It’s June, which means another year of showcased video games. Many of the video games caught my eye. Here is a highlight reel of those games. Each game will have a little snippet, and maybe a screenshot if I really liked it. I will not include links to trailers, because I don’t want to maintain those links. However, you can easily find them at gamerecap.io.
PlayStation State of Play
Sony started things off with Concord, but who cares about another Overwatch clone. I was here for Infinity Nikki. Apparently it’s a a dress-up game, but the whimsical movement and the graphics stood out to me. It looks like there will be some boss fights. I’m curious what the game will be like. It releases later this year. It’s hard to decipher which systems it will be on, but PlayStation 5 and PC are confirmed. PS4, the Xbox consoles, and mobile are also listed, but not confirmed.
Ballad of Antara looks cool. It looks like a trippy action RPG with a great color palette. The combat looks great, and the animations look smooth. Unfortunately, it appears to be a free-to-play game, so we’ll see how that will work when it releases sometime in 2025 for the PS5.
Where Winds Meet is from another Chinese studio; there seems to a be lot of that going around this year. I’m game for the eastern setting. It’s an action adventure game with some cool looking combat. It should be out later this year for PS5 and PC.
Astro Bot stole the show for me. I loved Playroom and I am looking forward to more platforming and nostalgia. It looks outstanding. And, we have a release date: September 6, 2024! It is coming to PS5 only.
Xbox Games Showcase
Last year, Xbox showcased some good looking video games, but did not have any release information for them. It was saddening. This year was more of the same, but at least we got some release windows.
DOOM: The Dark Ages looks so good. The guns look straight out of heavy metal covers, and the shield looks like a cool tool. The trailer was just nonstop action and gameplay. This is how you do a trailer! Can’t wait for it to come out in 2025 for the Xbox Series consoles and PC.
I got the premium edition of Starfield with my graphics card. I didn’t know I was getting the game when I bought the card, so I was surprised. I’ve been waiting to play it. Modding tools being out now is definitely a big leap forward. I, also, think Starfield: Shattered Space looks good. Definitely has more color to it. We’ll see when it releases later this year for PC and Xbox.
The cinematic trailer for South of Midnight looked good last year. The game is looking good this year. We got see some gameplay mixed with cutscenes. The animation framerate between the cutscenes and gameplay is jarring, but I dig it the stop motion aesthetic. We’ll see if it works out in 2025 for Xbox and PC.
I was worried for Perfect Dark, but this year’s trailer looks outstanding. The hellish development for this game seems to be shaping up. It feels like it has some immersive sim elements to it, but not quite up to the level of Deus Ex and Dishonored. I’m looking forward to its release in 2025 for Xbox and PC.
Avowed looks like a fun RPG. I really should play some of Obsidian’s other RPG’s. Anyways, this one releases later this year for Xbox and PC.
Atomfall has a Fallout vibe to it. The first person combat looks fun. I’ll be curious to learn more about it. It releases in 2025 for Xbox and PC.
I haven’t played any of the newer Assassin’s Creed, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows is looking fun. It has some Ghost of Tsushima vibes, but it also looks like an Assassin’s Creed game. The dynamic between the two characters in the trailer looked interesting. I’ll check out reviews when it releases on November 15, 2024. It comes out for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
The trailer for Gears of War: E-Day scratches all of the nostalgia itches. I love the series, and I’m hyped for this. Alas, no release date.
Nintendo Direct
Nintendo brought the heat! They are at the tail end of the Switch, but they are cranking out a lot of games.
I’ve been meaning to get into the Mario & Luigi games. Mario & Luigi: Brothership looks like a fun one. The artstyle feels a little off for me, but the turn-based gameplay looks as fun as ever. It comes out November 7th for the Switch.
Nintendo Switch Sports is getting basketball. I really need buy this game. It comes out later this year for the Switch.
I like the Donkey Kong Country games on the Super Nintendo. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD would be a good excuse to get the newest game. The platforming is just something else in these games. It comes out January 16, 2025 for the Switch.
I loved the remake of Link’s Awakening, especially the artstyle. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom uses the same artstyle, but this time you play as Zelda! I’m itching to play a new “2D” Zelda game. I’m hyped for the September 26th release on the Switch.
Summer Games Fest
Lego Horizon Adventures looks neat. The voice actors sound like they are having fun in a more light-hearted Horizon setting. I might have to play it with my nephew when it releases later this year for PS5, PC and Switch.
