exception to the rule, which makes it stand out among the rest due to how deeply attached to its historical Japanese inspirations. Now, we’re about to see one of the latest entries bring the series back to life, taking fans back into the Musou genre with a newly-imagined approach to the series, with an original story, new graphics, and enhanced gameplay features.

While little is known about the upcoming title, it already has locked in on a solid release date, giving fans a lot to look forward to this summer when Omega Force and Koei Tecmo deliver the adrenaline-fueled action-adventure series back to life. For now, we just have to wait and see what more they have to offer ahead of the game’s launch

• Title: NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
• Release Date: April 23rd, 2021

If you’ve already had a chance to enjoy NieR: Automata on PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One, you’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Yoko Taro’s imaginative thoughts about life, death, existence, and various other forms of philosophical views he has had. Unlike the previous re-telling of the story (NieR Gestalt) outside of Japan, Yoko Taro’s true vision is coming to life with the release of NieR Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 when it releases on April 23rd.

This time, fans will get to experience the story as it was meant to be when it originally released exclusively in Japan. The new version will feature enhanced visuals, gameplay mechanics, and even performance. You’ll once again take to the world, attempting to cure the main character’s sister of a mysterious illness while also exploring a massive world around them and finding the truth about the world around them.

• Title: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
• Release Date: May 14th, 2021

When it comes to creating an epic saga, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is the right way to go. It’s one of the best there is as the Shepard Saga set us forth into a galaxy both familiar and yet completely unexpected. The series isn’t known for its latest release, but rather, the imaginative and impactfulness of its predecessor titles and the universe they began to set up the entire franchise with through the trials and tribulations of the Normandy’s diverse and unique crew of both humans and aliens.

It’s a series that came off as a love letter to all the science fiction epics that came well before it ranging from Star Trek all the way to small nods towards Star Wars. Now, BioWare is setting us up for another grand adventure, visiting nostalgic locals such as the Citadel, Eden Prime, and the surface of Mars. Now, we’re about to dit once again in magnificent fashion when it releases later this year and we once more get to run across the universe fighting back against the imminent Reaper threat.

• Title: Back 4 Blood
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
• Release Date: June 18th, 2021

If there’s one franchise that has never done us wrong, it was certainly the Left 4 Dead series until Valve decided they didn’t do trilogies. Because of that, Turtle Rock moved on, worked on new projects including Evolve, and now, their return-to-form title, Back 4 Blood that will see them return to the horde-filled and anxiety-inducing experience using zombies.

Back 4 Blood looks to be following up the Left 4 Dead series as a true spiritual successor, or rather, what would have been the fourth entry in their critically-acclaimed franchise. Now, we just have to wait until June to see the latest endeavor in the zombie-survival experience that Turtle Rock is setting up for us.

So grab your friends, grab your flashlights, and your controllers, and be ready for the zombie apocalypse. Also, remember, there’s always a reason to double-tap.

• Title: New Pokémon Snap
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: April 30th, 2021

When Pokémon Snap first release in 1999, there was only a question as to whether or not a title such as it could succeed. Fans grew curious as to whether Pokémon could succeed if the title didn’t follow its RPG roots. Surprisingly enough, the series succeeded and Pokémon Snap took fans by storm as they began taking the best photos they could of their beloved Pokémon.

Fans took to working together to discover ways to activate hidden features within the game whether or not it was triggering Charmeleon’s evolution by throwing an apple for the Pokémon to enjoy. Now, it’s going one step further through the power of the Nintendo Switch with New Pokémon Snap adding in new generations of Pokémon, graphics, and all-new features for fans to enjoy. The biggest question is now: How many awesome secrets will the game have to offer?

• Title: Subnautica: Below Zero
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
• Release Date: May 14th, 2021

When it comes to survival games, very few have truly explored the underwater experience. Sure, No Man’s Sky added biomes, but, it didn’t truly add an overall survival experience outside of what the game was truly capable of. Flash foward slighltly later, and, Subnautica begins to take the world by storm thanks to both large-name streamers and a unique approach to survival titles by forcing fans to seek solitude beneath the ocean’s surface of a vast alien world.

With Subnautica: Below Zero is no exception to the rule. The twist? Subnautica: Below Zero is a standalone title, one that will take players from the creature comforts of a world like ours to something all-the-more hostile. Players will also have a bit more surface area to explore this time around, giving them more to look forward to whether they are building an above-water base or not. The only catch? You’ll have to survive hypothermia as well as thirst, hunger, and overall health.

It’s a real twist and it’s going to take fans even more time to adjust to the difficulties of surviving – if they can in this all-new harsh and lethal landscape. Will you have what it takes?

• Title: NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
• Release Date: June 10th, 2021

Ryu Hayabusa isn’t just a small name in the gaming industry. He’s one of the most well-known characters within the history of gaming, stemming back to the earliest days of Nintendo consoles. Now, Team NINJA is back and they are bringing Ryu Hayabusa’s famed NINJA GAIDEN Sigma titles to modern consoles. Fans can revisit the reboot, exploring as much of what the series had to offer back in the early 2000s as the master ninja himself tore through countless enemies, attempting to bring peace to the world.

The new versions aren’t just some small port, but rather, a heavily upgraded experience with optimizing performance, graphic enhancements, and all previously released content so that fans can experience the full NINJA GAIDEN Sigma experience. So, do you have what it takes to become a master or do you have the will to learn about becoming a master ninja while working alongside Ayane, Hayate, Momiji, and many other members of the franchise?

• Title: Hot Wheels Unleashed
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: September 30th, 2021

If you’re a fan of Hot Wheels, racing, and video games, then this is the perfect time to get ready for some Hot Wheels Unleashed as the famed brand is preparing to head to modern consoles. The game will feature cutting-edge graphics on higher-tier hardware while also boasting a few much-wanted features including local split-screen multiplayer fun, allowing fans to enjoy what Mattel and Milestone have to offer.

The title will allow players to drive the cars they love as they would if they were die-cast toys, allowing unique abilities, skins, track sets, varying rarity, and plenty more. You can also create your own tracks, post them online, and see just how the community takes to them when they download them to their consoles.

So, prepare to see over 53 years of Hot Wheels history release on modern consoles, bring in their fun, and allow you to get the most out of your Hot Wheels Unleashed experience when it releases this September. We know we will, because, Hot Wheels.

• Title: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: July 16th, 2021

The Legend of Zelda is undoubtedly one of the most beloved franchises on the market. It’s a series that speaks universally among almost every gamer on the market. Now, Nintendo is continuing the tradition of reintroducing classic titles, which is leading to their re-releasing of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which originally released on the critically-acclaimed Nintendo Wii back in 2011.

Now, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD will see fans once more take to the adventures of Link and Princess Zelda once more. Fans will once more get to take to the skies with Link’s trusty Loftwing Bird. The story takes place at the very beginning of the franchise’s continuity, giving fans an adventure that takes place shortly after The Demon King Demise had laid waste to much of the land in his search for the Triforce.

In response, the Goddess Hylia came to the aid of the lands, sending survivors to the skies as she took to the offensive, fighting back against Demise, and coming out victorious. Unfortunately, even with her success, the land was heavily damaged, leading the people to live among the skies as myths about the land below the clouds being just a myth. As in any good The Legend of Zelda fashion, it’s time to explore, take on one of the greatest adventures yet, and experience it in an entirely new way.

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About the Writer(s):

Dustin is our native video game reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. You can find him over on Twitter or Facebook today.