Games Released in 2021

14,991 new games debuted in 2021 across 10 platforms, with PC seeing 12,391 releases. October was the busiest month, with 1,769 releases. It Takes Two was the most popular release of the year.

Which days had the most releases?

September 30 was the busiest single day of 2021 with 150 releases.

150 releases

September 30

134 releases

January 28

127 releases

October 1

123 releases

March 25

Which month had the most releases?

The busiest release month of 2021 was October, totaling 1,769 titles.

How did each season compare?

Q4 was the busiest quarter of 2021 with 4,715 releases.

Q1 (Jan–Mar)

4,135 releases

Most popular release in Q1

It Takes Two

It Takes Two is a cooperative action-adventure game designed exclusively for two players, playable in local split-screen or online. Players control Cody and May, a married couple transformed into dolls, as they travel through fantastical environments based on their home and relationship. Gameplay combines platforming, puzzle-solving, and action sequences, with each level introducing new mechanics and giving the two characters different abilities that must be used together to progress. The game frequently changes its core mechanics from chapter to chapter, incorporating sections involving shooting, racing, flight, and other genres.

Q2 (Apr–Jun)

4,486 releases

Most popular release in Q2

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village is a first-person survival horror game and the sequel to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. The game maintains elements from previous Resident Evil games, with players having to scavenge environments for items and manage their resources. However, it adds more action-oriented gameplay, with higher enemy counts and a greater emphasis on combat.

Q3 (Jul–Sep)

4,613 releases

Most popular release in Q3

Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut

Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut Includes: - Full game. - Iki Island expansion: New story, mini-games, enemy types and more. - Legends online co-op mode. - Digital mini art book by Dark Horse. - Director’s commentary: The creative team sits down with a renowned Japanese historian to look at the world of Ghost of Tsushima and how it compares to the real-life events that inspired it. - One Technique Point. - Charm of Hachiman’s Favour. - Hero of Tsushima Skin Set: Golden Mask, Sword Kit, Horse, Saddle.

Q4 (Oct–Dec)

4,715 releases

Most popular release in Q4

Forza Horizon 5

Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

PC received 12,391 new titles in 2021, holding the most releases. The runner up was Nintendo Switch with 2,250 new titles.

PC12,391 releases

Nintendo Switch2,250 releases

Mac1,830 releases

PlayStation 41,281 releases

Android1,272 releases

Linux1,248 releases

iOS1,074 releases

Xbox One955 releases

Web browser824 releases

PlayStation 5530 releases

What genres were most popular?

Indie was the dominant genre in 2021 with 10,111 titles. Adventure followed closely with 6,842.

Indie10,111

Adventure6,842

Simulator3,134

Strategy2,852

Puzzle2,414

Role-playing2,140

Arcade1,959

Platform1,533

Shooter1,353

Visual Novel1,229

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