We may not have had E3 this year, but this summer we had a big gaming expo packed with lots of information.This year, Gamescom returns as a live show, featuring Geoff Keighley’s opening night live show And a convention center full of playable demos. Digital Trends flew to Cologne, Germany this year to get a hands-on experience with the upcoming release and talk to the creators behind it.
Over the course of three days, we played dozens of games ranging from big-budget showstoppers to indie hidden gems.The show proved the video game industry is in a healthy place A year full of high-profile delaysWith so many games to talk about and no time to play them all, we’ve compiled a list of the best Gamescom games we’ve played.
Game of Show: Moonbreaker
Moonbreaker is exactly what you want to see from an event like this. It’s a leftfield surprise that completely steals the spotlight.Developed by Subnautica Studio Unknown Worlds was a strategy game that debuted on Opening Night Live with a trailer showcasing player-dragging miniature-based combat. warhammerLike a figure crossing the battlefield. We were intrigued by the clip, but were pleasantly surprised when we demoed the actual game. The strategy part of the game feels incredibly tight, but what really impressed us was the game’s figure his painting tools. It’s a powerful system that allows players to easily create detailed custom his paint his jobs just like in a real tabletop game.
Our excitement only increased when we got information about the game from an unknown world. Fill us in for some exciting detailsMistborn creator Brandon Sanderson discusses how the game helped create the rich story it will tell over the years, both in-game and in a full episodic audio-drama podcast. To do.
All the new details we heard about the game throughout the weekend made us even more intrigued to try it out when it entered Early Access on September 29th. of show slot.
dead island 2
When Dead Island 2 leaked ahead of Gamescom, I was skeptical. I didn’t quite understand why I should be excited until I played it. Developer Deep Silver Dambuster saved a decade-old project from obsolescence by rebuilding it from scratch. And what was that vision? ultimate carnage.
dead island 2 I was impressed with the procedural flesh system that allows players to target zombie body parts and carve them out in grotesquely satisfying ways.it actually Players can take advantage of that nasty systemAs soon as I knocked the zombie’s leg off with a pitchfork, it was sold off.
Pentimento
Despite not having a major release scheduled for this fall, Xbox had a big presence at this year’s show.a small title like high on life As a result, I was in the bright spotlight, The best Xbox exclusive I’ve seen on the show is PentimentoDeveloped by Obsidian, the 2D narrative game is a unique murder mystery set in the 16th century. It features eye-catching art and a light RPG system that has a big impact on the story. After seeing a little bit of how it unfolded, I left Gamescom excited to see a big company like Microsoft supporting a small project as compelling as this one.
friend to friend
The best games at events like this are the ones we randomly come across while exploring the show floor.it was friend to friend, got a brief trailer on Opening Night Live. This multiplayer shooter features an ingenious deck building system that allows players to sabotage each other in increasingly creative ways. Play cards to make your opponent’s head one round bigger, jump less, or drop nukes across the battlefield. After just a few rounds, I was already hooked on its zany premise.
One Piece Odyssey
I’ve never read the anime or the original manga, One Piece Odyssey The show captivated me. I was worried that this project would be a hassle-free cash earner, but I’m glad I was wrong. It includes a clever RPG system that encourages players to make smart decisions every turn. Using a “rock-paper-scissors” damage system reminiscent of Fire Emblem, players must constantly coordinate which party members are in the lineup to maximize every attack opportunity. For One Piece fans, the real draw here is that all your favorite characters come to life in his 3D world, complete with voice acting. This feels like a huge effort project to accommodate players beyond the built-in audience.
P’s lie
P’s lie was A quirky hit at Gamescom, long queues waiting to enter that demo. Perhaps players had to see it in action to believe that the Pinocchio-inspired Soulslike actually existed. good luck, P’s lie It’s not just a weird premise. A promising action game with smooth yet challenging combat.it just might Bloodborne-lite, but I found myself actually enjoying the fast-paced action more than most of From Software’s actual games. The fact that it stars the brooding Pinocchio is the odd icing on the cake.
what bat?
Earlier this summer, the team behind a great comedy sports game What is golf? Enter the world of VR. what bat? Applying that same idea to baseball yields hysterical results. A quick demo used the Oculus Quest controller to navigate through increasingly ridiculous challenges. It started with hitting a ball towards a trophy and ended with painting a stone statue of a horse using a baseball bat as a brush. I can only imagine where it goes from there in the final version.
Viking on trampoline
Indie developer D-Pad Studio made a name for itself with the hit platformer of 2016. OwlboyHowever, that new game is much older than that. Viking on trampoline is the latest remake of the now-defunct browser game, first created when one of its developers was 14 years old. As the title suggests, the player controls a Viking who moves around by simply bouncing on a trampoline. What’s great about this project is that it’s designed for players who usually find the game too complicated because it can only be controlled with a single joystick. Based on my demo, this is all you need to provide a simple and fun experience with some great pixel art.
Gungrave Gore
Gungrave Gore. wasn’t the most polished game I played at Gamescom, but it probably made me smile the most. This over-the-top action game is the return of the long-lost PlayStation 2 series about coffin-toting, gun-wielding heroes. The sequel retains the hack-and-slash feel of the PS2, with players using oversized guns to rack up massive combos.
Inclinati
Gamescom’s huge Indie Arena booth was jam-packed with great games. wandering village To Astrea: Oracle of the Six FacesThe game that I was particularly interested in was InclinatiAn “ink-based strategy game” in which the player draws an army of animals and sends them into turn-based combat. What’s particularly appealing about this title is that its 2D visuals look like medieval graffiti moving on paper. It was just as much fun watching other people demo it as it was playing it myself.
Editor’s pick