Well it’s about that time of year again as we get deep into the dog days of summer at least we have a whole heap of trailers and announcements to help us beat the heat. We already covered everything in the opening night of announcements, which covered a lot of very high-profile releases. By comparison, the first day proper of the event was a bit more subdued, or at least featured a lot of cool smaller games to look out for in the Future Games Show. In today’s recap we’re taking a look at these games and what Day 1 had in store for us.
Stop Dead
Starting off with this Hyperfast Speedrun shooter. Looks like you’re character uses telekinesis rather than actually holding weapons or throwables. It’s an interesting stylistic choice. The speed is palpable in the trailer and I’ve got a dire need for it. Definitely keeping my eye on this one.
Outrage
3d arcade brawler that reminds me a lot of Power Stone on the Dreamcast. Very hectic looking game that doesn’t quite impress animation-wise. Pre-alpha footage so I won’t be too critical, however seeing the battle royale mode just makes me wish Rumbleverse wasn’t taken from us so soon.
Streets of Rogue 2
Sequel to the hit rogue-lite Streets of Rogue this looks to be a great follow-up to the Original. With updated pixel art and animations fans of the original have much to be excited for.
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death
Now this is right in my wheel house. A Western roguelike where you play as the “last soul in limbo”. There’s a demo out now on Steam that I will be checking out as soon as physically possible.
Eternights
Monsters are attacking Tokyo in this anime Action RPG and uhh dating sim? Enemy designs are quite interesting but this one isn’t for me. If it is for you then I have great news! You won’t have to wait long as this bad boy launches on PC, Playstation, and Xbox on September 12, 2023.
Blasphemous 2
Blasphemous 2 looks incredible. The sprite work is both beautiful and horrific. It’s just a real vibe of a game and it’s following up on an extremely impressive first outing. Metroidvania fans have had it pretty good for the last few years and it doesn’t look like that will stop anytime soon. Blasphemous 2 is out August 24, 2023 on PC, Playstation, Xbox, and Switch. While it’s not a Warhammer game per se, it’s got some of the most insane Warhammer vibes a non-Warhammer game can have.
Parcel Corps
I stand here saluting the Corps, The Parcel Corps. This satirical bike messenger game looks like a lot of fun. I was a big fan of the old Matt Hoffman bmx games and while this doesn’t look quite like that kind of game it still does look like a good time.
Robocop: Rogue City
Dead or alive you’re coming with me. Robocop Rogue City is the newest game by Teyon best known for the Terminator Resistance game. From the trailer one thing is certain: They really nailed the feel of being the walking indestructible tank that is Robocop. It remains to be seen if the novelty will carry the game or if Teyon throws a curveball later to mix things up.
Rob: I will pre-order this game the moment I find out you can just walk around shooting people’s dicks off.
Gangs of Sherwood
Futuristic Robin Hood? Sure why not. Gangs of Sherwood is a 4 player cooperative action-adventure game due to be out October 19, 2023. As one of the Merry Men you’ll do battle against the dastardly Sherrif of Nottingham’s armies. Color me somewhat interested.
Star Trucker
Come on! Let’s go space trucking! I have no clue what it is about space travel that makes something as mundane as Trucking incredibly enticing to me in video game form but here we are. Looking forward to dancing around with borealis and space trucking around the stars when Star Truckers releases in 2024.
Sprawl
If you’re a retro shooter fan like me then you’ve been feasting for good few years now and I don’t know about you but my appetite is nowhere near sated. Fortunately we have Sprawl! A Cyberpunk boomshoot where your goal is to escape the walled city and make your way to the Spire and take that thing down. The gameplay looks absolutely juicy. Titanfall-esque movement with a bit of bullet time and a solid selection of weapons; I’d say I can’t wait and that’s because it’s out now. Go check it out if this is something you’re down for. I know I will.
AK-xolotl
AK-xolotl is a twin stick shooter with some bullet hell elements. Reminds me a lot of Enter the Gungeon. The jingle is cute too. It’s out September 14, 2023 but there’s a demo out right now if you wanna give it a try.
Aloft
We’ve got a first-person open world survival game where you can turn your home into an airship. Game doesn’t look like it’s my tempo but there’s a free demo on Steam should it be yours.
