With last year seeing the launch of brand new consoles from both PlayStation and Xbox, developers have been hard at work producing games which will take full advantage of the many features this next generation has brought to gaming.
Many of these will arrive this year, alongside other highly anticipated releases which will both introduce new worlds to gamers, and return to old favourites too.
Here's the top ten games we are most excited to play in 2021 with their scheduled release dates. Of course these are subject to change and some currently are undated, just simply 2021. We will keep this list up to date with the latest updates.
Hitman 3 - 20th January
That's right, the popular stealth game franchise is returning with its eight main instalment which will conclude the World Of Assassination trilogy, following Hitman (2016) and Hitman 2 (2018),
Set to end things with a bang, gamers will be able to once again play as Agent 47 travelling to locations worldwide to take down new assassination targets.
Whilst it will feature new locations including Dubai, Dartmoor and Berlin, the gameplay style for which the series is known of course hasn't changed with players having to take a strategic approach to carry out their missions.
Yeah, don't go in all guns blazing on this one!
Deathloop - 21st May
One of the year's most exciting releases is an original game from the team over at Arkane Studios, who are best known for creating the popular Dishonored series.
Like with Dishonoured, in Deathloop gamers will use a combination of stealth, parkour, and attack skills whilst playing as Colt, an assassin stuck in a time loop who has to take out eight targets before midnight.
If one of the targets is left alive or Colt dies before midnight, the loop is started again undoing all his hard work.
So yeah, we imagine it will be a lot of fun but also lead to a lot of consoles being thrown down out of frustration too. But that's why we love gaming!
God Of War: Ragnarok - TBD
Last year was filled with thrilling game announcements which got fans very much looking forward to 2021.
One of the biggest ones was for God Of War: Ragnarok, a sequel to the popular 2018 game which is currently in development and is expected to arrive on the PlayStation 5 this year.
Not much is known yet about the upcoming game, but we do know that it will be set in ancient Norway and feature series protagonists Kratos and his young son Atreus.
Also judging from the title, it is expected that Ragnarok will be initiated in the game, a series of events that will lead not only to the death of the Norse gods, but to the end of the world too.
It is set to be something quite epic then.
Gotham Knights - TBD
Rumours have long circulated that WB Games Montréal were working on a new Batman game, and last year it was revealed that actually it isn't really about the caped crusader at all.
Set after Batman's apparent death, Gotham Knights sees how the remaining heroes will protect the city, carrying on the legacy left by Bruce Wayne.
Gamers will be able to play as Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin as they protect Gotham from crime and chaos, taking on major threats including Mr. Freeze and the Court Of Owls.
Find out more about Gotham Knightshere.
Gran Turismo 7 - TBD
You couldn’t launch a new PlayStation console without also releasing an exclusive Gran Turismo game for it, and so the next numbered edition in the popular racing series will be arriving on the PS5 later this year.
Reintroducing the GT Simulation Mode, the new game also supports haptic feedback and 3D audio, and looks set to potentially be the best Gran Turismo game yet.
Within the announcement trailer we got a glimpse at in-game footage from behind the steering wheel, which of course is pretty thrilling.
Halo Infinite - TBD
Delayed from last year, the next chapter of Master Chief's story will now arrive in 2021 exclusively on Xbox.
Described as the biggest and most ambitious Halo game yet, Halo Infinite promises us bigger battles, more epic vistas, better visual effects and an enormous ring that is several times larger than that of the last two Halo games combined.
When they say 'infinite' they truly mean it, and we are sure it will be worth the wait.
Find out more about Halo Infinitehere.
Hogwarts Legacy - TBD
In 2021 we will be once again visiting the Wizarding World as a new Harry Potter game will be arriving on our consoles.
Described as the first ever open-world role playing game set in the Wizarding World, Hogwarts Legacy is set at the famous school during the 1800s, allowing you to live the life of a student - taming beasts, fighting off deadly enemies, learning new spells and doing so much more too.
Crucially players will be able to decide whether they want to use their magic for good or for ill, crafting their legacy in any way they want to.
Find out more about Hogwarts Legacyhere.
Horizon Forbidden West - TBD
Set in America many, many years from now, Aloy returns in the sequel to the hit 2017 game Horizon Zero Dawn, which will be arriving exclusively on the PS5 at some point this year.
From the initial trailer we know that the visuals will be simply stunning, and in terms of gameplay it looks to be a similar set-up to the first instalment.
So you can expect to take on more robotic dinosaurs in an open-world epic which is set on shimmering beaches, amidst breathtaking mountains and in autumnal forests.
Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart - TBD
Your favourite Lombax and robot duo will back this year in an all-new game which has been promised to be the pair’s most dangerous adventure yet.
From the trailer it looks like everything you would want and more from a Ratchet And Clank game, with Insomniac really letting their creative juices flow.
A PlayStation 5 exclusive, it will make maximum use of the DualSense controller for enhanced feedback, whilst the gorgeous visuals is definitely taking advantage of the PS5’s new SSD storage system.
Resident Evil 8: Village - TBD
Resident Evil is one of the longest enduring gaming franchises ever and for good reason - no one can thrill us and scare us like they can.
So of course the upcoming tenth major instalment in the series, titled Village, is on our list of the most anticipated releases, even if we must admit we aren't sure whether our nerves can take the horrors that await.
Acting as the sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, the game is set a few years after and sees character Ethan Winters' world turned upside down when familiar face Chris Redfield makes an unexpected appearance.
Shop our full range of gaming merchandise here.
For all things pop culture and the latest news, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
