Can you believe that we’re halfway through 2021 already? It’s crazy to think that the PlayStation 5 has been on the market for over seven months now, although we use that term loosely given that Sony’s current-gen console is still so hard to find.
In any case, we here at Push Square are largely in agreement that it’s been a good year for gaming so far. The last six months have offered up some stellar PS5 and PS4 titles, such as Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Resident Evil Village, Hitman 3, Guilty Gear Strive, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Disco Elysium… Wow, it really has been good.
Indeed, you lot recently voted for the ten best PS5, PS4 games of 2021 so far, and it’s a rock solid list.
But the year is far from over, and so we want to know about your most anticipated games yet to release in 2021. We’ve explained our own picks below, and you can have your say in the poll at the bottom of this article.
The poll closes on Monday the 5th July, after which we’ll list the community’s ten most anticipated games in a dedicated results article. So, be sure to vote, and then tell us your reasoning in the comments section.
Sammy Barker, Editor
Horizon Forbidden West: It’s probably not the most inspiring or original choice, but we can’t exactly have this list without Guerrilla Games’ hotly anticipated sequel, can we? Aloy will hopefully avoid the sophomore slump in what’s looking like a jaw-dropping evolution of the Dutch developer’s breakthrough open world adventure title. Personally, I’m just looking forward to exploring the studio’s vibrant post-apocalyptic world again, and busting up a bunch of ‘bots along the way.
Riders Republic: I really enjoyed sandbox sports game Steep, so this cycling-based sequel should be right in my wheelhouse. It looks to be building upon its predecessor’s best bits – I love those rocket powered wing suits – while still finding room for new disciplines, like the BMX. I’m a big fan of these persistent online worlds, where you can challenge other players in real-time and group up with friends and strangers alike. For as much criticism as Ubisoft attracts, it knows how to create fulfilling playgrounds with plenty to do.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: As a relatively recent convert to the Guardians of the Galaxy, I’m quietly optimistic for Eidos Montreal’s interpretation of the goofy superhero saga. The gameplay footage debuted at E3 2021 looked early and incomplete, but I have confidence in the studio behind Deus Ex: Mankind Divided to deliver something decent. Absolute worst case scenario: Groot will be in it.
Robert Ramsey, Deputy Editor
Tales of Arise: It’s been a long time since I really got invested in a Tales game, despite having a decades-old fondness for the series. Although there was a lot to like about 2017’s Tales of Berseria, I do think that the property has struggled to evolve in any meaningful way over the last two console generations or so. With Tales of Arise, it feels like Bandai Namco is finally aiming higher. A more fluid, open combat system and what is clearly a much bigger budget have given me good reason to be excited. This is the JRPG to watch in 2021.
Lost Judgment: It feels like Yakuza developer RGG Studio can simply do no wrong at this point, and so I’m dying to get my hands on Lost Judgment — the full-blown sequel to 2019’s excellent detective thriller, Judgment. I think RGG Studio tells some of the best, most gripping stories in modern gaming, and so I’m expecting big things from Lost Judgment’s inevitably mental narrative. Plus, you get to ride a skateboard around town and take part in high school dance-offs. Not necessarily activities that 30-something protagonist Takayuki Yagami should be engaging in, but you know it’s all going to be brilliant fun.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Hahaha, that’s right! I’ve managed to worm The Witcher 3 into yet another article! It remains one of my favourite games of all time, and it’s getting a native PS5 version at some point in the second half of 2021 — how could I not include it here? Geralt’s grand adventure at 60 frames-per-second with improved visuals? You best believe I’ll be playing through it all over again. For the ninth time. Maybe tenth? Exciting!
Stephen Tailby, Associate Editor
Kena: Bridge of Spirits: I think what excites me about this game is that it’s a relative unknown. Far be it from me to speak for everyone, but Kena really seemed to strike a chord when it was revealed among the first PS5 games shown last summer. Ember Lab’s background in animation shines through in all we’ve seen from the game so far, and the fantastical world just looks so inviting. The thing is, we’ve seen so little of it that I’m super curious to play this more than most other 2021 titles. Oh, and those little Rot creatures help you out in combat. How can you not love that?
Deathloop: Arkane Studios brought us fantastic, intricate sandboxes full of toys to play with in its brilliant Dishonored franchise. On the strength of that alone, I think we can safely assume it’ll be worth paying attention to Deathloop. You’re on a mysterious island caught in a time loop, you have 24 hours to kill specific targets, and you’re equipped with all kinds of crazy weapons and powers. Oh, and a second assassin is trying to hunt you down at the same time. It looks like a really stylish, fresh blend of ideas, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
Solar Ash: Listen — Hyper Light Drifter is an absolute banger. Indie developer Heart Machine delivered a blinding debut with an action adventure title that still comes to mind every now and then. A fascinating world, satisfying combat, and a wordless but engrossing story give me very high hopes for Solar Ash, the studio’s next title. It doesn’t have a concrete release date yet, but I have the utmost confidence in what that team is doing. We’ve only seen brief glimpses of the game so far, but its fluid traversal and combat look very promising indeed.
Liam Croft, Assistant Editor
Battlefield 2042: I’ve been out of the Battlefield game for a long time, but Electronic Arts needs to give me Battlefield 2042 right now. Seriously, get me on the QA team or something. Anything. The near-future FPS looks like a serious return to form, and since me and my friends are looking for a big shooter to re-invest in, the 128-player battles of Battlefield 2042 are right up our alley. The only thing that’s going to rival it is this year is Halo Infinite — get lost Call of Duty: Vanguard. So, let’s cut the crap and skip to October. I want to try (and probably fail) my own Rendezook.
Dying Light 2: How many times have I included Dying Light 2 in my list of most anticipated games? This must be the third. And given how long it’s been since that initial E3 2019 announcement, the sequel to one of my favourite games could be crap. It could also still be excellent. Following internal departures and long stretches of silence, I can’t help but be slightly wary of the whole thing. The latest news beat showed promise, but I don’t think I’ll be convinced it’s something special until I play it for myself. I’m excited to find out whether it lives up to my expectations.
Far Cry 6: The odds that I end up reviewing Far Cry 6 and slapping a 7/10 at the end of my verdict are very high since Ubisoft doesn’t look to have evolved its premier FPS franchise much since the forgettable antics of Joseph Seed. Still, this could be a load of dumb, action-heavy fun. I’m looking forward to seeing what Giancarlo Esposito gets up to as the main antagonist and then blowing up a load of dudes, buildings, and whatever else in between. It’s mindless fun. Just be better than a 7/10, please.
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