You’re a Dinosaur with a Sword

Okay, getting the obvious out of the way immediately: Dinoblade is a prehistoric action-RPG where you take command of a Great Sword-wielding Spinosaurus, setting forth to wage war against an army of rival dinos, each armed-to-the-teeth with similarly sharp weaponry. As far as concepts go, this one’s pretty out there. And whilst it is indeed a fantastical premise, Dinoblade finds its footing in familiar mechanics, where combat, progression, and exploration loops tread ground well-trodden, meaning intuition will see you through the opening exchanges. It’s just that, you know, you’re a dinosaur… with a blade. A “Dinosword”, if you will.

Its Coming From a Solo Developer

Dinoblade comes from the mind of solo creator Jean Nguyen, who is currently cutting their teeth as a Senior Gameplay Animator at Sucker Punch Productions, with credits on Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yōtei. The first images of Dinoblade emerged as playful experiments; animations shared to the developer’s social media accounts, where they never expected attention significant enough to warrant a fully-fledged game. Yet, just a few years later, here we are – Nguyen’s pedigree as an animator shines in the Spinosaurus’ fluid, impactful movement, with a prehistoric world thoughtfully designed to funnel you toward your next encounter, not unlike Sucker Punch’s feudal Japanese opuses.

Demo Reviews are “Overwhelmingly Positive”

There’s a free demo on Steam that’s been available to download since October 2025, and in that time the hour-long extract has garnered a significant amount of positive feedback, so much so that its current rating is “overwhelmingly positive”. For English reviews, at least, praise centres largely on the game’s solid combat, readable animations, and memorable dino designs, while citing occasionally jagged edges that’ll hopefully be smoothed out come the full release. If you’re unsure whether such an outlandish concept can work in practice, the demo’s Steam reviews should have you assured.

Story Follows a Meaningful Journey

In Dinoblade’s alternate-history timeline, the existence of dinosaurs, and the trajectory of their future survival, has been reshaped by a mysterious, cataclysmic event. As the young Spinosaurus, you’ll take your sword forged by ancient power to the throat of your adversaries, fighting tooth and nail to prevent a looming extinction. There is, also, an overarching plotline, one of a savage world wrapped in an enigma for you to unravel. The game’s description details said mystery could save your dinosaur species or doom you all for eternity. There’s more than fate at stake, then, as your exploits could have a seismic effect on your habitat’s sustainability.

Combat is Soulslike

Straight outta the FromSoft playbook, Dinoblade’s combat brings light and medium attacks, dodges, and specials, alongside a passively recharging stamina meter that refills fastest when executing a perfect parry. You’ll want to study your opponent’s moveset, be prepared to evade, and time your strikes to land when their defenses are down. Your special manoeuvres – with names like Meteor Slice and Alpha Roar – spend mana points to expel, while glowing health packs, magic points, and XP can be collected from downed opponents and scavenged throughout the environment. And some more elements of Soulslike game design: the world hides alternate paths, and mini-bosses are everywhere.

Character Progression Follows Familiar Paths

Throughout your odyssey you’ll be presented with new skills to learn and level up, alongside attributes such as overall health, damage output, mana use, and stamina power which can be independently boosted with XP. Those special moves just mentioned? They’ll need to be unlocked by spending specialist boss skill points – earned, of course, by downing one of the game’s many mini-bosses. From what’s been shown, Dinoblade’s RPG mechanics do seem light compared to others in the genre. Despite this, there’s still scope to tailor a build to your preferred playstyle; investing in mana to become a special move powerhouse, for instance, or maximising damage output over health and stamina to encourage an aggressive approach that ends fights quickly.

Bosses are Bigger Dinosaurs (With Even Bigger Blades)

So, during Dinoblade’s hour-long demo, our Spinosaurus encounters three bosses: a pair of mini-bosses Kira the Exile and Axe, the latter wielding, unsurprisingly, a serrated axe as their weapon of choice. The demo culminates with Kasei the Tyrant, a T-rex-type who stomps, chomps, and tailwhips with power and purpose. Most strikingly, during the battle’s first phase Kasei swings a poor Ankylosaurus in its jaws, using its hammer-like tail as a weapon. They eventually summon a colossal barndoor on a stick once the Ankylosaurus loses its form, and if this fight is any indication Dinoblade is set to feature a gauntlet of gruelling dino-foes to test your reflexes, spacing, and ability to handle multiple attack patterns at once.

A Posture Meter Turns Parries Into Counters

Because your stamina gauge builds most efficiently through perfect parrying, you’ll want to engage with that mechanic from the outset. But, there’s another reason too: when facing one of the game’s myriad bosses, a posture meter appears beneath their health bar. By executing perfect parries and by landing attacks, the posture meter fills until your opponent becomes staggered and vulnerable. Then you can unleash one of your specials as a devastating counter. It’s not a revolutionary system, sure, but it’ll serve you well during the game’s tougher boss encounters.

Exploration Rewards Curiosity

Whilst combat may be Dinoblade’s primary activity, venturing off the beaten path should prove just as worthwhile. Its prehistoric world is divided into numerous distinct biomes, each adorning their own aesthetic, from millenia-old canyons carved by ancient water-flow, to scorched forests, burnt volcanic plateaus, and mist-strewn jungles. Exploration, however, isn’t just for the scenery – hidden routes conceal optional encounters, valuable resources, and legendary weapons.

Each Biome is Ruled by an Apex Predator

Even though they begin as rudimentary encounters, each biome’s regular, more modestly-sized enemies grow in danger, ultimately channeling the region toward an even greater climax. See, each biome is ruled by an Alpha; an apex predator that blocks the route forward, serving as the area’s defining challenge. Again, this structure isn’t entirely novel, but it does bring a sense of purpose and escalation as you move through the world. And, if the early game is any indication, overcoming an Alpha won’t just mark the end of a level but feel like you’ve earned the right to venture forth into the next untamed wilderness.

Launching to PC Only (So Far)

Scheduled to release on July 23rd, Dinoblade is, so far, set to be playable on PC via Steam only. Depending on how sales fare, the game could find a home on consoles, but currently there is no official information on whether more platforms will ever arrive.

PC Requirements

To comfortably play Dinoblade on your hardware, the system requirements listed on the game’s Steam page detail an Intel Core i5-7500 or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 CPU, a GeForce GTX 1050 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 560 GPU, and 4GB RAM. Storage-wise, you’ll need 13GB.

10. The 9th Charnel

There’s a sense that the development team behind this had grand plans. Multiple playable characters with different backstories, survival mechanics, stealth, “realistic graphics” (their words, not mine) – it seems intriguing enough, until you actually play it. Poor performance, terrible voice acting, awful controls – that it even runs feels like a miracle. Minimal expectations aside, there’s just a sheer lack of redeeming qualities that would make you hope for better. Which sounds like a good time to segue to…

9. Code Violet

On the one hand, what can one expect anything from Teamkill Media in this day and age? Quantum Error was awful, but at least there was some sense that the studio was trying. Failing, sure, but trying all the same to make…something. Son and Bone was a waste of time, and with Code Violet, it appears to have given up even attempting to make an entertaining game. Awful story, awful gameplay, bland characters – the only reason it isn’t higher up is because of the negative hype going in.

8. Bubsy 4D

I wasn’t much of a Bubsy fan back in the day, but I admit that he’s had a rough time of it over the years. So seeing a 3D comeback like this from developer Fabraz was a nice feeling, with some decent humor and an intriguing, if ultimately uninteresting premise. But as it wore on, it became evident that Bubsy, annoying as he could be, was the least of the game’s problems, whether it’s the barren levels, occasionally iffy platforming, or a janky camera. Knowing what the developer is capable of, Bubsy 4D couldn’t measure up, even under little pressure.

7. Aphelion

Aphelion struggles to make a strong impression. Its story may have moments that pull you in, but it never reaches the level of intrigue or emotional weight it seems to be aiming for. The bigger issue is the gameplay, which quickly becomes a drag, with poor controls making even basic interactions feel more frustrating than they should. No one was expecting a sci-fi masterpiece, but it is still surprising how flat and uninteresting Aphelion feels overall.

6. Atomic Heart: Blood on Crystal

Speaking of “uninteresting,” if this were the first DLC for P-3’s bizarre adventure, I could see the reasoning for not expecting much. But this is the finale, the one that sets up the future, never mind the conclusion to the conflict between P-3 and CHAR-les. Instead, we get repetitive combat, annoying and tiresome traversal, and the same awful dialogue that marred the base game. If anything, at least it’s over, and we can move on to better things, even if Blood on Crystal doesn’t inspire much hope for the future.

5. Kiln

Maybe this hits more personally than the others, because you can see the sheer charm and originality in Kiln’s universe. But there’s still no denying how much of a bad idea it was from the word go. I’m all for supporting a studio’s creativity, but a multiplayer arena brawler in this day and age, that too from a team renowned for its single-player efforts? Did Double Fine not see what happened with Ninja Theory and Bleeding Edge? As a whole, Kiln doesn’t even muster above interesting. It’s as insubstantial as they come and all the charm in the world can’t save it.

