The Biggest Video Games Coming in May 2021 - CBR

Up to this point in the year, 2021 has been relatively quiet on the video game front compared to years past. Luckily, May looks to be the best month for video game releases this year so far, with several long-awaited titles finally making their debut alongside a surprisingly diverse slate of games.

Whether you're looking for multiplayer experiences, big-budget sequels, remasters of beloved franchises or just something fun to play, this month's line-up most definitely has you covered. Here are just a handful of exciting games you'll be able to get your hands on this May.

Related: E3 2021: Every Exhibitor Announced So Far (& What They May Be Showing)

Resident Evil Village

Releasing May 7 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

The follow-up to Capcom's largely successful 2017 first-person survival horror experiment Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village is a narrative sequel that picks up with protagonist Ethan Winters several years later. Set in a haunting gothic European town, Ethan must carve his way through werewolves, vampires, mermen, puppets and more on a terrifying journey to rescue his daughter from the horrors that reside in the titular village.

The team behind Village cited the critically-acclaimed and fan-favorite Resident Evil 4 as one of its primary inspirations, focusing on nailing that perfect balance between combat, exploration and puzzle-solving while making the entire experience feel more like a first-person horror movie than ever before. Combine that with the highly detailed visuals produced by the RE Engine, and Resident Evil Village could just be one of the biggest (if not scariest) releases of the year.

Related: Why Resident Evil 5 Is a Masterful Successor to Resident Evil 4

Hood: Outlaws and Legends

Releasing May 10 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Developed by Sumo Digital, the studio behind PlayStation 5 launch title Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Hood: Outlaws And Legends is a unique third-person multiplayer-only experience that pits teams of outlaws against each other in a race to steal treasure from the depths of a highly-guarded keep. Forming two teams of four, players must work together to pull off a three-stage heist before their rivals beat them to the riches and make off with a victory.

With a heavy emphasis on stealth and teamwork, Hood's gameplay largely relies on players mastering the abilities of the four character classes and using them to work together to progress. Only certain characters can perform specific actions, like unlocking gates or becoming completely invisible, so teams will have to act like one if they want to pull off the heist faster than their opponents. Overall, Hood looks to be a refreshing and intriguing multiplayer experience for anyone looking for something different from the ever-popular battle royales.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Releasing May 14 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S

Rumored for years before finally being announced on November 7, 2020, Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the long-awaited remaster of one of gaming's most beloved trilogies. Developed by BioWare alongside Abstraction Games and Blind Squirrel Games, this three-game compilation comes complete with nearly all single-player DLC released for each title, as well as a host of graphical, technical and gameplay improvements to create the ultimate Mass Effect experience.

Related: Mass Effect: Four Things We Want From the Sequel

Whether you're reliving Commander Shepard's incredible space epic once more or experiencing it for the first time, you'll find that the games have been updated with new textures, shaders, models and visual effects, as well as increased resolutions and frame rates compared to when they first released roughly a decade ago. The original Mass Effect has received a more extensive rework than its sequels, a welcome effort for fans who have often complained that the first title was mechanically inferior to the crisp controls and speedier load times of the later games. The Mass Effect trilogy is regarded as one of the best sci-fi video game series ever, making this legendary remaster a must-play for fans of RPGs.

Miitopia

Releasing May 21 for Nintendo Switch

Nintendo surprised everyone during the February 2021 Nintendo Direct by announcing a port and remaster of its 3DS life simulation RPG Miitopia, upgrading the quirky Mii-focused title with enhanced visuals, additional gameplay features and new ways to customize your favorite Miis.

When Miitopia originally launched for the 3DS in 2017, it was met with mixed reviews, yet found its niche as an accessible RPG that gave Nintendo's often ignored (but incredibly endearing) avatars new life long after the Wii-era. By casting Miis as the heroes of a fantasy game, Miitopia allows players to watch them interact and grow as they embark on a fairly traditional RPG adventure to stop the Dark Lord from stealing faces and creating monsters. The 3DS version was a unique, sometimes hilarious concept that didn't quite stick the landing, but perhaps the Switch version can iron out its issues and give the title a second chance with a new audience.

RELATED: Super Mario Party's Online Update Is Three Years Too Late

Rust

Releasing May 21 for PlayStation 4 & Xbox One

After eight years of being a PC exclusive, the multiplayer survival game Rust is finally making its way to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, as well as next-gen consoles via backwards compatibility. First appearing as a clone of DayZ (which itself was just a mod of ARMA 2), Rust is a multiplayer-only survival sim that pits players against the environment and each other as they're thrust into the open wilderness with nothing but a rock and a torch to fend for themselves with. This port been designed as a separate and optimized experience, with developer Facepunch Studios promising faster load times and reworked menus to work better when using a controller.

