January is known for a lot of things, but having a diverse selection of new AAA video games is not one of them. The past few years have seen publishers like Capcom and Square Enix taking advantage of the lull in high-profile releases with their own big-budget titles like Resident Evil 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3, but the first month of the year is typically reserved for smaller games that would otherwise be overshadowed by summer blockbusters and holiday console pushers.
2021 looks to continue the trend with a handful of retro-inspired indies, as well as the latest entry in one of gaming's most iconic stealth series. So without further ado, here are some of the most exciting new releases worth checking out in January.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition
Releasing January 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Google Stadia
With 2020 having marked the tenth anniversary of Bryan Lee O'Malley's excellent Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World graphic novel series as well as Edgar Wright's cult classic big-screen adaptation of the same name, it only makes sense to kick off 2021 by bringing back the long-lost and beloved side-scrolling beat 'em up Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game. Available for the first time in six years after being delisted from all digital storefronts in 2014, this remastered version of the game also includes the original release's Knives Chau and Wallace Wells DLC packs to further sweeten the deal.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game is a retro-inspired 16-bit beat 'em up in the same vein as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time and Streets of Rage. Players control Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, Knives Chau and more as they fight their way through waves of enemies in local or online co-op on a quest to defeat the League of Evil Exes and win Ramona's heart. There's also a host of mini-games, alternate game modes and secrets to discover outside of the main adventure, making Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game well-worth a playthrough for new and returning fans alike.
Hitman 3
Releasing January 20 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & Google Stadia
In a month filled primarily with indie releases and remasters, IO Interactive's third-person stealth action game Hitman 3 stands out as one of January 2021's biggest AAA titles. The third and final installment of the World of Assassination Trilogy, Hitman 3 looks to close out the story that began in 2016's Hitman with a darker, more serious take on Agent 47 than found in previous entries in the series, while giving players more options than ever to silently eliminate anyone that stands in their way.
Hitman 3 once again puts you in the shoes of the legendary contract killer known as Agent 47, who takes on assassination contracts for targets from across the globe, disposing of them using a unique set of skills and gadgets to remain undetected. New locations include Dubai, Dartmoor, Berlin and Chongqing, offering would-be assassins a variety of environments to infiltrate as well as countless game modes and options for carrying out each mission. The game also allows returning players to import their maps, levels and progress from the previous games, rewarding long-time fans of the series for playing through the trilogy from the beginning.
Cyber Shadow
Releasing January 26 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Nintendo Switch
Cyber Shadow is an 8-bit side-scrolling action-platformer that's heavily influenced by classics of the genre such as Super Mario Bros., Ninja Gaiden, Contra and the Castlevania series. Developed by the one-man Finnish indie developer Mechanical Head Studios and published by Yacht Club Games, Cyber Shadow tells the story of a cybernetic ninja named Shadow who sets out to rescue the members of his clan in a world taken over by synthetic lifeforms.
As Shadow, players will be able to swiftly navigate Mekacity's dark, platforming-focused levels and dispatch enemies by utilizing a host of different skills combined with precise, fluid controls to create what the developer describes as "the quintessential Ninja Action game." With a surprisingly fleshed out story presented through both in-game and cinematic cutscenes, over a dozen bosses to hunt down and slay, and a soundtrack co-produced by the composer behind Shovel Knight, Cyber Shadow certainly has the potential to live up to the high bar set by the games that inspired it.
Sword of the Necromancer
Releasing January 28 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Nintendo Switch
Initially revealed through a Kickstarter campaign before eventually surpassing its initial funding goal by 900 percent, Sword of the Necromancer is a highly-anticipated indie title developed by Grimorio of Games and published by JanduSoft. Players are introduced to Tama, a former bandit who wishes to reach the Necromancer's Crypt in the depths of the dungeon, where she desperately hopes to bring her friend Koko back from the dead.
Sword of the Necromancer features unique mechanics that help set it apart from other dungeon-crawlers with roguelike elements. Tama is able to resurrect defeated enemies using her titular sword, transforming fallen monsters into powerful allies that can turn the tide in battle. Monsters level up with your character as you fight alongside them, and procedurally generated weapons help keep combat fresh and exciting whether it's your first or hundredth journey into the dungeon. And, like any good roguelike, dying is just another part of the adventure, with each consecutive failure leading you closer and closer to the truth behind Tama and Koko's mysterious past.
The Medium
Releasing January 28 for PC & Xbox Series X
From the developers behind Layers of Fear and Blair Witch comes The Medium, another psychological horror experience with a unique twist: the game renders two worlds simultaneously. Players can freely navigate between the real world and spirit world to surpass obstacles and search for answers to the unspeakable tragedy that befell the abandoned hotel where the story takes place.
You play as Marianne, a medium who's able to traverse the real and spiritual planes at ease. The ability to jump between worlds allows her to solve otherwise impossible puzzles, and she also has powerful psychic abilities at her disposal to fend off sinister spirits and other malevolent forces she encounters in both realities. Each world has its own soundtrack, with Blooper Team's own Arkadeusz Reikowski handling the real world score and legendary composer Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame scoring the spiritual plane. Add in voice work by Troy Baker for the game's villain and Blooper Team's excellent pedigree of psychological horror, and The Medium has the potential to be a surprise hit when it launches January 28.