This year’s E3 has been a mix of some incredibly good and anticipated announcements. From events like the Microsoft and Bethesda E3 showcase that revealed some beautiful games like Starfield and Replaced to the indie studios-focused Guerrilla Collective E3 showcase, the selection is quite vast. Well, we have gone through the numerous games announced at E3 2021 and compiled a list of titles that we love and are eagerly looking forward to. So if you want to know what titles to get excited about, here are the 20 best upcoming games announced at E3 2021.
20 Best Games Announced at E3 2021
In this article, we have not only included some of the biggest titles everyone is looking forward to but also indie games that caught our attention during E3 2021. You can use the table below to navigate to the game of your choice.
1. Starfield
From the studio that brought us legends like the Elder Scrolls and Fallout 4, Starfield is Bethesda’s first major new universe in 25 years. First announced in 2018, the upcoming game has been heavily anticipated ever since. Although not many details about the game are out yet, a two-minute teaser trailer released by Bethesda at E3 2021 gives us a first look at what to expect.
The trailer depicts an astronaut who is a part of a ‘CONSTELLATION’ group climbing aboard a spaceship and ready to set to explore among the stars. From what we gather, Starfield is a sci-fi space exploration roleplaying game set in ‘multiple worlds‘ where players will be able to create any character they want and explore without limits while following a plot which we are sure will be captivating.
A lot of hope has been held out for the game, especially by director Todd Howard who said at E3 2018 that Starfield is an epic about ‘hope and humanity’. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft handles the game’s release as it now owns Bethesda. Nevertheless, Starfield is definitely an RPG we are looking forward to.
Publisher, Developer – Bethesda Softworks
Platforms – Xbox Series X|S|One, Windows PC
Release Date – Nov 11, 2022
Check out Starfield
2. Elden Ring
The Dark Souls players among you must have been overjoyed when Elden Ring’s first gameplay trailer dropped ahead of E3 2021. This hauntingly beautiful game is another huge release by FromSoftware that made classics, such as the Dark Souls and Sekiro among many others, and Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin. Now, with the release of Elden Ring’s trailer and CEO Hidetaka Miyazaki’s interview, a lot of new information about the game has been revealed.
Elden Ring will be a hybrid that employs similar elements from its predecessors while inserting fresh mechanics and story into a fantasy world that is full of terrifying creatures and interesting characters. The third-person fantasy action RPG packs a dark punch along with an art style that is very eerie. The upcoming game will be set in an expansive world that will be full of missions. In fact, Miyazaki has said Elden Ring will take around ’30 hours without a lot of detours’.
Since the game will be lengthy, there will be a full character and customization system with over 100 skills to master. Other additions to Ring include a stealth and weather system along with multiplayer support. We cannot wait to get our hands on this complex and terrifying game.
Publisher, Developer – BANDAI NAMCO, FromSoftware, Inc.
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – Jan 21, 2022
Check out Elden Ring
3. Halo Infinite
Master Chief will face his toughest challenge yet in the latest iteration of the Halo Saga. Set in the Halo universe’s biggest open world yet, Halo Infinite will follow Master Chief as he teams up with a new AI and goes on a quest to find out what went wrong. The official reveal trailer didn’t reveal many details except for small hints of what’s to come and quotes that have already impressed us. But now, we have gotten a closer look at the upcoming multiplayer mode in Halo Infinite at E3 2021.
Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode will be free to play and will support cross-platform gaming and progression. The new multiplayer mode will be a mix of classic Halo combat system veterans are used to while offering newer elements to upgrade the experience. A plethora of customization options will be available when it comes to armor and equipment, and the weapon system is getting a new grappling hook for easy maneuverability. Check out the multiplayer trailer to get a feel of how it will look like when it launches later this year.
Publisher, Developer – Xbox Game Studios, 343 Industries
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – Holiday Season, 2021
Check out Halo Infinite
P.S: Microsoft also brought its meme to reality. It officially unveiled its Xbox Series X-shaped Mini Fridge at E3 2021 earlier this week.
4. Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Sequel
Players who have been waiting for another addition to this 35-year-old franchise can now be even more excited. Nintendo’s E3 showcase dropped a bomb in the form of an untitled sequel to the immensely popular Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that won the hearts of gamers worldwide. While the sequel was first announced back in 2019 via a teaser trailer, Nintendo had been silent about the whole thing until this year’s E3.