In Rust, players must scavenge for materials and supplies, craft tools and weapons, and avoid or defeat hostile animals and humans all while trying to survive its notoriously harsh and lawless open-world. While its initial difficulty is certainly not for the faint of heart, the game has still gained a reputation as an incredibly satisfying survival simulator with a deep, rewarding crafting system and unpredictable open-world social experiment.

Related: Rust: Tips & Tricks For New Players

Biomutant

Releasing May 25 for PC, PlayStation 4 & Xbox One

In development for nearly six years, Biomutant is the debut title from Swedish developer Experiment 101. Founded by former members of Avalanche Studios (the team behind the Just Cause series), Experiment 101 was founded on the idea of returning to the roots of game development and creating a game that's simply fun to play. This game has popped up in sizzle reels and at press conferences sporadically throughout the last four or so years since it was formally announced.

Billed as a "post-apocalyptic kung-fu fable," Biomutant is a third-person action-RPG set in a sprawling open-world where players take control of a customizable creature that they can design themselves right down to the fur and fangs. Once their mutant mammalian protagonist has been thrown together, they'll set out on a fully narrated, mission-based adventure to save the Tree of Life from a poisonous oil that's polluted the world. There's a variety of customizable melee and long-ranged weapons, and gameplay focuses on a fast and fluid martial arts combat system that sets it apart from other open-world adventures. With branching storylines, tons of collectibles and a huge environment to explore, Biomutant has the potential to be one of the biggest surprises of May.

Related: Why You Should Play Subnautica Before Its Sequel Arrives

Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster

Releasing May 25 for PC, PlayStation 4 & Nintendo Switch

Originally released for the PlayStation 2 back in 2003, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is a post-apocalyptic RPG and part of the parent franchise to developer Atlus' incredibly popular Persona series. It stars a high school student in modern-day Tokyo who is transformed into a demi-fiend after the world is thrust into chaos by an evil cult hell-bent on bringing about the rebirth of civilization. Utilizing a turn-based battle system and recruitable demons, the protagonist must traverse dungeons and gather a stable of demons to fight back against the forces of Lucifer.

This remastered edition of the game was first announced during a Nintendo Direct Mini last year and promises to revamp the infamously difficult RPG with improved character models and backgrounds, more accessible difficulty settings, save states and fully-voiced dual-audio cutscenes based on the Maniax Chronicle Edition of the game. This fresh coat of paint, along with several new additions and features included through DLC, make Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster worth checking out for fans of darker JRPGs, as well as those looking to ease the wait for the long-awaited next entry in the series, Shin Megami Tensei V.

Related: Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Offers Fans a Devilishly Faithful Remaster

World's End Club

Releasing May 28 for Nintendo Switch

A collaboration between the creators of the Zero Escape and Danganronpa series, World's End Club is a puzzle action-adventure game that sees a group of elementary schoolers called the "Go-Getters Club" lost in a theme park under the sea and forced to play a dangerous game by a mysterious clown to escape the park with their lives. A side-scrolling, fully-voiced adventure with beautiful character designs by Take, known for her work on the Katanagatari light novel series as well as Pokemon Sun and Moon, World's End Club features a visually stunning yet harsh anime-inspired experience that will feel instantly familiar to fans of its creator's other work.

Set in the 1990s, World's End Club is split into two forms of gameplay: action sequences where the players must solve puzzles to survive and adventure sections that focus on character interactions and the overall story. Protagonist Reycho and friends must attempt to work together to overcome the obstacles thrown their way and escape the undersea theme park with their lives. World's End Club looks to be another excellent entry in the popular death game genre, and a title worth checking out for anyone looking for a unique story-based experience for their Nintendo Switch.

KEEP READING: What's New in the Monster Hunter Rise Update

The PS5 Spider-Man 2 Venom Is Already Marvel's Best On-Screen Symbiote - for One Reason

Odel Rawda is a writer, video editor, and gamer living in Syracuse, New York. He graduated from Hofstra University in 2011 with a B.A. in Film Studies and Creative Writing, and has been producing video game and entertainment-based content as a freelancer ever since. Odel has also worked on-set for several professional film and television productions as a camera operator, production assistant, and location scout; now, he plays video games and writes about them for CBR. When he's not doing that you can find him binge-watching anime, catching up on the latest manga, or traveling the world with his camera.