A new year, a fresh set of gaming anniversaries to celebrate! 2020 was a challenging year and gaming certainly helped keep us connected and engaged. As we step into what will hopefully be a more normal year, there is a lot in store to celebrate! We’ve compiled a list of key dates for 2021 video game anniversaries – there are a lot!
2021 video game anniversaries – Game Highlights
2021 will be the milestone year for a lot of fan favourites! The Legend of Zelda and Metroid celebrate 35 years of heroics, joined by the Pokémon 25th anniversary! 2021 also sees the 30th anniversary of Street Fighter II, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lemmings and F-Zero too!
Other 2021 video game anniversaries include the 25th anniversary of Super Mario RPG and the Resident Evil series. Two very different games, released the same year! Other quarter century contenders include Quake, Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot.
2021 video game anniversaries – Console Highlights
It’s not just about the games, as the 2021 video game anniversaries also include timeless consoles! The 25th anniversary of the launch of the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Pocket, plus the 30th anniversary of the SNES in the US. More recent console releases include the 15th anniversaries of the Wii and the PlayStation 3, too!
January
| 09 Jan | Electroplankton (DS) | 15th |
| 10 Jan | Mega Man X Collection (Multi) | 15th |
| 17 Jan | Ape Escape 3 (PS2) | 15th |
| 17 Jan | Mass Effect 2 (Multi) | 10th |
| 18 Jan | LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) | 10th |
| 22 Jan | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS) | 5th |
| 25 Jan | Guardian Heroes (Sat) | 25th |
| 25 Jan | Dead Space 2 (Multi) | 10th |
| 28 Jan | Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Wii U) | 5th |
| 29 Jan | Duke Nukem 3D (PC) | 25th |
| 31 Jan | Mega Man X3 (SNES) | 25th |
February
| 01 Feb | id Software founded | 30th |
| 06 Feb | Street Fighter II (Arcade) | 30th |
| 07 Feb | Tales of Legendia (PS2) | 15th |
| 07 Feb | The Rub Rabbits! (DS) | 15th |
| 09 Feb | Firewatch (Multi) | 5th |
| 09 Feb | Bahamut Lagoon (SNES) | 25th |
| 14 Feb | Lemmings (Multi) | 30th |
| 14 Feb | State of Emergency 2 (PS2) | 15th |
| 19 Feb | Fire Emblem Fates (3DS) | 5th |
| 21 Feb | The Legend of Zelda (NES) | 35th |
| 21 Feb | Famicom Disk System released in Japan | 35th |
| 21 Feb | Sonic Riders (Multi) | 15th |
| 22 Feb | Killzone 3 (PS3) | 10th |
| 26 Feb | Stardew Valley (Multi) | 5th |
| 26 Feb | Nintendo 3DS released in Japan | 10th |
| 27 Feb | Pokémon Red and Green (GB) | 25th |
| 27 Feb | Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons (GB) | 20th |
| 28 Feb | Black (Multi) | 15th |
| 28 Feb | Dungeons & Dragons Online (PC) | 15th |
| 29 Feb | Civilization II (PC) | 25th |
| 29 Feb | Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (PC) | 25th |
| 29 Feb | Ripper (PC) | 25th |
| February | Defender (Arcade) | 40th |
| Febuary | Scramble (Arcade) | 40th |
March
| 05 Mar | Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64) | 20th |
| 06 Mar | Pokémon Black and White (DS) | 10th |
| 06 Mar | Pokémon Trozei! (N64) | 15th |
| 08 Mar | Dragon Age II (Multi) | 10th |
| 09 Mar | Super Mario RPG (SNES) | 25th |
| 13 Mar | Descent II (PC) | 25th |
| 15 Mar | Pro Evolution Soccer (PS1) | 20th |
| 15 Mar | Total War: Shogun 2 (PC) | 10th |
| 16 Mar | Final Fantasy XII (PS2) | 15th |
| 18 Mar | Pokkén Tournament (Wii U) | 5th |
| 20 Mar | Metroid Prime Hunters (DS) | 15th |
| 20 Mar | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | 15th |