4. Romeo is a Dead Man

If there’s anything you should take away from its placement on this list, it’s that I very much wanted to like Grasshopper Manufacture’s latest. The style, the atmosphere calling back to Tokusatsu greats like Ultraman and Kamen Rider, and the trippy narrative, which went beyond your average intergalactic hunt for space-time fugitives into something more surreal, were all pretty strong. It’s just that the actual gameplay left so much to be desired, especially with repetitive combat, underwhelming level design, lackluster enemy variety and shoddy performance. While it’s not the worst game of all time, it definitely needed more polish to match its overwhelming sense of style, especially given what the studio has been capable of at its peak.

3. Dead or Alive 6: Last Round

Far be it from the base game to inspire much love, either from long-time fans or fighting game nerds, but you would think in 2026 that Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo would attempt a clean slate. Dead or Alive 7 has been announced, after all. Surely they could revitalize Dead or Alive 6 with revamped mechanics, balance changes, less awful monetization, rollback netcode and a Tag Team mode that fans have been craving for years and years.

Last Round doesn’t offer any of that. In fact, it demands you repurchase all those characters and their costumes at higher prices. And to rub even more salt in the wound, the 2019 version has been delisted, which means you’re paying for a buggier follow-up that’s also trying to fleece you. Is this the same Koei Tecmo that released Nioh 3 and Pokemon Pokopia, two of this year’s best games? While the controversy will likely die down when Dead or Alive 7 rolls around, it’s amazing how well the publisher has effectively killed interest in the series, making anyone who cared about it feel like an utter fool.

2. Starfield: Terran Armada

While it’s only $10 – a far cry from the awful Shattered Space that cost $30 – and Bethesda clearly wasn’t aiming very high, Terran Armada is still frustratingly disappointing. After a year of relative silence, it should have offered a worthwhile narrative to accompany Free Lanes’ many new systems and quality-of-life improvements. It should have been Bethesda overdelivering for the fans in terms of storytelling.

Instead, there’s a new faction, enemy robots, some new ships to battle and commandeer, and Incursions to partake in. Imagine if the menial tasks in Fallout 4 actually became main mission content, against the backdrop of an initially promising story that, once again, flops on the execution. And if you’re a new player, especially with the recent PS5 version, the sheer number of bugs for the DLC alone would make you swear off Bethesda games entirely. Terran Armada may not be Bethesda’s worst ever, but it should have been an opportunity to do better rather than phoning it in.

1. Highguard

Some games fail because of unreasonable expectations, which usually emerge from extensive hype. Which is what made Wildlight Entertainment’s raid hero shooter such a fascinating anomaly. Everyone audibly groaned when it closed out The Game Awards, but the sheer audacity of it all actually drove some manner of anticipation, even if it was to watch the game fail.

The lack of communication leading up to its January launch was equally interpreted as the studio avoiding backlash and perhaps cooking up something special. Then Highguard actually dropped, just as it promised, and it was…not great. A mishmash of wildly conflicting genres, coupled with mostly uninspired heroes, painfully long matches, horrendous optimization, and more, ultimately sullied some interesting environments and solid gunplay.

Less than two months and numerous layoffs later, it was dead. You would think expecting anything from yet another dry live-service title would be folly, but given the studio’s experience, the years in development, and its funding (which may or may not have come from Tencent), it wasn’t your average project in terms of scale. If it ended up enjoyable, who knows how many of those players who checked it out on day one, expecting a massive failure, would have stuck around?

So long, Highguard – we hardly knew ye, but at least you made everyone question that one last announcement at every Summer Game Fest, Game Awards and so on going forward.

From beloved franchises and characters taking to the stage, to ambitious new concepts and studios looking to make a mark for themselves, there’s a lot to look forward to on the horizon if gaming is your jam. Here are a few titles that we think come with a lot of expectations, but are more than capable of delivering on what they promise. The list starts with:

1. Grand Theft Auto 6

We thought it best to give this one its due right up top, since it carries the biggest weight of expectations that other games in the current console generation simply can’t match up to. Rockstar’s going to have to prove it still has what it takes to deliver generational leaps between its titles, beyond just nailing a title whose franchise formula is enough to make it a hit without even trying.

It’s going to have to justify a decade of waiting, most of it quite agonizing, a much-discussed delay very close to its 2025 release, and earn the aura of being the biggest game ever. It’s one of the potential benchmarks against which all open worlds that follow it will be measured, if its predecessor is any indication, and is going to be talked about well beyond its November 19, 2026, release on the PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

How much of that conversation is good remains to be seen, but we’re quite optimistic about this one’s chances.

2. Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac’s done pretty well with Spider-Man, capturing the tone and vibe of the comics and films, while building a narrative around Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and the rest of the franchise’s popular cast in ways that stay true to its narrative roots. But can it repeat the same with a character like Wolverine, who brings a literal polar opposite to all the things that made its last superhero effort a hit?

Logan fights differently, feels different, and is different to Peter in so many ways, it’s going to be an uphill task to avoid making him feel like Spidey with claws. But the limited glimpses we’ve been given of what’s on offer in this one show a perfect balance of the character’s near-immortality and a combat system that works well against enemies who are designed to take a beating from him.

The little bit of story that we know of is similarly well-executed, making us believe that the studio has another PS5-exclusive hit on its hands when this one hits the shelves on September 15, 2026.

3. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Black Flag is Assassin’s Creed at its finest, no doubt about it. Edward Kenway was the perfect vehicle for bold changes to the gameplay loop, with a pirate-themed formula that worked very well to present his character arc. There’s a reason it’s among the most beloved titles in the franchise, and was a logical choice for a pretty ambitious effort at modernising it from the developer.

But a new combat system, rebuilt visuals, and quality-of-life touches run the risk of sanding away at the very soul of an experience that could make it feel out of place. We’re quite positive about it being the same freewheeling pirate adventure that we know and love, but is it going to be too different by being less messy than what we’re used to? We don’t have too long to wait to find out, as this one’s out on July 9, 2026 for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

4. Halo: Campaign Evolved

Although everything we’ve seen of this one has been impressive, there’s still the nagging suspicion that it might not be enough to alleviate thoughts that the Halo franchise is relying on its past success when it finds itself at a creative slump. Like you, we’re hoping that isn’t the case, and that this one used Master Chief and Combat Evolved’s legacy well enough to ensure that the franchise has a future beyond the glory days of its Bungie era.

It’s a road that’s as risky as it is safe for the Halo brand, but we’re sure that this one’s a solid effort from Halo Studios. It drops on July 28, 2026, as listed by Xbox and is included with Game Pass.

5. Beast of Reincarnation

A single-player Sekiro like game with a very unique premise and a combat system that’s looking more sublime with every showcase it gets are obvious reasons to think that Game Freak might be flying too close to the sun with this one. Can a studio that’s used to making great Pokémon games suddenly take on a challenge like this one?

Turns out that this one might just have everything it needs to prove anyone who doubts it wrong, and do it with style in the process. That goes beyond the scope to specific aspects like the tech, visuals, action design, and the evident high performance requirements it’s going to bring to current-gen hardware given how its experience is set up.

The swordswoman/dog-dependent combat system is going to have to be more than just a gimmick when this one gets out on August 4, 2026, on PS5.

6. Fable

This is a franchise that Xbox should have returned to a long time ago in our opinion. But it’s better late than never, right? Well, not quite. It’s still a risky venture, considering that this modern reboot of a beloved IP has to prove that the franchise’s signature humor is still capable of drawing laughs, and that Albion feels alive enough to make the player feel like they’re indeed at the center of a much grander adventure.

Playground needs to nail down a shift from its Forza-focused approach to a full-blown RPG that’s going to live or die based on how layered it is, and how those layers balance each other out. Xbox is going to be hoping its 1000+ NPCs can make you keep coming back for more when this one drops on February 23, 2027, with Game Pass on day one.

7. The Blood of Dawnwalker

Rebel Wolves might have some really seasoned hands among its ranks, but it still needs to prove itself as a new studio. Weigh those expectations against what The Blood of Dawnwalker has to offer, and you’ve got a title that screams of ambition and innovation in a post-Clair Obscur world. That’s an uphill climb even for the rarest of talent, but Coen looks like he’s the perfect vampire-human hybrid to give this one some forward momentum.

The time-as-a-currency mechanic looks like it’s going to test his abilities quite well, just as well as it supports the story’s choice-based direction, the combat, and the emotional payoff of the consequences to all the choices you made, which are touted to extend beyond this one in a line of planned sequels to it. That’s a lot of pressure for the potential start of a brand-new saga that begins on September 3, 2026, being playable on the PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

8. Phantom Blade Zero

We weren’t afraid to bet big on this one as early as last year, and what we’ve seen of it so far hasn’t changed that opinion in the slightest. But that doesn’t change the fact that those very expectations might be the biggest challenge for its versatile protagonist to beat. Can all the style, obvious substance, and slick combat and traversal mechanics manage to impress us all beyond the first few hours?

