This year marked E3’s big return after a year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while it may not have quite delivered the thrills and spills of shows gone by, there’s still been plenty to get excited about. In particular, new game announcements, which are always the most thrilling aspect of any E3 show if you ask us.
So, here we’re going to be recapping the 15 newly announced games we consider to be the biggest showstoppers of E3 2021 and ranking them in order of hype. We’re measuring them both by how much we’re looking forward to playing them and the exciting nature of their reveal, be it expected or entirely surprising.
15. Soulstice
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
Twinfinite already has Soulstice down as one of E3 2021’s biggest action/adventure games, and so of course we’re giving it the nod as one to be hyped over. It might not have announced itself with the sort of pomp and spectacle of some of the other games on this list, but the notion of a “next-generation Souls-like,” as developer Reply Game Studios describes it, has us excited.
Its unique gameplay mechanic has players combining the abilities of its two sister protagonists to create powerful single strikes, and that sounds exactly like the sort of clever innovation we like to see from what can at times feel like a cookie-cutter genre. It comes to consoles and PC next year.
14. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Any new Final Fantasy game has Twinfinite excited, and so of course Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin was always going to feature on this list. But a hack-and-slack spin-off made by Team Ninja? It’s certainly unexpected and a little unusual, and so we’re a little cautious about getting too overly excited about such an unknown entity. But color us intrigued, certainly. You can check out the game’s debut trailer which was showcased during Square Enix’s conference here.
13. Salt and Sacrifice
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
We know what you’re thinking: not another 2D Souls-like! But Salt and Sanctuary really was the OG 2D Souls-like, long before a dozen other indie studios jumped on the trend. For that reason alone, we’re absolutely over the moon to see developer Ska Studios expanding the franchise with what we presume will be a bigger and bolder sequel. Look forward to more sublime, stylized 2D graphics, punishing combat, and a haunting atmosphere in Salt and Sacrifice. Here’s a first glimpse of the action from the Summer Games Fest showcase.
12. Contraband
Listen, we love Just Cause, but it’s high time that Avalanche Studios focused its efforts on an all-new IP, and while we haven’t yet seen what Contraband will play like, the concept alone is enough to have us extremely hyped. After all, there are few other developers we think could make a compelling cooperative heist game than Avalanche, a studio that has always put a premium on exciting gameplay first and foremost.
Again, the details are so far pretty scant, but here’s the cinematic reveal teaser if you want to refresh yourself on the premise and tone of Contraband.
11. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the next epic JRPG experience from the creators of the iconic Suikoden series that we’ve been excited about here at Twinfinite for quite some time. Unfortunately, the bad news is that we’ll have to wait a little longer — it’s been delayed until 2023. The good news, though, is that a spin-off title called Eiyuden Chorincle: Rising has been revealed.
According to the Steam Page, it’s set to feature “town-building mechanics, fast-paced combat, and important back-story for several of the Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes cast of characters.” And while it might not quite be the Hundred Heroes game we’ve been hankering for, any coming together of legendary developers Yoshitaka Murayama and Osamu Komuta is a gaming experience worthy of hype in our books.
10. WarioWare: Get It Together
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
It has been far too long since we’ve seen Nintendo’s iconic Wario starring in his own game, and even longer since the last WarioWare title. But the long wait is finally over, and if you’re an enthusiast of party games and couch cooperative experiences then WarioWare is about to bolster the Switch’s portfolio even further with another memorable collection of fun mini-games from developer 9-Volt with WarioWare: Get it Together.
WarioWare games have traditionally based themselves on Nintendo’s 8 and 16-bit era games, and so it’s exciting to see how the publisher’s newer franchises are going to be incorporated into the mix. Here’s a first look at what’s to come in case you missed yesterday’s Nintendo Direct.
9. Somerville
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
Limbo and INSIDE are perhaps two of the best side-scrolling games of the past decade, and so naturally, the latest project from a former Playdead co-founder is hot on our list of most exciting games showcased during E3 2021. But beyond just appealing to us in principle, Somerville genuinely looks fascinating, with its unique, hand-drawn art style, shifting perspectives, moody cinematography, and a mysterious sci-fi premise so typical of the developer’s resume.
It looks set to deliver an emotional rollercoaster and a powerful narrative that we’re certain we’ll be pondering long after we roll credits after the game launches next year. Here’s the trailer if you missed it.
8. Replaced
Replaced made a big impression when it was revealed during Microsoft’s E3 2021 showcase, and it’s jumped right into Twinfinite’s top 10 most anticipated games of next year with its utterly gorgeous pixelated art style and gripping story premise.
The cyberpunky, dystopian themes reminiscent of Blade Runner always make for a compelling setting in any video game, but there’s something appropriately dark and cinematic about the way its gameplay is presented that nails the aesthetic particularly well.
Replaced is without a doubt one of E3 2021’s indie standouts, and we can’t wait to see what Belorussian studio Sad Cat has up its sleeve the next time we see it in action. For now, we’ll just keep watching over and over.
