While multiplayer games may seem to be taking over the gaming world, single-player games are far from dead. On the contrary, some of the most acclaimed titles in the last few years, such as The Witcher 3 and God of War, have been single-player games, and the new decade also promises equally amazing titles that can be enjoyed alone. Here are the biggest upcoming new single-player games of 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Switch.
Single-Player Games 2021 Release Dates
| Game | Platforms | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hitman 3 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S | January 20th, 2021 |
| Returnal | PS5 | April 30th, 2021 |
| Resident Evil Village | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One | May 7th, 2021 |
| Biomutant | PC, PS4, Xbox One | May 25th, 2021 |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | PS5 | June 11th, 2021 |
| GhostWire: Tokyo | PC, PS5 | TBC 2021 |
| Halo Infinite | PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S | TBC 2021 |
| Dying Light 2 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S | TBC 2021 |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 | PC, Xbox Series X | S | TBC 2021 |
| Babylon's Fall | PC, PS4 | TBC 2021 |
| Horizon Forbidden West | PS4, PS5 | TBC 2021 |
| God of War: Ragnarok | PS5 | TBC 2021 |
| Far Cry 6 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Stadia | TBC 2021 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S | TBC 2022 |
| Gran Turismo 7 | PS5 | TBC 2022 |
| Elden Ring | PC, PS4, Xbox One | TBA |
The Biggest New Single-Player Games of 2021
Hitman 3 | January 20th, 2021
Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S
Hitman 3 is the final installment in the World of Assassination trilogy, and players will once again take the role of Agent 47. In this third-person stealth game, 47 will travel to various locations—including Dubai, Dartmoor, Berlin, and Chongqing—and carry out contracted assassinations.
Unlike Hitman 2, there will be no multiplayer modes. All locations from Hitman 1 and Hitman 2 can be imported and played within Hitman 3 for no additional cost. The game will also feature PlayStation VR compatibility on PlayStation 4.
Returnal | April 30th, 2021
Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5
Following a crash, Selene is trapped on an alien planet and stuck in a time loop. “Even death is no escape” because she keeps getting resurrected, and the planet itself changes every time she comes back alive.
The announcement trailer for Returnal gives a glimpse into the psychological thrill that this game is capable of exciting, with the world around Selene getting shaped by her thoughts and memories. As in other games, PS5’s immersive 3D audio will bring the alien world alive for the players, and help them navigate it.
Resident Evil Village | May 7th, 2021 2021
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One
Resident Evil Village (also known as Resident Evil 8 is a survival horror game that is set a few years after the events of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Ethan Winters is making a fresh start with his wife Mia, when Chris Redfield, a recurring character in previous games, suddenly disrupts their life.
The RE Engine creates ultra-realistic graphics, and the game will be played from a first-person perspective. As Ethan looks for the answers to Chris’ actions, he finally ends up in a mysterious village.
Biomutant | May 25th, 2021
Developer: Experiment 101
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Biomutant is an action RPG set in an open world that is filled with mutated animals. In this “post-apocalyptic Kung-Fu fable”, players will take control of a customizable animal, create their own weapons, and improve their abilities through biomechanical body parts or mutations.
The most exciting thing about the game is its combat system that combines unique melee attacks with long range shooting. Your customization will determine how you fight: a heavier character will be slower but resist damage better. The game will have branching plotlines, with your decisions shaping the story.
GhostWire: Tokyo | TBC 2021
Developer: Tango Gameworks
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platforms: PC, PS5
Almost all of Tokyo’s population vanished overnight, and the city is now invaded by dangerous supernatural forces. The protagonist himself begins to acquire supernatural powers and must learn to use them.
In this action-adventure game, you must unravel the mystery behind the strange events in Tokyo, as you fight the Visitors and eventually encounter a group wearing Hannya masks. The game features a unique combat system—“karate meets magic” as one of the creators says—and is inspired by Kuji-kiri hand gestures.
Halo Infinite | TBC 2021
Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S
Halo Infinite was delayed in August last year, weakening the Xbox Series X | S launch line-up, but the console’s “killer app” is now finally planned to be released in late 2021. That extra time in the oven might have done it the world of good after an underwhelming gameplay reveal.
The latest instalment of the Halo series picks up the story of Master Chief after the events of Halo 5: Guardians, and the storyline is said to be “much more human”. Master Chief must save humanity by fighting the Banished. The first person shooter will now run at 60FPS in 4k resolution.
