We've reached the next level of the decade, and 2021 promises to be another stellar year for the gaming world. With highly anticipated titles confirmed to be launching within the busy year, we've decided to compile a few games that caught our attention. Of course, there are still several titles like Starfield and Elden Ring which don't have concrete 2021 release dates (yet). That said, here's five of our most anticipated games of the year, starting with a massive list of honourable mentions.

Honourable Mentions:

Elden Ring (TBA)
Monster Hunter Rise
NieR: Replicant ver. 1.22474487139...
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
Gran Turismo 7
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Halo Infinite
Resident Evil Village
Far Cry 6
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Returnal
Final Fantasy XVI (TBA)

Persona 5 Strikers


At this point, we'll take anything with the label Persona 5 on it, and what better gift than an unexpected sequel to the original? Persona 5 Strikers takes place six months after the first game, and will once again follow the Phantom Thieves. However, the gameplay has now shifted to a hack-and-slash RPG/Musou title that deviates majorly from the turn-based combat seen in the original. Nonetheless, the stylish flare, eye-catching animation and delectable soundtrack is still front and center. With a confirmed worldwide release date of February 23rd, 2021, we can't wait to dive back into the awesome world of Persona 5 and its wonderful cast of characters.

Gotham Knights


It may not be the Arkham Knight sequel we've all been waiting for, but Gotham Knights shouldn't be discredited from your anticipated lists either. Coming from Arkham Origins developer Warner Bros. Montreal, Gotham Knights removes Batman from the picture, allowing the extended Batfamily - Robin, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Nightwing - to take charge and save Gotham from a familiar list of villains. Warner Bros. Montreal assured that, despite showcasing the heavily advertised multiplayer co-op elements of the experience, it won't be a live-service title, which makes us very happy. The gameplay looks absolutely superb and the visuals are jaw-dropping. We can't wait to dive into Gotham Knights... whenever a release date is announced this year.

Hogwarts Legacy


Hogwarts Legacy seems like a dream we've always wanted as kids, and now we're finally getting it. Set in the distant past of the Harry Potter universe, Hogwarts Legacy will be an open world RPG that lets players create their own Hogwarts student, get assigned to a house (Slytherin for the win), partake in class activities, and much more. With the grounds of the magical school at our disposal, this is definitely one that excites us with all the potential adventures we'll probably go on. We have yet to see any lengthy gameplay dives, but the reveal trailer showed plenty of promise, and with a premise this ambitious, we can't help but feel just a little giddy inside.

Horizon Forbidden West


Horizon Zero Dawn was arguably one of the most unexpectedly great games to release in 2017, solidifying Guerrilla Games as not just your Killzone developers anymore. There, they demonstrated their talent in excellent world design, combat, and exploration, with a gripping story at its core. It's no surprise that Horizon Forbidden West ranks among our most anticipated games of the year, as the sequel looks to escalate Zero Dawn in almost every department, including gorgeous visuals that will surely stand out on the PS5. We can't wait to don our bows and step into the shoes of Aloy again. Let's hope that Guerrilla Games' spark of genius carries over here too.

God of War: Ragnarok


Of course, we're closing off the list with a game that I'm sure will top many most anticipated lists: the sequel to 2018's God of War, or as it's unofficially called, God of War: Ragnarok. Sony Santa Monica's groundbreaking 2018 action game rejuvenated the hack-and-slash series with a fresh coat of paint and new gameplay mechanics, but it also aimed for the sky in its ambitions. The result was an imaginative, epic and emotionally resonant journey with Kratos and his son, Atreus. Due to certain revelations at the end of the first game, we can't wait to see where Ragnarok takes these characters. On a less optimistic note, we kind of expect this to possibly be delayed into 2022, but we're still keeping our fingers crossed.

What are your most anticipated games of 2021?