December’s Digital Delights: Unveiling the Hottest New PC Games of 2021
As the year draws to a close, are you pondering how best to spend your final gaming hours of 2021? The video above has highlighted some of the most anticipated new PC games launching this December, a month historically front-loaded with releases before the holiday rush. This accompanying guide aims to delve deeper into these titles, offering an expanded perspective on the diverse array of digital adventures awaiting PC gamers, ensuring a curated list of compelling experiences before the year’s end.Anvil: Vault Breakers
This title is presented as a multiplayer co-op top-down sci-fi roguelike action shooter, a descriptor that aptly conveys its multifaceted nature. Players are cast as ‘Vault Breakers,’ characters entrusted with the formidable task of plundering treasures within procedurally generated worlds. An early build of Anvil: Vault Breakers was assessed prior to its full release, wherein it was found to possess decent mechanics, albeit with a perceived simplicity that might now be more fully developed.
Unraveling the Roguelike Loop
The core gameplay loop involves the selection of a ‘Breaker,’ essentially a class equipped with unique weapons and four distinct abilities. From this selection, players embark upon runs across varied, procedurally assembled maps. Progress is typically marked by engagements with enemy waves, the acquisition of loot and currency, and the integration of upgrades to enhance Breaker abilities. Instances of satellite protection events, targeted attacks on locations, and multi-phased boss encounters are systematically woven into the experience. Upon the culmination of a map, progression to subsequent stages is expected, ultimately leading to a substantial reward at the conclusion of a successful run, followed by a return to base.
At the central hub, avenues for both customization and long-term progression are made available. These include comprehensive skill trees—offensive, defensive, and strategic—which allow for the selection of bonuses such as increased damage, enhanced health, or reduced ability cooldowns. Furthermore, a ‘Toy Worker’ pet system is implemented, granting passive buffs contingent on the chosen companion. Seasonal progression systems, replete with various currencies and cosmetic rewards, are also featured. Breakers can be interchanged at will, though an initial locking of some characters is to be anticipated. The game facilitates both solo and co-op play, accommodating team-based exploration. Anvil: Vault Breakers is slated for Steam Early Access on PC, launching December 2nd.
This structure draws parallels to the intense, squad-based action observed in titles such as Helldivers, though Anvil is understood to offer a more streamlined, possibly less expansive, experience. The ultimate appeal of this title may largely be determined by its pricing upon release, suggesting it could provide a fulfilling, albeit potentially brief, diversion for those seeking a roguelike adventure.
Century: Age of Ashes
Century: Age of Ashes emerges as a compelling free-to-play multiplayer dragon battle game, designed for intense online aerial combat. This title immerses players in battles ranging from 3 versus 3 to 6 versus 6, promising fast-paced gameplay across a variety of distinct game modes. Its free-to-play model, with a focus on cosmetic monetization, positions it as an accessible option for those interested in a niche genre: multiplayer aerial combat.
Varied Combat Modes and Dragon Classes
The game features three primary modes, each offering a unique twist on dragon warfare:
- Carnage: A 6 versus 6 team deathmatch scenario, augmented by special power-ups like the ‘Drake Piercer’ which can deliver a decisive one-shot blow to opponents.
- Gates of Fire: Two teams contend to capture a flag, subsequently gaining points by skillfully navigating it through designated gates within the arena.
- Spoils of War: Players are tasked with stealing gold from formidable creatures and rival teams, while simultaneously defending their own gold nest and adapting to dynamic in-game events.
These engagements unfold across diverse maps set in fantastical environments. Furthermore, a class system is implemented, featuring three unique classes, each with distinct play styles and abilities: the Windguard (support and disorientation), the Marauder (hunter-killer), and the Phantom (stealth and trap deployment). Additional classes are purportedly in development, destined for future integration. Customization is a significant aspect, with experience gained from play leading to the unlocking of skins for both dragons and riders. Importantly, the developers assert that in-game purchases will be purely cosmetic, ensuring that victory is achieved through skill and teamwork, rather than purchased advantages. Century: Age of Ashes is scheduled for a December 2nd launch on Steam.
The visual and performance aspects of this title are widely regarded as impressive, suggesting a high-quality experience for a free offering. Given its zero cost, it is certainly worth exploring for enthusiasts of unique multiplayer combat experiences.
Solar Ash
Solar Ash, a highly stylized 3D platformer, finally arrives this month after an initial delay. Developed by Heart Machine, the acclaimed studio behind the indie sensation Hyper Light Drifter, this release carries considerable expectations. The game places players in a vast, open world as a Voidrunner, on a critical mission to safeguard her homeworld.
A World of Fluid Movement and Striking Aesthetics
Players are immersed in a surreal, vivid, and highly stylized world characterized by high-speed traversal, engaging characters, and monumental enemy encounters. A paramount focus is placed on movement, with players constantly gliding, jumping, and utilizing a grapple hook to traverse environments with speed and fluidity. Combat is depicted as simple, fast, and seamless, meticulously designed to complement continuous motion. The game’s aesthetic, with its neat style and cool character designs, coupled with smooth gameplay demonstrated in trailers, contributes to its high anticipation. The additional development time taken for polish is anticipated to have culminated in a superior final product. Solar Ash is launching on PC (as an Epic exclusive) and PlayStation consoles on December 2nd, priced at $39.99.
