A couple of weeks ago, we highlighted the best games of 2021 so far. We’re only halfway through the year, though, and with the holidays fast approaching that means some of the biggest titles are on their way. Along with the usual suspects with a 4, 5, or 6 on the end of their name, we are getting games from genres we haven’t seen much of lately. Best of all, many of these games are coming out well before the holidays, meaning you have less anticipation and more playing in the coming months. Is your most anticipated game of 2021 not on this list? Be sure to let us know what games you want to be playing the rest of this year in the comments below.
New World
- Release Date: August 31, 2021
- Developer: Amazon Games
- Platform(s): PC
Amazon Games Studio is still new when it comes to making games, and to say they’ve had a rough start would be an understatement. Crucible launched, went back into closed beta, and ultimately was canceled, all in less than 6 months. Their Lord of the Rings MMO didn’t even make it that far before finding its way into the trash bin. Now, it’s do or die with their MMORPG New World. Whether New World is a hit or not remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt that fans of the MMO genre will be filling up the queue on August 31.
Humankind
- Release Date: August 17, 2021
- Developer: Amplitude Studios
- Platform(s): PC, Stadia
Hey, Civ fans, there’s another turn-based strategy game on the horizon that is looking to conquer your civilization. In Humankind, you will nurture your civilization through 6 eras, from the Ancient to the Modern Age. Unlike other civilization builders, as you begin each era, you’ll get to pick one of 60 historical cultures to add into the fold to create a blended civilization the likes of which the world has never seen.
Diablo II Resurrected
- Release Date: September 23, 2021
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One|X|S, Nintendo Switch
Year after year we wait for Diablo 4 to get a release date. It turns out that we don’t really care so much about getting a new Diablo as we do getting a Diablo that doesn’t have the number 3 in the title. When it was announced that Diablo 2 – easily the most beloved game of the franchise – was being remastered, fans went crazy. The technical alpha was well received, and with no word still on Diablo 4, it’ll be up to the 20-year-old game to carry the fanbase through the rest of 2021 and into 2022.
Battlefield 2042
- Release Date: October 22, 2021
- Developer: DICE
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One|X|S
I know it’s hard to believe, but not everyone likes Battle Royale Games. There are still plenty of gamers that prefer the team-based fighting found in the Battlefield franchise, and to them, Battlefield 2042 has to be at the top of their watch list. New classes, new gadgets, and of course new vehicles are coming to Battlefield 2042, and with up to 128 players, the battlefield is sure to be hotter than ever.
Far Cry 6
- Release Date: October 7, 2021
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One|X|S, Google Stadia, Amazon Luna
In Far Cry 5, we headed to Montana to take on cult leader Joseph Steed. In Far Cry 6, the upcoming installment in the first-person shooter franchise, we are headed south of the border, where we will play as a Yaran rebel trying to take down dictator Anton Castillo. Anton is voiced by popular bad guy Giancarlo Esposito, and with credits like Moff Gideon from The Madolorian and drug kingpin Gus Fring from Breaking Bad (among others) you can be sure your adversary will be intelligent, charming, and undeniably evil.
Forza Horizon 5
- Release Date: November 9, 2021
- Developer: Turn 10 Studios
- Platform(s):PC, Xbox One|X|S
As PlayGround Games prepares to park Forza Horizon 4 in the garage, racers around the globe are preparing to head to Mexico with the biggest Horizon ever. The cars look better than ever, there are new biomes to race through, and the new weather system looks to be super realistic. Best of all, Forza Horizon 5 will be available day 1 on Xbox Gamepass.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
- Release Date: October 22, 2021
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One|X|S
House of Ashes may not be on your list of games to buy this year, but it should be. First, the Dark Pictures Anthology trapped us on a ghost ship in Man of Medan. Supermassive Games followed that up with Little Hope, where we once again made life and death decisions to escape the fog. Now, in House of Ashes, we are part of a military unit that has become trapped in a buried Sumerian temple. War has taught you how to work as a team, but boot camp never prepared you for the evil you are about to face.
Halo Infinite
- Release Date: Holiday 2021
- Developer: 343 Game Studios
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox One|X|S
Many gamers gave up hope for Halo Infinite when the first gameplay footage appeared a year ago. All it took to get everyone back on board was to show off a new multiplayer trailer at E3 2021. All of those fond memories of sticky grenades and power sword backstabs came rushing back, and now the hype train is back on track for Halo Infinite’s Holiday 2021 release.
