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, like Ghost of Tsushima, Hades, and The Last of Us 2. While many games have had their fair share of controversy, some of 2020's best video game releases will 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 for video games releasing in 2021 that 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

io interactive

Almost at the very beginning of the year is a nice surprise for fans of the cult classic indie game Scott Pilgrim vs. the World after a long time of fans clamoring to get the game back. The horror game The Medium was delayed to early 2021 back in November, with the corresponding tweet referencing the "COVID-19 situation in Poland." The final installment in the Hitman trilogy is also highly anticipated, and will only be available for PC players via the Epic Games Store.

The Pedestrian garnered very positive reviews on 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 the Five Nights at Freddy's and Yakuza series getting collections released in January 2021.

  • Five Nights at Freddy's: Core Collection (PS4, Switch, Xbox One) - January 12
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game - Complete Edition (PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One) - January 14
  • Hitman 3 (PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - January 20
  • Ride 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X) - January 21
  • Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) - January 26
  • Cyber Shadow (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) - January 26
  • Stronghold: Warriors (PC) - January 26
  • Ar Nosurge DX (PC, PS4, Switch) - January 28
  • Ciel Nosurge DX (PC, PS4, Switch) - January 28
  • Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (PS4, Switch) - January 28
  • Gal*Gun Returns (Switch, Xbox One) - January 28
  • The Medium (PC, Xbox Series X) - January 28
  • Sword of the Necromancer (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) - January 28
  • The Yakuza Remastered Collection (PC, Xbox One) - January 28
  • Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World: The Prophecy of the Throne (PC, PS4, Switch) - January 29
  • The Pedestrian (PS4, PS5) - January 29

February

tarsier studios

The World of Darkness realm is scheduled to get a lot of video game releases this year, with Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood coming out in February, and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 being pushed back to the third or fourth quarter. And fans of the Persona games are finally getting a Switch version, entitled Persona 5 Strikers. This is an intriguing month for Switch players in general, with the remastered Ghosts 'n Goblins, a remake of the 1980s game, coming to Switch, as well as the Bravely Default sequel. And of course, fans of Super Mario 3D World will now be able to play that game plus new content known as Bowser's Fury on Switch.

  • Cultist Simulator (Switch) - February 2
  • Outriders (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - February 2
  • Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (PS4) - February 2
  • Skyforge (Switch) - February 4
  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - February 4
  • Nioh Remastered - The Complete Edition & Nioh Remastered - The Complete Edition 2 (PS5) - February 5
  • Little Nightmares 2 (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) - February 11
  • Gal*Gun Returns (PC) - February 12
  • Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch) - February 12
  • Fallen Legion: Revenants (PS4, Switch) - February 16
  • Persona 5 Strikers (PC, PS4, Switch) - February 23
  • Darius Cozmic Revelation (PS4, Switch) - February 25
  • Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection (Switch) - February 25
  • Riders Republic (PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - February 25
  • Bravely Default 2 (Switch) - February 26
  • Destruction AllStars (PS5) - February TBA

March

game of the year 2019

For fans of the Animal Crossing games and Stardew Valley, a nostalgic trip is starting the month off with Harvest Moon: One World. That same day, PS5 players will be able to get up to crazy antics in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Just a couple weeks later, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life will be available to PC and Xbox One users. Another dose of nostalgia comes along midway through the month with the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake. And for fans of the award-winning Disco Elysium who just didn't get enough with the original version of the game, The Final Cut will release sometime in March.

  • Harvest Moon: One World (PS4, Switch) - March 2
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon (PS5) - March 2
  • Sea of Solitude: Director's Cut (Switch) - March 4
  • Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited (PC, Switch) - March 16
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Switch) - March 18
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake (PC, PS4, Xbox One) - March 18
  • Returnal (PS5) - March 19
  • Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (PC, Xbox One) - March 25
  • Balan Wonderworld (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - March 26
  • It Takes Two (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - March 26
  • Monster Hunter Rise (Switch) - March 26
  • Terminator: Resistance Enhanced (PS5) - March 26
  • Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Stadia) - March TBA
  • King's Bounty 2 (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) - March TBA

April, May, June

bethesda arkane studios

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-titled NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 . . ., which got gameplay footage during 2020's Game Awards. For people who played the Rune Factory games when they released for previous consoles, including Rune Factory 4 for 3DS almost a decade ago, Rune Factory 5 will finally be out in late May.

  • Guilty Gear Strive (PC, PS4, PS5) - April 9
  • NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139 . . . (PC, PS4, Xbox One) - April 23
  • Humankind (PC, Mac, Stadia) - April TBA
  • Hood: Outlaws & Legends (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - May 10
  • Rune Factory 5 (Switch) - May 20
  • Deathloop (PC, PS5) - May 21
  • Back 4 Blood (PC, PS4, PA5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - June 22

Games Confirmed for 2021

stadia racing game

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 like Vampire: 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.

  • 12 Minutes (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Apex Legends (Switch)
  • The Artful Escape (iOS, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Blood Bowl 3 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch) - Q1/Q2
  • Braid Anniversary Edition (Linux, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Switch)
  • Bus Simulator 21 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
  • Chivalry 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Control: Ultimate Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X) - Q1
  • The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Digimon Survive (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One)
  • Dirt 5 (Stadia)
  • Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - Q1
  • Earth Defense Force 6
  • Evil Dead: The Game (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Evil Genius 2: World Domination (PC) - Q1/Q2
  • Far Cry 6 (PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (PC, PS4, PS5) - Q1/Q2
  • Ghostrunner (PS5, Xbox Series X)
  • Ghostwire: Tokyo (PC, PS5)
  • Gotham Knights (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Grand Theft Auto 5 (PS5, Xbox Series X) - Q3/Q4
  • Gran Turismo 7 (PS5)
  • Graven (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Halo Infinite (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - Q3/Q4
  • Hello Neighbor 2 (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Hogwarts Legacy (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Horizon Forbidden West (PS4, PS5) - Q3/Q4
  • Last Stop (PC, Xbox One)
  • The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
  • Maneater (Switch) - Q1
  • Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord (PC)
  • NEO: The World Ends with You (PS4, Switch) - Q2/Q3
  • Overwatch 2 (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) - Q1
  • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5) - Q1/Q2
  • Resident Evil Village (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)
  • Scarlet Nexus (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - Q2/Q3
  • Shin Megami Tensei 5 (Switch) - Q1
  • Sky: Children of the Light (Switch)
  • Spelunky 2 (Switch) - Q2/Q3
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (PC, Xbox Series X)
  • The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (PC)
  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
  • Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) - Q3/Q4
  • Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (PC, Xbox Series X)
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X)

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