If there ever was a game that seems too good to be true, this one’s it. But we’re quite positive that it’s got enough depth and challenge that will work well with great level and enemy design and a combat rhythm that’s quite impressive when it drops on October 29, 2026, bringing its wuxia-inspired experience to the PS5.

9. Silent Hill: Townfall

Following up a very impressive last outing with Silent Hill f, Townfall has two big shoes to fill: it needs to match or exceed the quality of its predecessor, and manage to be an excellent Silent Hill game in the process. More than that, it needs to show us that the franchise has enough meat on its bones to have a future beyond remakes and banking on the nostalgia it brings to those of us lucky enough to witness its rise to fame and prominence.

It needs to show us new horror instead of repackaged trauma, which is saying something considering all the places this franchise has taken us to. But with a full-length, self-contained experience based in Scotland, and a healthy balance between its exploration, new mechanics, and puzzles, we don’t see why this one can’t succeed when it drops on September 24, 2026.

10. Onimusha: The Way of the Sword

The team behind Resident Evil has had quite a good year, but it still needs to prove that it has managed to make this one a modern action franchise that weaves in Soulslikes elements while retaining what made it special over the years. It needs to show us how the classic Onimusha franchise formula can still manage to capture an audience in 2026, with measured swordplay, counter attacks, soul absorption, and everything else that puts it on the map shines through well enough to make it stand out.

It’s releasing right beside The Blood of Dawnwalker, which means it could face some stiff competition from a rival it never saw coming, but we think it’s sure to find its takers, and anyone choosing the other title is bound to visit this one at a later time.

And that’s it for this one. We can’t wait to see if each of the games we’ve talked about here manages to achieve the lofty goals that it’s tackling. But with all the talent that’s backing up the experience they offer, we’re certain that they’re going to be very enjoyable anyway.

And that’s good news for a lot of us, as we’re going to be pretty spoiled for choice in the coming few months.

Why? Well, perks of the job aside, we’ve done that to touch upon what’s different from the original, and how that transforms the experience on offer across the board with a special focus on PC and PS5 Pro. Can the latest Anvil tech make this one go beyond an overhaul of resolutions and textures to make its world feel alive in ways that weren’t possible in the original game? Can that very impressive rendering stack manage to draw you into a familiar story well enough to make you want to do it all again?

Let’s find out!

What’s New?

The Caribbean continues to be the star of the show in Resynced, just as it was in the original Black Flag. It isn’t just the OG experience with a sharper image, and it’s so much more alive this time around that you feel the difference quite early. We’re going to just come out and say that Black Flag was no mean feat when it was first released, and managed to look and feel pretty good for a cross-generational title looking to bridge the PS4 and Xbox One with their predecessors.

But of course, it was limited by the machines it was made to run on, relying on fixed approximations about what its world should look like in any given scenario. It was an approach that worked pretty well for the game back in the day given that it was probably the only way to make such titles look as good as they did. But things have changed now, and the world itself enjoys the kind of adaptability that served Edward as well as it did over his journey from a pirate to an Assassin.

Let’s begin with the seas, since around 60% of the game’s world is made up of it. The upgrades go beyond better reflections, better-looking waves and foam, and more realistic collisions. Those were kind of taken for granted at this point given the extensive showcases the developer has given us all in the run up to Resynced’s release. But it’s in how the water reacts to you, your ship, and the world around it to present a more active sea this time around where the remake shines over the original.

Of course, the illusion of an active sea was always a part of the experience, with Black Flag weaving in wave motion, realistic responses from your ship to the pull and tug of the sea, storms that immediately made your survival a question mark and a matter of accurately reading rogue waves, great foam and how readable naval combat was once you found your sea legs. Well, each of those factors is now even better, with a physicality based water pipeline doing a lot of work under the hood to make the sea feel all the more responsive while looking like an endless vacation spot all at the same time.

New tessellation techniques, volumetric foam generation, dynamic bubble systems, and the way water responds to multiple variables like your ship, the wind, and the weather to generate accurate, realistic reactions every time make for a presentation of the sea that makes it feel like a living canvas just waiting for you to trace lines of adventure on with the Jackdaw as your brush. The seas were always where Black Flag’s best thrills were to be found, and Resynced’s take on them sets its world up for success on many fronts.

Take the weather, for example. It’s changed from being a very good take on realistic weather effects to an entire simulation that constantly works behind the scenes to make the seas feel truly treacherous this time around. You could set out with the sun shining bright on The Jackdaw’s deck, and find yourself in cloudy weather a little while later, all of which happens so seamlessly it can be hard to notice unless you’re actively watching for it.

The Atmos tech is doing its job, allowing variables like temperatures, humidity, the wind, and vapor density to intersect with results that make the weather system in Resynced a logical extension of how it impacted the world in Shadows. Those changing seasons are now a part of the world’s fabric, and it’s honestly impressive to see how the seas can turn against you as if Calypso herself took issue with Edward’s presence in them.

Of course, we’d be remiss not to talk about the new lighting system, which brings fully dynamic lighting and ray tracing to the table to light it, and everything else its rays touch, right up. You’re going to see it working its magic the second you move off a brightly lit street into a shady alley, the environment getting suitably less bright to match the scene while stray rays still sneak past thin leaves to cast thin pockets of light, surrounded by very realistic shadows.

It’s in how the world looks so drastically different and consistently beautiful at both dawn and dusk, each scene being lit up by systems that are dynamically responding to the time of day instead of being pre-rendered to present an approximation of it. The reflections of moisture off your armor or metallic surfaces are so realistically done, as is the spray of the ocean or the damage you do to enemy ships when you take them on.

Embers glide on the wind among raindrops as you unleash The Jackdaw’s might amid a raging storm, and every explosion lights up the pitch blackness of the open seas in ways that make each one feel like a glimpse into the fate that awaits you should your next shot miss. We could go on, but we’re going to say that the new lighting system is an excellent and very welcome upgrade, working well to make the world react as well to light as it does on other fronts.

Of course, the new Anvil Engine has also brought a lot of improvements to other factors like draw distances, visibility in areas where it’s a factor, and camera perspectives that work to elevate the scene being presented. SSD-backed streaming of smaller clusters is amazing on this front, and it’s evident as soon as you whip out your spyglass and peer off into the distance at an island you’re thinking of stopping at. There is no pop-in whatsoever, and the details look excellent.

Sailing towards a fort or settlement lets you see activity in the distance, instead of NPCs just hanging out statically until you alter the world state by initiating conflict. The jungle geometry is a perfect balance between the exploreable ones on offer in Black Flag, and the impenetrably dense foliage that Japan had in Shadows. Rock formations in the distance look as good as city skylines, and the entire rendering system does so well, it feels like Resynced might have needed an entirely new Animus to present a Caribbean simulation that looks and feels so real.

Of course, all of these graphical improvements would mean nothing if the performance didn’t manage to keep up. Well, there’s good news on that front as well.

PC Performance

You can bet we’ve put Resynced through its paces to see how it holds up under pressure. Our PC build includes an NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti, an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and 16GB of RAM. That’s a reasonably powerful setup, and we set our resolution to 4K with the maximum available settings and DLSS set to Balanced. With that powering the experience, we managed a consistent 45-55 FPS which is pretty good given the recommended setups to run the game at its absolute best.

The official recommendation for 4K/60 FPS gameplay with extended ray tracing and quality upscaling requires an RTX 4090/RX 7900 XTX with a Ryzen Ryzen 7 5700X3D/Core i7-12700K-class CPU. On paper, our setup should have capped out at 1440p/60 FPS at high settings with standard ray tracing and Balanced upscaling. That makes what Resynced managed to offer quite impressive on the performance front considering everything we’ve talked about on the graphical one stretching our system to its limits.

PS5 Pro Is A Powerhouse

Well, that sorts out the PC. What about the PS5 Pro? We know that its Performance Mode offers 2160p upscaling with Enhanced PSSR, 60 FPS, and extended ray tracing while the Fidelity Mode goes for 30 FPS and Balanced goes for 40 FPS with the rest of it remaining the same. There’s specular reflections and ray-traced global illumination on board as well, with strand-based hair for Edward in all modes (you get it on nearby NPCs as well with Fidelity on), and the same across the board in all cinematics.

We tested things out across all three modes and came away impressed with the results, thanks to very little fluctuations in target goal of performance paramerers. We’d personally pick Performance Mode for that silky smooth frame rate and its impact on combat. What’s next? Well we think it a good idea to give you a comparison between the Pro’s Fidelity Mode and our PC. As far as the image is concerned, the PC handled distant geometry a lot better, and edged out the Pro when it came to fine ropes on rigging or vegetation, the foliage itself, and the general level of detail on a sub pixel level. That isn’t really a surprise but what’s surprising is that the Pro doesn’t lag too far behind.

That’s kind of a pattern here, as the ray-traced lighting is similarly effective with the PC managing to edge ahead in who interiors are lit up, how the light handles indirect bounce, transitions between different times of the day, and shaded streets. It’s the same thing with the reflections on oceans, wet floors of decks, metal surfaces, and any surface that’s showing off the aftermath of rains. You’re going to find more details on distant settlements, fortifications, and the silhouettes of cities that you’re approaching through fog or at night.

