With a new year comes the excitement of new games. As is the way with the video games industry sometimes games get delayed. I, therefore, seem to carry over a few games from previous lists in the hopes that this year will actually be the year we get to play them.
There is a wide variety of fantastic looking games coming as usual, and we’ve highlighted some of the best indie games 2021 has to offer.
Book of Travels
Release Date: Q2 2021
Platform(s): PC Steam
Genre: RPG, T(Tiny)MORPG
Book of Travels looks very intriguing. Described as Tiny Multiplayer Online RPG this unique adventure has no real quest line so to speak. No end of the world scenario you and thousands of others must defeat. Instead it’s a journey of exploration and discovery. Forge your own path or travel with a few others in this gorgeous and deep RPG.
Ashes of Creation
Release Date: 2021
Platform(s): PC
Genre: MMORPG
Now for something a little more traditional in the MMORPG realm. Personally, I’ve struggled to get into MMO’s in the past, but I partly put that down to ‘discovering’ them too late. Meaning I have years of content to catch up on if I want to play with people. Ashes of Creation looks very ambitious and is shaping up nicely.
Little Nightmares 2
Release Date: 11th February 2021
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Horror, Adventure, Stealth
The first Little Nightmares was an excellently unnerving tale that scared the bejesus out of many of us. The sequel looks just as scary if not more so.
Ready or Not
Release Date: Beta Access June 2021
Platform(s): PC
Genre: FPS, Tactical
This tactical FPS does share some similarities to Rainbow Six. But unlike the most recent R6, Ready or Not features a full single-player campaign. As well as intense multiplayer and co-op activities to delve into.
Atomic Heart
Release Date: TBA
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Genre: FPS, Sci-fi, Horror
Atomic Heart has been shifting in and out of existence it seems. For quite a while nothing was heard of the game and many thought it might have been cancelled. However, it reemerged in the summer last year with some brand new gameplay. It looks interesting and has a real Bioshock vibe to it. One to keep an eye on for sure.
Hollow Knight Silk Song
Release Date: Q1/Q2 2021
Platform(s): PC, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Metriodvania, Souls-like
Silksong was originally planned as DLC for Hollow Knight. However, the scope and scale of it grew and became its own standalone game. Due to release hopefully in the first half of 2021 you know this is going to be an amazing game. Early shout for GOTY?
Humankind
Release Date: 22nd April 2021
Platform(s): PC, Stadia
Genre: 4X, Strategy, Turn-based
Humankind is a historical strategy game where you will re-write the entirety of human history. Lead you people from ancient ages to modern times as you combine over 60 historical cultures. This is looking like it could be a real hit for those strategy fans.
Season
Release Date: TBA 2021
Platform(s): PC, PS5
Genre: Casual, Atmospheric, Story-rich
Let yourself get lost in this beautiful looking bicycle journey adventure game. Collect artifacts and make memories before a mysterious cataclysm washes everything away.
Solar Ash
Release Date: TBA 2021
Platform(s): PC Epic Store, PS5, PS4
Genre: Action-adventure
From the team that brought you the excellent Hyper Light Drifter comes the next adventure in this slick-looking 3D action-adventure game. Explore a surreal, vivid, and highly stylized world filled with wild high-speed traversal, endearing characters, and massive enemy encounters.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Release Date: March 2021
Platform(s): PC Epic Store, PS5, PS4
Genre: Action-adventure
Kena is a young spirit guide and helps people move from the physical world to the spirit world. As Kena you will find and grow spirit companions known as the Rot. They will help you enhance your abilities as you battle your way through this beautiful looking game.
Little Devil Inside
Release Date: July 2021
Platform(s): PC Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Action-adventure
I feel like I’ve been watching this game for about 5 years waiting for a release date. Now it seems we might actually be closing in on it. Little Devil Inside looks like a wild adventure full of mysterious characters and surreal places to visit. It honestly, looks bizarrely brilliant.
New World
Release Date: Early 2021
Platform(s): PC Steam
Genre: MMORPG
Amazons MMO is almost upon and after playing the alpha last year I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with it. I felt like it was a little more on the casual/action RPG side rather than traditional MMORPG’s. But personally I don’t mind that. The game looked great and had some fun combat. That being said, the skill trees were a little lacklustre, leaving players with concerns about longevity and build diversity. I still think it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Everspace 2
Release Date: Early Access 18th January 2021, 2022 console release
Platform(s): PC Steam, PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Looter-shooter, Space sim, RPG, Flight
Everspace 2 is hitting early access very soon for PC. If the first game is any indication of how that will go, then we can expect a good ride! The space-shooter is looking slick and stylish and builds upon the first game with more to see, more to shoot, and more to unlock. It looks excellent.
Century: Age of Ashes
Release Date: February 2021
Platform(s): PC
Genre: Free to Play, Multiplayer, Action
I don’t know much about Century: Age of Ashes beyond what we saw at the Game Awards late last year. But it looked like a cool game where you get to fly dragons and shoot other dragons with fire breath. Honestly, I thought it just looked like good solid fun. Plus it will be free to play, so very easy to jump in and try it out.
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
Release Date: Q1 2021
Platform(s): PC
Genre: RPG, Narrative-driven
This one looks like a pretty interesting one. A unique visual style and storytelling. Experience an interactive tragic novel on the difficult life of a person in a dark fantasy setting. The choices you make in Sir Brante’s life will have a big impact on the outcome of the story.
Nightwalk
Release Date: TBA 2021
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Genre: Walking-simulator, Atmospheric
There isn’t too much known about this one, and I can’t find any gameplay or trailers. This could mean the 2021 release is a little ambitious but whatever, it sounds interesting. Nightwalk is a peaceful and atmospheric first-person walking game. Which focuses on the mystery and beauty of a long summer night while you explore a hidden island.
Slender Threads
Release Date: TBA 2021
Platform(s): PC
Genre: Point and click
This point and click adventure takes you on a journey as an unremarkable traveling salesman who ends up entangled in a strange and thrilling mystery in a peculiar town. It looks a bit quirky and like it will be a lot of fun.
That’s just some of the best-looking indie games 2021 should be bringing us. As usual, there’s always more for you to uncover. If I find more, I will update this list. Also, if you find some, tell me about them!
-Will