| 21 Mar | Kirby Super Star (SNES) | 25th |
| 21 Mar | Serious Sam (Multi) | 20th |
| 21 Mar | Super Mario Advance (GBA) | 20th |
| 21 Mar | Game Boy Advanced released in Japan | 20th |
| 22 Mar | Resident Evil (PS1) | 25th |
| 22 Mar | Crysis 2 (Multi) | 10th |
| 25 Mar | Nintendo 3DS released in Europe | 10th |
| 26 Mar | Ubisoft founded (as Ubi Soft) | 35th |
| 26 Mar | Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64) | 20th |
| 27 Mar | Nintendo 3DS released in Europe | 10th |
| 28 Mar | Oculus Rift Released | 5th |
| 29 Mar | Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension (SNES) | 25th |
| 30 Mar | Black & White (PC) | 20th |
| March | Neverwinter Nights (PC) | 30th |
April
| 05 Apr | Quantum Break (Multi) | 5th |
| 05 Apr | HTC Vive Released | 5th |
| 06 Apr | Pokemon Gold & Silver (GB) – Europe | 20th |
| 08 Apr | Dr. Mario 64 (N64) | 20th |
| 10 Apr | Odama (GC) | 15th |
| 11 Apr | Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble (GBA) | 20th |
| 11 Apr | Tomb Raider: Legend (Multi) | 15th |
| 12 Apr | Dark Souls III (Multi) | 5th |
| 12 Apr | The Simpsons Wrestling (PS1) | 20th |
| 13 Apr | Project Justice (DC) | 20th |
| 14 Apr | Mysterious Murasame Castle (Famicom) | 25th |
| 14 Apr | Animal Crossing (GC) | 20th |
| 17 Apr | Brain Age (DS) | 15th |
| 18 Apr | Stephen’s Sausage Roll (PC) | 5th |
| 19 Apr | Portal 2 (Multi) | 10th |
| 20 Apr | Barbie Fashion Designer (PC) | 25th |
| 20 Apr | Ōkami (PS2) | 15th |
| 20 Apr | Mother 3 (GBA) | 15th |
| 22 Apr | Star Fox Zero (Wii U) | 5th |
| 22 Apr | Armadillo Run (PC) | 15th |
| 24 Apr | Rampage: Total Destruction (Multi) | 15th |
| 24 Apr | Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods (PC) | 15th |
| 25 Apr | Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny (PS2) | 15th |
| 28 Apr | Guild Wars: Factions | 15th |
May
| 01 May | GameSpot website launched | 25th |
| 06 May | The Shadow of Yserbius (PC) | 30th |
| 07 May | Mario Party 3 (N64) | 20th |
| 10 May | Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End | 5th |
| 14 May | Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (SNES) | 25th |
| 15 May | New Super Mario Bros (DS) | 15th |
| 16 May | Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC) | 15th |
| 16 May | Terraria (Multi) | 10th |
| 17 May | L.A. Noire (Multi) | 10th |
| 17 May | The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (Multi) | 10th |
| 22 May | Red Faction (PS2) | 20th |
| 23 May | Monster Hunter Freedom (PSP) | 15th |
| 24 May | Overwatch (Multi) | 5th |
| 24 May | Metal Slug (Neo) | 25th |
| 27 May | Dragon Quest (NES) | 35th |
| 31 May | Final Doom (PC) | 25th |
| May | Bungie founded | 30th |
June
| 01 Jun | Battletoads (NES) | 30th |
| 01 Jun | Half-Life 2: Episode One (PC) | 15th |
| 03 Jun | Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (NES) | 35th |
| 06 Jun | Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2) | 15th |
| 07 Jun | Infamous 2 (PS3) | 10th |
| 11 Jun | Game Boy Advance released in the US | 20th |
| 11 Jun | Nintendo DS Lite released in the US | 15th |
| 16 Jun | Majesco founded | 35th |
| 22 Jun | Quake (PC) | 25th |
| 22 Jun | Game Boy Advance released in Europe | 20th |
| 23 Jun | Sonic the Hedgehog (MD/Genesis) | 30th |
| 23 Jun | Nintendo 64 released (Japan) | 25th |
| 23 Jun | Super Mario 64 (N64) | 25th |
| 23 Jun | Nintendo DS Lite released in Europe | 15th |
| 23 Jun | Sonic Adventure 2 (DC) | 20th |
| 26 Jun | Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D | 10th |
| 27 Jun | Shining Wisdom (SAT) | 25th |
| 28 Jun | Bethesda founded | 35th |
| 28 Jun | Bomberman II (NES) | 30th |
| 29 Jun | Inside (Multi) | 5th |