The strand-based hair tech works just as well on the Pro as it does on the PC although having it in operation at a higher frame rate output on the PC is an advantage. The latter also gets a distinct advantage in how different weather scenes play out, with storm complexity, the ocean’s response to your actions, and the chaos of the sea feeling that much better on the PC versus the Pro’s Fidelity Mode.

Once again, the most impressive part of the comparison is that aside from the lower frame rate, the PS5 Pro hasn’t been completely outclassed by its PC counterpart as far as Resynced is concerned, and you’re going to have a hell of a good time on either system if your PC can come close to the recommended specs from the developer.

With all that’s been said, we suppose you’ve already guessed that as far as graphics and performance are concerned, Black Flag Resynced is quite an impressive upgrade, and an experience that makes the remake feel like an evolution of its world instead of a mere visual overhaul.

We’ve already covered how Edward’s adventure has made the trip from our past to the present in our full review of the game, but as far as the graphics go, this is a fantastic effort at a remake. We’re definitely throwing a hat in the air for the team behind it in appreciation of a job well done.

It’s hard to believe that we’ve got so many great ones in just the first half of the year, but the current generation of gaming hardware has made developers push the envelope on graphical fidelity, making games that can blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite ones of the year, beginning with:

1. Resident Evil Requiem

The RE Engine has always been great at bringing whatever the developer dreams up to life, but this one’s great use of lighting, environmental detail, and excellent photorealistic graphics was the pinnacle of what the studio has achieved over the years. From Leon’s grizzly look to Grace’s raw fear and vulnerability, the character models were brilliant. Even better was how the franchise’s often moody and dark vibe was reflected in the very walls of the Rhodes Hill Care Facility or within the gloomy ruins of Raccoon City.

Of course, it wasn’t all about looks, as the gameplay was made all the more immersive thanks to how smooth the entire thing was, be it Grace running from The Child or taking control of Leon to beat down on zombies that came with superior numbers. All of the blood and gore on display served to underline the horrors of what the two protagonists were facing, while the addition of differing camera perspectives was a very welcome touch.

The developer really cooked with this one.

2. RIDE 6

We really liked how the world and the bikes themselves fed into the illusion that we were right there on the tracks, swinging a leg over those impossibly fast machines in the process. The details on each bike were nothing short of stunning, with Unreal Engine 5 working under the hood to ensure that their metal panels let the light gently glance off of them.

The tracks and the world in general were additional facets of the experience that added to the immersion, and the way things moved once you let your throttle loose is a feeling that only those among us who love riding can describe. This one’s definitely earned its place among the year’s finest on the graphical front, and with good reason.

3. Reanimal

An adventure that’s as emotionally layered as the harrowing one that The Boy and The Girl undertake in Reanimal was always going to rely on the grim and gritty world that acted as its stage. Tarsier Studios definitely had that in mind when crafting this one, and the sense of isolation and despair that the Island brought to the table was definitely a highlight of the experience.

The art direction, cinematic presentation, and the stunning level of detail on offer in this one did well to make the horror side of things stand out, while lending a layer of poignancy to the tale of two lost children looking for a way out of desperate circumstances. From the efficient use of limited light in specific situations to presenting the desolation of a world that’s designed to make you hesitate, this one definitely stands tall among the year’s finest titles.

4. Subnautica 2

While the long wait for this one might not feel as rewarding in terms of the narrative, which is going to take a bit of time to fully present its complexities, the world of Proteus is an entirely different story. It’s crafted to make you feel like a smaller part of a larger landscape, its flora and fauna designed so well that they’re almost calling to you to investigate further. That’s a crucial pillar of this one’s gameplay loop, and to see it implemented as well as it has been is a reason for Subnautica 2 to shine as bright as it does.

Exploring the world gives you a strong feeling of venturing into the unknown, and the graphics do a very good job of selling that sentiment as you try to make sense of what’s been unfolding on the planet before you got there. On the graphical front, Proteas does well to make itself a world that you can’t help but explore, the desire to see more of it stemming from how well it’s presented to you.

5. Pragmata

Hugh and Diana’s time in The Cradle wouldn’t have been as engaging if the darn thing hadn’t been as ethereally beautiful as it was. It’s almost as if the facility was designed to be the perfect backdrop to an adventure that had action and emotion woven in with a sublime balance. It wasn’t just the pristine walls and stunning environments but the way Diana’s hacking minigame was designed and presented, alongside enemy designs that we continue to grin about when we think about them.

This one’s design chops were a very memorable part of the experience it was offering, and it almost made us sad that there wasn’t more of it to go around. Well, there’s every chance a sequel comes along to dazzle us even more sometime in the future, so there’s that. But Pragmata definitely deserves a place on this list thanks to how well the world you’re a part of makes the entire journey even better without taking away from the rest of it.

6. Forza Horizon 6

Japan’s a popular place in modern gaming, and the Horizon Festival’s take on the land, its unique vibe, and, of course, the cars is a very impressive way to make its latest iteration engaging right off the bat. From the bustling streets of its cities to the serene beauty of its open roads and mountains, Japan almost feels like it’s where the Festival has always belonged, although we know that it’s going to move on in the franchise’s next offering.

Nevertheless, this one’s going to have you stopping to just take in the sights more often than not. We even gave up on a race to just admire the scenic beauty of a road high up on a mountain at one point, and that’s a testament to how the game’s weather system and excellent lighting make every inch of Japan a place worth looking into. The graphics are a solid part of why this one feels so special, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Playground tops them in whatever it’s planning next.

7. Crimson Desert

Oh, Pywel. What a place for a fan of fantasy titles to visit. From its well-designed cities to biomes that not just remain visually distinct from each other but constantly seem to be trying to be more impressive than the one you just left, this one’s definitely up there with some of the most visually impressive open worlds there are. And that’s not even factoring in the Abyss and whatever mysteries its sci-fi vibes are hiding.

Lush fields, dense forests, mechanical marvels, dark caves, bright palaces contrast well with desolate ruins, terrifying monsters, and a harsh desert, all of which serve to underline a land that’s as visually diverse as it is on a mechanical level. Yes, this one had a bit of a shaky start, but its problems are now just blips on a very promising horizon thanks to the developer’s efforts to make this a fantasy you can’t get enough of.

8. REPLACED

In our review of this one, we were quite impressed by how detailed its pixel art-style environments could be, and that continues to be a highlight of the experience on offer. It’s never easy to present great detailing and a unique style in a way that communicates desolation and a grim reality for the people exploring worlds like Phoenix City, and Sad Cat deserves credit for crafting environments that make you gape at their melancholic beauty even as the sadness of what’s created such spaces remains as an undercurrent to nudge your emotions a certain way.

The platforming puzzle sections deserve a special mention, and we’re still thinking about how well they’ve been presented in this one. On the graphical front, this one definitely deserves praise for the way in which it brings the world to life, dystopian hellscape vibes and all.

9. 007 First Light

IO Interactive’s take on James Bond’s early trysts with MI6 is as stylish as the man himself. If you’ve seen even a hint of this one, you probably already know why we’ve given it a spot on our list. Lights reflect off surfaces so naturally, while character models and environmental details help sell the story it’s trying to tell so well that it isn’t easy to remember that this one’s a video game and not an interactive film.

It also helps that everything is so polished that it enables the gameplay to better sell a version of Bond who’s brutal in a fight, while being quite the marksman if he’s at range. All in all, this one is a Bond game for the ages, and its visual fidelity is definitely a pillar that props up the experience it offers.

10. Saros

We weren’t really surprised at how visually resplendent Carcosa was after our time with Returnal, but Saros definitely earns its place on this list thanks to how Arjun’s harrowing time in a world that doesn’t make sense to him as often as he’d like is presented. From those almost spellbinding bullet patterns to some truly terrifying enemy designs, this one definitely belongs among the stronger visual feats this year has achieved.

Carcosa itself shouldn’t be discounted, with places like the Shattered Ruins, the Mysterious Depths, and, of course, the Ancient City all standing out as places that you want to learn more about while remaining imposing enough to make you hesitant about indulging that curiosity. This one’s as good as they come, and Housemarque deserves credit for a title that looks this good.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s been a pleasure to dive into the worlds these games have given us, and we’ve no doubt that the rest of the year has more of these visual marvels coming our way. Until then, it’s probably a good idea to give any of these titles a shot if you’re looking for something to cast a spell on you.

We’ve been touching upon them from time to time, as the studio tells us more, but with the final release being as close as it is, we thought it best to get a closer look at what’s coming, and perhaps help you decide if this one was worthy of a weekend with cancelled plans. Well, keep your calendars handy as we take you through what you can expect from the upcoming update. Let’s go.

1. An Entirely Reworked Progression Curve

If you happen to have missed Pocketpair’s communications director Bucky telling us about that long list of changes, you’re going to be very excited to know that there’s going to be a lot of change coming to the world across the entirety of the adventure. There’s an improved early game, a more balanced and fleshed-out midgame, and the endgame content you’re already familiar with supplemented by new additions.

