There are countless titles to look forward to this generation, with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X hitting the shelves and sitting on our gaming setups. Both consoles are beasts, capable of running even the most graphically demanding games, giving developers a free hand in creating immersive worlds and devising innovative gameplay mechanics.

This year is just the appetizer: we’ll only get to have a small taste of what the current generation of games and hardware are capable of delivering.

Far Cry 6

Ubisoft’s next entry to its acclaimed FPS series, Far Cry 6, is set in a fictional Caribbean island of Yara. Here, you’ll play as a guerrilla fighter, Dani Rojas, trying to topple a fascist dictatorship headed by El Presidente, Anton Castillo, who is played by actor Giancarlo Esposito. Instead of past installments’ silent protagonists, this game will feature a voiced one who may have his own story to tell. The game was set to be released on February 18th this year but was delayed due to the current pandemic’s effects.

The tropical setting is a massive change from the mountainous Tibet and rural America ones in Far Cry 4 and Far Cry 5. It’s a game to look forward to since you’ll have a renowned actor and a location heavily-inspired by Cuba.

God of War: Ragnarok

God of War: Ragnarok follows God of War (2018) after Kratos defeated the Norse god Baldur. The latter’s death has enormous implications, with the most significant being the signaling of the start of Ragnarok. Set to arrive on PlayStation 5 in 2021 (and probably for the PS4), it promises more Norse gods and the outstanding father-son dynamic of Kratos and Atreus.

Hogwarts: Legacy

Hogwarts: Legacy is a consolation for those who had never received their admission letter to Hogwarts when they were ten years old. Jokes aside, this game is long-overdue: we’ve all been waiting for an RPG set in the Harry Potter universe, and finally, Warner Bros, along with Avalanche Software, delivered. Apart from the school, the game will feature iconic locations like Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. Meanwhile, you’ll also get to learn spells, choose your own house, and make moral decisions. Note that the game is set in the late 1800s, so that we won’t see the novels’ main characters.

Bravely Default 2

A Nintendo Switch exclusive coming on February 26th this year, Bravely Default 2 is the THIRD game in the series, following Bravely Default and Bravely Second. The game follows four adventurers Seth, the refugee princess called Gloria, a scholar called Elvis, and a blade-for-hire Adelle. Like the rest of the series’s fun, it’s an adventure RPG with turn-based combat set in a fantasy world.

Back 4 Blood

In a nutshell, this is essentially this generation’s version of Left 4 Dead. It’s a four-player coop where you and other players go up against hordes of zombies and other mutated undead beings. It also promises RPG elements using a card-type system to modify your character’s various attributes, including health, stamina, and damage.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village, or Resident Evil VIII (get it?), takes place after the events of RE7, and it features a prominent face: Chris Redfield. Although it’s unknown what his full role is, it looks as if this protagonist has turned over a new leaf. It takes place in a medieval-style village and castle in Europe. Like its immediate predecessor, players will dive into it from a first-person perspective.

Monster Hunter Rise

With its demo causing the Nintendo eShop to crash, Monster Hunter Rise is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated Switch games this year. The game takes place in Kamura Village, which has eastern-style architecture, and the surrounding mountainous locale, a far cry from the terrains in Monster Hunter World, a game not released on the Switch. It features old monsters like the Khezu and new ones like the Magnamalo, a mighty fanged Wyvern. The game will be available on the Switch on March 26th, 2021.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits, is the first game of Ember Lab. The game is an action-adventure title where you play as Kena, a young spirit guide who can use various weapons. It promises to have a story that hits the heartstrings as the protagonist will guide deceased souls to help them move on.

Returnal

Another PlayStation 5 lineup, Returnal is a third-person shooter where you get to play as Selene, a space pilot stuck in an alien planet and a time loop. If you’ve watched the trailers, you’ve probably seen how fast-paced the game is and how death and psychological thriller elements have been embedded into the story and gameplay.

Horizon: Forbidden West

Forbidden West continues the story of the much-loved Aloy, who travels to a frontier known as the Forbidden West, a post-apocalyptic version of San Francisco. The game centers around the source of a plague that kills all it infects, including machines. Apart from the desolate and devastated city, you’ll also get to explore landmarks like the Yosemite Valley and parts of Utah and Nevada.

So, which game are you looking forward to playing in 2021? There’s a lot to choose from, and if you think there are other titles we’ve missed, please do let us know.