Every console generation comes with the expectation of popular IP getting new installments, a dream pairing of a developer and iconic IP, and anticipation for the unknown. Some games may not be bound to an established IP or a specific system.
Sony has already announced many returning IPs with the likes of God of War: Ragnarok, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Final Fantasy XVI, etc. But in addition to that, PlayStation also showcased many brand new IPs looking to make a name for themselves. Some of them are from big AAA developers while some are from smaller indie teams. Nonetheless, all of them look interesting thus far.
10 Returnal
Housemarque rarely work on the same IP twice, so it was hardly a surprise when they announced a brand new one at Sony’s PlayStation 5 reveal event in June of 2020. However, it was a surprise to see what the game looked like and how it played.
Returnal is a third-person shooter roguelike with a psychological horror setting. The action seems fast-paced and incredibly smooth.
The core loop of Returnal is to try and break out of a time loop and escape an alien planet. However, if players were to die, the loop resets, and they have to start the process all over again. With an expected release date of March 19 of 2021, it isn’t much longer until everyone can get their hands on Returnal!
9 Deathloop
Keeping in the spirit of time loops, Deathloop is the upcoming title from Dishonored devs Arkane Studios. The plan is to release it on May 21st, 2021, and take advantage of the PS5’s hardware.
Deathloop has players assume the role of an assassin named Cole whose primary goal is to stop the time from looping. To do that, he must eliminate eight targets before the clock reaches midnight. If he fails to do so, the loop will be reset and he has to start his mission from scratch.
The movement seems free-flowing and parkour-esque with combat similar to that of the Dishonored series. With teleportation, special abilities, guns, and melee weapons, players will have many ways to tackle each hurdle placed in their way. Unless, of course, they opt into the multiplayer mode where they, or other players, can invade the world of others and play as Julianna.
Julianna’s mission is to keep the time looping and stop Cole at all costs.
8 Stray
Announced at Sony’s PlayStation 5 reveal event on June 11, 2020, Stray captured the interest of many people. Expected to release sometime in October of 2021, people curious about this game are looking for more information and gameplay.
With hardly any information since its initial reveal, the developers BlueTwelve Studio confirmed that Stray is a game where players control a stray cat trying to escape a cybercity by solving an ancient mystery. With a heavy focus on puzzles, atmosphere, and art, Stray looks like a promising first outing for the team.
7 Outriders
Announced at E3 2019, People Can Fly (Bulletstorm and Gears of War: Judgement) announced their next project: Outriders. However, the year before, Square Enix announced they would be publishing the next title from the developer.
After a couple of delays, Outriders is now set to release on April 1, 2021, and offers a cover-based third-person shooter with a heavy focus on loot, cooperative play, and RPG elements. There are four classes players can choose from, each set with unique abilities and skills. Additionally, weapons range from pistols to rocket launchers and everything in between with ways to upgrade and customize them.
6 GhostWire: Tokyo
At Bethesda’s E3 2019 conference, Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within Series) announced their next project: GhostWire: Tokyo. With a surprising exit from the team’s Creative Director/Art Director, Ikumi Nakamura, the team has been relatively quiet since then. However, GhostWire: Tokyo still expects to hit this year sometime in October. There may be little information on the project, but what is out there is rather interesting.
GhostWire: Tokyo is an action-adventure game where civilians have mysteriously vanished from the streets of Tokyo. The combat is in Shinichiro Haro’s hands and he worked on the brutally fun combat of 2016’s DOOM. The combat was also heavily inspired by Kuji-Kuri and martial arts. Players will be using their abilities to fight off Visitors (spirits and demons) that have overrun the city.
5 Season
Announced during the 2020 Game Awards, Season is an upcoming atmospheric adventure game coming to the PlayStation 5 and PC. Those who enjoyed Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture or even just biking or audio enthusiasts might enjoy it.
Season is the second title from Scavengers Studio with the first being Darwin Project. There is currently no release date for the third-person cycling adventure, but chances are it will miss 2021. It is also urgent to note that Scavengers Studio has come under recent scrutiny for reported workspace abuse and misconduct.
4 Goodbye Volcano High
Scheduled to release at some point in 2021, Goodbye Volcano High sets out to deliver a narrative experience about anthropomorphic dinosaurs going through their senior year of high school.
Goodbye Volcano High was initially shown off during Sony’s PlayStation 5 reveal event in July of 2020 and is KO_OP’s second project as Gnog was the team’s first. Aside from the setting and the game being a narrative adventure, the team has been relatively silent on the project ever since its initial outing.
3 Pragmata
Another announcement from Sony’s June 11th PlayStation 5 reveal event was Capcom’s new IP: Pragmata. The game has been billed as a sci-fi action-adventure game with a mysterious plot and setting.
According to the official Pragmata page on the PSN Store, the game expects to “present players with a profound story and setting, as cutting edge visuals take full advantage of next-generation platform features…” The project is set to release in 2023 at some point.
2 Project Athia
Project Athia, a working title, was also announced at Sony’s June 11th event, but there has been little to no information about the project ever since then.
There is currently no release window for Project Athia and there likely won’t be one for a while. However, we know it will be an open-world action-adventure game from the Final Fantasy XV team: Luminous Productions. Project Athia will be developed with Luminous’s in-house engine.
1 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a stunning third-person action-adventure game that got everyone’s attention during Sony’s reveal event on June 11, 2020. Often compared to a Pixar film, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is looking to wow players with its gorgeous art direction and gameplay.
Players take on the role of spirit guide Kena and actively restore the game’s central hub point by collecting/freeing tiny companions known as the Rot. Kena can use magic during combat encounters with her staff and even transform it into a bow or a shield depending on the situation. The Rot will also provide a huge helping hand as they will be able to move objects, distract enemies, or shapeshift to help Kena solve puzzles.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits will see its official release sometime in March of 2021 after being pushed back from its initial 2020 release window.
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