7. The Outer Worlds 2
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
Certainly not for the reasons you’d expect, The Outer Worlds 2’s reveal trailer is one of our favorites from E3 2021, despite showing almost nothing of the new game other than its logo. Why? Because developer Obisidian is so brutally honest about the fact that the game is nowhere near ready to reveal anything about its story or gameplay to the point of amusingly saying as much during the trailer. The 90-second sequence is more or less a spoof of the video game industry’s tendency to announce new games comically early, and it’s totally hilarious.
Of course, The Outer Worlds 2 makes the upper echelons of our hype list for more reasons than just a witty trailer. The original game was one of 2018’s best RPGs, and we can’t wait to see what a bolder and more ambitious sequel looks like. Move over Fallout, The Outer Worlds is here to stay!
6. Redfall
Just when you thought Arkane Studios’ team was all hands to the pump on its upcoming shooter Deathloop the developer announces a completely unexpected new Xbox exclusive called Redfall. Everything about this Left 4 Dead-like cooperative shooter looks compelling, from the eye-catching art style to its vampire-hunting premise.
There’s not a lot of details to go on as yet in terms of how it’s likely to play, but this was one of those surprise announcements that really caught us off guard and got us excited. Particularly so, as it’s from Arkane, a studio that has a history of producing superb games that unfortunately haven’t enjoyed a positive commercial reception. Now they have the platform and the backing to go ham with the sort of creative gameplay experiences they do best, and we can’t wait to play them.
5. Avatar
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
First the announcement of three Avatar sequels, and now the reveal of a blockbuster video game based on the franchise from Ubisoft — Avatar just keeps surprising us with its resurgence to pop culture! And from what we’ve seen of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, it genuinely looks like a compelling new action/adventure game worth getting excited about, as opposed to generic movie tie-in video games of the past.
We never asked for it, we were totally stunned by its reveal, but we’re absolutely on board with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and cannot wait for the full gameplay reveal ahead of its launch next year. Until then, feast your eyes on some spectacular screenshots after you’ve checked out the trailer.
4. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
When Ubisoft first approached Nintendo with the idea of developing a game featuring Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto had just one caveat — he challenged them to make a Mario game without jumping. That challenge set in motion the awesome turn-based strategy design that has saw Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle surge onto the scene to critical and commercial acclaim. Now, we’ve got a sequel, and hell yes we’re excited about it!
It’s going to be fascinating to see what Ubisoft can come with next as it strives to create something new and innovative to define what has now become a bit of legendary pairing of two whimsical franchises. So far we’ve not seen any gameplay, but the notion of more Mario and Rabbids is enough to send out hype levels sky-rocketing.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
Rather like the announcement of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the reveal of Guardians of the Galaxy game came as a major surprise during Square Enix’s press conference. Sure, its partnership with Marvel was always likely to yield more video games moving forward, but the fact that we’ll be taking control of Star-Lord and his band of misfits as soon as later this year is something we just didn’t imagine as a possibility.
Of course, we’re not complaining! Particularly so, because despite our reservations about a new Square Enix Marvel game after the disappointment of Avengers, this latest effort is a story-driven, single-player experience that looks as though it’s going to deliver a genuinely authentic Marvel experience. The witty writing is there, the voice acting sounded great, and the gameplay looks as though it has a lot of potential. Here’s hoping Guardians of the Galaxy plays as well as it looks!
2. A Plague Tale Requiem
A Plague Tale: Innocence just blew us away back in 2019. It was a game that most of the team here at Twinfinite honestly did not have on our radars, and then it almost exploded into our lives as this emotional, roller-coaster adventure that we just could not stop talking about for weeks after having played it.
There’s something so powerful about its epic story, and while the gameplay was at times rudimentary, it impressed us for managing to deliver its fair share of thrilling moments.
All of that despite the humble size and budget of developer Asobo Studios’ team. But now having sold a huge number of copies of the original and having built that stellar reputation for itself, the notion of a grander sequel to expand upon the engaging story of Hugo and Amicia is just something we’re so incredibly excited for. If you haven’t already, play A Plague Tale: Innocence, and then join us in day-dreaming about Requiem until its release next year.
1. Metroid Dread
E3 2021 Games Ranked by Hype
And that brings us to our number one pick for the most hype-worthy game of E3 2021, Metroid Dread. This was, for many of us, the most surprising and exciting reveal of the entire week — the first original 2D Metroid game in over 15 years. We’re going back to where it all began, not just for Metroid but for an entire genre of games that is among the most popular in the entire industry.
It’s not only a chance to bathe in nostalgia, but a chance to see how Nintendo innovates when it comes to Metroidvania design and possibly exceed its high watermark. This isn’t just a stopgap until Metroid Prime 4, it’s the continuation of a series that many thought we’d never see again, and we’re delighted it’s happening. Roll on October.
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