| 29 Jun | Final Fantasy Chronicles (PS1) | 20th |
| June | Frogger (Arcade) | 40th |
July
| 01 Jul | Duke Nukem (PC) | 30th |
| 05 Jul | NiGHTS into Dreams (SAT) | 25th |
| 06 Jul | Pokémon GO (Mobile) | 5th |
| 09 Jul | Donkey Kong (Arcade) | 40th |
| 12 Jul | Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (GB) | 30th |
| 19 Jul | Final Fantasy IV (SNES) | 30th |
| 19 Jul | Saturn Bomberman (SAT) | 25th |
| 19 Jul | Star Ocean (SNES) | 25th |
| 19 Jul | Final Fantasy X (PS2) | 20th |
| 19 Jul | Limbo (PS3) | 10th |
| 21 Jul | Game Boy Pocket released | 25th |
| 21 Jul | Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA) | 20th |
| 29 Jul | Pokémon Crystal | 20th |
| 31 Jul | Playchoice-10 (Arcade) | 25th |
| July | Araknoid (Arcade) | 35th |
August
| 01 Aug | Golden Sun (GBA) | 20th |
| 02 Aug | Xbox One S released | 5th |
| 02 Aug | Streets of Rage (MD/Genesis) | 30th |
| 06 Aug | Metroid (NES) | 35th |
| 09 Aug | No Man’s Sky (Multi) | 5th |
| 15 Aug | Starflight (PC) | 35th |
| 19 Aug | Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) | 10th |
| 21 Aug | Wario Land 4 (GBA) | 20th |
| 23 Aug | SNES released in the US | 30th |
| 23 Aug | Super Mario World (SNES) | 30th |
| 23 Aug | F-Zero (SNES) | 30th |
| 23 Aug | Devil May Cry (PS2) | 20th |
| 23 Aug | Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Multi) | 10th |
| 24 Aug | Valve founded | 25th |
| 25 Aug | Tekken 2 (PS1) | 25th |
| 31 Aug | Die Hard Trilogy (Multi) | 25th |
| 31 Aug | Tetris Attack (Multi) | 25th |
September
| 01 Sep | NES Open Tournament Golf | 30th |
| 06 Sep | Shenmue II (DC) | 20th |
| 06 Sep | Resistance 3 (PS3) | 10th |
| 09 Sep | Star Fox 64 3D (3DS) | 10th |
| 09 Sep | Crash Bandicoot (PS1) | 25th |
| 10 Sep | Advance Wars (GBA) | 20th |
| 11 Sep | Driver: San Francisco (Multi) | 10th |
| 12 Sep | Adventure Island (NES) | 35th |
| 14 Sep | GameCube released in Japan | 20th |
| 14 Sep | Luigi’s Mansion (GC) | 20th |
| 14 Sep | Super Monkey Ball (GC) | 20th |
| 15 Sep | Persona 5 (PS4) | 5th |
| 15 Sep | PlayStation 4 Slim Released | 5th |
| 16 Sep | Dragon Quest VII | 5th |
| 20 Sep | Outrun (Arcade) | 35th |
| 20 Sep | Gears of War 3 (360) | 10th |
| 22 Sep | Dark Souls (Multi) | 10th |
| 24 Sep | Ico (PS2) | 20th |
| 24 Sep | Silent Hill 2 (PS2) | 20th |
| 26 Sep | Castlevania (NES – FDS) | 35th |
| 26 Sep | Pilotwings 64 (N64) | 25th |
| 27 Sep | Forza Horizon 3 (Xbox One) | 5th |
| 28 Sep | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (DS) | 15th |
| 29 Sep | Nintendo 64 Released (US) | 25th |
| 30 Sep | Wipeout XL/2097 (PS1) | 25th |
| 30 Sep | Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Multi) | 25th |
| 30 Sep | Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB) | 25th |
| September | Galaga (Arcade) | 40th |
| September | Wizadry (Apple II) | 40th |
| September | Castle Wolfenstein (Apple II) | 40th |
| September | Bubble Bobble (Arcade) | 35th |
| September | SEGA Master System released in the US | 35th |
| September | Starblade (Arcade) | 30th |
| September | Road Rash (MD/Genesis) | 30th |
| September | Virtua Fighter 3 (Arcade) | 25th |
October
| 07 Oct | Mafia III (Multi) | 5th |
| 07 Oct | Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U) | 5th |
| 10 Oct | Mortal Kombat Trilogy (Multi) | 25th |
| 11 Oct | Forza Motorsport 4 (360) | 10th |
| 13 Oct | PlayStation VR Released | 5th |
| 14 Oct | Mario the Juggler (G&W) | 30th |
| 17 Oct | Professor Layton and the Last Specter (DS) | 10th |
| 18 Oct | Batman: Arkham City (Multi) | 10th |
| 22 Oct | Grand Theft Auto III (PS2) | 20th |
| 24 Oct | Kirby’s Return to Dream Land (Wii) | 10th |
