Top 10 Upcoming PS5 Games to Get Excited About 2021 2022
Top 10 Upcoming PS5 Games to Get Excited About (2021-2022)
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Upcoming PS5 Games to Get Excited About.
For this list, we’ll be looking at titles expected to hit the PlayStation 5 within the next year or two, although they don’t need to be console exclusives. While release dates are infamous for getting pushed back, we expect to be playing all of these no later than December 2022.
Which PS5 game are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!
#10: “Deathloop” (2021)
Time loop stories have become all the rage as of late and their popularity extends to the video game medium. Following in the footsteps of other recent titles like “Outer Wilds” and “Minit,” “Deathloop” centers on another character with a serious case of Déjà vu. While far from the first game to experiment with time, Arkane Studios’ latest outing has one of the most interesting setups. You play as Colt, an assassin who has one night to take out eight targets. Time will continue to reset until Colt hits every target before midnight, although players are given more wiggle room here than in “Majora’s Mask.” We expect this action-adventure to have significant replay value, and not merely because of the time loop mechanic.
#9: “Dying Light 2” (2021)
In an oversaturated market of zombie games, it’s not easy to stick out. 2015’s “Dying Light” was a solid addition to the survival horror genre, though, and this long-awaited sequel has the potential to improve upon it. Taking place a decade and a half later, “Dying Light 2” shifts the focus from Kyle Crane to a new character named Aiden Caldwell. What really has us intrigued is the change of scenery. Instead of Harran, the sequel takes place in Europe with an open-world map that’ll be four times larger than its predecessors’. Player decisions will also be a fundamental factor this time around, impacting much more than the game’s ending.
#8: “Forspoken” (2022)
What’s this? A new IP from Square Enix? Sign us up! For the longest time, this action RPG was merely known by his working title, “Project Athia.” In March 2021, the game revealed its official title of “Forspoken.” Ella Balinska from “Charlie’s Angels” plays Frey Holland, a woman who must use her extraordinary powers to make it through a nightmarish fantasy world. The game is being developed by Luminous Productions, which previously worked on “Final Fantasy XV.” “Forspoken” will use the same engine as that game, and you can definitely see a resemblance in the early footage. With fast-paced gameplay, an emphasis on narrative, and a beautifully rendered open world to explore, we may be looking at the beginning of a promising series.
#7: “Little Devil Inside” (2021)
In an age where so many open-world games strive to look as realistic as possible, we’re digging the minimalist approach being taken in “Little Devil Inside.” The game’s aesthetic has a “Wind Waker” quality to it with elements of “Dark Souls” thrown in for good measure. The result is a world that’s cute yet grim at the same time. The developers described the setting as “somewhere between heaven and hell,” and there’s certainly a “Limbo” vibe to it as well. The world will provide plenty of variety as players trek from the highest mountains to the deepest caves and the driest deserts to the snowiest winter wastelands. With a mix of survival, exploration, and monster slaying, we’re more than a little excited for this one.
#6: “Final Fantasy XVI” (TBD)
Sony took us all by surprise when “Final Fantasy XVI” was announced at 2020’s PS5 Showcase Event. While the reveal itself caught fans off guard, what really threw them for a loop was the design. The game shifts away from sci-fi and doubles down on the fantasy in “Final Fantasy.” Producer Naoki Yoshida stated back in 2019 that he wanted “less machines and more magic.” “Final Fantasy XVI” is poised to bring the magic back in more ways than one. In addition to being one of the franchise’s most fantasy-oriented entries, it also has the potential to be among the darkest, echoing the “Souls” series. While different, any franchise with sixteen mainline games needs to keep things fresh, and Square Enix is doing precisely that.
#5: “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” (2021)
Ever since 2016’s “Ratchet & Clank” hit the reboot switch, we haven’t seen much of our favorite Lombax and robot team. “Rift Apart” is going back to where the Future Saga left off, taking place after “Into the Nexus.” Even if you’ve never played a “Ratchet & Clank” game before, the story will be self-contained enough for newbies to dive right in. Those who’ve been following the destructive duo since 2002 can expect the inventive weapons, creative worlds, and witty comedy synonymous with the series. What “Rift Apart” adds to the formula is the ability to travel between planets via portals in a flash, making good on Sony’s promise to reduce load times. Just when you thought the gameplay couldn’t get any more addicting…
#4: “Kena: Bridge of Spirits” (2021)
Sony has been giving Nintendo a run for its money ever since the mid-90s. Nintendo has always fired back, however, with their most treasured properties, namely “The Legend of Zelda.” Sony just may’ve found a “Zelda” of their own in “Kena: Bridge of Spirits.” While “Kena” was clearly inspired by “Zelda,” even stemming from a “Majora’s Mask” fan film, developer Ember Lab is bringing their unique signature to the project. Even the best-looking “Zelda” titles have maintained the aesthetic of a video game. “Kena” looks more like an animated feature, leaving us to wonder if the franchise might have a future outside of games. For now, though, we can’t wait to explore every inch of the colorful, magical world that Ember Lab has cooked up.
#3: “God of War: Ragnarok” (TBD)
The “God of War” series has continually found new ways to top itself. After the original trilogy wrapped up, it didn’t seem like there was much left to do with Kratos. 2018’s “God of War” breathed new life into the franchise with a transition to Norse mythology, a more serious tone, and a surprisingly effective father/son story. It was different, but these risks paid off with what’s arguably the best exclusive on the PS4. Will the sequel be the PS5’s crown jewel? It’s far too early to say, especially given how little we know about “Ragnarök,” as most fans are calling it. What we do know is that “Ragnarök is coming,” which doesn’t bode well for any Norse gods out there.
#2: “Resident Evil Village” (2021)
“Resident Evil 7” brought the franchise back to the survival horror genre with thrilling, creepy, and disturbing as hell results. The only downside is that “Biohazard” didn’t take many chances, falling back on what worked in earlier titles. While we can’t exactly call “Resident Evil 5” or “6” good games, we do admire that they tried to shake things up. “Resident Evil Village” feels like the middle-ground that fans have been craving. It’s still a survival horror game, but the series is expanding its repertoire with vampires, werewolves, and a castle that Simon Belmont wouldn’t feel out of place in. Lady Dimitrescu also has the potential to be the franchise’s most charismatic villain yet, as well as every cosplayers’ dream.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Stray” (2021)
The Missing Link Between Let’s Plays & Cat Videos
“Back 4 Blood” (2021)
It’s Not “Left 4 Dead 3,” But It Feels Close Enough
“Hogwarts Legacy” (2022)
Is This the Wizarding World Game We’ve Been Over Two Decades For?
“Returnal” (2021)
Another Time Loop Game… But in Space!
#1: “Horizon Forbidden West” (2021)
If you already bought a PS5 or are planning on getting one in the near future, “Horizon Forbidden West” is surely among the main reasons. Yeah, we know that it’s going to be on PS4 as well, but a game this gorgeous deserves to be played on the most powerful console available. “Horizon Zero Dawn” was one of the most involving and atmospheric open-world games we’ve ever played. Although time will only tell if “Forbidden West” surpasses its predecessor, it is quite possibly the first game that has us excited to explore underwater environments. The land areas look every bit as stunning with remnants of San Francisco and other major cities serving as bleak yet inspiring backdrops. Glad to have you back, Aloy.