I talked about Neva last year. It was nice to see some gameplay this year. I still love the artstyle. I wish we would have gotten a more concrete date, but they did say it should be out this year for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
I did not put Black Myth: Wukong on previous lists, but I’ll put it on this one. I don’t think I will like it, but the Journey to the West story sounds good, and the combat looks cool. I will see when it comes out August 20, 2024 for PS5 and PC.
I’m pumped for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. I did not need to watch any trailers this year. It comes out September 9, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
As a child of the 90’s and a fan of beat em’ ups, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind tickles a lot of nerves. Plus its from the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, so they know what they are doing. It comes out later this year for PC.
Deer & Boy is a simple name, and it looks like a simple game. The trailer really drew me in. Alas, no release date for the PC.
Cairn really spoke to me. I’m curious how they will replicate mountain climbing into gameplay. If done correctly, this could make my palms sweaty. I’ll have to wait until 2025 to see if it will. It is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Unknown 9: Awakening is the studio’s first game. It looks like a really good story centric action adventure game. It releases later this year for PS5, Xbox, and PC.
I talked about Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess last year, and I still think it looks rad. Comes out later this year for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Phantom Blade Zero still doesn’t have a release date, but it still looks sick. My thoughts are the same as last year’s.
Day of the Devs
I don’t like horror games, but I’ll watch someone play KARMA: The Dark World. It ticks a lot of boxes I like in the horror genre. Lovecraftian, psychological, and weird horror. Unfortunately, no release date for PS5 and PC.
The concept for Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure did not spark any interest. I almost fast forwarded through it. You can move the tiles of each stage to make your way through it. However, seeing it changed my mind. It is that, but it has a big Zelda feel to it. Also, re-arranging the tiles does more than it seems at first glance. I’m looking forward to its release on July 25, 2024 for PS5, Switch, and PC.
I guess two horror games make the list. Zoochosis also looks good. The story sounds cool, and animals turning into lovecraftian abominations is even cooler. Alas, no release date for PC.
The trailer for Tides of Tomorrow left a lot of questions. It seems like the game wants you to solve some mysteries. It is an early reveal, but I’m gong to keep an eye on it. No release date yet for PC.
The Rest
MOTORSPLICE looks to be an indie version of Prince of Persia. The platforming and combat looks great. They are shooting to release it sometime in 2025 for PC.
Devilated is an ultraviolet RPG shooter. It takes inspiration from FPS’s of yore, but it has hundreds of weapons. It’s in early access now, but should fully release in October for PC.
I don’t like metroidvania’s, but ABYSS X ZERO has a lot of rad stuff happening in it. The combat looks actiony, the bosses look cool, and the artstyle fits with the game. Alas, a 2026 release date for PC.
SCHiM still looks good. Comes out July 18, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC.
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream ticks a lot of boxes. Stealth, narrative, adventure. It’s isometric, but I’m down for it. It comes out in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
The trailer for Eternal Strands is all over the place. There are big enemies you can climb. There’s numbers flying all over. It’s either going to be really good, or really bad. We won’t know anything since there isn’t a release date. Comes out for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
Nobody Wants to Die looks like a good thriller. Storywise, it sounds right up my alley. Graphically, it is gorgeous. On top of that, it comes out soon: July 17, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
The movement in Incolatus looks insane. I like fast paced first person shooters, but this one might be too fast. I like the vibes, but no release date for it. It comes to PC only.
I talked about the stealth game Steel Seed last year. This time we have a demo, and a 2024 release window. It comes out for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
The third race was revealed for Stormgate. It sure looks like a cross between Starcraft and Warcraft. I’m still a bit leery of the free to play. It enters early access August 3rd for PC.
I like the vibe of UNBEATABLE. It’s a rhythm game where music is illegal and you do crime. The artstyle is outstanding. It has a 2025 release window for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
We got a demo for The Alters. I haven’t tried it out, but creating alternate versions of yourself to escape a deadly planet sounds fun. They plan to release the full game later this year for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
There is a demo for 500 CALIBER CONTRACTZ. The concept of “Mario with a gun” sounds good to me. No release date for PC.
Like the Power Rangers game, Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland caters to my nostalgia. The platforming looks great, and you can switch between modern graphics and 8-bit graphics. I kinda wished I would have pre-ordered the orange NES cartridge. It releases later this year for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, PC and NES.
DEATHGRIP looks like a modern Star Wars Episode I: Racer. I’m here for it. It has a 2024 release date for PC.
That’s the highlight reel from this year’s “Not E3.” Checkout some of these games.