The two-minute trailer doesn’t let on a lot, but given the few details, it appears that the sequel will see Link returning to Hyrule’s clouds on an epic adventure. The short clip shows fantastic visuals as Link ascends to the skies above. The timing here is perfect as the company is also working on an HD re-release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Switch with newer controls. The game was originally released for the Nintendo Wii.
Sadly, Breath Of The Wild 2 won’t be releasing anytime soon as Nintendo has set the release window for 2022.
Publisher, Developer – Nintendo
Platforms – Nintendo Switch
Release Date – 2022
Check out Breath Of The Wild 2
5. Forza Horizon 5
Forza has always provided gamers with a blissful driving experience while being challenging when needed. Announced at E3 2021, the upcoming Forza Horizon 5 game is no exception. The latest title in the franchise will take players to the beautiful landscapes of Mexico. Like always, Forza Horizon 5 will be another best open-world game with hundreds of new cars to choose from.
The two-minute announcement trailer leverages the ever-popular weather system of the Forza series and shows Mexico in all its glory. Forza Horizon 5 will also make use of the latest features in the Xbox Series consoles to give the best graphics experience. Just check out the trailer and see how beautiful it looks.
Publisher, Developer – Xbox Game Studios, Playground Games
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – Nov 9, 2021
Check out Forza Horizon 5
6. Battlefield 2042
While the new Battlefield does not have a single-player campaign, it has completely blown up the internet. After a long time of waiting, BF players feel reunited again. Battlefield 2042’s gameplay trailer shown off at E3 2021 gives us a taste of how intense the combat in the game will be. It shows the newest weapons, vehicles, and environments you will use to unleash mayhem.
The game takes place in a world where an immense shortage of resources has caused a war between the U.S and Russia. Players are dropped smack dab in the middle of this battle. The maps will have in-built weather systems and small story cues that the player will experience while fighting.
The multiplayer experience will have many modes, two of which veterans will recognize. The “Conquest” mode will have two teams capture key points on the map, while the “Breakthrough” mode will have the teams attack and defend a particular site. A single map in Battlefield 2042 will support 128 players simultaneously (64 on lower-end machines). However, be aware that 2042 won’t be a Battle Royale-style game. Battlefield 2042 appears to be complete chaos, and we love it.
Publisher, Developer – Electronic Arts, DICE
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), (PS5, PS4), Windows PC
Release Date – Oct 22, 2021
Check out Battlefield 2042
7. Far Cry 6
Being a Far Cry veteran myself, I have been waiting in the shadows for the latest iteration. Far Cry 6 will be set in the tropical nation of Yara, inspired by the aesthetic of Cuba. You will play Dani Rojas, a revolutionary who wants freedom from the antagonist. Speaking of the villain, Far Cry 6’s bad guy is Antón Castillo, who has been in power for over 50 years. Anton is played by none other than Giancarlo Esposito, who some of you might know as Gus from the Breaking Bad days. Don’t worry, though, as you will have help in the form of various new friendly faces.
As you can see in the E3 2021 game trailer, Far Cry 6 brings several new weapons that include a set of backpack jetpacks, rocket launchers, and a gun that fires literal CDs at enemies. You will be able to choose your arsenal depending on your combat situation. The game has also been enriched with vertical elements like climbing rooftops, using back alleys for fighting. Far Cry 6 looks like a great combination of an intense story, exciting new elements, and various other characters. But, some elements might be missing at launch.
P.S: You can play as Vaas and other previous villains with the included season pass.
Publisher, Developer – Ubisoft
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), (PS5, PS4), Windows PC, and Google Stadia
Release Date – Oct 7, 2021
Check out Far Cry 6
8. Redfall
It’s hardly a surprise that Arkane Studios, the team that unleashed dark yet mystifying Dishonored series on players, is back with Redfall, a new co-op shooter that makes gamers vampire hunters.
The game will be set in the island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, which is under siege by vampires who have blocked out the sun. The game will pit you against these beats while giving you a myriad of characters to choose from. Each character will have unique skills to offer. Since Redfall is a co-op FPS, you can team up with three other friends and go vampire hunting. You can check out the official game trailer shown off at E3 2021 right here:
This 5-minute trailer shows a dark world full of four main characters and scary vampires. The gameplay will primarily focus on open-world exploration where you can take different approaches to fight the threats. The combat system in Redfall looks impressive with the promise of a lot of weapon options.
