Discover the Most Exciting PC Games of 2021 You Won’t Want to Miss
As we ventured into 2021, the gaming world was buzzing with anticipation. While 2020 delivered an incredible roster of titles that kept us hooked, the new year always brings that undeniable itch for fresh experiences and groundbreaking adventures. Many gamers found themselves ready to dive into the next big thing. The Logitech team, among countless enthusiasts, shared this excitement, putting together a curated list of games that truly captured their attention. If you’ve been searching for your next obsession, or simply want to know what masterpieces graced our screens, read on to explore the most exciting 2021 PC games.
Hitman 3: Agent 47’s Grand Finale
Everyone’s favorite bald-headed, bar-coded assassin returned in 2021, bringing an end to the World of Assassination trilogy. Hitman 3 continued the legacy of intricate stealth gameplay and unparalleled player freedom. Agent 47 once again found himself globetrotting, with gorgeous tropical getaways and architecturally stunning mansions serving as the backdrops for his deadly assignments. This installment built upon the strong foundation of its predecessors, Hitman and Hitman 2, which famously took players everywhere from the sunny streets of Sapienza to the bustling race track of Miami.
The beauty of Hitman lies not just in its stunning environments, but in the sheer variety of ways to complete objectives. New locations offered fresh opportunities for creative assassinations. While new guns were naturally part of Agent 47’s expanded arsenal, the true joy came from orchestrating the most ridiculous and unorthodox kills possible. Whether poisoning a target’s tea or staging a bizarre “accident,” Hitman 3 consistently rewarded ingenuity and exploration. It offered a compelling conclusion to a beloved saga, ensuring hours of replayability for those who loved to master every level.
Far Cry 6: Revolution in Yara
Ubisoft sent ripples through the gaming community with the first teaser for Far Cry 6, showcasing the chilling performance of Giancarlo Esposito as the dictator Antón Castillo. That powerful moment, where a live grenade pin was pulled in his son’s hand, hinted at a narrative depth and moral complexity that had fans speculating wildly. The fictional streets of Yara, a Caribbean island under Castillo’s iron rule, proved to be the perfect setting for the next action-packed installment of the Far Cry series. Players were thrust into a guerrilla warfare scenario, fighting for freedom against an oppressive regime.
Far Cry is renowned for its wonderfully despicable villains, and El Presidente Castillo certainly lived up to that reputation. His presence promised an intense struggle against a formidable obstacle. Beyond the compelling antagonist, Far Cry 6 delivered the expansive open-world gameplay the series is known for. Players could liberate outposts, engage in explosive firefights, and explore a vibrant yet dangerous landscape. The inclusion of a high-caliber actor like Giancarlo Esposito only amplified the drama, making this one of the most anticipated titles for its blend of cinematic storytelling and chaotic action.
Gotham Knights: The Bat-Family Steps Up
For years, Batman games had immersed us in the dark alleys and gothic architecture of Gotham, grappling onto gargoyles and solving mysteries from the shadows. Gotham Knights, however, took a bold new direction, inviting players into the DC Universe with a whole new roster of heroes. With Batman seemingly out of the picture, the Bat-Family’s finest stepped up: Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl, Dick Grayson as Nightwing, Jason Todd’s Red Hood, and Tim Drake as Robin. This shift promised a fresh perspective on protecting Gotham City, moving beyond a single hero’s narrative.
One of the most exciting features of Gotham Knights was its drop-in, drop-out co-op, allowing players to team up with a friend to dish out vigilante justice. This meant you could create your dream team, bringing together different characters with unique abilities and fighting styles, in full comic crossover glory. The game blended action-RPG elements with exploration, tasking players with investigating a vast criminal underworld. This change in focus, from a solo Batman adventure to a cooperative team effort, marked a very different yet incredibly thrilling chapter for DC games, keeping fans gripped at the ready for its release.
Resident Evil Village: A New Kind of Nightmare
The Resident Evil series has always excelled at crafting terrifying environments, and Resident Evil Village was no exception. This installment transported players to a snowy, creepy, occult-infused European village, unlike any seen before in the franchise. It was a place full of unknown horrors, pushing the boundaries of what fans expected from the survival horror genre. While some kind of zombie presence was likely, the trailers hinted at a menagerie of deadly creatures, including what appeared to be vampires and even werewolves, with dark forms scuttling past houses at top speed.
