Last week we took a look at some of the most anticipated games of 2021. Just to show 2021 had plenty of curveballs to throw at us, minutes after I submitted the list to my editor one of the games was pushed back a couple of months. Did I surrender all hope and accept that this would be another year filled with delayed releases? Nope, I’m gonna double down. Using a little reverse psychology I’ll predict that the developers of this batch of games, all of which are expected to release in 2021 even though they don’t have concrete release dates, will all be pushed into 2022 and beyond, and then dare the universe to prove me wrong.
What’s that you say? The universe can read my mind? Ah, crap.
12 Minutes
If you knew that in a couple of minutes there would be a knock on your door, and the person on the other side was about to kill you, could you stop him? How? What if as soon as you died the events started all over again? Would you be able to stop him this time? What about the next? Welcome to the time loop of 12 Minutes.
Far Cry 6
Some people feel that the last couple of entries in the Far Cry series have been…well, to put it nicely, lackluster. Far Cry 6 leaves the United States and whack job cult leader Joseph Steed behind, and takes us to the former tropical paradise island of Yara and its fascist leader Antón Castillo, played by Giancarlo Esposito. Anyone who has seen Esposito’s ability to play the bad guy in shows like The Mandalorian and Breaking Bad knows that his calm demeanor is merely a facade for a man capable of utterly despicable deeds in his ruthless pursuit of power. He’s just what Ubisoft needs to put a little spice back into the franchise.
Halo Infinite
Think back to the very first teaser trailer you saw for Halo Infinite. Not the gameplay video that received enough ridicule to push the Xbox Series X launch title so far down the road that you might actually be able to buy a console by the time it comes out. No, I’m talking about the trailer that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as chills went down your spine. I have faith in Master Chief, so I’m putting my faith in 343 Studios and their ability to right the ship and deliver us the Halo goodness we all deserve.
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Usually bustling with activity 24/7, Tokyo has literally been turned into a ghost town. Everyone has vanished. Paranormal activity is popping off across the city. Spooky schoolgirls with creepy laughs and dudes in suits carrying umbrellas have taken over and it’s up to you to stop them.
Diablo Immortal
I know most of you are probably surprised to see Diablo Immortal taking this spot instead of Diablo 4. Diablo Immortal made my list for two reasons. First, I’m always looking for a good mobile game, and all indicators point towards Immortal being just that. Second, and I could be way off here, I think there are several hack and slash games coming to the PC that will be better than Diablo 4. Those two opinions probably have plenty of people shaking their heads in disbelief, but that’s how I see it. I could be wrong, it’s happened before.
Dark Alliance
Speaking of good hack and slash games coming to PC, I can’t wait to give Dark Alliance a try. It’s been a long time since we were treated to Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 1 and 2, and this time around they have dropped the Baldur’s Gate setting and are taking us further north to Icewind Dale. We’ll get to take control of the ever-popular D&D band of adventurers featuring Drizzt Do’Urden, Bruenor Battlehammer (my fave of the bunch), et al. And just like that famed group, you can bring your friends with you through local and online co-op.
Undungeon
I’m not typically a fan of retro graphics. While some see beautiful works of art, all I see are blocks on my screen. The exception to this is ARPGs, so Undungeon gets a pass on its graphics in the hope that the gameplay more than makes up for it. The Undungeon Steam page shows an expected 2Q2021 release, so you can be sure it’ll come out…some time soon. In the meantime, you can try out the demo for free
Baldur’s Gate 3
Although it’s already in Early Access I am waiting until the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3 to start playing. And the wait is killing me! If you ever had the chance to play Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 then you know what I’m talking about. Baldur’s Gate 3 should be a fantastic RPG when Larian Studios finally finishes it. Sure, I’ve watched a couple of streams to see how it is progressing but I want to go in blind for my first playthrough when it finally releases.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Lord of the Rings games have always focused on the deeds of heroes and champions. In LotR: Gollum we finally get to play as the most unfortunate soul of Middle Earth – Gollum. Billed as a story-driven stealth-action adventure game, we will finally get to see more of the troubled, twisted soul of one of Tolkien’s most interesting characters.