That’s a solid rethink of the game’s entire narrative and exploratory structure, and it should make this version of Palworld feel like a new beast altogether. It’s also a strong reason to consider the next entry on this list quite well if you’re a returning player.

2. Starting Over Might Be A Good Idea

Given that there are changes across the journey for you to discover and make use of, you might want to think about a new playthrough despite your old saves working with the new update. That’s because you might be missing out on a lot if you just load up an endgame save, with the redesigned progression loop’s new advantages slipping by you.

It’s a great indication that Pocketpair has rebuilt the very route you take through the whole experience, while adding in a very attractive final destination in the World Tree.

3. A Mission-Driven Story Structure

If there was a complaint we had about Palworld’s Early Access build, it’s that uncovering lore about the Island and its mysteries could feel rather disjointed, with the bosses and gameplay systems not connecting back to the narrative well enough for it all to come together cohesively.

Well, that’s about to change as Version 1.0 is bringing a series of story-driven missions to the table, ensuring that your exploration and gameplay now act as bridges over narrative structural gaps, letting you discover the Island better than before while also letting you come to terms with what’s changed in the new update. That’s definitely a win-win.

4. A Reworked World Map

It would have been easy to just add a giant new region with a lot of things to do to the existing map before calling it a day, but we’re glad Pocketpair isn’t taking that route. There are going to be improvements to existing areas that make them feel more “alive”, while new areas are indeed a part of the new content making its way to the game.

We can’t wait to find out if the original version’s uneven density is going to be addressed to give the overall world more purpose, and whether the additional square mileage builds on that to make this the definitive version of the game’s world.

5. The World Tree

We’re very happy that the World Tree is finally coming into play, since we’re the type of gamers who just can’t see something we know is going to be a part of the fun at some point, but just can’t access it yet. The Tree has been at the edge of our goals for too long, and 1.0 bringing it into the playable experience is very welcome.

We believe having it accessible can add a new layer of direction to fresh playthroughs, giving the impression that everything our characters are doing is in service of reaching a final destination that’s now within our grasp. That’s a very welcome narrative and geographical endpoint for an adventure that really needed them in our book.

6. Mechanically Reworked Tower Bosses

If you’ve decided on a new playthrough and are expecting to blaze a path through bosses and towers in your path, think again. Things are different this time around, and enemies and bosses have been reworked to be more dynamic and engaging when you take them on.

The developers claim that they’re different enough to warrant a change in strategy, so you might want to stay on your toes and prepare for a few tough battles on your way to the World Tree. Of course, new bosses are also a part of the mix, so your time in the updated world is likely not going to feel too familiar even if you’re a player who’s been diligent about seeing it all.

7. The New and Improved Wildlife Sanctuaries

We loved Wildlife Sanctuaries in the Early Access build, and we’re thrilled that they’re getting an overhaul in the final one. They’re going to function as more than just restricted zones with rare Pals that feel kind of interchangeable. They’re bringing distinct ecosystems, powerful bosses, rare Pals of course, barriers and drones for you to work around, and unique materials and landscapes, all of which could make them viable endgame ecosystems for you to work with.

It could make grabbing those extra few levels and some potentially great Pals all the more engaging as you rebuild a new character to match your previous endgame build, or go in an entirely new direction if you so choose.

8. Overhauled Raids

It isn’t just about new content being added to Raids but about a complete overhaul of their mechanics that has us pretty eager to see what’s new. It’s no secret that Raids could feel a little repetitive and we’re hoping that the new changes are going to do something about that.

The overhaul is definitely coming with 1.0, although the exact specifics have been kept under wraps, and we’re guessing they’re going to be an important talking point once they’re out in the open. We’re pretty optimistic that things are going to improve, keeping how the rest of the game is being overhauled in mind.

9. No Place Like Your Home Base

Every world that’s filled with mystery and danger must come with that one place where you can put your feet up after a hard day’s adventuring. Well, your Home Base is where that happens in Palworld, and we’re pretty happy about the new Offshore Building feature being added to Version 1.0.

Building offshore can let you plan your base’s defences better, while also switching things up on the aesthetics and placement fronts. With new structures, building parts, and the ability to use a lot of previously unusable dead space on the coasts, this is a mechanical change that we’re very curious to see in action.

10. The Wing Pack’s New Brand of Traversal

Getting around a world as big as the one on offer in Palworld was always going to be a challenge, and we think Pocketpair’s made a really good call bringing the Wind Pack into the mix. For starters, it frees up a valuable party slot that you’d have otherwise assigned to a flying Pal. That automatically gives you more options for your party composition and its effectiveness in combat and other situations.

The ability to fly around the island all on your own is something we’re quite pleased with, and we’re sure a lot of you newbies and returning players alike are going to agree.

11. New Pals, New Ways To Field Them

We’re not going to dwell too much on the addition of new Pals for you to find out there as you explore the Island’s farthest reaches, going to places familiar and fresh all at once. That was kind of a given. But what we’re very interested in is the fact that some of these new additions come with functionalities that are quite unique.

There’s one that transforms into a two-handed sword, for instance, and that’s the one we’re going to make a beeline for as soon as its possible to try grabbing it. It’s a very exciting addition that could take Pals beyond mounts and passive labour tools, integrating them more directly into Palworld’s combat systems in ways that make sense while also meaningfully evolving its gameplay. We’re hoping that this new update is the start of something creatively beautiful in the long-term.

12. Mid-Game Overhaul

Titles like Palworld often struggle to build meaningful midgame progression loops that bridge the pleasures of early progress and easy leveling to the more challenging late-game rewards that are hard to earn, and equally as satisfying. Getting to a stage where your upgrades are only incremental, while resources get harder to acquire in the required numbers, and recapturing lost ground gets a tad repetitive.

Although Pockpetpair has stayed mum about how it plans to address that particular problem, it’s clear that the midgame has been a major area of focus for the studio, and that it’s being fleshed out in ways that are designed to make it more appealing. We’re going to reserve a verdict for once we’re actually there experiencing it for ourselves, but we think this part of things is certainly headed in the right direction.

13. The New Endgame

With all of the cool things we’ve already spoken about, it’s clear that the progression loop in Palworld is going past the version where it could get a little boring once you were a master of your tech. The endgame expansion that’s been promised is only one part of why getting to be the best version of your character might only be the beginning of a lot of fun to be had in the world.

New Sanctuaries, revamped towers and raids, new places alongside the World Tree, and so much more could make the endgame feel like a world where your progression continues to sustain itself in ways that make sense, leaving behind the old experience’s lack of allure once you have enough stuff unlocked to be an absolute powerhouse. We’ll have to wait and see how this plays out, but we see no reason not to expect a fair bit of fun things to do once you hit your metaphorical peak in the game.

14. You Face A Hard Choice

We know we said it’s recommended to start a new playthrough to see everything 1.0 has to offer, but we’re equally aware that that’s easier said than done. Yes, your existing saves are going to survive, but are you going to use them while missing out on a lot of the new facets being added to the overall experience? Or are you going to leave years of progress, bases, and Pals behind to start over again?

We’d personally use our old saves to try and get to the end of the story while having a new one in order to experience the reworked adventure right from the start, but that’s just us. A new playthrough is going to feel fresh, but will it be enough to justify leaving all the work you’ve put into your current save behind? That’s for you to decide.

15. Changes To Player Side-Combat

Yes, there are new weapons. Yes, there’s new gear for your character to find and equip. Yes, there are new Pals, some of which even double up as weapons. But can all that change the combat system’s affinity towards encouraging the collection of stronger Pals while trying to balance that out with what your player character can do?

We know that there are going to be changes in this department, but we’re curious to see if they are going to be enough to balance out player combat, traversal, and Pal abilities in a way that makes player-driven combat builds more viable. We’d definitely be on board with that, as we hate putting our Pals in any kind of danger, even if they were meant to be on the front lines. It remains to be seen if we’re going to have new ways to deal damage instead of dealing more of it across the board.

And that’s about it with this one. We’re sure excited about finally getting to the World Tree, even if we have to start from scratch to do it. It’s now a matter of waiting out the rest of the week before we see the lot of you on the Island with us!

The new Anvil Engine powering both games can make Resynced feel like a proper, faithful remake of the experience we know and love, while it has helped Shadows stand out with its dual-protagonist approach to combat and stealth, that allow Naoe and Yasuke to stand out as worth additions (sort of) to the Brotherhood’s ranks. To that end, we’ve put these two successive instalments in the franchise’s lineup in a conversation with each other, intending to examine if a return to the franchise’s roots is a good move for Assassin’s Creed right now.

Let’s hop in the Animus and visit two vastly different, but equally captivating takes, on the franchise’s formula.

The Past Versus The Present

There was a time when an Assassin could tear through groups of soldiers with impunity once they could deflect a single attack, punishing a badly timed swipe or stab with an onslaught that could make even the most experienced warriors fall without ever seeing the move coming. Of course, that was often discouraged by the game’s premise and gameplay loop, but it was often an option when those pesky optional challenges were proving to be an annoyance, and you just wanted to cut loose after thinning out the herd and disabling their alarm bells.