Despite its fresh take on horror, Resident Evil Village brought back protagonist Ethan Winters, continuing his harrowing story from Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Players were tasked with navigating an ornate and mysterious mansion—more accurately, an entire castle—getting lost in its labyrinthine corridors, solving intricate puzzles, and, most definitely, uncovering horrible secrets. Fan theories ran wild as clues were scattered through trailers, building immense anticipation for the dark, snowy narrative. It promised a unique blend of classic Resident Evil elements with a distinctly folk-horror, gothic aesthetic, ensuring a truly unsettling and memorable experience.
Deathloop: The Assassin’s Time Loop
If you hadn’t heard of Deathloop before 2021, you were in for an impossibly stylish treat from Arkane Studios, the renowned developers behind critically acclaimed titles like Dishonored and Prey. Set on the mysterious island of Blackreef, Deathloop put players in the shoes of Colt, an assassin tasked with ending a time loop that held the island hostage. To break the loop, Colt needed to eliminate eight key targets before the day reset. However, a rival assassin named Julianna was hunting him, determined to ensure the time loop remained intact, adding a thrilling cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Deathloop was more than just a first-person shooter; it was a game designed for player choice and creative problem-solving. It promised plenty of paths to complete objectives, catering to various playstyles. Whether you preferred a stealthy Hitman-esque approach, meticulously planning your moves, or a more direct, guns-blazing strategy, the game offered numerous opportunities to experiment. The stunning visual design of Blackreef, combined with Arkane’s signature immersive sim gameplay, made Deathloop a truly exciting and different experience. Its unique blend of action, stealth, and time-loop mechanics solidified its place as a standout title.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2: Modern Day Bloodlust
Being a vampire in real life would likely be quite tedious, but video games allow us to revel in the life of a bloodsucker, painted in vivid and frightening colors. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, much like the cult original from 2004, plunged players into a modern-day world eerily close to our own. The crucial difference was the hidden reality where ancient clans of vampires vied for supremacy each night, their intricate political games playing out beneath the unsuspecting noses of mortals dreaming about everyday life. Set in Seattle, a city less explored in games, this sequel promised a fresh urban canvas for its dark narrative.
The original Bloodlines was celebrated for its brilliant quest writing and deep world-building, a precarious alchemy that cemented its status as an enduring cult hit. Expectations for Bloodlines 2 were sky-high, aiming to not only uphold those same narrative and role-playing standards but also to deliver a more robust combat system, an area where the original was sometimes seen as weak. Players navigated the complex politics of Kindred society, making choices that truly impacted the story and their character’s development. As an undead creature of the night, exploring Seattle’s shadowed corners offered a uniquely atmospheric RPG experience.
Halo Infinite: Master Chief’s New Adventure
Master Chief, everyone’s favorite faceless space warrior, returned in Halo Infinite with a mission to save humanity once again. This highly anticipated entry in the iconic franchise promised a vast and mysteriously damaged Halo ring, swarming with familiar and new alien threats to blast. After enjoying the nostalgia of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection, players yearned for a brand-new adventure, and Halo Infinite aimed to deliver with its ambitious scope and renewed focus on Chief’s heroic journey. The game’s setting offered a sense of scale and exploration not fully seen in previous installments.
A significant highlight for many was the announcement that the multiplayer component of Halo Infinite would be a separate, free-to-play experience. This strategic decision meant that everyone, regardless of owning the campaign, could jump in and enjoy Halo’s outstanding weapons and beautifully designed arenas. It opened the door for a wider audience to engage in intense multiplayer battles, a core pillar of the franchise’s appeal. Despite facing some delays, the excitement for Halo Infinite, especially with its promises of a “spiritual reboot” and expansive gameplay, remained incredibly high as its autumn 2021 release approached.
Evil Genius 2: World Domination: Embrace Your Inner Villain
Sometimes, it’s good to be bad, and Evil Genius 2: World Domination offered the perfect opportunity to indulge your villainous masterplan. This darkly humorous strategy game cast players as a criminal mastermind, plotting world domination from the security of a custom-designed secret lair. The core gameplay revolved around managing a sprawling criminal empire, recruiting a diverse array of goons, and completing nefarious plans on a global scale. Ultimately, the goal was to construct a Doomsday device capable of forcing the entire world to bend to your will.
