E3 is always an incredibly exciting time for any fan of gaming. With its countless trailers, game announcements, and more, there is also something for gamers to enjoy.
RELATED: The Best Indie Games of E3 2021
In the 2021 edition of this famous showcase, many new games were finally confirmed by developed — both Triple-A and Indie alike. Fans should make sure to keep their eyes on the horizon so they won't miss any upcoming hits.
30 A Plague Tale: Requiem
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
A Plague Tale: Requiem is set to be a direct sequel to the award-winning A Plague Tale: Innocence. Amica and Hugo will be returning for the story as it picks up directly where the previous title left off. It was also announced that Innocense will receive a next-generation console port making it easy for players to go through both titles on the same console.
29 Advance Wars 1+2: Boot Camp
- Release Date: December 3rd, 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
With it being over thirteen years since Advance Wars: Days of Ruin was released, fans were overjoyed to see a 3D remake of the original two titles coming to the Switch. These won't just be simple remakes either, with Nintendo stating they will be "reimagined and rebuilt from the ground up" in the game's announcement. Any fans of turn-based strategy games should be sure to pick this one up.
28 Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
With Avatar 2 set to release in theaters on December 22, 2022, it makes sense a new game for the franchise would come out during the same year. James Cameron's Avatar: The Game received middling reviews at best but this new title developed by Massive Entertainment is already looking quite impressive. It will be exciting to see how much can be packed into the game with an extra two years of development time.
27 Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodhunt
- Release Date: 2021
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The battle royale genre just got a whole lot more supernatural. Based on the famous tabletop RPG, Bloodhunt is set in the World of Darkness universe. It features the regular sorts of guns players might expect but also has weapons like crossbows. With its various vampire classes and currently free-to-play design, it's likely tons of fans of the genre will be trying it out upon release.
26 Contraband
- Release Date: TBA
- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S
This Avalanche Studios and Xbox Game Studios collaboration looks rather interesting but not many details are available yet. The basics are that it's an open-world multiplayer cooperative game.
RELATED: Best Local Co-Op & Split-Screen Games On Xbox Game Pass (May 2021)
The game seems to be based around the collection of, or delivery of, contraband. There also seems to be an extensive planning phase for missions as well which may mean Contraband contains a lot of strategy along with its action gameplay.
25 Cruis’n Blast
- Release Date: Fall 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Anyone with a Nintendo 64 would remember the port of the arcade game Cruis'n USA on the console. Nintendo brought back the series for the Switch and it's more over-the-top than ever. Players will be able to race through stages with dinosaurs and aliens while driving a tank or even a unicorn. Cruis'n Blast looks marvelously chaotic and is sure to be a hit with anyone looking for a casual fun racing game.
24 Death Stranding Director’s Cut
- Release Date: Fall 2021
- Platforms: PS5
Death Stranding was originally released for the PS4 back in 2019 so seeing it with a version updated for new consoles so soon is certainly a delight. The creators are also promising new content for players to experience as well. This combined with the serious graphical upgrades that the PS5 can provide will certainly make this director's cut something special.
23 Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: Xbox (Specifics TBA), PC
Eiyuden Chronicle was a major Kickstarter phenomenon with players all wanting to get their hands on the Suikoden-inspired game. The artistic direction is superb with real-time 3D backgrounds combined with hand-drawn character models. With the games promised to release on the Xbox Game Pass, tons of fans will be able to easily get the games to try them out.
22 Forza Horizon 5
- Release Date: November 9, 2021
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Despite the odd focus on each individual cactus needle being rendered in a racing game, Forza Horizon 5 still looks like it will deliver on its classic racing formula. The team took an effort to create a more diverse world to race through — from volcanos to the rainforest — to keep the game fresh this iteration. With a multitude of multiplayer options, Forza Horizon 5 is bound to be a success.
21 Guardians Of The Galaxy
- Release Date: October 26
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
Star-Lord and the gang were bound to get a game eventually so it came as little surprise to see Guardians of the Galaxy announced at E3.
RELATED: Marvel Games To Play If You Loved Marvel's Avengers
What was more surprising is that the game will feature an entirely brand new story for these heroes to adventure through. The trailer for the game features tons of classic tunes which makes it look like the game will have the same tone as the movies.
20 Hitman Sniper: The Shadows
- Release Date: 2021
- Platforms: iPhone, Android
It seemed surprising to see a game in the Hitman series being released for mobile phones, but Hitman Sniper: The Shadows looks like its mechanics are made to suit these devices well. It won't feature the same mechanics as the original games, nor its original protagonist, but the spirit of the games live on well here. Square Enix didn't announce much new at E3 so they must be expecting big things from the game.
19 Jurassic World Evolution 2
- Release Date: 2021
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Jurassic World Evolution was a roaring success since its release in 2018 so it comes as no surprise that a sequel was in the works. The game looks to build upon its previous park-building simulation mechanics while adding more storylines and scenarios for players to explore. The new Chaos Theory mode that promises to let players live out major "what if" scenarios from the films looks especially promising.
18 Just Dance 2022
- Release Date: November 4, 2021
- Platforms: Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Another year, another Just Dance game on the horizon from Ubisoft. This edition features new songs from artists like Imagine Dragons, Ciara, and 40+ other tracks. Just Dance is one of the best dancing games out there for a reason and will surely sell plenty of copies.
17 Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
No one knows who originally said, "give Mario a gun" but gamers everywhere are thankful for this decision thanks to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. The two franchises didn't seem like they would mesh well together on the surface but fans were pleasantly surprised at how excellent the game became. The sequel Sparks of Hope looks to add even more characters, weapons, and an adventure through space.
16 Mario Party Superstars
- Release Date: October 29, 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Mario Party has been a hit since the days of the N64 and Nintendo has never forgotten. In fact, Mario Party Superstars was confirmed to have several boards and minigames from the original titles.
