The year 2020 has been a memorable one characterized by people's widespread deaths and economic disruption caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Despite the widespread financial losses sustained, the global video game industry, on the other hand, is thriving. The Covid-19 induced lockdowns all over the globe, boosted up user engagement in video games and e-sports.
According to the World Economic Forum, the global video game industry was forecasted to be worth $ 159 billion at the beginning of 2020, which was four times bigger than the box office industry and almost three times bigger than the global music industry. Since most of the global workforce is working from home, picking up a video game is a great way to kill time. With millions of video games out there to be played and thousands of them yet to be released, here we take a look at the five most anticipated upcoming games lined up for the year 2021:
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Initial release date: End of 2021
Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Genre: First-person adventure-shooter
The Warhammer 40000 series has developed one of the most loyal gamer bases over the years. Having a cult status in its own right, Warhammer 40,000 is one of the best miniature war games out there.
If the thought of technologically advanced alien races, heavily armed space marines, armored vehicles, and even gargantuan demons excites you, Warhammer Darktide might be the first-person adventure shooter you ought to give a try. The developers announced that the game is set to be released somewhere near the end of 2021.
Hitman 3
Initial release date: January 2021
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Action-adventure
This coming January, the world's most popular assassin is all set to be back with a bang! After a long wait of almost a decade and a half, the World of Assassin Trilogy's final installment – Hitman 3 is finally about to be released.
IO Interactive, the developers behind the world-famous Hitman series, revealed that the Hitman 3 would take the players to Dubai, England, among many other places. If you are a fan of stealth-based action games, then do give the Hitman 3 a try.
Stronghold Warlords
Initial release date: January 2021
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS
Genre: Strategy
If you are a lover of strategy games, then Stronghold Warlords might be the perfect game. The Stronghold franchise has had a long history of delivering various strategy game titles ranging from Medieval warfare to ancient epic battles. The Stronghold Legends released back in the year 2006 even threw mythical creatures into the mix. This took the popularity of the franchise to a whole new level.
The latest Stronghold Warlords is all set to be released in the first month of 2021. Set in medieval China, the game features an exciting single-player campaign, a completely new castle defense mode, and a wide variety of historically accurate new troops based on Medieval China. The game developers have also promised a brand-new co-op multiplayer mode. If you are a lover of intense RTS action, then Stronghold Warlords is the perfect choice to go ahead with.
Kerbal Space Program 2
Initial release date: End of 2021
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Simulation
When the first installment of the Kerbal Space Program was released back in 2015, the game took the world by storm. It made the world realize how much gamers were craving for a real-time flight simulation game. The game quickly scaled up in popularity, resulting in the formation of one of the most loyal fan-base of space enthusiasts.
Intercept Games, the developers behind the Kerbal Space Program, recently announced that they are on course to release the second installment by the end of the year 2021. In addition to having the same sandbox model as the original Kerbal Space Program, the second installment will have many new features, such as more propulsion methods and various on-surface building modules.
If you are a person who enjoys exploring space and colonize a new world, all at the same time maintaining a real-time flight simulation, then this is the perfect match.
Far Cry 6
Initial release date: May 2021
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Open-world first-person adventure shooter
Does this game even need any introduction? The Far Cry franchise is arguably the most popular open-world action-adventure series ever released. After the overwhelming success of Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 5, and the independent Far Cry Primal Instinct, Ubisoft has made it to the headlines again with the announcement of the franchise's latest installment – Far Cry 6, set to be released by May 2021.
Far Cry 6 will take the players to a fictional Caribbean Islands this year, where the gamers will be playing the role of a guerilla fighter, combating the dictatorial regime of the island's "El Presidente," Antón Castillo.
These are some of the most anticipated video games lined up for the upcoming year 2021. Which among them are you looking forward to be playing?