That was classic Assassin’s Creed and it’s a time when the franchise was riding high on the novelty of its premise, and its ability to recreate eras of history with passionately written stories for each new Assassin we’ve had the privilege of meeting. Well, those stories are definitely still a part of the franchise’s overall narrative, but its recent titles have placed them squarely in an RPG-esque structure that does bring a bit of grinding before you can seamlessly experience the story into the mix.

Shadow’s take on Japan is so massive that this problem becomes glaringly evident, irrespective of how engaging the world was to explore and dig into. It worked against story progression diluting the impact of the budding guild of Assassin’s against the larger world that seemed to always have a threat that was beyond Naoe and Yasuke’s current abilities, requiring engaging, yet unwelcomed diversions for those of us who wanted to know where the story was going.

The Caribbean’s more focused in comparison, and while setting off on your own without a care in the world is very much part of the pirate fantasy, you could always choose to chase Edward’s time with the Assassin’s at your own pace, with the game’s balancing giving you a fair bit of control over your chosen direction. We see no reasons for that to change in Resynced, and this is probably a good place to talk about the different experiences they offer.

Let’s begin with Shadows and the way it has been a great take on ancient Japan with a samurai/shinobi-themed fantasy working very well as its beating heart. It’s that very premise that has helped all the game’s ambitions come to life as satisfyingly as they have. The stealth mechanics made Naoe feel like a literal shadow, while storming enemy strongholds with Yasuke never gets old. It’s a heady mix of Assassins, samurais, and shinobis, all working within a Japan-themed sandbox that lets you decide what you’re going to be at any given moment.

However, there’s something to be said for Edward’s intriguing blend of a lawless pirate and a noble Assassin. He’s got layers and enough charm and charisma to sell each of those layers in ways that have allowed not just him, but his son to become crucial parts of an important chapter of the franchise’s overarching narrative. His impact on the franchise is undeniable, and his very character was the perfect vehicle for Black Flag’s identity as a pirate-themed adventure that would introduce a naval identity to the franchise.

That’s helped Black Flag, and Resynced by extension, differentiate themselves from the more traditional open-world exploration loop in Shadows. But wait, there’s more.

The Fight In An Ancient War

Fighting off the Templars and any unfortunate enough to be in their service is always an important facet of the experience on offer, and the franchise’s combat systems have largely been about stylish takedowns and smooth movement between foes. Edward was probably the peak of that particular formula before more methodical approaches in Unity and Syndicate made way for the modern RPG-like systems that have been a part of the franchise since Odyssey.

Each one has its merits, but Resynced is looking like it could be a solid balance between two varying approaches. With hitbox-based action that requires more skill than the original version that could trigger killstreaks off a single parry, a better movement system, and a less heavy emphasis on RPG-style mechanics that could help it feels like a logical continuation of what was on offer in Shadows. And that, in turn, could point to a better balance between the two approaches in future titles, and this is before we consider stealth.

When things need to be done quietly, you’ve got to admit that there’s no finer Assassin in the Brotherhood’s ranks than Naoe. She’s the perfect huntress in Shadows’ stealth sandboxes, and the sheer number of options she has in her toolkit and skill set are simply unmatched. Pair that with a gear system that’s paved the way for some truly insane stealth builds, and you see why Shadows just takes the prize for a better stealth experience.

But Edward’s time spent prowling among the bushes and grass in the Caribbean does have that old-school charm to it, and Resynced bringing a few logical additions like the ability to crouch at any time and so much more is a good sign that the old approach’s simplicity is being augmented with some modern touches, which once again points to an effective balance between the old and new in the upcoming remake.

That extends to the traversal systems as well, with Edward gaining the Parkour abilities that have made Naoe such an effective asset in missions that required quite infiltrations and for targets to not even realize they’ve just become prey to a warrior as relentless as she is nimble. He was already an agile Assassin to begin with, and his new abilities are sure to work well and make exploring the Caribbean feel fresh yet familiar, a sentiment that Resynced needs to nail down consistently enough for it to work. It’s clear that Shadows has been an inspiration on this front, and a valuable source of lessons learned that could help the new game feel better than the original experience.

Of course, the world designs that these games offer, and how those worlds look do deserve their due consideration.

Sustaining Style and Substance

It’s time to get to the biggest differentiator between the two games: the way their worlds are structured, and the kind of gameplay experiences they bring out of those different approaches. Shadows is a massive take on ancient Japan, full of mystery and intrigue that has you scouring every square inch of a vast land to uncover its secrets. It’s systemic because it has to be, otherwise running the risk of feeling rudderless and opaque to its players.

But that very structure becomes a trap that encourages a more framing-focused approach to natural discovery, a facet that even its Exploration Mode can’t fully diminish. You feel like you’re chasing down endless lists of objectives, never mind the fact that they’re excuses to try out either the combat or stealth mechanics that made the game so awesome. It’s good then, that Resynced is coming along to take us back to a time where the story and exploration were better woven into a cleaner, more condensed, but no less ambitious experience.

Of course, visual improvements to that experience are definitely welcome, with ray tracing, a new approach to rendering water, dynamic weather, and PS5 Pro-focused enhancements that are quite beefy making a great case for Resynced being a beacon for the franchise’s future. It helps that it shares the Anvil Engine with Shadows, while making it apply to a structure that might make the most of it while needing less from it. The result? A very polished experience, which would indeed be very welcome.

Shadows might offer more systems to exploit and design things to suit your playstyle, and that’s an approach that could appeal to those among you who like min/maxing your builds, and pushing them to their absolute limits. Of course, exploring the world is a great way to do that, but your ability to do so being tied to a number kind of defeats that purpose. You can’t put a number on having fun, after all.

And that’s where we’d argue Resynced has a distinct edge. It’s got the potential to have you spending hours on land and at sea, never feeling the fatigue of RPG systems that limit where you can go. Instead, it’s going to be a cleaner, more memorable return to an adventure that often encouraged you to chase what was on the horizon more than the objectives it laid in front of you. And that, perhaps, is what the Assassin’s Creed franchise needs to go back to, all things considered.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

It’s been long enough for early impressions of the game to begin circling around, and we’ve been quite thrilled that there’s been a general positive tone to a lot of them. We knew this one was going to be a big swing, but now that it’s in the hands of a few players who love the franchise enough to pay a premium for a head start, the conversation has moved from its legacy to what it’s actually bringing to the table.

Those early impressions by players on Reddit and other forums point to a gameplay loop that’s improving in ways that matter, making this one ending up being stronger than expected. Let’s dive right into why we feel that’s the case here.

Timing And Style

Like the athletes you’re going to be controlling, College Football 27 is now beginning its journey at the peak of its pre-launch window. Early access to the game has begun to generate impressions and player reactions that will soon become the foundations of its narrative, while acting as a self-sustaining hype engine right up until the global launch. The game’s now directly in the hands of the people it was made for, which takes praise past what EA has been pitching, to be replaced by opinions that automatically carry more weight.

They’re not full impressions, obviously, which are sure to come along fairly quickly in the next few days. But the kind of early-access feedback a game like this one gets is certainly a strong indicator of where College Football 27 is headed. The comparison with Madden 27 is inevitable, but College Football 27 is selling a different fantasy. Madden’s focus is different, and the resulting experience is about the NFL product itself.

But CF27 goes beyond just picking the best athletes and teams. It’s about building an entire program while contending with variables like loyalty, budgets, reviving reputations, building them, and eventually making your chosen alma mater a powerhouse that other teams would think twice about taking on. It brings a sense of identity and legacy building that makes it a more addictive option, while its mechanics have been strong enough to sell a gameplay loop that supports its vision very well.

And that’s where the early impressions that are coming in count, as they’re painting a picture that aligns with a lot of what was already expected of CF27, while bringing interesting new wrinkles into the current discourse around it.

Gameplay Feels More Deliberate

At the end of the day, an athlete or professional coach is always going to hope that their present day was ever so slightly better than the previous one. But as a new addition to the franchise that’s been aiming to bet big on everything that’s good about it, CF27 carries the weight of every aspiring athlete or coach looking to become a thriving part of its player base and keep it alive by enjoying all it has to offer. It’s quite symbiotic if you think about it, and the only way that works is if the gameplay loop on offer does its job well.

Well, chatter about the game from players, which isn’t an indicator of a game’s quality on its own, points to what they’re noticing from a few hours with the game. There’s a lot of praise being directed at the running and player movement system that feels more deliberate than before, a less spammy approach to games, systems designed to make Football IQ matter more in the game’s balancing, pre-snap controls, and better defensive options this time around.

We already knew that defensive playbooks were being expanded quite significantly, with twenty-two new ones being added to give us all more options to choose from. It seems that it’s a move that’s being well-received, with early player reactions to it praising tighter coverage, meaningful defensive adjustments, improved CPU behavior, and better pursuits. Of course, instances of CPU playcalling, familiar AI issues, and edge pressure have also been pointed out, but if those early impressions hold, it’s definitely a huge win for the overall experience on offer.

