Games Released in 2021

14,895 new games debuted in 2021 across 10 platforms, with PC seeing 12,276 releases. October was the busiest month, with 1,755 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 147 releases.

147 releases

September 30

134 releases

January 28

126 releases

October 1

121 releases

March 25

Which month had the most releases?

The busiest release month of 2021 was October, totaling 1,755 titles.

How did each season compare?

Q4 was the busiest quarter of 2021 with 4,684 releases.

Q1 (Jan–Mar)

4,090 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)

4,459 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)

4,590 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)

4,684 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 12,276 new titles in 2021, holding the most releases. The runner up was Nintendo Switch with 2,247 new titles.

PC12,276 releases

Nintendo Switch2,247 releases

Mac1,812 releases

PlayStation 41,278 releases

Android1,273 releases

Linux1,241 releases

iOS1,070 releases

Xbox One954 releases

Web browser820 releases

PlayStation 5528 releases

What genres were most popular?

Indie was the dominant genre in 2021 with 10,037 titles. Adventure followed closely with 6,799.

Indie10,037

Adventure6,799

Simulator3,115

Strategy2,837

Puzzle2,387

Role-playing2,130

Arcade1,955

Platform1,522

Shooter1,340

Visual Novel1,203

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