Building and expanding your base was a key element, allowing for intricate trap systems to stop persistent James Bond-type spies from infiltrating your precious lair. The original Evil Genius, a cult favorite from 2004, established a unique blend of base-building, strategy, and satirical humor. The sequel expanded on these beloved elements, offering more customization, more minions, and more elaborate schemes. Players delighted in laying out corridors filled with cunning booby traps and devising diabolical plans to achieve global supremacy. Evil Genius 2 brought back the joy of being evil with style and wit.
Ghostwire: Tokyo: Supernatural Urban Horror
With a title as intriguing as “Ghostwire: Tokyo,” it was clear this game was going to be something special. Set in the heart of Tokyo, the mystery began when citizens mysteriously disappeared, leaving the streets filled with supernatural creatures rooted in Japanese urban legends. This wasn’t a traditional survival horror, however; players were equipped with unique powers to combat each weird apparition. The combat system was excitingly described as “karate meets magic,” offering a blend of agile movements and powerful elemental attacks to defeat incoming threats.
Despite being able to blast the terrifying entities, some of them still seemed incredibly disturbing to face. Encountering a schoolgirl backflipping at you and then screaming with a mouth surrounded by hair was certainly not an everyday occurrence, and definitely not what you wanted during a stroll through a park or a ghost hunt. Developed by Tango Gameworks, known for The Evil Within, Ghostwire: Tokyo promised a visually stunning and atmospherically rich experience. Its blend of action, mystery, and genuinely unsettling supernatural encounters made it a standout title for those seeking a unique thrill in a beautifully rendered, haunted cityscape.
Humankind: Charting a New Civilization
For years, a sort of gentleman’s agreement existed in the 4X genre: you could borrow from Civilization’s mechanics, but your game had to be set somewhere else, like space or an alien planet. Humankind, from developer Amplitude, boldly challenged this notion with a pitch that was essentially “Civ, but more.” This ambitious strategy game tasked players with guiding a tribe of people from the earliest nomadic settlements, through ancient civilizations, and all the way up to the modern day. What truly set Humankind apart was its unique culture-blending mechanic.
In each distinct historical era, players defined the culture of their people, and those decisions carried over, allowing for the creation of hybrid cultures. You could cherry-pick the best bits of history, forging a truly unique civilization that reflected your strategic choices. The game offered a graceful beauty in its visual presentation, and much like the calming presence of Sean Bean’s voice in Civ 6, a relaxing atmosphere was crucial to the experience. Packing all of human history into a coherent and engaging strategy game was a monumental task, but Humankind showed every sign of managing it, offering a fresh take on historical empire-building.
Honorable Mentions: More Must-Play PC Games for 2021
Narrowing down the incredible titles coming our way into just a top ten is a near-impossible task. To truly capture the breadth of amazing releases, we wanted to include some honorable mentions that also promised unforgettable experiences in 2021.
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Sable
This beautifully animated open-world exploration game spanned vast deserts and mysterious ruins, all while set to a mesmerizing soundtrack. Its unique art style and focus on discovery made it a serene and captivating adventure.
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Backbone
A distinctive detective noir adventure, Backbone put players in the shoes of Howard Lotor, a private eye raccoon in a trench coat. It offered a compelling narrative with interrogations and investigations in a dystopian, anthropomorphic world.
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Book of Travels
An enchanting online RPG, Book of Travels stood out as something truly unique. It emphasized shared experiences, exploration, and role-playing over combat, creating a serene and collaborative multiplayer environment unlike any other.
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Stray
This neon-drenched adventure game allowed players to explore a cyber city from the perspective of a stray cat. Its captivating premise, unique viewpoint, and atmospheric setting made it an instant favorite among animal lovers and adventure game enthusiasts alike.
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Maquette
Maquette was a love story told within a first-person puzzle game that ingeniously played with size and perspective. Its mind-bending mechanics and poignant narrative offered a truly thoughtful and innovative puzzle experience.
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The Artful Escape of Francis Vendetti
A side-scrolling, head-banging rock adventure, this game tasked players with helping Francis find his stage persona ahead of his first performance. Its vibrant visuals, musical gameplay, and emphasis on self-discovery made for a truly unique rhythmic journey.
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Chorus
Chorus delivered a dark and deadly space combat shooter where players embodied Nara, a deadly warrior piloting a sentient starfighter. It promised intense dogfights, powerful abilities, and a compelling story in a cosmic horror setting.
From deep strategy to pulse-pounding action and unique narrative experiences, 2021 was truly a year that delivered a fantastic array of exciting PC games. These titles provided countless hours of entertainment and continue to be celebrated by gamers worldwide.
