Introduction

With a challenging year in the rear view mirror, 2021 will hopefully be
transformative in a lot of ways – and video games will reflect that. The
first full year of the new console generation should see developers
flexing their creative muscles a little, with new ideas emerging to take
advantage of technical advances.

1- The retro hardware revival continues

We've already seen mini consoles from Sega, Nintendo and Sony, but
2021 is bringing a few leftfield contenders to the retro hardware scene.
The intriguing Atari VCS is a PC/console hybrid recalling the glory days
of the video game legend, while the Intellivision Amico, a spiritual
successor to the early 1980s Intellivision console, is due in April,
offering new as well as classic 2D titles.

2- The next generation of open worlds

Open world adventures are currently based around a familiar structure:
landscapes split into small regions, which players progressively unlock
to uncover new side-quests and easter eggs in addition to overarching
story quests. That format will surely be updated in 2021 as we
encounter Horizon Forbidden West, Hogwarts Legacy, Far Cry 6, and at
least *something* from Bethesda, whether that's The Elder Scrolls 6 or
Starfield.

Expect more emphasis on emergent narratives, perhaps involving NPCs

with advanced AI capabilities, giving players more control over how
stories play out. We'll also no doubt explore larger, more seamless
environments with few obstructions thanks to faster in-game loading
times enabled by next-gen SSDs. No need to check Twitter in between
fast-travel points, basically.

3- A resurgence of true horror gaming

When times are bleak, horror fiction tends to get a boost – look at all
the irradiated monster movies in the nuclear war-fearing 1950s, and
the post-apocalyptic epics of the recession-hit 1970s.

So after a global pandemic, we're starting 2021 with psychological

horror The Medium, before dragging ourselves through Resident Evil
Village, H.R. Giger-inspired romp Scorn, Housemarque's arcade-shooter
Returnal, and even a co-op movie tie-in to Evil Dead. Traditional horror
monsters are also being revived via Vampire: The Masquerade –
Bloodlines 2 and shapeshifting adventure Werewolf: The Apocalypse.
Sunny escapism is sooo 2020.

4- The age of anti-realism

Often, when a new console generation arrives offering unparalleled

graphical realism, there's a counter movement of games that take a
highly subjective and creative approach to new visual technologies.

This year, that means the gorgeously fluid, painterly adventure

Dordogne, the crisply cell-shaded sci-fi exploration game Sable, and
Arkane's hyper kinetic Deathloop, among many others. Look out for
games that use contemporary effects such as HDR and real-time ray-
tracing to provide something a little more interesting than highly
reflective puddles.

5- Extended reality gaming finally takes off

Virtual reality games have had increasing success over the past couple
of years thanks to the PlayStation VR, Valve Index, and Oculus headsets,
while augmented reality has blossomed on smartphones in the wake of
Pokemon Go. But 2021 could finally propel XR gaming into the
mainstream. Hitman 3 will ship with an intriguing PSVR mode allowing
you to take on missions in a disturbingly physical manner.

There's also a mini retro gaming wave on VR, with Myst, Panzer
Dragoon, and Sam & Max all getting virtual reality remakes or sequels.
As for augmented reality, Facebook is expected to launch its Project
Aria technology this year, which builds AR technology into a pair of cool
Tony Stark-style glasses. If you're happy trusting your sense of reality to
Mark Zuckerberg, it's certainly something to look forward to!

6- The return of co-op

Games based around co-operating with a friend or group of friends

have been overrun by the squad-based battle royale genre over the
past two years, but 2021 will see a revival of proper objective-based co-
op adventures, both local and online. Hazelight's delightful-looking It
Takes Two arrives in March with beautiful visuals and two-player
puzzles, while post-Batman super hero brawler Gotham Knights allows
co-op play through its entire story.

Then we're getting a Left 4 Dead successor in the shape of Back 4 Blood,
and Evil Dead: The Game will also support co-op play. We're also
getting the return of the ultimate local multiplayer series, in the shape
of Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Might be worth picking up a
cheap second controller in the January sales...