The video game industry is at the start of a very exciting period of transition as it begins to head into its next generation. The PlayStation 5 made its debut towards the end of 2020, and it’s already impressing audiences with how much power and innovation it brings to gaming.

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Sony has an exciting future ahead of itself and even though the new console put out some strong launch titles, it’s 2021 that has really allowed the PlayStation 5 to shine. There are some highly anticipated games that are set to hit in 2021, but there are also many that have a much looser release window.

Updated June 18th, 2021 by Mark Sammut: In the first half of 2021, plenty of great games were released on the PS5, including the likes of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Oddworld: Soulstorm. Following Sony's State of Play and E3 2021, the rest of the year's gaming calendar has become clearer, bringing with it many huge games alongside titles that might fly under the radar for many people. While there are dozens upon dozens of games announced for the second half of 2021, there is still space for many other, rumored projects to be added. This article has been updated to coincide with the currently known information.

10 Didn’t Know Was Coming: Hades

• Release Date: August 13, 2021

Hades was a smash hit on the Nintendo Switch and PC, but the roguelike is not quite done yet. During Xbox's E3 2021 conference, it was confirmed that Hades would be coming to the Xbox Series X/S, with the game being set to debut on Game Pass.

A fact some people might have missed is that the fantastic indie game will also be heading to the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, launching on the same date as the Xbox versions. Hades follows Zagreus as he tries to rampage his way out of the Underworld, a journey that will produce plenty of deaths along the way. Unlike most rougelikes, Hades does not reset completely following each failure.

9 Rumored: Call of Duty: Vanguard

A year without a new Call of Duty seems almost unheard of, but Activision has yet to announce plans for a fresh game to drop in 2021. At the moment, rumors have it that Call of Duty: Vanguard will debut towards the end of the year to fill that void; however, the game's absence from E3 2021 does not add too much weight to this prospect.

To be fair, Activision did focus on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone during the event, so it might just be that the company is waiting for a more opportune moment to reveal the next entry in the franchise.

8 Didn’t Know Was Coming: The Medium

• Release Date: September 3, 2021

The Medium might have started as a console exclusive for the Xbox Series X/S, but that is set to change by the end of the year. The psychological horror title's main selling point is that it basically runs two games concurrently, as players explore the real and spirit realms simultaneously.

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Although The Medium didn't receive absolutely glowing reviews, there is a lot to admire about Bloober Team's work here, including the story. As the PlayStation 5 is still relatively early in its lifespan, 2021 provides the best opportunity for The Medium to leave a mark.

7 Rumored: Babylon's Fall

After an initial reveal in 2018, Babylon's Fall remained dormant until showing up for Square Enix's event at E3 2021. With a closed beta planned for later this year, PlatinumGames' co-op action title could very well launch by the end of 2021. That said, the game is set to have three test periods, with the first happening towards the end of July. The dates for the other two periods have yet to be confirmed, so the release schedule for the full game is still a ways off.

Babylon's Fall will see four heroes moving their way up a gigantic tower, taking on all sorts of challenges along the way.

6 Didn’t Know Was Coming: Lost Judgment

• Release Date: September 24, 2021

Anything released by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio deserves attention, and the studio has already blessed 2021 with some fine remasters and remakes. Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown brought one of the best fighting games of all time to the PlayStation 4 and, by extension, the PS5; meanwhile, Judgment Remastered made its ninth-gen debut.

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Takayuki Yagami's story is set to continue with Lost Judgment, the first Yakuza-related game to debut directly on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, although last-gen versions will also be released. With Riders Republic, Life Is Strange: True Colors, and Rainbow Six Extraction, September 2021 is shaping up to be a packed month – just don't let Lost Judgment get lost in the shuffle.

5 Rumored: Blacktail

An intriguing game that not many people might know is in the works is Blacktail, a first-person adventure game centering around witchcraft. Developed by The Parasight, Blacktail places players in the shoes of a 16-year-old girl who's banished from her village after being accused of witchcraft.

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While out there on her own, she begins to see dangerous spirits, and her only option is to pick up a bow and protect herself. No release date for Blacktail has been announced so far.

4 Didn’t Know Was Coming: Life Is Strange Remastered Collection

• Release Date: September 30, 2021

Naturally and rightfully, Life Is Strange: True Colors has dominated recent discourse surrounding this adventure series, with the game set to drop on September 10, 2021. Those who purchase the "Ultimate Edition" will also be provided a remastered collection of the first Life Is Strange game and its prequel, Before the Storm. It's a great way to dive into this franchise.

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Towards the end of September, Square Enix will also be making Life Is Strange Remastered Collection available as a standalone purchase. If someone prefers to just experience Max Caulfield's story, then that can be done.

3 Rumored: Horizon Forbidden West

Compared to other "rumored' 2021 games, Horizon Forbidden West's chances of debuting before the end of the year are higher. After all, Sony and Guerrilla Games have generally stated that a 2021 release is planned, although everything should be taken with a grain of salt until an exact date is announced.

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Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy's journey, with the setting focusing on the titular frontier. A bigger map, underwater exploration, and improved melee combat are just some of the things PlayStation 5 owners have to look forward to.

2 Didn’t Know Was Coming: Back 4 Blood

• Release Date: October 12, 2021

Now, to be fair, anyone who watched the Warner Bros. E3 2021 event should be intimately familiar with Back 4 Blood, a game touted as a spiritual successor to Valve's Left 4 Dead series. A co-op experience pitting four survivors against all sorts of terrifying monstrosities, Back 4 Blood looks set to be a lot of fun. Everything that has been shown from the game so far has been encouraging.

However, this is a new IP, which means it will be automatically fighting an uphill battle. Back 4 Blood is also sandwiched between Far Cry 6 and Battlefield 2042, two of the biggest releases of 2021.

1 Rumored: Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 has had a rocky existence so far, particularly on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. While CD Projekt Red's RPG runs fine on current-gen systems, the company does plan to release native versions of the game for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

A 2021 release is supposed to be on the cards, but information has been rather scarce in recent months. This will be a free upgrade for anyone who owns the last-gen versions, and it could finally allow Cyberpunk 2077's Night City to be experienced at the height of its powers on consoles.

Every Game Coming Out In 2021 (And Beyond)

PlayStation 5 owners are not going to be left wanting when it comes to 2021 games, as each remaining month includes a couple of significant releases. The same can be said about the Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, and PC. For a full breakdown of everything coming out on these systems, please check out the below articles:

• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PS5 And PS4
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Xbox Series X|S And Xbox One
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Nintendo Switch
• Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For PC

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