The Last Faith
The animations and art in this game are really doing it for me. Metroidvania with a Bloodborne aesthetic is an easy way to get me to pay attention to your game. There’s a playtest ongoing but if you’re unable to make it in worry not! It’s planned for release this November 2023
It’s a Wrap
A+ for effort on this trailer. This Puzzle-Platformer puts you behind the camera as you direct the scene to engineer solutions to the various movie scene inspired puzzles. This one is out now on steam and there’s a demo too!
Underlab
A multiplayer social deception game set in an undersea lab. Reminds me a lot of Space Station 13. Likely to appeal to fans of Among Us.
Hellsweeper VR
You and your friends can use Swords, Guns, and Spells as you take on the twisted souls of hell. I don’t have a VR Headset so I don’t really have much to add here.
The Pirate Queen
VR adventure game based on the life of the pirate Zheng Yi Sao. Lucy Liu is in this! Who doesn’t love Lucy Liu?
Vertigo 2
It’s the sequel to Vertigo this Half-Life inspired VR First-Person Shooter is out October 24, 2023.
Islanders VR Edition
This chill minimalist city builder is now in VR. Launching September 28, 2023
Tin Hearts VR
A VR adventure staring some clockwork soldiers. VR continues to be a platform where developers can experiment in ways that they can’t in more traditional video games and I’m here for it.
Davigo VR
You ever have a friend that’s just really getting on your nerves? Ever wanna just slap him across the room? Well Davigo will let you do just that and it’s VR vs PC.
Tiny Glade
As someone who has played a lot of sims but never could construct a house that would satisfy my mind goblins, the simplicity of the building mechanics in Tiny Glade is just super appealing to me. I look forward to making a cute little castle whenever this comes out next year.
Pacific Drive
Good day for driving games. The prospect of salvaging parts and repairing/building up your car as you travel through this crazy apocalyptic setting unraveling it’s secrets is very intriguing to me. Look for this one in 2024.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
Age of Sigmar’s got a new game coming out and hey we’ve got an early impressions for you to read right here if you’re interested in more detail on this one so go check that out.
Abiotic Factor
This is a co-op Survival Crafting game that looks like a Garry’s Mod mod. That might be intentional as the goal is to escape a doomed scientific research facility. This one’s also out in 2024.
Night Loops
This trailer felt like a fever dream. I’m picking up whatever these developers are putting down. Strong Return of the Obra Dinn vibes here.
Europa
A chill little adventure game inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli. It looks like the kind of game that I can see myself getting lost in for awhile. Europa will be hitting storefronts in 2024, but you can get a taste with the demo that’s out right now.
Wild Country
Card battler and city builder. The animals look cute but that’s a combination of video game mechanics that are anathema to me.
Symphonia
Very curious to see how the music affects gameplay in this puzzle platformer by the developer Sunny Peaks. It’ll be awhile before we can get our hands on it as this one’s slated for 2024 but it looks like a more musical version of Hollow Knight and we’re here for that.
Astronimo
cute looking 4 player cooperative puzzler where you and your friends can explore a vast solar system building all sorts of contraptions. The music in the trailer reminded me a lot of the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack.
Ad Infinitum
We’ve got another psychological horror game here, this time a first-person action game set in the First World War. I’m not the biggest horror guy but I’m a little curious to see what this game has in store.
Hexxen Hunters
I was incredibly excited before realizing this is not related to Raven Software’s Hexen and is in fact a… tactical rpg? There’s a lot of running. I don’t know about this one.
Helskate
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater crossed with a character action rpg? If this wasn’t a roguelite I would be all over this game. Game has style that much is certain. I’m taken back to my youth playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 on the PS2 and failing to learn real skateboarding. Shame it’s not releasing sooner but 2024 isn’t that far away.
Deathground
IAN FREEZE!! Dino survival horror? Yeah I’m okay with this. I love dinos and I know you all do too there’s not much to glean from this trailer, but the premise alone is worth keeping an eye on this.
Honorable Mentions:
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster
Thought I’d take the time here at the end to highlight an anouncment that did not happen at Gamescom. The fine folks at Nightdive are back at it remastering one of the finest first-person shooters to have graced us: Star Wars: Dark Forces. I played Dark Forces 3 years ago and fell in love almost immediately. The first entry in the Kyle Katarn saga is coming soon to all current and last gen consoles, and PC.
And That’s Day 1 in the bag! There’s a whole lotta games coming out and there’s surely more to come in the coming days. Stay tuned folks.
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