With roughly half of 2021 ahead of us, there's plenty of time for new and exciting games to come out. Although big names like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo tend to hog the spotlight when it comes to discussions surrounding big events like E3, there's plenty to look forward to on PC as well.
In fact, the roster of great-looking PC titles for 2021 might just render the prospect of dropping $1,500 on a six-year-old GPU all the more enticing (seriously though, don’t pay scalpers). It's certainly still a great time to be a PC gamer, even if the definition of an exclusive is a bit more muddled.
Total War: Warhammer 3 (TBA)
There is no denying the massive success of Total War: Warhammer 2. It has gathered a huge following, converting even diehard historical Total War fans with its fantastical setting and unique battle mechanics. With the goal of a trilogy in mind since the first game's release, Creative Assembly has already said that Total War: Warhammer 3 is the ideal game, the one that they had been working towards for the past few years.
Over years of DLC, both paid and for free, the universe of Warhammer has been brought to life with an attention to detail that is intoxicating. The games stack together at this point, with a continuous campaign map that will eventually connect all three games. It's an epic saga that comes to a conclusion later this year.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 (TBA)
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Announced by Jeff Goldblum during this year's Summer Game Fest, Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the sequel to the hugely popular Jurassic World Evolution from Frontier Developments. The studio has spent the last couple of years turning out some great games (without dinosaurs) like Planet Zoo and Planet Coaster. Fans are hopeful that many of the new detailed building mechanics introduced since the original Jurassic World was released will be implemented into the newest title from Frontier.
It's a simple premise: build a dinosaur park and populate it with dinosaurs — a childhood playground with grown-up technicalities, including managing your staff and making sure the dinosaurs don't eat everyone. The first glimpses of Jurassic World Evolution 2 look fantastic, and it's a game worth keeping an eye on whether you're a fan of the franchise or not.
Terra Nil (TBA)
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Hyped up during this year's Steam Next Fest, Terra Nil is a reverse environmental city builder where it's your job to reclaim nature rather than destroy it. Fewer factories, more trees. The game received very favorable reviews during its demo period on Steam, capturing the attention of several game outlets and popular creators.
Terra Nil is a relaxing game that turns the genre on its head, introducing concepts of rewilding and carving rivers through the barren earth, turning a ruined wasteland into a green haven. Plus, its art style and musical score are brilliant (almost better than going outside for real). Developed by Free Lives, and published by the ever-popular indie heralds, Devolver Digital, we're thinking that Terra Nil might just be one of 2021's indie breakout hits when it arrives later this year. Keep an eye on its Steam page for any release date announcements. There might end up being another demo, too.
Humankind (August 17)
4X strategy games may not be the biggest sellers around, but they used to rule the roost when it came to 90s PC titles. Some of the greatest games of the 20th century belong to the 4X genre, including classics like Sid Meier's Civilization, Galactic Civilizations, and Master of Orion. There's a storied history there, but recent times have seen Civilization come out on top.
That's what makes Humankind sound so appealing. After more than a decade of Civilization being the only game in town (not literally, but close enough), developer Amplitude Studios is making a claim for the throne. Employing the same style of gameplay where players follow a civilization from ancient times to the future, it looks like a true successor to Sid Meier's classic series. Let's hope it can stick the landing.
Deathloop (September 14)
It wouldn't be a list of most anticipated titles at TheGamer without a mention of Arkane Studios. Arkane has been incredibly consistent with its output over the years and even made some strides in resurrecting the immersive sim with 2017's Prey. With Deathloop looking to incorporate all of the technical mastery the company has acquired over the last decade, what's not to be excited about?
Deathloop also brings back one of the most overlooked modes featured in the N64 classic Perfect Dark: counter-operative. Players are tasked to finish levels ahead of each other and can even murder their partner to suit their own goals. It's a brilliant twist on the co-op shooter and one that we're dying to play.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits (August 24)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits was a big standout during Sony's PS5 reveal event last year and for good reason. Featuring some jaw-dropping visuals and what looked to be gameplay cut from the cloth of early 2000s 3D platformers, we've had our eye on the development of this title ever since its first showing. It looks so darn cute and the infusion of Eastern themes with its aesthetic lends itself to a unique world design.
Gloomwood (TBA)
After a relatively funny scripted bit during the PC Gaming Show, New Blood Interactive released a new trailer for Gloomwood that showed off a radically improved game. We were already in love with the Thief-inspired title from its Early Access demo, but the amount of polish and extra mechanical depth shown off have us salivating for more. It may not actually release in 2021, but there's a good chance we'll see it by the end of the year.
Even if it doesn’t, fans of immersive sims are in for a treat. New Blood has built up a reputation of being a modern 90s-era id Software, and Gloomwood looks to continue that legacy with aplomb.
Age of Empires 4 (October 28)
The Age of Empires series was once the pack leader when it came to RTS titles. Introducing genre-defining mechanics and an incredible spin on Civilization's "progression through the eras" system, Microsoft put things on ice for a while after the lukewarm reception to Age of Empires 3. Over the course of another decade, and with some wonderful remasters, we're finally about to get the fourth entry and it looks stellar.
It would have been cool to see a return to full 2D animation, but Age of Empires 4 still looks like a worthy successor to the original games. If we can get confirmation of the Ferrari returning, this might be GOTY 2021 (We're joking… maybe).
Diablo II: Resurrected (September 23)
There's no denying the mass appeal of Blizzard's latest iteration of its iconic hack-and-slash RPG powerhouse, but Diablo II was the game that really nailed the formula and hooked a legion of lifelong fans to the gills. Seeing this genre icon receive a proper overhaul while retaining its core bits is nothing short of magical — presuming your brand of magic involves demons, lots of blood, and enough loot to stuff a record-worthy pinata full to bursting.
If you're a Diablo 3 fan wondering what laid the bricks for your favorite game, this is the perfect opportunity. If you're a long-time Diablo veteran that's nursed an undying hankering for a return-to-form, it's a good time to be alive.