PREVIEW – [E3 2021] – From Forza Horizon 5 to Guardians of the Galaxy, Final Fantasy Origin to Requiem Plague Tale, we’ve got all the E3 news! The video game event showcased a whole host of new games, and we’ll be covering them all in this special edition.

 

There were a ton of new video games unveiled over the course of a few days at E3 that we hadn’t heard about before. So many, in fact, that we at theGeek decided to compile the new games announced at the event into a single article, leaving out the titles we already knew about. So in this article, we’re not mentioning games like Starfield, Halo Infinite or Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, to name but a few.

There were some big surprises, such as the sequel to The Outer Worlds, the return of the long-awaited Advance Wars saga to Nintendo Switch with remakes of GBA games, the unexpected Forza Horizon 5 for Xbox and PC, a new 2D Metroid or the director’s cut of Death Stranding, which was revealed with a mystery trailer that is itself a tribute to the Metal Gear Solid saga. We want to know what you think of these titles: which one was the real surprise for you? Which game do you prefer on this list?

 

The Plague Tale: Requiem

Asobo Studio (PC, PS5, XSeries and Switch / 2022)

A Plague Tale: Requiem is the direct sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, in which Amicia and little Hugo return once again in a new, dangerous quest where they will do anything to survive in a brutal, senseless medieval world. Asobo Studio’s new video game takes a similar approach to the original, once again offering a very careful narrative and a varied and polished gameplay experience.

Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp

Nintendo (Switch / 3 December 2021)

The classic Advance Wars strategy saga returns with Re-Boot Camp, bringing back the first two video games in the series, but with a completely reimagined twist. It’s a fun turn-based strategy game in the form of a classic starter, where you control an army of soldiers on Switch.

 

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Ubisoft (PC, XSeries and XOne / TBA, 2022)

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Ubisoft’s forgotten Avatar game, has finally reared its bright blue head. One of the biggest surprises of E3 2021 was that the long-awaited game finally got a title and is now known as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. We also got a full five-minute reveal video at the Ubisoft Forward event this summer. Set exclusively for the latest generation of consoles, the open-world adventure set in a world envisioned by James Cameron promises to be a truly immersive sci-fi excursion set in a richly detailed world.

 

Bramble: The Mountain King

Dimfrost Studio (PC / 2022)

 

Sweden’s Dimfrost Studios announced at E3 their new horror adventure game Bramble: The Mountain King.

The announcement was accompanied by a trailer showcasing the game’s style and animation, including “atmospheric environments, high-end graphics, cinematic moments and thrilling gameplay” in which a boy leaps on giant lilies and waves at a huge, albeit seemingly friendly, troll.

 

Contraband

Avalanche Studios (PC and XSeries / TBA)

Avalanche Studios unveiled its latest game, Contraband, a connected co-operative game, at the Microsoft and Bethesda press conference at the E3 2021 digital event.

The short trailer for the game has a strong 1970s feel, with music from the era playing as a group of people appear to be repairing various things. Contraband relies heavily on cooperative play, with players having to work together to get out of various dangerous situations.

 

Codename Final Form

Reikon Games (PC, PS5 and XSeries / Date to be determined)

Codename Final Form looks like a really promising title, a new futuristic sci-fi game with nice graphics. It’s only a working title for now, but Codename Final Form has immediately caught our attention with its enticing trailer. The 45-second teaser, which you can see here, gives us a glimpse into a fast-paced first FPS, with sci-fi scenes and atmospheric music.

In Codename Final Form, players will take on the role of a humanoid robot. Set in the far reaches of the universe – beyond what we know – your mission will be to try and protect the last celestial being; the thing responsible for all life and creation.

 

Crossfire: Legion

Blackbird Interactive (PC / 2022)

Crossfire: Legion is a “classic RTS” developed by the makers of Homeworld 3. The new project is a strategy version of the popular Crossfire FPS series, which will be released in 2022. The strategy version of the shooter series is a surprising but fitting fit for Blackbird, founded by former members of Homeworld studio Relic Entertainment. The team’s first release was 2015’s excellent RTS Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, and more recently they’ve produced the very promising space simulation Hardspace: Shipbreaker.

 

Death Stranding: Director’s Cut

Kojima Productions (PC, PS4 and PS5 / 2021)

Hideo Kojima was one of the big headliners at the Summer Game Fest hosted by Geoff Keighley with this release, which expands on the original Death Stranding. A trailer for the upcoming game has also been released teasing the upcoming game. While no details are known about what will be included in the Director’s Cut, it was previously reported that there will be new stealth elements. The director’s cut of Death Stranding will be available for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

 

Death’s Door

Acid Nerve (PC, XSeries and XOne / 20 July 2021)

With a mix of fantasy and action, Death’s Door is a game that lets you crawl into the feathers of a crow. The task of this crow is to transport the souls of the dead from their hiding place in the Hall of Doors. The job gets interesting when the soul entrusted to you is stolen, and you must track down a desperate thief and chase him to a realm untouched by death…

 

Elex II

THQ (PC, XSeries and XOne / TBA)

In all the hype at E3, we almost missed the biggest announcement from Piranha Bytes, the company behind the Gothic and Risen series. The developer has unveiled Elex 2, the sequel to the old-school RPG Elex, released in 2017.

