Games Worth Upgrading the Rig for in 2021
Every year brings with it the promise of new reasons to glue ourselves to our computers. We’re not talking about the start of a new school semester or resolutions to improve our work ethic, though. The turn of the calendar just means we have 12 months of exciting 2021 PC games ahead of us.
Though the list of upcoming titles is quite literally several pages long, we’re focusing on some of the most thrilling games we have to look forward to. With that said, these games will all be available on Steam, so make sure to get some Steam Wallet codes for future purchases!
If you have a powerful enough gaming PC, you’ll definitely want these six PC games marked on your calendar:
Outriders
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Developer: People Can Fly
Looking for a game ripe with lore and expansive locations to trek through? People Can Fly may have your answer with Outriders, an action-RPG looter-shooter. It all starts with a customized character, assigned one of four classes to tweak the gameplay to the player’s liking. Each class offers a unique playstyle, from the time-bending abilities of the Trickster to the fiery attacks of the Pyromancer.
On paper, Outriders sounds like your standard RPG. You’ll take down bad guys, explore the world, complete an abundance of side missions, and improve your character with a skill tree. Firearms are in no short supply and can be customized to maximize strength and defense. The core experience sounds very typical, just like a combination of Tom Clancy’s The Division and Borderlands, but the gameplay we’ve seen does entice with its unique skills, beautiful visuals, and enemy variety.
Outriders also lets you experience the entire game with a friend at your side. With competitive multiplayer flooding the market, it’s refreshing when a developer emphasizes cooperative play.
Resident Evil Village
Release Date: May 7, 2021
Developer: Capcom
Despite a massive hack that allegedly spoiled the ending of the eighth core Resident Evil game, we’re still excited about the journey to get to the conclusion. Ethan Winters may have thought putting an end to Eveline’s control of his wife, Mia, and the tragic Baker family would return his life to normal. However, Capcom has other plans for the family man as he returns as the protagonist for Resident Evil Village.
Set several years after Resident Evil 7, Ethan exchanges the Louisiana swampland for a mysterious village in the snowy mountains of Romania after Chris Redfield reenters his life with shocking results. Returning to a character model closer to his original portrayal, Redfield’s role in Ethan’s tribulations remains unclear—but it’s undoubtedly a layered entanglement of storytelling expected from the Resident Evil series.
Village ditches traditional zombies, B.O.W.s, and the newer “Molded” in favor of a lycanthropic enemy and other horrors. Resident Evil 7 may have returned the series to its survival horror roots, but Village may reintegrate more action segments, especially with an enemy that’s likely faster (and smarter) than the “Molded.”
Whether or not that’s a bad thing is one-hundred percent player preference.
Back 4 Blood
Release Date: June 22, 2021
Developer: Turtle Rock Studios
It seems like Left 4 Dead 3 was a pipe dream that would never come. While that’s technically still true and the Left 4 Dead series is dead (pardon the pun), Turtle Rock Studios aims to reanimate it with Back 4 Blood. The development team is adamant about not calling this a Left 4 Dead sequel. While that’s primarily because Valve owns the rights, Back 4 Blood also introduces mechanics that separate it from the studio’s undead roots.
Deck-building and first-person zombie-slaying come together in this bloody romp, which sees four players maneuvering through a festering world of rotting corpses. An AI-controlled game director throws a horde of threats at players, from standard zombies to lumbering behemoths. Using a deck of cards, the director can also alter gameplay by decreasing visibility, reducing available ammo, or introducing a more monstrous threat.
To combat the game director, players have access to their own cards and weapon modifications. Along with the standard combat expected from a first-person shooter, players will need to strategically play their cards to survive to the next level.
The Back 4 Blood alpha demo provided a very brief glimpse into what the overall experience would be like, and while some of the gameplay still needs a little tweaking, it shows the promise of a worthy Left 4 Dead successor.
Far Cry 6
Release Date: TBD 2021
Developer: Ubisoft
After battling through Joseph Seed’s army of radicals in Montana’s backwoods in Far Cry 5, players are returning to an exotic paradise ruled by a deadly dictator in Far Cry 6. One can expect a slight shift in tone as Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) steps in as antagonist Anton Castillo, dictator and “El Presidente” of the fictional Caribbean island of Yara. With his son Diego (Anthony Gonzalez) at his side, Castillo controls his people with fear and threat of death, leaving only the guerilla fighters as Yara’s last hope.
Players will explore Yara as Dani Rojas, one such guerilla warrior. Like previous Far Cry titles, Yara is a tropical paradise rife with outposts reinforcing Castillo’s rule. While it’s difficult to think how Far Cry 6 could offer even a slightly different experience than its predecessors, Ubisoft has been able to keep the series entertaining.
The developer hasn’t revealed any details that would indicate it’s taking the series in a new direction. Still, the inclusion of Esposito could distract players from the repetitive formula that’s been in place since Far Cry 3.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Release Date: TBD 2021
Developer: Hardsuit Labs
It’s been more than 17 years since Troika Games released Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. Despite the game’s popularity and cult-like status, a true sequel never really came about—until now.
Hardsuit Labs, a division of Cabinet Entertainment (formerly Paradox Entertainment), has taken the reigns of a proper Bloodlines sequel. The latest Vampire game takes players to Seattle as a recently turned “thinblood.” Unable to initially stand up to stronger vampires and other enemies, the thinblood must fine-tune their vampiric powers by accomplishing side missions and progressing through the main story.
There are many threats in the World of Darkness, from werewolves and ghouls to humans unaware of the vampiric presence. As players work their way through the vampire ranks, unlocking new skills and joining factions to stay alive longer, they’ll also have to keep their presence hidden. In Bloodlines 2, humans don’t know vampires exist, and every public display that makes their presence known puts a target on the thinblood’s head.
Some may say a sequel to Vampire: The Masquerade is a little too late, but Cabinet has a record of successful titles, including Crusader Kings III and Hearts of Iron IV, which should put any concerns at ease.
Psychonauts 2
Release Date: TBD 2021
Developer: Double Fine Productions
It may have taken 16 years, but players are finally getting the sequel to Double Fine’s Psychonauts they’ve been clamoring for. Psychonauts 2 was partially funded through crowdfunding efforts and features the return of protagonist Razputin. Taking place after the VR title Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, the sequel follows the young cadet as he uncovers a disturbing truth about the titular organization.
Still in control of his “Psi-Powers,” Raz comes equipped with telekinesis, levitation, and pyrokinesis. Along with enhancements to the 15-year-old gameplay, Psychonauts director Tim Schafer promises that the sequel will also explore many story elements introduced in the first game. Players dying to know about the curse that affects Raz and his family will finally get the answers they’ve been searching for.
The original Psychonauts was a visual treat, and it looks like the sequel will follow suit. From the unique character designs to the quirky worlds that Raz visits, Psychonauts 2 will likely be as entertaining to watch as it will be to play.
With these six exciting PC games releasing in 2021, it may be time to consider increasing the size of your SSD. While these represent some of the more exciting options coming your way, you can bet the year is full of titles you’ll want to keep your eyes on.
If you already have some games to look out for this year, do share with us in the comments below!
