Our favorite E3 2021 game announcements and trailers

The world’s premier game event, E3 2021 has finally come and gone. This year’s edition was all-digital, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t chock-full of exciting new game trailers and hardware. Plus, it meant we could all enjoy the show from the comfort of our own homes.

Although there are still a few events to come later this month, we got some great E3 2021 game announcements for titles coming out in the near future. We have a lot of gamers on staff here at Android Authority, so we picked out our favorites so far and listed them below. Let’s get to it!

Elden Ring

Ok, so technically Elden Ring was first revealed back at E3 2019, but the new game trailer above has so much more packed in there that we would be remiss not to include it. Billed as a collaboration between Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls) and George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones), it should be one of the biggest releases of 2022.

That’s right, we finally got a release date, and you won’t have to wait long. It’s currently slated for release on January 21, 2022, on PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Read also: PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which next-gen games console should you buy?

Judging by the trailer, it looks like it will deliver on all fronts. It doesn’t seem as “dark” as the Dark Souls series, but still features some truly terrifying character and boss designs. It’s also open-world and filled with mysteries to explore, but without any towns full of villagers to run quests for. Instead, it’s all about high-difficulty dungeons and big, bad bosses.

Halo Infinite

It came as no surprise when Halo Infinite was featured in the Xbox/Bethesda E3 2021 event, but it’s hard not to get hyped for what is destined to be one of the biggest releases of the year.

Read also: The best Xbox Series X/S games: Time for next-gen gaming

The latest trailer showcased new gameplay and multiplayer action (a subsequent trailer dove even deeper into multiplayer), which Microsoft is doubling down on by offering free-to-play multiplayer for all. It’s still an Xbox console exclusive, but it will also be available on PC with cross-play enabled.

Halo Infinite is slated for a holiday 2021 release, with day-one access on Xbox Game Pass for all subscribers.

Starfield

Another game we finally got (a little bit) more news about at E3 2021 is Starfield. Bethesda’s first new IP in 25 years is set in open space, offering incredible freedom to explore.

Granted, the new trailer didn’t reveal much other than a release date, and even that is more than a year out. The game is set for release on November 11, 2022, and just like the other first-party Xbox games announced at this E3, it will be added to Xbox Game Pass on day one.

The Legend Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

Nintendo’s E3 event is always a fan favorite, and this year it managed to (mostly) deliver the goods. We didn’t see any new hardware (where is the Switch Pro?), but we did get an extended look at the upcoming sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Read also: Everything Nintendo announced at the E3 2021 Direct

In this new title, Link will take to the skies above Hyrule and employ new powers. The trailer shows off a lot of new areas and abilities, but fans might ultimately walk away disappointed with the lack of concrete info.

To make matters worse, the release window isn’t until 2022. Zelda fans can make due for now with the remake of Skyward Sword, launching on the Nintendo Switch on July 16, 2021.

Metal Slug Tactics

The Metal Slug series has pretty much perfected the side-scrolling run & gun genre, but now it’s time for Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma to tackle a whole new genre. Metal Slug Tactics is an isometric tactics-style turn-based RPG that looks to adapt the over-the-top action of Metal Slug to slower (but still over-the-top) gameplay.

We don’t know too much about the title beyond the E3 2021 trailer above, but the Steam page does mention roguelike elements and procedurally generated level designs, so there should be plenty of replayability.

There’s no release date listed yet, and for now it’s only coming to PC.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

One big surprise E3 2021 game announcement was Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Essentially a spinoff of the Borderlands series, it builds on the Borderlands 2 expansion Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep. In it, you’ll fight dragons, goblins, and other fantasy creatures using the same guns and looter-shooter gameplay you’re used to from other titles in the series.

And make no mistake about it, this is a full-fledged AAA game. It has a full campaign, co-op, and even some endgame content to grind through. The game also features the same great talent lineup, with Ashly Burch, Andy Samberg, Wanda Sykes, and Will Arnett reprising their roles.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will come out on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in early 2022.

Metroid Dread

Another surprise E3 2021 announcement was Metroid Dread. Fans might have been expecting news on Metroid Prime 4, but instead, Nintendo dropped an entirely new game that’s more in line with the classic 2D games that kicked off the franchise.

Metroid Dread is a 2D sidescrolling platformer, and the first 2D game in the series in nearly two decades. The big baddie here is a research robot that appears to be impervious to Samus’ attacks. You’ll have to use your creativity (and a host of new abilities) to sneak past.

You won’t have to wait long to play it either, as it launches on October 8, 2021. Check out the trailer above, and if you want to see more gameplay check out the Nintendo Treehouse Live event that aired live after the show.

Battlefield 2042

EA jumped the E3 2021 gun with its announcement of Battlefield 2042, but you won’t have to wait long to learn more. The trailer itself is a teaser for a June 13 gameplay reveal event, so stay tuned for that this weekend.

The game will feature new dynamic environments, new vehicles, and new levels of carnage. There’s something about a refugee crisis and a war between the US and Russia going on in the background, but there’s no single-player or campaign mode so you can safely ignore that and focus on the incredible 128-man battles.

Battlefield 2042 is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on October 22, 2021. However, enormous maps and 128-man battles will be exclusive to next-gen consoles, with other platforms limited to the standard 64-man battle sizes.

Read also: PS4 vs PS5: Should I upgrade? Should I wait?

Two Point Campus

Fans of the management sim Two Point Hospital will be happy to learn that the same studio is back with a university-themed spinoff. Two Point Campus, as the name implies, puts you in charge of designing and running a college university.

This time you can take to the great outdoors and design the entire campus from hedgerows and pathways to lecture halls and food services. There’s a lot to do, and your decisions will affect the lives of all enrolled students and staff.

Two Point Campus is coming to PC and all consoles sometime in 2022.

Trek to Yomi

Devolver Digital’s E3 event had several exciting announcements, but the one that stood out to us is Trek to Yomi. The stylish trailer above shows a 2D sidescrolling action game starring a samurai named Hiroki. Not much gameplay was revealed, but the visuals and pedigree behind it were more than enough to get us hyped.

Trek to Yomi is set for release in 2022 for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Although it’s not included in the trailer above, the website also lists it coming to previous-gen consoles, too.

Up next: E3 wins and fails: The best and worst ever moments from gaming’s top expo