Dying Light 2 | TBC 2021
Developer: Techland
Publisher: Techland Publishing
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S
Dying Light 2 is a survival horror role-playing game that is set 15 years after the original game. Players will now take the role of a new protagonist named Aiden Caldwell, who is trying to survive in the zombie apocalyptic land of The City.
Players will get to decide how they want to work with each group, fundamentally affecting the game’s world and the non-playable characters’ view of Aiden. New zombies have also been added, and as in the original game, they become aggressive at night. Improved parkour skills and tools such as the paraglider will help you navigate the open world, which is controlled by different factions.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 | TBC 2021
Developer: GSC Game World
Publisher: GSC Game World
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X | S
Besides Halo Infinite, STALKER 2 could be one of the games this year that shows the true power of the new Xbox as a timed exclusive. The game is set in the Chernobyl disaster site and will feature one of the biggest open worlds till date.
Players will take the role of Skif in a world of “ominous landscapes and the ever-present feeling of an inevitable danger”, as the in-engine gameplay teaser reveals. A unique mix of “FPS, immersive sim and horror”, STALKER 2 will also have a non-linear story with multiple-endings, with your decisions affecting both short-term and long-term outcomes.
Babylon’s Fall | TBC 2021
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Platforms: PC, PS4
Babylon’s Fall originally had a 2019 release date, but there have been still very few updates from the developers in the time since. In July last year, the development team tweeted that the game is “continuing to progress well”, and hopefully, we will at least have a confirmed release date soon.
A state of play trailer was released back in 2019 showcasing the game’s distinctive art style. Fans are also very excited about the game’s combat system—hack and slash which looks like a mix of Devil May Cry and Dark Souls.
Horizon Forbidden West | TBC 2021
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Horizon Forbidden West is a third-person RPG set in post-apocalyptic America, which is filled with dangerous machines and ruins left by the Old Ones. It is a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, which was a PS4 exclusive until its eventual release on PC.
Aloy is on her journey to the Forbidden West and is trying to find the source of a mysterious plague that kills everything it infects. Players will get to explore a vast range of ecosystems, including dry deserts, snowy mountains, and underwater cities.
God of War: Ragnarok | TBC 2021
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5
Three years after the massive success of God of War (2018), Santa Monica Studio is returning with a sequel. It will be set in ancient Norway and will again feature Kratos alongside his son Atreus.
The game will start off Ragnarok, a series of events leading to the death of Norse Gods and bringing the end of the world, as had been foretold in the last game. Sony has said that they plan to support their previous gen console until at least 2022, but we are still not sure if God of War: Ragnarok will get a PS4 release.
Far Cry 6 | TBC 2021
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Stadia
Far Cry 6 is a first-person adventure game set in Yara, a fictionalized version of Cuba. The Caribbean island is ruled by the dictator Antón Castillo, who is raising his son to follow in his footsteps.
In this sixth installment of the series, players will take the role of guerrilla fighter Dani Rojas, who is attempting to overthrow the dictatorship. The game was originally planned to be released early this year, but we have still not received any update from Ubisoft. Recent rumors suggest April 2021 as the release date, as was listed on Microsoft Store.
Hogwarts Legacy | TBC 2022
Developer: Avalanche Software
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S
Delayed to 2022 in 2021
Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG set in the Wizarding World of the late 1800s. It brings alive the magical realm of our childhood dreams, letting players attend classes of witchcraft, brew potions, and master combat abilities.
Outside the walls of Hogwarts, you will get to explore the Hogsmeade Village, encounter magical beasts in the Forbidden Forest, battle Dark Wizards, and plenty more. Your character possesses an unusual ability to master Ancient Magic, and your actions will decide the fate of the wizarding world.
Gran Turismo 7 | TBC 2022
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5
Gran Turismo 7 was announced back in June last year, and the PlayStation exclusive racing game is expected to launch this year. The trailer reveals that the GT Simulation Mode is returning, along with classic vehicles and tracks.
On the PlayStation 5, Gran Turismo 7 will take advantage of the DualSense controller to provide better haptic feedback, and the Tempest Audio engine will produce realistic spatial audio, creating an incredibly immersive racing experience.
Elden Ring | TBA
Developer: FromSoftware, Inc.
Publishers: BANDAI NAMCO
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Eden Ring is an action role-playing game on which game director Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls) and fantasy novelist George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire) have collaborated.
As in Dark Souls, players will be able to create their custom protagonists, although Elden Ring will have a much larger open-world map. The gameplay is said to be similar to other FromSoftware games such as Bloodborne, and a leak has revealed some thrilling concept art.
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