Publisher, Developer – Xbox Game Studios, Arkane Austin
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – Summer, 2022
Check out Redfall
9. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Avatar fans, it’s your time to unite! James Cameron’s fans will get the chance to explore the world of Pandora through Ubisoft’s upcoming title – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. This first-person action-adventure game is a collaboration between Ubisoft and Lightstorm Entertainment and Disney.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora drops the players in a beautiful open-world experience with immersive visuals. The game’s story will revolve around Na’vi, who will go on to explore Pandora’s Western Frontier, which is a never seen before part of the world. However, the war still continues between Pandora inhabitants and the humans over this beautiful planet.
The announcement of Frontiers of Pandora is very fitting as we might see a new Avatar movie release next year.
Publisher, Developer – Ubisoft, Massive Entertainment
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), (PS5, PS4), Windows PC
Release Date – Late 2022
Check out Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
10. Rainbow Six Extraction
Formerly known as Quarantine, Ubisoft has finally renamed and released a trailer for the co-op game that many players thought had been shelved. Rainbow Six Extraction is a familiar gust of wind to Rainbox Siege veterans, although with a slightly different style. This co-op shooter throws players back into the horror environments of zombie-themed games – only it’s much scarier.
Extraction will allow players to choose from 18 different operators, each with their own weapons and abilities. The chosen team will then band together to fight over 10 different parasitic archetypes in over 12 different maps that will have procedurally generated challenges. For the co-op players looking for a serious mission, Rainbow Six Extraction is one of the biggest announcements in E3 2021.
Publisher, Developer – Ubisoft
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), (PS5, PS4), Windows PC
Release Date – Sep 16, 2021
Check out Rainbow Extraction
11. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
This one is for the Marvel and Avengers game fanboys among you. The latest Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is an upcoming third-person action-adventure game that focuses on Star-Lord as he rides around the cosmos on an epic adventure. Made in partnership with Marvel, Square Enix dropped a trailer for this upcoming game at E3 2021. It brings back the same humourful funny action we have become used to.
Publisher, Developer – Square Enix, Eidos-Montreal
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), (PS5, PS4), Windows PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Date – Oct 26, 2021
Check out Guardians of the Galaxy
12. Age of Empires IV
The Age of Empires series has long been known as a historic simulator that allows players to relive some of the most important moments of history. Now Microsoft has announced the release date of this much-cherished game at E3 2021.
Age of Empires IV will be an improved rendition of the previous versions with much more powerful visuals along with tons of civilizations. There will also be new campaigns and modes in the game, like the 100 Years War and the Norman Campaign. While Age of Empires IV won’t be available on the Xbox, PC players can look forward to the game’s release later this year.
Publisher, Developer – Xbox Game Studios, Relic Entertainment, World’s Edge
Platforms – Windows PC
Release Date – Oct 28, 2021
Check out AOE IV
13. Back 4 Blood
Left for Dead players have been looking for the series’ true successor for a long time. At last, Back 4 Blood is here. Made by Turtle Rock Studios, the same company that developed Left for Dead, Back 4 Blood is a four-player co-op FPS shooter that brings back the nostalgia of killing zombies while revolutionizing it with next-gen graphics, a variety of new weapons, and different scary modes.
Back 4 Blood takes place after a worldwide outbreak transforms most of humanity into the “Ridden”. The remaining members called “The Cleaners” band up together to fight this massive horde of zombies. The single-player campaign will get increasingly challenging as you progress.
You can either choose to go at it alone or with your friends for the full experience. And if that isn’t enough, the latest E3 showcase introduced ‘Swarm Mode’ where you can turn yourself into the ‘Ridden’ and fight your friends. While originally scheduled to release this month, the release date has been pushed back to later this year.
Publisher, Developer – Warner Bros. Games, Turtle Rock Studios
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), (PS5, PS4), Windows PC
Release Date – Oct 12, 2021
Check out Back 4 Blood
14. S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chernobyl
Stalker 2 is a sequel to the much-loved Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl. This FPS shooter continues the story of the Chernobyl Exclusion zone as we play Strelokh, who makes his way to Pripyat. The trailer of Stalker 2 tells a small story as we see the main character sit around a campfire as the group engages in conversation.
Stalker 2 serves a non-linear story with various endings that a player can get through actions. The game will also have survival mechanics like hunger, sleep, bleeding, and even radiation, thereby giving it simulation elements.
Stalker 2 looks increasingly horrifying as the trailer is focused on “The Zone”, which is a 60km exclusion zone around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Fans of Metro might be making connections to the dilapidated landscape. However, from the E3 2021 trailer, we can tell that Stalker 2 would be a much more horrifying version with enemies that have powers.
