E3 2021 is partially a return to form for the historical gaming event. We’re still not back to being in person, but with the event outright canceled last year, it’s great to see a digital version, but that means that a lot more people and streams are available than you would typically find.
You’ve probably heard about the Summer Game Fest kickoff, and no doubt you’ll watch Ubisoft Forward and Xbox + Bethesda’s showcase, but what about the smaller streams? Guerilla collective, IGN Expo, Devolver Digital, Day of the Devs, Wholesome Direct, and so on? For those, we’ve created this page as a headquarters to make sure you don’t miss some of the hidden gems from this year’s announcements. Bookmark this page, and check back often for new trailers and updates!
Toem
Toem is an intruiging hand-drawn adventure about a photographer who needs to earn enough money for their bus fare to go visit and capture a natural event that’s called, you guessed it, Toem.
A Musical Story
A Musical Story is a rhythm game with a 70s look and feel about a person coming to terms with their situation by reliving their memories through the lens of music.
Vokabulantis
Vokabulantis is a new stop-motion adventure featuring two lovers who have no mouths but want to communicate. It’s a haunting, but beautiful premise about saving the world from a future without language.
Last Stop
Last Stop is from Annapurna Interactive, whose games will always find their way into my library. This third-person narrative adventure is set in modern day London and follows three characters, who will soon collide in the midst of a supernatural crisis. It’s the kind of mystery thriller I always love to see.
Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle
Mortal Shell is getting DLC for both PS4 and PS5! Check out the trailer for a glimpse into what’s next for this stylish souls-like title.
Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions
Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions brings boxing back to the gaming forefront with a cast of characters from the Rocky film universe.
Sherlock Holmes Chapter One
Frogwares released a new trailer for their upcoming Sherlock Holmes game that will be finding its way to PS5.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus
Doki Doki Literature club is NOT the cute dating sim it seems to be on the surface. This horror game made waves on PC when it first released, but on June 30th we’re getting console versions and and expanded content. If you love horror, don’t get spoiled and wait to check it out at launch.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
The Tribeca Games Spotlight brought new footage of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which is coming soon to PS5 and just looks stunning every time it’s on screen.
Sifu
Sifu got a new trailer, and this cinematic fighter continues to look like it will have a great style and fighting system.
OlliOlli World
The OliiOlli series continues with this upcoming entry that updates the graphics and offers that same quirky style fans know and love.
World War Z: Aftermath
World War Z is getting DLC with a new melee system, next-gen upgrades, cross-play, and even a first-person mode. Check out the trailer for a glimpse!
Bramble: The Mountain King
This title has a Grimm fairy tale style, but holy moly does it take an even darker turn than that. Just watch it for a scary surprise.
Two Point Campus
Two Point Campus is the next game from the developers of Two Point Hospital, and it seems to carry over the same style with a brand new setting and approach.
The Forgotten City
This game is based on a mod, and though I’ve never played it myself, the time loop concept alone has me interested, not to mention the other mysteries from this initial trailer.
Disciples Liberation
This dark strategy RPG had an impressive trailer last year, but now we’re getting a look into the gameplay and the promise that this will be an 80+ hour experience across hundreds of missions.
Blacktail
Another dark fantasy setting here, but this adventure has a style all its own. Check out the trailer and be ready for it to release this winter.
Steelrising
This alternate version of historical Paris puts things in a horror spin of sorts, and the style alone has me interested in learning more as soon as possible.
Broken Pieces
This game isn’t set to release until Q2 2022, but it has an intriguing supernatural premise and shades of Life is Strange mixed with plenty of puzzles from the looks of it.
Martha is Dead
I’ve heard about this horror title, but now we’re getting a deeper look into its combination of WWII era events and folklore. Take a look!
Haunted Space
A combination of horror and sci-fi make this spaceship title one to keep an eye on. The game promises exploration, story, and shipbuilding, so this could be a really unique combination if the horror part clicks.
Chernobylite
This firt-person horror shooter calls to mind both Metro and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. but it’s from the developers of Get Even, so I’m keen on checking it out when it releases in July.
Bullets Per Minute (BPM)
The rhythm shooter, Bullets Per Minute, is coming to consoles! This combination of shooting and pumping rhythms is one to keep an eye on!
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
While it’s not exactly an indie title, we did get our first look at Eidos Montreal’s upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy game, which is coming in October! Crazy that they managed to keep this a secret until now.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
CHAOS! Yes, this is where that meme has come from, because our protagonist here is really excited about KILLING CHAOS, apparently. As someone who lived through 2020, I’ve already conquered CHAOS, thank you. There’s a demo for this on PS5, but as of this writing, it doesn’t work when you download it and we’re waiting on an update as to when it will be ready.
Babylon’s Fall
We got a new trailer for Platinum’s upcoming PS5 game, which has their classic style, but has a unique setting compared to their other work.
Trek to Yomi
The Devolver Digital stream this year did not dissappoint! Always hilarious and rife with things that would make a traditional press conference guffaw in utter shock. As part of the announcements, we got a look at Trek to Yomi, which is a side-scrolling samurai game that feels very much like a smaller scale Ghost of Tsushima.
Life is Strange: True Colors
In addition to the upcoming Life is Strange and Before the Storm remaster, we also got a new trailer for the upcoming Life is Strange: True Colors, staring a person who can feel other people’s emotions and even influence them.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
I was a huge fan of Asobo’s work on A Plague Tale: Innocence, so I was very excited to see we’re getting a sequel, which was revealed during Xbox’s conference, but as far as I know, is going to be a multiplatform release.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong
The Vampire: The Masquerade Universe has been getting a lot of love lately in gaming form, and it looks like things aren’t slowing down. This new title joins the mix, with confirmation that it’s coming to PS5.
FAR: Changing Tides
As someone who really enjoyed FAR: Lone Sails, I am so happy to see a sequel coming this year. I really want to learn more about the world, and the switch to a boat is a smart move that will work well with its established mechanics.
Psychonauts 2
The original Psychonauts is one of my favorite games of all time, and I am unbelievably hyped for the sequel. While Double Fine is an Xbox studio, this release is still coming to PlayStation on August 25th!
I know there’s probably some that I’ve missed among all the streams, but did you miss out on any of these announcements? Which ones do you want to see added? Let us know in the comments!
Article by: Bradley Ramsey
Insert date: 6/12/21
Updated: 6/14/21