It changes the way offensive options must be used, giving a fresh new layer to an experience that runs the risk of feeling too familiar after a couple of annual iterations. It’s often where football knowledge and the presence of mind to execute inventive plays come in as a valuable advantage and a layer of immersion that makes each facet of the experience shine brighter as a result. It affects the challenge on offer, how realistic the simulation can feel, completely switches things up on the online play front, and is an opportunity to move past broken plays with creative solutions.

All of these are parameters that are important to a sports simulator, and in one like CF27, they’re sure to work in tandem with everything else it’s bringing to the table to be a solid base upon which the franchise itself could build its future. This one is more than a list of gameplay improvements, and it’s important to consider its big guns too.

Familiar Modes With Fresh Touches

We’ve spoken at length about how the new and improved Dynasty Mode is potentially the biggest addition that this one is bringing to the franchise formula. That hasn’t changed, even in the light of all the new information, since it’s where the core of the experience resides. It’s where CF27 has long-term replayability, with its program identity and limited resource availability making the simulation part of things go beyond merely looking at a single season’s worth of performances.

There’s already player feedback about tougher rebuilds and more meaningful choices being a part of things, but we’re going to confirm those with a full-launch review before we comment on that. But there’s also Road to Glory to consider, which takes over the personal side of the Dynasty fantasy that its respective mode handles. The deep dives that EA has given us so far indicate there’s a lot to like here, and new positions like the Edge Rusher are very interesting additions.

Position-specific mechanics are a thing now, and they automatically make things more engaging and immersive, where the mode could have felt a little passive in its previous iterations. We’ve also got to remember that the franchise is finally available to PC players on launch, which is another reason to believe that this year’s going to be different for it as it makes a bold play at the fame and fortune it makes you chase down in your role as a part of its world.

A fun touch that we really appreciated is Mascot Mashup, a fun returning facet that we found makes playing mascots feel automatically personal, and just a nifty addition that had us spending way more time with it than we expected in the past. We’re hoping things are even better this time around.

Optimistic, Yet Careful

That’s exactly what we’re advising as things stand, as there are a few players who reportedly feel like the game is a significant update but could fall short of the reinvention we’re all hoping it’s going to be. There are also concerns about monetization problems on Ultimate Team and about balancing NIL and Dynasty to ensure long-term viability. AI issues and CPU playcalling are factors that need extensive testing before it can be established that they’re a serious flaw or a minor annoyance.

Those problems can easily pile up and derail even the best of the game’s new additions, becoming beacons for criticism rather than minor details that fade away in the grand scheme of positives to love about the overall experience. Of course, there are going to be updates and post-launch support, but early impressions matter, and that’s probably even more so for a game that’s already this popular.

As is the case with EA titles, it’s always good to wait for the entirety of the game’s community to begin engaging with it, as that’s usually where the cracks begin to show. But things are looking undeniably good for a title that’s seemingly strived hard to set itself apart, earning our goodwill in the process.

How much of that effort stands to be validated is still up in the air at this point, but we’re thinking that College Football 27 has some momentum in its favor. We’re already working on a full review of it all, and you can be sure we’ll be answering all your burning questions in that one.

Until then, perhaps we might meet again on the field!

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

The game was definitely a looker then, and the developer made good use of the hardware on offer to make it an experience that we couldn’t forget. Indeed, the story and gameplay on offer were probably why Resynced has managed to see the light of day amid a slew of other great titles in the franchise’s illustrious history. Of course, things are different now, and it looks like the developer is preparing to replicate the feat it achieved with last-gen hardware by making full use of what the PS5 and PS5 Pro have to offer.

If you’re thinking about sailing the high seas with Edward, Adewale, and the rest of the pirates on your PlayStation, we’ve got a few things you might like to keep in mind before you go ahead and pick up a copy of Resynced.

1. A Bunch of Graphic Modes For All Preferences

Beginning with what you’re going to find with respect to resolutions and frame rates on your consoles, Resynced is bringing quite a bit of flexibility to the table for both the base PS5 and the Pro.

Beginning with the PS5, you’ve got three options. There’s Performance, which targets 60fps with standard ray tracing for a smoother experience that keeps the resolution at an upscale 2160P. That’s a welcome option for those of us who want to make the most of the new combat system, which looks geared towards quick reactions to readable animations, a facet that this mode would serve very well.

There’s also Fidelity and Balanced, which deliver the same resolution as Performance, with extended ray tracing and target frame rates of 30 fps and 40 fps, respectively. We’d say that if you’re not going for Performance, Balanced is the clearly better option, although some of you might still prefer Fidelity despite the same resolution on offer.

The PS5 Pro is where things get interesting, though. We’ve got the same three modes on offer, with the same resolutions and target frame rates, but ray tracing is extended across the board. We’re diving into what that means in just a minute, as the differences are a crucial part of what sets the two consoles apart as far as this one’s concerned.

These are all factors that can work to make Resynced feel like quite a remake of the original version, which was limited by what the consoles it was played on could do back in the day.

2. Differing Approaches to Ray Tracing

It’s also important to know that while the standard ray tracing offers global diffuse lighting for the game world, extended ray tracing covers even reflective surfaces, which is sure to make a huge difference in a variety of locales where water, rain, and other factors necessitate the need for better reflections to make the entire experience more immersive as a result.

Diving deeper into what that means, the developer has elaborated on how ray-traced global illumination is going to work dynamically under the hood, ditching the original Black Flag’s precomputed lighting systems to let the Caribbean’s natural light react appropriately to factors like the weather, time of day, and the environments you’re exploring. Diffuse lighting makes light react more naturally to surfaces for better shading in various environments and once again adds a bit of realistic flavor to the entire game.

Both of these are a part of the PS5’s offerings in Performance Mode, but both Balanced and Fidelity offer Specular Reflections, which influence wet wood, the spray from the ocean, metal, and a whole lot more to make the world feel more alive and responsive to your movements as a result. It’s probably going to be tough choosing between the two approaches, unless you’re on the PS5 Pro, where all of what we’ve outlined is going to be a part of your experience irrespective of the mode you pick.

3. No Compromises on The PS5 Pro

In addition to global illumination, diffuse lighting, and Specular Reflections making up a complete ray-tracing package across all of the three graphical modes on offer, there’s also the fact that Resynced on the PS5 Pro is going to be making full use of Enhanced PSSR, which is sure to make the upscaled image look a lot better than the PS5’s take on it.

The result is that the PS5 Pro could make the choice between Performance and the other modes a whole lot easier, and any differences between them are going to be quite hard to spot unless you’re actively looking for them. Of course, there are going to be a few things in favor of Fidelity Mode in case you’re wondering if there’s any reason to go for it in the first place, thanks to that 30 fps frame rate target. Well, we’ve got something for you to cheer about if that’s been on your mind.

But it’s quite clear that the PS5 Pro’s additional firepower is going to make Resynced feel very different from the Black Flag you know and love, and that’s good news considering how excited we’ve all been to get our hands on this one.

4. Strand-Based Hair

This one’s for the PS5 Pro and is probably a reason for you to choose Fidelity Mode if total immersion means more to you than better frame rates. Strand-Based hair tech is on board in Resynced, and is going to be working its magic on Edward across all three graphical modes on offer. That extends to the cinematics as well, and it’s going to be interesting to see Blackbeard’s take on a Black Flag in action with the new tech in action whenever he takes the stage.

However, Fidelity Mode extends that offering to NPCs in Edward’s vicinity, which could make for an interesting sight in situations where the wind works its magic, which happens quite a lot in this one, considering a significant portion of your time is spent on the Jackdaw’s deck at sea.

5. A More Focused Caribbean Simulation

The Anvil Engine was vastly improved in Shadows, and is set to bring all of what it achieved in that one and more to the table in Resynced. For starters, the weather is going to be quite dynamic this time around in comparison to Black Flag, as the system is going to work with several variables like temperature, humidity, wind, and the density of vapor coming off the ocean, making them play off each other to create the sort of unpredictable conditions that the seas are known for. That makes the seas behave more treacherously as you sail along them, just like they would in the real world.

The winds are going to make things on the shore just as dynamic, affecting the movements of clouds and causing storms both on the sea and land. They’re also going to affect the flora you find around you, which could make exploring dense forests a visual treat, while cloth, particles such as leaves, the sails of your ships, and your character’s hair are all going to be influenced by its passage.

There’s also the ocean to consider, and the developer’s water physics have been drawing a lot of well-deserved praise ever since Odyssey hit the shelves. Well, there’s a lot to like in Resynced as volumetric foam generation, dynamic bubble systems, physics-based water rendering, and new tessellation techniques allow the water to react to the wind, weather, and your own movements through it with a level of realism that the original game simply could not have managed. It’s very interesting stuff, and we can’t wait to see how it all comes together to make the world in Resynced feel as lively as Edward’s personality as he engages with it all.

