Let’s face it — game releases aren’t quite what they used to be. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has hampered precious development time and forced major studios to postpone their release dates to 2022 instead.
But there’s no reason to panic because the reinforcements have arrived.
As we approach the blockbuster E3 2021 announcement season, things are looking upbeat. From critically acclaimed indie studios to the usual big name titles, here are four games that are bound to shoot up the Steam charts this year.
1. Dying Light 2
Set 20 years after the events of the first instalment, the role-playing, parkour-inspired open-world zombie sequel Dying Light 2 looks like a legendary title in the making.
New protagonist Aiden Caldwell finds himself battling the “Infected” as he searches for his family in the maze-like metropolis of Villedor, also known as The City. The game retains its signature day and night cycle mechanics with enhanced parkour features. Expect lots of wall-running, vaulting through the tops of doorways and sliding under tables. An expanded map — nearly four times larger than the original — will see you traversing across faction territories, crumbling clock towers and Dark Zone nests filled with death at every turn. An improved gameplay will see users using vehicles but some fans have said this might steer players away from relying on parkour that some players enjoyed in the first game.
It’s been three years since the first trailer for DL2 was released so it’s no surprise that the hype is huge. But wait, we felt the same about Cyberpunk 2077 and we all know how that ended.
2. Horizon Forbidden West
This long-awaited sequel to the fan-favorite Horizon Zero Dawn, sees main character Aloy take a tumultuous journey to America’s wild frontier. The star of the show here is the new free-climbing system that will allow you to ascend rocks, mountains and cliffs seamlessly. The new gameplay also sees new machines and gadgets for quick getaways including a nifty new grappling hook. While Horizon 1 was well received, we know all too well the pain that sequels can unleash (yes, we are talking about The Last of Us Part II.) No more crappy melee combats for Zero Dawn or needlessly large maps that lead to nowhere. We want better exploration features and more intriguing side quests. Got that down?
3. Far Cry 6
The island dream is finally here. Perhaps the most controversial game on this list, Far Cry 6 sees our hero, Dani — a native of the fictional country of Yara — sparking the revolution against Castillo, a dictator bent on retaining power at all costs. An updated gameplay system allows you to holster your gun as you blend in with the local population, ride wild horses and use photos in your phone to detect mission locations. Expect the same out-of-this-world armoury like a backpack that fires rockets and creates flame walls, miniguns built from motorcycle engines, and the notorious Macarena gun — a weapon that fires compact discs while blaring the party anthem. There’s been talk about how the ending might follow in the footsteps of Far Cry 4 and lead to the unravelling of another dictator. Fans have also pointed out how Castillo looks just like Walter White from Breaking Bad. How bout’ a collab with Los Pollos Hermanos while we’re at it?
4. Biomutant
Biomutant is just like Seinfeld. You either love it or hate it, there are no in-betweens. But as the world goes into a second wave of lockdowns, a game about a human-free post-apocalypse couldn’t have come at a better time. Expect the RPG-styled with the same madness — grinning horses, Max Payne styled bullet time and deranged mutants. Yet critics have slammed the game for having too many grand ideas and no real focus. For example, there are endless collectibles, puzzles, challenges, enemies, and bosses but it all builds up to, well, nothing. What it lacks in the story, it certainly makes up for in visuals. Expect a picturesque depiction of a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world. Strange, but superb.