RELATED: The Best (& Worst) Mario Party Games
Currently, there is no knowledge on if there will be brand new minigames mixed in with the old ones or not but there will be new mechanics like stickers and possibly more revealed with time.
15 Metal Slug Tactics
- Release Date: TBA
- Platforms: PC
In a major turn for the Metal Slug series, Metal Slug Tactics won't be a wild run and gun shooter. The game maintains some of its classic pixelated aesthetics but instead has a focus on turn-based strategical combat. With procedurally generated maps, each playthrough for missions will be different giving the game some serious replay value.
14 Metroid Dread
- Release Date: October 8, 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
It took four years since the reveal of Metroid Prime 4 so to finally see a new game with a release date is worth celebrating for fans. Metroid Dread is set to complete the current story arc of the games started with the first game in the series. The chance that this could free up the series for new stories in future entries is incredibly exciting.
13 Planet Of Lana
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
“A planet that used to be a place of undisturbed balance between human, nature, and animal has now become something else entirely. The disharmony that had been in the making for hundreds of years has finally arrived in the form of a faceless army. But this is not a story about war. This is a story about a vibrant, beautiful planet –and the journey to keep it that way.”
Indie developers Wishfully made a big splash at the Summer Game Fest stream when they showed off Planet of Lana. The game has fantastic stylized graphics and focuses more on puzzle-solving than dramatic high-intensity combat.
12 Redfall
- Release Date: Summer 2022
- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC
There have been loads of zombie shooter games over the years so it makes sense a vampire shooter is finally on the horizon. Redfall will be released on Xbox Game Pass immediately at launch making it easy for many gamers to pick up this co-op shooter. While it doesn't look to be making loads of unique changes to the genre, the aesthetics and feel of the game are on point.
11 Replaced
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
It's amazing to see a smaller game take a bit of the spotlight at E3 like Replaced managed to do. This platformer has some incredible 80s inspired aesthetics and music that will surely set it apart from the competition.
RELATED: Most Innovative Indie Platformers
Phil Spencer from Xbox discussed the game on Twitter. “There are always a couple of new less known games, as we prep for the showcase, that really pop as something unique and different. For me this year Replaced was that game. Really compelling vibe for this game and proud to have it in the show.”
10 Rocksmith+
- Release Date: TBA
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rocksmith is one of the most innovative ways to learn guitar ever created so seeing a sequel on the way from Ubisoft is rather exciting. The fact that it will be available on a myriad of consoles is also a major boon for musicians everywhere making it more accessible as a learning tool.
It will also feature the ability to pick up sounds from the guitar using smartphones allowing players to ditch annoying cords entirely if they wish — a rather convenient feature. Rocksmith+ will live-action video lessons and allow players to remap notes for songs in the game.
9 Salt And Sacrifice
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: PS4, PS5
The indie developers of Salt and Sanctuary are developing a new PlayStation exclusive game. There is no word yet on if Salt and Sacrifice is a direct sequel to the original game, but it will feature local and online co-op which is a serious plus.
8 Shredders
- Release Date: December 2021
- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S
A spiritual successor to Steep is on the way for Xbox fans. Shredders will be available on Xbox Game Pass immediately upon release. With so few snowboarding games to choose from on modern consoles, fans are likely to pick up this game as soon as they can.
7 Slime Rancher 2
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Loads of famous YouTubers like Mariplier brought loads of eyes to the original Slime Rancher was released in 2016. Seeing as how it sold over three million copies, it comes as no surprise that a sequel was in the works! While not much information on the sequel has been released yet, Slime Rancher 2 will likely become a viral sensation on the video-sharing site once it releases in 2022.
6 Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin
- Release Date: 2022
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The most exciting part of an otherwise mostly dull E3 presentation by Square Enix, Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is a unique spin-off game for the series being developed by Team Ninja.
RELATED: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin – Is It a Remake?
Creators of games like Nioh and Ninja Gaiden, Team Ninja brings an incredibly different feel to the final fantasy series. The demo for the game is available now for players to try.
5 Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
- Release Date: October 5th, 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is an HD remaster of the three original games in the franchise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series. With various minigames like Monkey Baseball and Moneky Billiards to keep players entertained when they aren't rolling through all the levels, the playtime on this remastered collection will certainly be massive.
4 The Anacrusis
- Release Date: Fall 2021
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The Anacrusis is a co-op shooter being designed by Stray Bombay, a developer team led by former Valve writer Chet Faliszek. The game has supposedly infinite gameplay value and has players fighting off waves of aliens while trying to survive while trapped on a spaceship. The game draws a lot of inspiration from Left 4 Dead so fans who like that game should check out this sci-fi cousin.
3 Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
- Release Date: Early 2022
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands promises to bring some major changes to the Borderlands formula. The ability to cast spells, character classes inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, and far more character customization are just some of the new features in this standalone title. The game will even surprisingly hold a canon place in the series timeline.
2 WarioWare: Get It Together
- Release Date: September 10th, 2021
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Fans haven't seen a new Wario Ware game since Gold was released for the 3DS back in 2018. Get It Together has tons of fan-favorite characters from the series and will feature the same fast-paced minigame action fans have come to love. With two-player capability, as well as brand new minigames to play, it will be an excellent game for some couch co-op madness.
1 Zelda Game & Watch
- Release Date: November 12, 2021
- Platforms: Its Own Unique Console
As a special part of the 35th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda games, Nintendo is releasing a unique game console with several classic games from the series. Despite the name of the console, it will not feature the actual Zelda (Game and Watch) game.
Instead, it will feature The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, and the GameBoy version of Link's Awakening. It will also feature a reskinned version of the classic Game and Watch game Vermin with a Zelda theme.