The console wars have never disappeared, but the release of new hardware always invites competition in the best way possible and the recent release of theXbox Series Xhas helped set the path for what’s to come in gaming’s next generation. Nintendo and Sony have been in the hardware business a lot longer than Microsoft, but the latter has quickly learnedhow to appeal to gamers.
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The launch for the Xbox Series X was a little anemic and highly anticipated titles like the nextHalohave been delayed into 2021. Microsoft’s Xbox Series X has a lot of huge titles on the way that look like they will define the console, but there are also a lot of surprisesahead for the system in 2021.
10Didn’t Know Was Coming: Control: Ultimate Edition
Remedy Entertainment’sControlis one of the most exciting action-adventure titles to come out in a while and it gives the player such a sense of power thanks to the intense supernatural abilities that they have at their disposal.
Control: Ultimate Editionincludes the title’s two expansions as well as other next-gen upgrades. Even though it was announced for a release at the end of 2020, the game has recently been delayed to early 2021 to make sure that it’s as good as possible. Hopefully, audiences won’t have to wait that long into the new year.
9Rumored: Psychonauts 2
Tim Schafer and Double Finehave crafted some of the most creative adventure narratives of the past decades.Psychonautsis a beloved, yet niche, title for the original Xbox, and it’s satisfying to finally see a true sequel come to life.
The game is a quirky platformer where the hero, Raz, is now in control of powerful psychic abilities and more intense mind invasion skills.Psychonauts 2has been in development for several years now and Double Fine believes that 2021 will mark its release, but the studio has not given any specific release window.
8Didn’t Know Was Coming: Little Nightmares II
Little Nightmaresis one of the last generation’s most purely enjoyable titles. It’s a creative blend of puzzles, platforming, with a horror aesthetic to it all. It feels like the kind of video game Roald Dahl or Tim Burton would make.
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Little Nightmares IIcontinues the uniquely eccentric story, but puts players in control of a new character and turns the first game’s protagonist into a possible villain now that they’ve inherited such incredible power.Little Nightmares II’sdevelopment has flown under the radar, but it will be out for the Xbox Series X during February of 2021.
7Rumored: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
There are wonderful next-gen games that are multiplatform releases, but theHellbladetitles are one property that PlayStation owners don’t get to experience.Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the sequel toSenua’s Sacrifice, was announced as a flagship title for the Xbox Series X.
The brutal hack and slash style game from Ninja Theory continuesSenua’s barbaric questthrough a harsh Norse world and is very much Xbox’s answer toGod of War. It’s unfortunate thatHellblade IIcouldn’t come out as a launch title but it’s been teased for a 2021 release, which hopefully is still planned to happen.
6Didn’t Know Was Coming: Hogwarts Legacy
There are many established properties that have become natural fits for video games, butHarry Potter titleshave struggled to innovate the medium even though they’ve been around for years.Hogwarts Legacylooks like it will break this trend and promises a gigantic open-world action RPG game set at Hogwarts back in the 1800s.
There’s even a morality meter that keeps check of what side of wizarding the player leans towards.Hogwarts Legacylooks like it approachesHarry Potterwith a level of maturity that audiences can appreciate and could start an exciting trend once it hits in 2021.
5Rumored: Shredders
A strong library of multiplayer titles has become increasingly important for consoles. While many of the traditional sports and racing games continue to get released,Shreddersis actually an attempt to jump back into a genre of game that’s been neglected for some time and easy to underestimate.
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Shreddersis a multiplayer snowboarding title that looks amazing on an aesthetic level. It looks likeShredderscould turn out to be the surprise hit of 2021 if it’s able to stay on schedule. Perhaps it could even become a new franchise for the Xbox Series X.
4Didn’t Know Was Coming: Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Sega’sPhantasy Star Onlineseries has struggled to take off outside of Japan, but there’s a dedicated fan base for the expansive MMORPG titles. ThePhantasy Star Onlineuniverse is such a unique mix of sensibilities that feels simultaneously futuristic and indebted to science fiction while also paying tribute to the fantasy genre.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesisis a huge update to thestandard version of the game, but it will also function as a separate entity and an expansion of the universe. It looks to be one of the most satisfying RPG experiences for the Xbox crowd.
3Rumored: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Video games continue to get bigger, both for better and for worse, but the JRPG genre has always featured games where it’s easy to put in hundreds of hours.Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroeshas been teased as a spiritual successor toSuikoden,an acclaimed JRPG series.
Hundred Heroeslooks to promise the same level of freedom with a huge roster of characters and a deeply interconnected story.Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroesactually has a projected release date of 2022, but it’s still possible that it could make it out in time for 2021’s holiday season.
2Didn’t Know Was Coming: Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
Destiny 2is one of the most popular multiplayer shooters of the past generation and it looks like the franchise isn’t going anywhere as gaming moves forward.Bungie has decided to not release a conventionalDestiny 3and instead wants to expand the universe through a series of expansions.
Destiny 2: Beyond Lighthas already hit, but fans will be able to dig even deeper onceThe Witch Queenfollows sometime in 2021. That’s not even set to be the lastDestiny 2addition, so players should be busy for a while with the FPS title.
1Rumored: Fable
Fableis a property that helped define the original Xbox. It’s been a long time since there’s been newFablecontent, but it feels very fitting for Microsoft’s new console to return to one of their most important properties.
Fableis another gamethat would have made for a great launch title. While details on its release have been slim, people still seem optimistic that it will make it out sometime in 2021. The new take on the immersive fantasy series has teased new additions like fairies and more.
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