| 24 Oct | Virtua Tennis 2 (DC) | 20th |
| 25 Oct | Battlefield 3 (Multi) | 10th |
| 26 Oct | Pikmin (GC) | 20th |
| 28 Oct | Titanfall 2 (Multi) | 5th |
| 29 Oct | Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (Multi) | 20th |
| 30 Oct | Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PS2) | 20th |
| 30 Oct | Civilization III (PC) | 20th |
| 31 Oct | Pandemonium! (Multi) | 25th |
| 31 Oct | Soul Reaver 2 (Multi) | 20th |
November
| 01 Nov | Wave Race 64 (N64) | 25th |
| 01 Nov | Burnout (PS2) | 20th |
| 01 Nov | Dragon Warrior VII | 20th |
| 01 Nov | Sonic Generations (Multi) | 10th |
| 01 Nov | Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3) | 10th |
| 03 Nov | Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) | 10th |
| 05 Nov | SSX Tricky (Multi) | 20th |
| 06 Nov | Elite Beat Agents (DS) | 15th |
| 07 Nov | Guitar Hero II (Multi) | 15th |
| 07 Nov | Gears of War (360) | 15th |
| 08 Nov | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Multi) | 10th |
| 09 Nov | Project Gotham Racing (Xbox) | 20th |
| 10 Nov | PlayStation 4 Pro Released | 5th |
| 10 Nov | Medieval II: Total War (PC) | 15th |
| 11 Nov | The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | 10th |
| 13 Nov | Yoshi’s Island DS | 15th |
| 13 Nov | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2) | 20th |
| 15 Nov | Watch Dogs 2 (Multi) | 5th |
| 15 Nov | Tomb Raider (Multi) | 25th |
| 15 Nov | Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox) | 20th |
| 15 Nov | Xbox Released in the US | 20th |
| 15 Nov | Saints Row: The Third | 10th |
| 15 Nov | Rayman Origins | 10th |
| 17 Nov | PS3 released in the US | 15th |
| 18 Nov | Pokémon Sun & Moon | 5th |
| 18 Nov | GameCube released in the US | 20th |
| 18 Nov | Star Wars Rogue Squadron II (GC) | 20th |
| 18 Nov | Zelda: Skyward Sword | 10th |
| 19 Nov | Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC) | 20th |
| 19 Nov | Wii released in the US | 15th |
| 19 Nov | Wii Sports | 15th |
| 19 Nov | Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) | 15th |
| 20 Nov | Sonic 3D Blast (Multi) | 25th |
| 21 Nov | Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) | 30th |
| 21 Nov | Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC) | 20th |
| 22 Nov | Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES) | 25th |
| 22 Nov | Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC) | 25th |
| 22 Nov | Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas (Multi) | 15th |
| 23 Nov | Tamagotchi released in Japan | 25th |
| 25 Nov | Killer Instinct Gold (N64) | 25th |
| 26 Nov | Dead or Alive (Arcade) | 25th |
| 29 Nov | Final Fantasy XV (Multi) | 5th |
| 30 Nov | Fighting Vipers (Arcade) | 25th |
| 30 Nov | Virtua Cop 2 (Arcade) | 25th |
| November | Another World (Amiga) | 30th |
| November | Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB) | 30th |
| November | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge | 30th |
December
| 01 Dec | SEGA Mega CD Released in Japan | 30th |
| 01 Dec | Mario Kart 7 (3DS) | 10th |
| 03 Dec | Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2) | 20th |
| 04 Dec | Super Castlevania IV (SNES) | 30th |
| 06 Dec | Mega Man 4 (NES) | 30th |
| 08 Dec | Wii released in Europe | 15th |
| 10 Dec | SSX Tricky (Multi) | 20th |
| 12 Dec | Max Payne (XBox) | 20th |
| 13 Dec | Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) | 30th |
| 14 Dec | Yoshi (NES) | 30th |
| 14 Dec | Mario Kart 64 (N64) | 25th |
| 16 Dec | Civilization (PC) | 30th |
| 19 Dec | Kid Icarus (NES) | 35th |
| December | Jump Bug (Arcade) | 40th |
| December | Rolling Thunder (Arcade) | 35th |
