Let’s be honest, 2020 has been a bit garbage to this point but Geoff Keighley and The Game Awards helped salvage things a bit with a ton of reveals. Mass Effect isn’t dead! Crimson Desert looks awesome! Outriders still doesn’t look like it’ll let us down!
There’s a lot to celebrate, but here’s my favourites:
Crimson Desert
Best known for their MMORPG Black Desert Online, Pearl Abyss is looking to shake things up a bit with Crimson Desert – an open-world action-adventure that looks…well, let’s be honest, I spent about half this trailer thinking it was a new next-gen-only Assassin’s Creed game.
That’s not a negative – the AC games are fantastic examples of the genre, and I’m pumped to hear more about Crimson Desert soon. The game is slated to hit in Winter 2021, with both single-player and online multiplayer components – we’ll see if they go full MMORPG with it or not.
The Callisto Protocol
You had me at ‘directed by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield’… Set on Jupiter’s moon in 2320, the game promises to be a next-gen take on survival horror.
“We’re setting out to make one of the most terrifying games of all time, and we can’t wait to share more about The Callisto Protocol next year,” said Schofield, Striking Distance Studios’ founder and CEO in a statement.
Next-gen jump scares are going to be heartstopping…
Disco Elysium The Final Cut
Disco Elysium is an RPG that you really have to play to appreciate. With a ton of freedom at your disposal and a superbly written world to explore, this is one of the best RPGs of the last decade and a must-play.
The game is expected to release in Summer 2021 on PS5, Xbox Series consoles, Switch, and PC – a free upgrade on PC for existing owners.
Perfect Dark
The Initiative was formed two years ago by Microsoft, assembled with top-tier talent and they’ve continually been stocking it with more over time – and now we know what they’re making…a Perfect Dark reboot.
I can’t lie, I was hoping for a killer new IP from this massively talented studio, but hey – this does look pretty killer so I’ll give it a chance.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
After years of having the license abused by bargain bin-quality games, Warhammer 40,000 has had a remarkable resurgence recently with a string of solid releases. That looks to continue with Darktide – slated to hit shelves in 2021 for PC and Xbox Series consoles.
Vermintide was great, and I have high hopes for Darktide – and whatever comes next for the Warhammer IP. I can finally get excited about it again!
Back 4 Blood
![Back 4 Blood - Gameplay Trailer The Game Awards 2020 [HD 1080P]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VQVz0dsd3k8/hqdefault.jpg)
A spiritual sequel to Left 4 Dead and it’s by the developers behind the hugely successful cooperative zombie shooter?
I’m in.
I didn’t even need to see the awesome looking gameplay footage – that was just gravy.
Back 4 Blood hits June 22, 2021 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.
Dragon Age…something
They didn’t tell us a lot, but it does look pretty so it has that going for it which is nice.
I’m a huge BioWare fan, so I’m interested in whatever comes next in the Dragon Age franchise. I just hope they don’t keep us waiting too long…
Fall Guys: Season 3
The popular hot take is that Fall Guys fell from glory, but the truth is the game is still doing amazingly well and is still a lot of fun to play. Season 3 looks to expand on that when it hits, December 15th.
Evil Dead The Game
This was a great surprise and it looks WAY better than I would have expected.
Coming in 2021 is really all we know so far.
It Takes Two
From Josef Fares, director of A Way Out, comes It Takes Two – a co-op game that looks like a ton of fun with a huge amount of gameplay diversity.
The game’s slated to hit shelves March 26, 2021.
Century: Age of Ashes
A free-to-play team-based shooter that’s hitting Early Access in February, Century: Age of Ashes sports giant dragons and skill-based combat with 3 classes: Windguard, Marauder, and Phantom.
Players will have some options as to how they want to approach combat when this game hits Steam Early Access. Can’t wait to see how it shakes out.
Outriders
![Outriders: The Technomancer [PEGI]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JwDZWrhBJiU/hqdefault.jpg)
** You’ll have to check out the actual The Game Awards trailer here, as it’s behind an age gate. **
Developed by People Can Fly – that’s a major reason I’m interested in Outriders, despite the underwhelming nature of other loot-based shooter/melee games recently – Outriders looks awesome. It’s slated for February 2, 2021 and I’ll be there day one.
Monster Hunter Rise
I don’t get in as much Switch time as I’d like, thanks to the kids keeping a deathgrip on it, but I’ll find time for Monster Hunter Rise.
The demo hits in January!
F.I.S.T Forged In Shadow Torch
Previously announced for PS4 and PC, FIST will now be launching on PS5 as well and it’s super weird but I’m here for it.
It’s a Metroidvania with a whole lot going on. Check out that trailer and tell me you’re not at least a little interested.
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
** Check out the age-gated trailer from The Game Awards here. **
A rebuild of NieR Replicant for its 10th anniversary? OK, you got me.
Evil West
As a vampire hunter, Evil West has you tasked with wiping out the undead menace and saving the world. Battle solo or with a friend? Ok, who do I trust to watch my back in a supernatural apocalypse?
Coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series consoles, and PC in 2021.
Scarlet Nexus
I still don’t know if Scarlet Nexus is going to be good or not, but it’s caught my interest and that’s good enough for me.
Scarlet Nexus is slated for release in Summer 2021.
Ark 2
Personally I’m not so sure about this one, but I have a three-year-old who can name every single dinosaur that I can plus about a dozen more so there’s no doubt I’ll be running around in this dinosaur-filled environment whenever it releases.
I just hope this releases in a better condition than the original did.
Elite Dangerous: Odyssey
I’m a sucker for space games and Elite Dangerous has been a personal favourite for a while now. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next, and this expansion releases in early 2021 to allow on-foot exploration among a ton of other improvements.
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story
IT’S MORE BATTLECHASERS! PLAY IT!
Ruined King has been moved to a simple ‘some time in 2021’ release date at this point. Hope to hear more soon.
Mass Effect….Continues
Tap it directly into my veins. I’m there.