2021 has been a busy and challenging year for many gamers worldwide trying to grab a new-gen console, for Sony trying to match the high demand and fixing multiple issues, and developers and publishers trying to release all the planned games despite many covid restrictions and rules, extending or putting in hold the release date for some games.
However, so far, we have some outstanding titles and PlayStation 5 exclusives that gamers and critics have widely acclaimed and worth playing if you haven't tried.
1. Demon's Souls
Action / Role Playing Game (RPG)
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Discover where the journey began - Experience the original brutal challenge, completely remade from the ground up. All presented in stunning visual quality with enhanced performance, this is the world of Boletaria as you have never seen it before.
Become the Slayer of Demons - Venture to the northern kingdom of Boletaria – a once prosperous land of knights, now beset with unspeakable creatures and ravenous demons. Meet strange characters, unhinged and twisted by the world around them, and unravel the unsettling story of Demon’s Souls.
Face the world’s greatest warriors in ferocious PVP combat - With online* invasions adding to the danger of your quest. Or play cooperatively by summoning allies to aid in your fight against the demons.*Active PS Plus subscription required for online multiplayer.
2. It Takes Two (PS4 - PS5 enhanced)
Action-adventure, platform
Release Date: March 26, 2021
Nominated to the best game 2021.
Buy It Takes Two once and get both the PS4 and the enhanced PS5 version.
Invite a friend to join for free with friend's Pass, and experience a thrilling adventure built purely for two. Choose from couch or online co-op with split-screen play, and face ever-changing challenges where working together is the only way forward.
Gleefully disruptive gameplay - from rampaging Vacuum cleaners to suave love gurus - With it takes two, you never know what you're up against next.
Discover a touching and heartfelt story of the challenges in getting along. Help Cody and may learn how to overcome their differences.
3. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2
Sports
Release Date: March 26, 2021
Drop back in with the most iconic skateboarding games ever made. Play the fully-remastered Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skate 2 games in one epic collection, rebuilt from the ground up in incredible HD.
Skate as the legendary Tony Hawk and the full pro roster
Skate to songs from the era-defining soundtrack
Play all the original game modes and go head-to-head with local 2-Player modes
Show off your style and creativity with upgraded Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater features
4. Deathloop
First-person shooter, Action-adventure game
Release Date: September 14, 2021
Nominated to the best game 2021.
Deathloop is a next-gen FPS from arkane Lyon, the award-winning studio behind Dishonored
In deathloop, two Rival Assassins are trapped in a mysterious timeloop on the island of blackreef, doomed to repeat the same day for Eternity
As colt, the only chance for Escape is to end the cycle by assassinating eight key targets before the day resets
Learn from each cycle - try new paths, Gather Intel, and find new weapons and abilities
Do whatever it takes to break the loop
5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Platformer / third-person shooter
Release Date: June 11, 2021
Nominated to the best game 2021.
The intergalactic adventurers are back with a bang in Ratchet & Clank: Rift apart. Help them stop a robotic Emperor intent on conquering cross-dimensional worlds, with their own universe next in the firing line.
Built from the ground up by acclaimed studio insomniac games, go above and beyond with the mind-blowing speed and immersive features of the PS5 Console.
Includes: Ratchet & Clank: Rift apart, early unlock to carbonox armor set, early unlock to pixelizer weapon
6. Guilty Gear Strive
Fighting
Release Date: June 11, 2021
A brand-new game in the Guilty Gear series, dedicated to all fighting game fans and all game players
The series' charismatic characters have been completely renewed and many new characters join the cast
The play feel has been revamped from previous games; It remains an easy-to-understand system while achieving greater depth than ever before
Features numerous rock songs composed by General Director Daisuke Ishiwatari, and a story mode boasting more volume and scenes than a movie, designed not only for Guilty Gear fans, but also for anime fans
7. Returnal
Roguelike, Adventure game, Third-person shooter
Release Date: March 26, 2021
The procedural world of returnal invites you to dust yourself Off in the face of defeat and take on new, evolving challenges with every Rebirth.
After crash-landing on a shape-shifting world, selene must search through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her Escape.
Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she's defeated - forced to restart her journey every time she dies.
8. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Action / adventure
Release Date: November 12, 2020
Stunning Visuals: Travel to a snowy Marvel’s New York in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, realized in beautiful 4K and HDR.* Experience reflections on buildings with ray tracing, and improved lighting, shadow, and character detail. An optional 60fps performance mode brings the Spider-Man universe to life.
Fast Loading: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales takes advantage of fast loading, using ultra-high speed SSD. Zip across Marvel’s New York in no time and reload almost instantly
Adaptive Triggers: Feel Spider-Man’s webs on your fingertips with the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Haptic Feedback: Each one of Miles Morales’s punches, web shots and venom blasts is felt in your hands with the immersive haptic feedback of the DualSense wireless controller
Tempest 3D AudioTech: Hear the city come alive around you in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales with 3D spatial audio enabling you to hear what’s happening around you from the rooftops to the city streets. The sounds of the city immerse you in Marvel’s New York and bring blockbuster Spider-Man moments to life with the PS5 console’s Tempest 3D AudioTech
9. Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Role Playing Game (RPG)
Release Date: November 10, 2020
Ichiban Kasuga, a low-ranking grunt of a low-ranking yakuza family in Tokyo, faces an 18-year prison sentence after taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit.