Chorus
Chorus is a single-player space combat shooter distinguished by a profound narrative focus. Players assume the role of Nara, a former warrior now a wanted fugitive, on a quest to dismantle the dark cult that shaped her. Accompanied by Forsaken, her sentient starfighter, the journey unfolds across epic locales, encompassing sprawling space stations and enigmatic planes of existence. Combat engagements range from zero-G dogfights amidst cosmic vistas to intense skirmishes within tight crystalline corridors.
Blending Grand Scale with Frenetic Action
The design ethos of Chorus endeavors to seamlessly integrate the grandeur of space exploration with frenetic, fast-paced action. Throughout the narrative campaign, new capabilities are progressively unlocked, necessitating mastery of the ship’s intricate drifting mechanics alongside unique skills such as teleportation and telekinesis. These abilities are crucial for overcoming formidable enemy hordes and dismantling colossal battleships. While positioned as an intriguing prospect for fans of single-player space combat, its place on some personal “most anticipated” lists may be lower. Chorus becomes available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles on December 3rd, with a price point of $39.99.
Icarus
Icarus is introduced as a session-based PvE-focused survival game, set on a distant exoplanet bearing a resemblance to Earth. The core premise positions players as space prospectors, dispatched to extract valuable resources from a hazardous planet, with the constraint of a limited surface stay.
A Cycle of Survival and Progression
The fundamental gameplay loop of Icarus involves dropping in from orbit, a finite period for resource harvesting and survival, and a mandatory return to the dropship before a timer expires. Resources gathered are then utilized to craft advanced technology at the home base, initiating a subsequent session. The game incorporates traditional survival mechanics: initial resource gathering (rocks, trees) leads to crafting basic tools, which in turn facilitate the acquisition of higher-tier resources and weaponry for hunting. The planet itself presents a myriad of dangers, including a toxic atmosphere, aggressive wildlife, and devastating storms requiring shelter. Essential needs such as oxygen and food must also be managed.
Exploration is a significant component, as the game boasts a 64 square kilometer, hand-crafted map, replete with secrets such as hidden resource and item locations. A voxel-based destruction system ensures that virtually every element within the environment is harvestable. The primary objective of each session is to maximize time efficiency and return to the dropship before orbital departure; failure to do so results in permanent loss of character and progress, mirroring the high-stakes nature of the environment. A diverse range of mission and session types are available, varying in duration from hours to days or even weeks. This PvE-centric experience is playable solo or in co-op groups of up to eight. Developed by Rocketwerkz, a studio founded by DayZ creator Dean Hall, Icarus has undergone significant refinement, transitioning from early access plans to a full launch on PC on December 4th, priced at $29.99. The extended development period appears to have contributed to a more polished presentation, enhancing its appeal within the survival genre.
Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker
The highly anticipated fourth expansion for the acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker, is finally here. This expansion marks a pivotal continuation of the main storyline, bringing to a conclusion the foundational narrative arc established in A Realm Reborn, alongside a substantial influx of new content. For devotees of the Final Fantasy universe and those immersed in persistent online worlds, this represents a monumental event.
New Horizons and Class Evolutions
Endwalker introduces two new classes that promise to diversify gameplay experiences:
- Sage: An aggressive healer class, characterized by a potent array of damage skills complemented by barriers designed to protect allies.
- Reaper: A melee DPS (Damage Per Second) class, emphasizing combo attacks and the utilization of a formidable demon form.
Beyond these new additions, comprehensive updates are being rolled out for all existing classes, introducing new abilities and refining combat rotations. Concurrently, the level cap is being raised, providing fresh progression goals. Numerous new zones, dungeons, and trials are incorporated, enriching the game world and combat challenges. A significant quality-of-life improvement arrives in the form of the ‘Island Sanctuary’ system, alongside a ‘stat squish’ – a technical adjustment designed to reduce large numbers in player statistics for better readability and future balancing. Endwalker is available on PC and PlayStation on December 7th, priced at $39.99. The consistently positive reception surrounding Final Fantasy 14 and its expansions underscores its standing as a premier MMO experience, often cited for its engaging narrative and continuous content support.
Heavenly Bodies
Heavenly Bodies emerges as a distinctive indie game, tasking players with the intricate control of a cosmonaut’s individual limbs – arms, hands, and legs – within a zero-gravity environment. The objective involves completing a series of challenging physics-based tasks and puzzles aboard a meticulously designed space station.