And that’s about it for this one. While it’s clear that the PS5 Pro is bringing a lot of upgrades over the base console for Resynced, we’d say that even the PS5 is going to bring a new layer of immersion to the Caribbean. We’re certainly going to be diving into the experience on both consoles, and you can be sure we’ll be telling you all about what we find once we set sail on the Jackdaw when Resynced releases on July 9, 2026, for the PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 Pro.

Until then, let’s hope that the developer is looking at some favorable winds in what’s been a rather tough few years for it.

We sat back and thought about ones that have managed to make us grin to ourselves every time we think about them, and are happy to tell you about them. Without further ado, let’s get started!

10. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

With a gameplay loop that was straight out of Arkham, a version of Gotham that was absolutely enjoyable to explore, and a lot of wit, charm, and humor thrown in, this one was music to the pointy ears of Batman fans, who’ve been rather starved of a solid take on the Dark Knight ever since Rocksteady’s Arkham Knight.

Everything a Batman fan wanted was right there, from a close look at Bruce’s early days before he became an urban legend that struck fear in the hearts of Gotham’s wrongdoers, to solid takes on the rest of the cast, and a whole lot of references to the character’s long and often complex presence in DC’s stories over the years.

It’s rare to see humor work so well in Gotham, a place where there usually aren’t many laughs to be found unless they’re the maniacal cackle of The Joker, but this one had us chuckling to ourselves even as we were beating criminals to a pulp as the Dark Knight. It’s both Batman and LEGO done right, and balanced so well that it has more than earned a place on this list.

9. Mouse: P.I. For Hire

The next one we’re talking about is another charmer set in a dark and gritty world. Jack Pepper’s investigation into a magician’s disappearance, all set in a stylized version of 1930s America with a population made entirely of rodents and shrews, was a solid tale and a very entertaining shooter packed into one well-animated package.

Intelligent writing, great characters, and a lot of spilled ink were the highlights of our time with this one, and while it could have used a bit of balancing to be just perfect, what was on offer was still quite fun to engage with. We found ourselves making cheese-related puns for quite a while after we rolled the credits on this one, and that’s saying something when you consider that the game itself drops a significant number of those over the course of its runtime.

This noir adventure’s definitely worth undertaking if you’re looking for a fun game to play before the rest of the year’s releases begin to take up your free time.

8. Pragmata

As the latest addition in a long line of bangers this year, Pragmata is definitely a strong addition to a solid lineup of games this year. As a shooter that has you working a hacking minigame almost in parallel, there’s enough innovation to a tried-and-tested formula to make it an interesting proposition right off the bat.

But Pragmata’s true beauty lies in how it integrates that innovation into a heartwarming, wholesome story that sees protagonists Hugh and Diana surpass their innate differences as a human and an Android to form a friendship that delivers quite the emotional payoff. That bond was helped along by a story that explored complex themes without delving into too much philosophy, leaving just enough room for a more direct, robust pace that was very welcome indeed.

We’re quite sure we’ll be seeing more of Hugh and Diana in the years to come, and that’s something that makes us quite happy considering that their first outing ended on quite the cliffhanger.

7. Saros

Carcosa is a place no one in their right mind would want to go back to unless the person in question is a fan of Returnal’s take on bullet-hell shooters. But this one took things up a notch on all fronts, and the result was a title that was unsurprisingly awesome while remaining grounded enough to make the story it was trying to sell us not only believable, but quite emotionally resonant as well.

Arjun was a protagonist with layers and issues of his own, trying to work with the rest of the cast to uncover mysteries that tested his resolve and sanity. Getting to go along on such an adventure, and the challenges that we faced at his side along the way, were not just a pleasure, but a test of our own skill and determination to see it through.

The difficulty was always there, and perhaps even an expected part of the experience. But what we didn’t expect was for the entire thing to have us somberly reflecting on the themes it presented, even as we tried to dodge and block attacks that were ethereally beautiful whilst also being efficiently deadly. This one’s quite easy to recommend and a great one from Housemarque.

6. Forza Horizon 6

We’ve always loved to join the Horizon Festival wherever in the world it takes us. But this one’s more than just a great excuse for some arcade racing and a bevy of car-related activities to take on. It’s an authentic take on one of modern gaming’s most popular destinations, and one that takes a lot of effort to nail down in a way that has us constantly ignoring the need for sleep in order to chase the next band that will unlock more of it to enjoy.

This one’s visuals and the weather system were already strong reasons to dive in, but what’s made us stay is how it brings Japan’s many locales to life in ways that make driving around and soaking in the sights as attractive an option as engaging in some high-speed races that can really get the adrenaline flowing.

Forza Horizon 6 is the franchise’s best version of the Festival yet, and it’s going to be quite a challenge for Playground Games to top this one. However, if any studio can achieve that feat, the one behind this masterpiece certainly can.

5. Nioh 3

You were probably waiting for this one if you’ve dived into Team Ninja’s third instalment in a franchise that already had a lot going for it before this one came along. But with two distinct playstyles, the return of the stance-based combat system, a truckload of weapons and builds, and a whole wide world to test it all out in, it’s easy to see why this one has had us returning to it whenever there’s a good bit of downtime to make use of.

The open-worldish approach to its level design works very well with an exploration loop that’s designed around collecting loot, experience, and secrets in a world where even a minute advantage can mean the difference between life and death. Of course, the enemies and bosses you face down are a highlight of the experience, with familiar foes and fresh new ones bringing a level of challenge that would be daunting if not for the plethora of tools you’re given to deal with them.

If you’re looking to cut loose and enjoy a combat system that absolutely slaps, in a world that’s designed to have you in fights more than you’re out of them, Nioh 3 is the best one to pick out of all the titles that have come out so far in 2026.

4. 007 First Light

Well, IO Interactive finally managed to make a Bond game that could top GoldenEye, and we’re glad that it did. Its take on a young, more reckless, yet equally charming version of Bond has landed quite well. The gameplay loop on offer is equally captivating, making good use of the studio’s experience with great combat and stealth gameplay to deliver a title that could have you diving into a new playthrough just to satisfy your own curiosity about how different missions could play out if you were to make varying choices.

Open-ended level design, brutal combat, cool gadgets, and, of course, some very memorable set pieces help this one tell a story about Bond that hasn’t been told before. The gameplay lets you be the man himself in ways that are so darn satisfying they’re hard to describe to somebody who hasn’t joined in on the fun. And best of all is the fact that they work so well together that this one’s a title we can’t get enough of.

The Hitman DNA from IO’s previous work is in there, but it’s been used so well in First Light that it makes the game stand on its own well enough to be a strong addition to what the year has had to offer.

3. Pokémon Pokopia

A life sim and builder that weaves Pokémon into the mix? That’s clearly a recipe for success, but things could always go wrong if the execution falls flat. That isn’t the case with Pokémon Pokopia, and it’s a delightful blend of Animal Crossing and the popular anime, one that’s enough to keep you spending hours in the rather desolate version of Kanto it presents you with.

Joining Ditto in an effort to build the land into one where trainers and Pokémon can live their lives to the fullest was so full of fun and charm that this one grew on us pretty quickly and hasn’t outstayed its welcome even though we’ve been playing it for nearly three months now. There’s always something to do here, and it’s often so endearing that you can’t help but smile as you go about your day in the game’s world.

Pokopia is a great game irrespective of whether the anime and manga were a part of your childhood, and might even get you started on an obsession that many of us have carried all our lives.

2. Crimson Desert

We’re sure you’ve already guessed that, and Crimson Desert definitely ranks high among 2026’s best. Pywel’s a world that we just can’t get enough, as this one’s an evolving experience that’s constantly bringing new ways to engage with everything it has to offer.

Kliff’s fight to unify the land and return the Greymanes to their former glory might not have been released in the best of states, but this one’s managed to go past all of those initial hiccups to become an open-world experience that’s walking the line between single-player and live-service in a way that’s kept us on our toes.

It doesn’t get better than this as far as open worlds are concerned, although GTA 6 could come along and force us to sing a different tune. Nevertheless, Pywel’s a place of many fond memories, and that isn’t going to change even if Rockstar manages to pull us away from it for a while.

1. Resident Evil Requiem

Two protagonists, two different playstyles, and a setting that brought the story right back to where it started were all factors that worked in this one’s favor, to be sure. But it’s in the way that all of that was handled that made this one genuinely feel like a celebration of the genre’s long-running history.

Leon’s amazing fighting style worked well as a contrast to Grace’s sincere vulnerability in a story that could have had better big bads but was nonetheless quite revelatory as far as the franchise’s meta narrative was concerned. It was also a way to set up a future in which its entire cast could, and perhaps should, work together to take on a world that’s been forever changed by the adventure on offer here.

Requiem is Resident Evil at its finest, and there’s no bigger compliment that we can give it than that.

And that’s a wrap on our picks for the first half of 2026. We’re sure that this one’s going to have you nodding at most of the ones we’ve liked even as you think others should have made the cut. Either way, it’s been an exciting year for video games, with a very heavy second half that’s sure to keep us all on our toes. Bring it on, we say!