Never losing faith, he loyally serves his time and returns to society to discover that no one was waiting for him on the outside, and his clan has been destroyed by the man he respected most.
Confused and alone, he embarks on a mission to discover the truth behind his family's betrayal and take his life back, becoming an unlikely hero for the city's outcasts on his journey.
Experience dynamic RPG combat like none other. Switch between 19 unique Jobs ranging from Bodyguard to Musician, and use the battlefield your weapon. Take up bats, umbrellas, bikes, street signs, and everything else at your disposal to crack some skulls!
When you're not busy bashing heads, relax by hitting up the local arcade for classic SEGA games, compete with locals in a no holds barred go-kart race around Yokohama, complete 50 sub-stories, or just take in the scenery of a modern-day Japanese city.
10. Assassin's Creed Valhalla Amazon Limited Edition
Action / Role Playing Game (RPG)
Release Date: November 10, 2020
You are Eivor, a fierce Viking warrior raised on tales of battle and glory. Explore a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal backdrop of England’s Dark Ages.
Advanced RPG mechanics allow you to shape the growth of your character and influence the world around you.
Dual-wield powerful weapons such as axes, swords, and even shields to relive the ruthless fighting style of the Viking warriors.
Launch massive assaults against Saxon troops and fortresses throughout England
Sail from the harsh and mysterious shores of Norway to the beautiful but forbidding kingdoms of England and beyond
a dark Age open world - sail from the harsh and mysterious shores of Norway to the beautiful but forbidding kingdoms of England and beyond
lead epic raids - launch massive assaults against Saxon troops and fortresses throughout England
grow your settlement - construct and upgrade buildings that allow for deep customization, including a barracks, Blacksmith, tattoo parlor, and more
mercenary Vikings - Create and customize a unique Viking Raider within your Clan and share it online with friends to use during their own raids
11. Resident Evil Village
Survival horror
Release Date: May 7, 2021
Nominated to the best game 2021.
A New Chapter in The Resident Evil Storyline - This eighth major instalment in the flagship Resident Evil series continues the story from the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 7 biohazard. With the return of popular features and introduction of new elements, survival horror has never been so intense.
Latest Console Technology - RE engine paired with new technologies available via PlayStation 5 and Xbox series X|S delivers hyper detailed graphics, advanced immersive audio and little to no load times, bringing the shadowy village and its evocative residents to life in first person perspective.
Popular Resident Evil Features - Fans might recognize new features in Resident Evil Village that are nods to previous Resident Evil games including a merchant dubbed "The Duke" who allows players to purchase and sell items, buy recipes for crafting consumables, and customize weapons.
Familiar Faces and New Foes - Resident Evil series Chris Redfield returns under a shroud of seemingly sinister motives. Ethan will also encounter a host of new adversaries inhabiting the enigmatic village, all with their own distinctive ways of attacking.
Evolution of Combat - In addition to engaging and attacking enemies, Ethan can also now guard against incoming attacks, or kick enemies away to buy time for his next move, requiring players to further strategize the best approach for surviving the many challenges ahead.
25th Anniversary Celebration Bonus - As a thank you to fans, Resident Evil Village will include access to a free multiplayer experience titled Resident Evil Re:Verse, coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. An all Star cast of fan favourite Resident Evil characters face off in four to six player death match battles in iconic series locations.
Play Across Generations - Resident Evil Village will be eligible to upgrade from PlayStation 4 to the digital PlayStation 5 version and will support smart delivery for Xbox series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
Pre-order Resident Evil Village now to receive the Survival Resources Pack DLC and Mr Raccoon Weapon Accessory DLC
12. WRC 9
Racing
Release Date: November 19, 2020
WRC 9, the official game of the World Rally Championships.
The most complete rally game
3 brand new rallies - Kenya, Japan and new Zealand.
Brand-new Club system where players will be able to create their own online championships and invite friends all over the world to compete in.
Play as the best drivers in the world with their official cars in 3 categories
Enjoy an improved car physics for more realism
Brand new environments
New pace notes made from scratch for a better immersion
13. Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Action-adventure game, Shooter Video Game, Fighting game
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Deluxe Edition includes: Base Game, Official Digital Soundtrack, Unique Kena Staff, Golden Rot Skin, Retail Exclusive Sticker Sheet, Unique Celebration Hats for Rot
Find the Rot: Timid and illusive spirits scattered throughout the forest. They maintain balance by decomposing dead and rotting elements
Build Your Team: Find and collect Rot to gain powerful abilities, make discoveries, and transform the environment
Explore: A forgotten village and a strange curse; Draw on the power of the Spirit Realm to restore this once-majestic world
Fast-Paced Combat: Spirits have become corrupt, trapped, and unable to move on, challenging Kena at every turn
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