A Retro-Futuristic Test of Dexterity
The core premise centers on bringing Earth’s proudest feat of engineering into operation, accomplished through a collection of scenarios inspired by historical space exploration and research. Key features include the precise, independent control over each limb of the weightless cosmonaut, facilitating delicate maneuvers essential for mission success. Both single-player and co-op modes, available locally or online, are supported. Visually, the game adopts a stylized ’70s aesthetic, influenced by archival space photography and technical illustration, lending it a unique retro-futuristic charm. The control system is primarily optimized for a dual analog joystick controller, although keyboard and mouse support is provided, albeit not as the intended primary experience. Heavenly Bodies is scheduled for release on PlayStation consoles and PC on December 7th. While specific pricing was not available at the time of recording, an estimated range of $20 to $40 is considered likely. This title, while potentially a shorter, one-time playthrough, promises a truly unique and engaging physics-based puzzle experience.
Halo Infinite Campaign
The single-player campaign for Halo Infinite requires little introduction, given the established legacy of the franchise. With the multiplayer component already released and widely enjoyed, anticipation for Master Chief’s latest adventure has significantly escalated. The multiplayer experience has been lauded for its stellar gameplay and moment-to-moment action, despite ongoing discussions regarding its season pass progression system.
An Expansive Open-World Odyssey
In the campaign, players once again step into the iconic boots of Master Chief, confronting his most ruthless foe yet. This epic adventure unfolds across the vast expanses of Zeta Halo, promising the largest and most open-world experience ever offered within the Halo universe. Early impressions of the campaign have been overwhelmingly positive, igniting considerable curiosity regarding the implementation of an open-world structure in a Halo title. For those who have not engaged with a single-player Halo campaign since Halo 3, approximately 15 years prior, the compelling multiplayer action of Halo Infinite serves as a strong impetus to revisit the narrative. The Halo Infinite campaign is set to arrive on PC and Xbox consoles on December 8th, with a price of $59.99. This release represents a significant moment for the franchise, introducing an expansive new chapter in its storied history.
Breakwaters
Breakwaters is presented as a distinctive indie survival game, inviting players to explore a procedurally generated island world. The core gameplay revolves around scavenging for resources and contending with the formidable threat posed by massive Titans that roam the environment. The game distinguishes itself with innovative mechanics for interacting with water, offering a fresh perspective on the survival genre.
Mastering the Element of Water in Survival
Unique crystals are introduced, possessing the ability to displace water, thereby unveiling new paths and granting access to previously inaccessible resources. Players are empowered to construct walls to hold back water, protecting bases from destructive waves, or to redirect water flow, transforming valleys into lakes. Beyond these water-centric mechanics, Breakwaters incorporates standard survival game elements: resource gathering facilitates the construction of structures and items, while crafting gear allows for diverse play styles such as farmer, explorer, or adventurer. Customizable boats can be built, essential for navigating rough weather, engaging local enemies, and confronting the colossal Titans – the ultimate adversaries whose destruction is the game’s overarching goal. The game boasts over 360 square kilometers of ocean for exploration, populated by unique, procedurally generated islands, biomes, creatures, and resources, all underpinned by an unfolding story. This title supports both single-player and online co-op modes, launching on PC on December 9th, with pricing yet to be announced.
The Gunk
The Gunk is a new 3D exploration adventure game from the renowned creators of the SteamWorld series. In this title, players embody Rani, one half of a duo of space haulers, who stumbles upon an unspoiled planet teeming with life, yet inexplicably covered in a corrupting ‘gunk.’ Utilizing a trusty power glove, the mission unfolds: to cleanse the corruption, unearth the secrets of an ancient civilization, and ultimately heal the ailing planet.
An Intimate Narrative of Planetary Restoration
The premise draws comparisons to titles like Kena: Bridge of Spirits, particularly in its weaving of an intimate narrative intrinsically linked with the game’s exploration. The two main characters maintain close radio contact throughout the adventure, enhancing the storytelling. Furthermore, a significant emphasis is placed on music and atmospheric design, contributing to a deeply immersive experience. The Gunk is scheduled for release on PC and Xbox consoles on December 16th. Notably, this title will be available via the Windows Store rather than Steam, a point of awareness for PC gamers. Pricing information for The Gunk has not yet been revealed, but its lineage from the SteamWorld developers suggests a quality and unique adventure awaits.
Bonus PC Games for December 2021
Beyond the primary list, two additional titles warrant mention for those seeking even more digital engagements this December:
- Wartales: This open-world RPG, which entered Steam Early Access on December 1st, invites players to lead a band of mercenaries in pursuit of wealth across a vast medieval universe. Priced at $34.99, it offers a sprawling, strategic experience from day one.
- Corepunk Beta: The beta for this highly anticipated top-down MMO, which blends traditional MMO elements with MOBA-like gameplay, was expected this month. However, a specific release date has not been confirmed as the month progresses, raising concerns about a potential delay. Despite the long wait and the possibility of a postponement, the interest in experiencing this unique hybrid remains substantial for many players.
As this overview of new PC games for December 2021 concludes, it is evident that the month is packed with diverse gaming experiences. From fast-paced aerial combat to contemplative space exploration and engaging survival challenges, the final weeks of the year offer ample opportunity to dive into fresh digital worlds.
