2021 already looks to be a good year for gaming, with several major projects like Elden Ring and Starfield anticipated to release (or at least get some new details) before the year ends. But as a smaller genre that mostly only received indie studio attention in recent years, co-op shooters are finally getting some exciting new big name releases. Here are four co-op shooters that we're looking forward to in 2021, all from fan-favorite developers who are veterans of the genre.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Developed by Fatshark, a studio that has already proven its ability to deliver thrilling co-op experiences in its Warhammer: Vermintide series, this game moves away from the fantasy setting to the grimdark future of the 41st millennium. Once again, four players can choose from a small but diverse cast of characters as they delve into the corrupted underbelly of the Imperial Hive World of Atoma Prime. Fighting against what seems to be the powers of Nurgle, known as the Lord of Pestilence (or Lord of Decay), players will risk their lives to serve the interests of the Inquisition.

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While the studio's first two games focused mostly on melee combat, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide promises to have an equal focus on both melee and ranged weaponry. This means that fans of first-person shooters who may have been put off by Vermintide's melee focus might find more to enjoy here. Customization also is said to feature heavily once again, with levels and varying loot qualities to upgrade for each character. Players also get to play as a massive Ogryn, so what's not to like?

Outriders

Outriders

Outriders is the latest game from People Can Fly, which has years of experience in the shooter genre from its work on Gears of WarBulletstorm and more. Players can choose from four classes and team up with up to two other players as they take on the dangerous world of Enoch. The four classes available at launch have varying strengths, abilities and loadouts to make them more or less effective for different playstyles, including run-and-gun, providing lockdown and supporting from a distance.

Unlike some of these other titles, story seems to be a core component of Outriders, providing an RPG element to the co-op shooter gameplay. In the game, what started off as a colony mission flew off the rails after a strange signal was discovered. Storms swept the planet Enoch, giving rise to horrifying creatures, and any who managed to survive have been left struggling in a ruined, dystopian world.

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The studio has promised to have almost all planned content for the game available on day one of release, rather than operating according to a service game model. Furthermore, the studio has also said that it has focussed plenty of thought and effort into Outriders' endgame, an important aspect these co-op looter shooter games. This certainly seems like a promising development that learns from the mistakes of games like Anthem and Marvel's Avengers. The game was originally planned to release was planned in late 2020, but it's now said to be coming in April 2021, barring any additional delays.

Back 4 Blood

Back-4-Blood

After more than a year of silence, Turtle Rock Studios' successor to the Left 4 Dead games was a surprise announcement at the 2020 Game Awards. Much like those highly successful titles, Back 4 Blood will focus on co-op zombie action across different maps. New enemies, including powerful mutants, are making an appearance, as well as new weapons and a new card-based power up system.

While there seems to be plenty of innovation in Back 4 Blood, the fundamental core of what made the Left 4 Dead games so special definitely seems to remain intact. Mowing down zombie hordes alongside friends doesn't get old, so like all good spiritual successors, hopefully Turtle Rock Studios will hit the right balance of continuity and ingenuity. The game is set to release in mid-June, so players won't have too long to wait to find out.

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Rainbow Six: Quarantine

rainbow-six-quarantine

Similar to OutridersRainbow Six: Quarantine is planned to be a three player tactical co-op shooter set some years into the future of the Rainbow Six universe. Where it differs from Outriders is perhaps its mission structure and map design. Instead of a mixture of ruined semi-open-world, players seem to be fighting within the claustrophobic confines of some sort of complex. The enemy seems to be a type of mutated alien parasite that can infect both humans and their surroundings.

Not much else is known about the title yet, which has reportedly gone through many different phases of development. Some similarities to the limited time game mode "Outbreak" introduced to Rainbow Six: Siege for a month back in 2018 seems likely. Whatever the case, a co-op shooter backed by Ubisoft and the Rainbow Six license is very promising.

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