Elex 2 is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi open-world game and a direct sequel to the first installment, with the protagonist once again being Jax, who raises his own son while trying to unite the different factions of the planet Magalan against a new alien threat.

 

FAR: Changing Tides

Rubycone (PC, PS4, PS5, XSeries, XOne and Switch / 2021)

FAR: Changing Tides may be one of the most beautiful video games to be unveiled at E3 2021. It’s an indie title that promises a thought-provoking, relaxing and enjoyable experience for the majority of fans, an adventure that invites us to explore a fascinating, overrun universe.

 

Forza Horizon 5

Playground Games (PC, XSeries and XOne / 9 November 2021)

One of the big surprises of Microsoft’s conference was the unveiling of Playground Games’ new arcade car game, Forza Horizon 5. The talented British studio is working on its own series alongside the long-awaited new Fable, and we’ll get some of the best graphics yet on console.

 

Jurassic World Evolution 2

Frontier Developments (PC, PS4, PS5, XSeries and XOne / TBA)

Manager video game fans will once again get an unmissable encounter with Jurassic World Evolution 2, the new installment in Frontier Developments’ series set in the well-known Steven Spielberg franchise. Presented by Jeff Goldblum at the Summer Games Festival, the game has no release date yet.

 

Inscryption

Daniel Mullins Games (PC / 2021)

Inscryption is a narrative-focused, card-based odyssey that blends classic roguelike card puzzles, escape room-style puzzles, and psychological horror into a bloody smoothie. The cards hold dark secrets…

 

Mario Party Superstars

Nintendo (Switch / 29 October 2021)

There are few things more fun than partying with your friends, and during these battles, the Mario Party saga is one that shouldn’t be missing from your collection. Nintendo is looking back, and in this Superstars, it’s giving you access to over a hundred mini-games from previous Mario Party games, including the iconic Nintendo 64.

 

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

Ubisoft Milan (Switch / 2022)

The grand finale of Ubisoft’s 2021 E3 conference was Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, a turn-based tactical action video game that follows the path of the original. The title brings a handful of new heroes to choose from, with three protagonists to fight through the game.

 

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Eidos Montreal (PC, PS4, PS5, XOne, XSeries and Switch / 26 October 2021)

Although it has been rumoured for some time that a Guardians of the Galaxy game could be coming, this was only confirmed at E3 2021. In this standalone game, we’ll be able to take on the role of Starlord, with a campaign without microtransactions and a classic approach.

 

Metal Slug Tactics

Leikir Studio (PC / To be determined)

The Metal Slug series has always been a shoot-and-blast action frenzy that has delighted fans of 2D action for decades, so the announcement of the tactical-style Metal Slug Tactics was one of the surprises of E3 2021. While it promises to be just as intense as the originals, this time instead of running and gunning, you’ll have to think and tactically play turn-by-turn.

 

Metroid Dread

Mercury Steam (Switch / 8 October 2021)

The Mercury Steam guild is developing this 2D action and platform video game that brings back all the spirit of the most classic Metroid saga. Samus Aran returns in this new Metroid title, developed by the well-known San Sebastián de los Reyes-based studio that has already released other episodes in the series in this look.

 

Painkiller

Saber Interactive (TBD / TBD)

One of the big surprises at the launch event for Koch Media’s new publisher Prime Matter was Painkiller. The video game is being developed by Saber Interactive, but it’s not yet known whether it’s the second installment of the cult original or a remake or reimagining of the aforementioned first-person shooter.

 

Phantom Abyss

Team WIBY (PC / 22 June 2021)

Devolver Digital’s new title is a multiplayer action-adventure game with asynchronous battles to find hidden relics in procedurally generated maps. Early Access is coming soon!

 

RedFall

Arkane Austin (PC, XSeries / 2022)

The Arkane team responsible for Prey and Dishonored have proven that they have the talent to make you want to play whatever project they’re working on, and that’s the case with RedFall. Action and open world with vampires in a combat experience that is a mystery for now, but the co-operative gameplay promises to be strong.

 

Replaced

Sad Cat Studios (PC, XSeries and XOne / 2022)

Replaced is an indie video game that was one of the most surprising releases to be unveiled at Microsoft’s E3 2021 conference. It’s a 2D action video game with gorgeous pixel art and exciting-looking combat and exploration gameplay.

 

Rocksmith+

Ubisoft (PC, XSeries, XOne, PS4, PS5 and PC / To be determined.)