Publisher, Developer – GSC Game World
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S), Windows PC
Release Date – Apr 28, 2022
Check out Stalker 2
15. Metroid Dread
Nintendo Direct had quite a few game announcements up its sleeve at E3 2021. Besides the much-anticipated Zelda sequel, there’s a new game Metroid Dread coming out. The upcoming 2D game will act as the sequel to Metroid Fusion and the final chapter in Metroid’s line of 2D games that started with the original Metroid back in 1986.
Metroid Dread is set on a new planet and features bounty hunter Samus Aran, who’s returning as the protagonist in a shiny new power suit. The two-minute trailer released shows Aran making her way through a secret facility while being chased by a powerful robot known as E.M.M.I.
While fans who were expecting Metroid Prime 4 have been assured it’s in development. Meanwhile, you can go and pre-order Metroid Dread.
Publisher, Developer – Nintendo, MercurySteam
Platforms – Nintendo Switch
Release Date – Oct 8, 2021
Check out Metroid Dread
16. Replaced
Sad Cat Studios debut title, Replaced, is another game that is well worth the E3 2021 showcase. This is a cinematic action thriller game that throws players into a dystopian place called Pheonix-City. The main character is R.E.A.C.H, an Artificial Intelligence that is trapped in a human body against its will and must learn how to survive and push its body to the limits.
Replaced’s visuals will throw you back to the neon era and dark environments. The small trailer shows this 2D game in all its glory, and from what we can see, Replaced is going to be an amazing addition to your games library. Check it out yourself.
Publisher, Developer – Coatsink, Sad Cat Studios
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – 2022
Check out Replaced
17. Serial Cleaners
Fans of the Tarintino films and 90’s aesthetic will love the upcoming Serial Cleaners game announced at E3 2021. Serial Cleaners is the indie sequel to the 2017 game Serial Cleaner by Polish studio Draw Distance.
Serial Cleaners is set in ’90s New York, where you can play as four different mobsters who are in charge of cleaning up the scene of the crime. The characters will have their own playstyles that will be useful in the game. There’s also stealth involved as you try to mop up blood while there’s a cop patrolling nearby.
The game’s various elements rely heavily on the timeline they are based on. The story will be non-linear in nature, just like the films of that time. Everything from the artwork to the music reflects the time it is based on and is sure to take gamers back.
Publisher, Developer – Draw Distance
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), PS4, Windows PC
Release Date – Late 2021
Check out Serial Cleaners
18. White Shadows
Featured in the Guerrilla Collective E3 2021 showcase, White Shadows is the first game by Cologne-based independent studio Monokel. The game is a puzzle-solving platformer set in “The White City”, a network of towers rising into the sky. The world of White Shadow is a dark one, where people have to cover up their skin with ‘Bright White Light’ to stay alive. You will play as Ravengirl, a character who’s trying to escape this city and making her way to “Tin Town”, where freedom lies.
Publisher, Developer – (Headup, Mixtvision), Monokel
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – Late 2021
Check out White Shadows
19. Planet of Lana
Planet of Lana is by far one of the most beautiful games we have ever seen. This impressive cinematic adventure game is the first from independent developer Wistfully Studios.
Planet of Lana is a story-centered puzzle game where you play Lana, a young girl who is on a mission to bring back the harmony that has been lost by the arrival of an alien army. This visually impressive platformer is a mix of solving puzzles, fighting, and hiding from threats that grow smarter and explore a world that is constantly changing.
Publisher, Developer – Thunderful Publishing, Wishfully Studios
Platforms – (Xbox Series X|S|One), Windows PC
Release Date – 2022
Check out Planet of Lana
20. Silt
Coming from a brand new independent Bristol-based studio Spiral Games, Silt is an exploration game that will take you back to the black and white times of playing Limbo. Silt is a game set underwater where you play a diver with the ability to possess the fish around them. The game is set in an environment where you must use this ability to solve the puzzles around you and move deeper into the underwater void.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FXLvpFW7Y
The E3 2021 release trailer of Silt is a mix of beautiful level display, coupled with game elements that are exploratory in nature but verge on horror. Check out this beautifully scary game for yourself.
Publisher, Developer – Sold Out, Spiral Circus
Platforms – Windows PC
Release Date – Early 2022
Check out Silt
20 Best Game Announcements We Loved at E3 2021
While many more games were released in the various virtual events at E3 2021, this is our selection of games that ended up leaving an impression. We are really excited to check out the intense 128-player fights in Battlefield 2042 and the captivating world in Planet of Lana in the coming months. Do you have suggestions for more games we can add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
