Making up for the many delays and disappointments of 2020, companies have hit the ground running. Sure, some of the biggest titles aren't here just yet -- games will have to wait a little longer for highly anticipated titles such as Horizon Forbidden West or Halo Infinite. But that hasn't stopped companies from pulling out all the stops to reclaim the time and revenue lost due to the pandemic.
From new entries in classic franchises to system selling new favorites and remasters of old favorites, there have been some seriously heavy hitters making their way to shelves and digital storefronts so far. The year is only halfway through, but some serious contenders for Game of the Year have already made themselves known.
Resident Evil Village
It’s great to feel nostalgia from the incredible remakes of RE2 and RE3 over the last couple of years, but now fans can finally continue the story of Ethan Winters and the rest of the series. Resident Evil Village thrusts players headfirst into first-person survival horror. Taking place in a remote village overrun with vampires, werewolves and zombies, Ethan Winters braves unspeakable horror to save his kidnapped daughter, Rose. Feeling like both a true next-gen entry and a sequel to Resident Evil 4, Village won the hearts of gamers with its incredible horror aesthetic and exciting gameplay. Gamers looking for a fright are definitely overdue to snap this one up, especially before they've been spoiled on the game's incredible twist ending.
Monster Hunter Rise
The latest entry in Capcom’s successful Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Rise brings fans to a brand-new land where the monsters are as varied as they are ferocious. Surviving will require a great deal of strategy and cooperation between fellow hunters, made easy with the game's most accessible multiplayer to date. Rise builds on the innovations made from World and its DLC and takes this further by adding greater variety and mobility thanks to tools like the wirebug, as well as the mount, the Palamute, which let you chase monsters and prepare for the next round of combat without losing stamina. If you get tired of the regular hunts, Rise also brings in the new Rampage mode, a horde mode where you must defend the village from invading monsters.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Developed by Insomniac Studios, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the next chapter in the legendary series. Taking place in an alternate dimension, this big, beautiful and fun as hell entry will have fans revisiting familiar worlds and characters that are now quite different, including the alternate version of both Ratchet and Clank, Rivet and Kit. Combat is as fun as fans would ever expect from the series, thanks to the ongoing array of crazy weapons you can collect in your arsenal. The PS5's full capabilities are on display in Rift Apart with incredible next-gen graphics and brilliant lighting thanks to ray tracing, but even more notable is that the game comes with a range of accessibility options, ensuring everyone who plays can get the most out of the experience.
Returnal
Perhaps the first true next-gen experience, Returnal came out of nowhere to become a sorely needed smash hit for the PlayStation 5. A roguelike survival horror third-person shooter with clear inspiration from Dark Souls and Dead Space, players control the ASTRA Corporation scout Selene Vassos who is attempting to escape a hostile alien world that’s caught in a time loop. Every time the player dies, they’re resurrected with new visions and areas to explore, in a quest to uncover not only the mystery behind the planet but Selene’s own past, as well. Enemies are terrifying, difficult and rewarding if you can overcome their non-stop bullet hell attacks, while each environment players come across is nightmarish to traverse, especially when merging with Selene’s memories. Every death comes with a gamble for the next try, as regions and enemies are randomized, giving the game one of the most addictive "one more run" gameplay loops to ever see release.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition
A true love letter from Bioware to their fans, Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings the original groundbreaking trilogy and all of its DLC to modern consoles with a fresh coat of paint and reworked gameplay. As Commander Shepard, players must lead an elite team of humans and aliens to save the galaxy from the Reapers. Whether you're a fan of sci-fi RPGs looking for your next fix or are looking to put the hurt on the Reapers one more time, Legendary Edition is a must-have for any gamer's library.
Sure, not much was changed for Mass Effect 2 or 3, but the original Mass Effect has been overhauled to look and play closer to the critically acclaimed sequels, and both games have gotten gorgeous new textures and models. More importantly, though, the game's hallmark loop of forcing you to make world-changing decisions is not only intact but easier to experience than ever, thanks to the entire trilogy being in one easy-to-play package. There's no better time than now to revisit Mass Effect, especially with Mass Effect 4 on the horizon.