Missing the music games? Ubisoft wants us to dust off our electric guitars, bass guitars, or almost any musical instrument with a subscription service that teaches us how to play them so we can party again after the pandemic. To do this, of course, you’ll need to progress in the game by completing various objectives.

 

Salt and Sacrifice

Ska Studios (PC, PS5 and PS4 / Q2 2022)

Following the success of Dark Souls, there have been a number of video games that have attempted to emulate its style, but some have gone one step further, such as Salt & Sanctuary, which successfully adapted the style of gameplay to two dimensions. The sequel adds co-operative play and new ways to fight monsters.

 

Scars Above

Mad Head Games (PC, PS5, XSeries / To be determined)

Scars Above is a punchy action sci-fi title in which you play Kate Ward, a scientist whose ship gets lost on a hostile planet, from which you must try to get out alive. A seemingly simple approach that hides a video game that looks like it could pack quite a punch.

 

Soulstice

Reply Game Studios (PC, Xseries, PS5 / To be determined)

A game promising frantic action never sounds bad. And Soulstice takes that approach: it’s a hack and slash RPG set in 2022. You’ll take control of Briar and Lute, two brothers who face a dark world full of enemies. We will have to combine their skills and use them to avoid chaos.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Team Ninja (PC, PS5, XSeries, XOne and PS4 / 2022)

Exploring the origins of the Final Fantasy universe from the perspective of a challenging Dark Souls-style action game sounds great, but the introduction of Stranger of Paradise has still generated some pretty heated debates and disagreements. With a demo now available to download for PS5, fans are beginning to discover the virtues of the Ninja-themed game.

 

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

Sega (Switch / 5 October)

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is an upcoming platform video game, part of the Super Monkey Ball series, being developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It is scheduled to be released on October 5, 2021 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows.

 

Survival Machine

Grapes Pickers (PC / To be determined)

A new contender in action and survival games. In this action game with an external view, you’ll have to navigate the ever-evolving environment using a machine as a base, while acquiring resources. All this to ensure that the zombie threat that comes at night doesn’t destroy the environment.

 

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Gearbox (PC, XSeries, PS5, XOne, PS4 / Early 2022)

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is Gearbox Software’s latest looter-shooter game, but it won’t be Borderlands 4. It’s a spinoff of the main Borderlands series, a sequel to Borderlands 2’s Assault on Dragon Keep DLC, which is more fantasy than sci-fi. Not to be confused with Tina Turner’s Thunderdome, or if you’re a Dickens fan, Tiny Tim’s Wonderful Christmas.

Although Gearbox didn’t show the game in action at its E3 presentation, the studio has since revealed a lot about what Wonderlands will be like. So grab your sword, put on your helmet, and follow us to slay the Dragon of Ignorance and get back your +1 pants for progress.

 

The Anacrusis

Stray Bombay (XSeries and XOne / To be determined)

The writer of Half Life 2: Episode 1 embarks on a new adventure that looks too good to go unnoticed. In The Anacrusis, you’ll have to team up with three other players to end an alien menace in a cooperative shooter whose greatest strength lies in its progression and frenetic pace.

 

The Outer Worlds 2

Obsidian Entertainment (PC, XSeries and XOne / To be determined)

Following the success of the first instalment comes the sequel to The Outer Worlds 2, which aims to deliver on the mission of “more and better”. New planets will be explored, and many strange characters will be encountered, in an adventure that will not lack humour.

 

Trek to Yomi

Leonard Menchiari (PC, XSeries, PS5, PS4 and XOne / 2022)

One of the most striking games of E3 2021, as it mimics the aesthetics of Akira Kurosawa’s classic cinema. A 2D action game, Trek to Yomi puts you in the shoes of the young samurai Hiroki, who must defend his village by fighting bandits and other enemies in challenging katana duels.

 

Two Point Campus

Two Point Studios (PC, XSeries, PS5, XOne, PS4, Switch / 2022)

If you’ve already proven you’re the best at running a hospital plagued with delusional patients and comical illnesses in Two Point Hospital, get ready, because now you’ve got to create the best university campus ever. But Two Point Campus goes one step further, with many more building options and deeper management that takes students’ lives into account.

 

Wario Ware: Get It Together!

Nintendo (Switch / 10 September)

Wario is back – as usual with microgames. In a big new addition to the series, Nintendo promises a two-player mode in which you can enjoy challenges with up to two Joy-Cons, wirelessly, in company.

 

Wartales

Shiro Games (PC / TBA)

In a new tactical role-playing game from the creators of Northgard, lead a team of mercenaries on an open-world adventure with RPG touches to uncover secrets hidden in the tombs of the ancients.

 

Wizard with a Gun

Galvanic Games (PC and Switch / TBA)

Wizard with a Gun explores an intriguing universe with scenic visuals in an online co-operative survival game where you’ll face a variety of creatures as you roam a magical desert.