Granted, support is still ongoing for many of these titles, and they could improve significantly in the coming months and/or years. As of now, however, they’re still underwhelming. Without further ado, here are our picks for the 15 most disappointing games of the year.

Bounty Star

A combination of bounty hunting with mechs and farming on the side in a lawless frontier, where redemption is only really the start? Sign me up, but in the case of Bounty Star, its reach severely exceeds its grasp. Repetitive combat and objectives, surface-level base-building, iffy storytelling – it just didn’t come together as I’d hoped. Which is a shame because, for all her faults, Clementine deserved better.

Battlefield: RedSec

Between desync issues and the lack of solo play, EA’s free-to-play Battlefield royale didn’t launch in the best circumstances. The fact that it arrived alongside the core monetization for Battlefield 6 and required playing to complete Battle Pass challenges rubbed people the wrong way (as did the fact that it included naval combat, which is missing in the base game). RedSec still has room to grow and offer a fun experience, but for now, it’s got a long way to go.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

I had my doubts about Titanic Scion when it was revealed that the Arsenals were now power armor instead of mechs, which could now ride on horses and whatnot. That was the least of the game’s problems, however, as the open world approach gave way to some truly bland-looking improvements. As nice as the customization and weapon variety could be, the amount of frustration from actual combat just undercut everything else.

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

How do you follow up the climactic finale to a ten-year-long Light and Darkness saga? In Bungie’s case, you start a brand new story, one focused on another intriguing subject in The Nine. Unfortunately, it also sought to anger players by ripping out whole systems, increasing the grind tenfold, recycling old content and introducing gameplay mechanics that no one wanted, like Matterspark. Destiny 2 has since experienced the lowest player numbers since the Curse of Osiris days, and as much as I like lightsabers, it doesn’t look like Renegades will completely right the ship.

TRON: Catalyst

Bithell Games’ titles can be hit or miss, but at least there’s this style, this panache that sticks out. Not TRON: Catalyst, though. The lackluster visuals make exploration dull, and the story, which attempted a time-travelling spin, often fell flat when it didn’t feel mundane. Then again, we did get TRON: Ares this year, so things can indeed be worse for the franchise.

Rennsport

Who says Teyon of RoboCop: Rogue City fame can’t make a racing game? Most people who bought Rennsport on Steam, apparently. While it had several problems throughout early access, you would think these would be addressed when it was time for 1.0, but you’d be wrong. Underwhelming physics, optimization issues, livery microtransactions and terrible multiplayer are just some of its shortcomings. All in all, a lackluster outcome.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

A canon entry in the Hyrule Warriors series – we did it. It’s just a shame then that the story as a whole feels completely perfunctory. Even if you can look past that, Age of Imprisonment doesn’t really do all that much interesting with its missions. The combat and performance are the series’s best yet, which is no small praise, but it really could have been so much more.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Packing every single classic Mortal Kombat title into one retro package, complete with interviews from the development team, sounds great for long-time fans (and whoever enjoyed Mythologies and Special Forces). The problem, as always, is the execution. Input, sound issues, lack of lobbies and more at launch – not to mention the price – put a real damper on the celebrations.

Yooka-Replaylee

It’s Yooka-Laylee, but with better graphics, improved controls, all moves unlocked from the outset, etc. So what’s the problem? Well, it’s still Yooka-Laylee at its core, which means the levels don’t always flow in the best ways or offer the most enjoyable challenges. Dr Quack’s quizzes are gone, which is great, but for those expecting any further overhauls beyond this should temper their expectations.

FBC: Firebreak

Why is Remedy, a developer known for its story-focused single-player titles, delving into the co-op shooter genre? Good question, but it did so anyway, and the results were mixed to say the least. While the developer included numerous improvements and even completely overhauled core systems, it wasn’t enough to proclaim Firebreak as anything less than a disappointment with an uncertain long-term future.

The Precinct

If you can get around the cheesy writing and characters, The Precinct may scratch that itch for old-school GTA with its overhead perspective. Its design choices fumble more often than not, though, whether it’s in the chases, how terrible the allied AI can be or the lackluster aiming. In other words, it may have been a neat spin on GTA, but with cops instead of gangsters, but not this one.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Remember when I said that most of the entries in this list are titles that fell short in various ways and may not be outright bad? Black Ops 7 is the exception to the latter. Its campaign is simply awful in almost every way, and while multiplayer is an improvement over last year, it has more than its share of issues. But it’s the sheer soullessness of this year’s entry that gets to me, even more so than 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

Synduality: Echo of Ada

Amid all the hype for ARC Raiders and even Escape from Tarkov, it’s worth looking back on Bandai Namco’s failed attempt at an extraction shooter – Synduality: Echo of Ada. Support is still ongoing, for what it’s worth, but with forced PvP (that too with a lackluster player base), a laughable grind for blueprints and more, it’s no wonder that player counts continue to decline on Steam.

NASCAR 25

Remember when new NASCAR titles were a big deal, alongside the likes of Need for Speed and F1? NASCAR 25, unfortunately, doesn’t return to those days of thunder. Between Career Mode looking lackluster and multiplayer’s flailing, it’s easy to ignore the mostly fun handling. Not the worst package for the brand, but certainly nowhere close to capturing its brilliance either.

Killing Floor 3

Good news – after the Rearmament update, all Specialists can now equip any perk they desire. Bad news – Killing Floor 3 is still very lackluster. Server issues, iffy movement, no mod support, no text chat, no server browser – the list goes on, and that’s before even getting to how the futuristic premise falls flat. Tripwire continues to update and improve it, but for now, it’s little more than dead weight on the Killing Floor name.

Launching on October 2nd, Update 1 adds Grausum RT: Ω and an unannounced foe as new bosses alongside a new cosmetic. Lapis Lacrima RT: Ω and Cybele RT: Ω will arrive on October 16th with two other unknown bosses and cosmetic items. November marks the launch of the paid Into the Abyss Expansion, while three more bosses will arrive in December.

In terms of free content, there’s a pretty extensive selection, enough to keep hardcore fans busy for a while. For more details on Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, check out our review. We gave it a six out of ten, praising the customization, variety of weapon types, and music. However, the boss fights run a little too long, and the environments feel bland.

The biggest change from the first Daemon X Machina is the shift from a mission-based stage structure to a full-blown open-world. There are pretty much none of the typical open-world growing pains present here with one exception: how it looks. The Ground Below, or ‘Hel’ as the denizens like to refer to it, is basically a barren wasteland of PS3-era textures. There are some different biomes to vary up the look, but it’s all just different shades of uninspired crags and rock.

Some biomes have weather effects like rain or swamp acid that boosts or drains certain parameters of your mech. This is nifty on the gameplay front, but still doesn’t offset how bland and ‘samey’ the environments are in this game. The visuals in general look two generations stuck in the past. Even the anime-adjacent art style has trouble making up for the low quality textures, lack of environmental detail, and drab locations. At least the mechs look rad because hardly anything else does.

But beyond the bland open-world aesthetic, the studio has managed to more or less craft a functional open-world structure on its first large-scale attempt. Fast-travel in particular is expertly implemented. As you explore regions of the map, which are often separated by tunnel systems, you come across Byways overrun by enemies. Byways are your fast-travel points. Once liberated, these can be freely warped to anywhere on the map screen, providing instant fast-travel across the world. It’s a convenient way to encourage exploration while cutting down on needless travel time. Speaking of, the world map itself is more or less average in size by today’s standards. It doesn’t feel too overblown or too small. It’s just too bad the environmental design is so lacking. While the terrain doesn’t seem copy/pasted, it again lacks identity across its biomes, feeling like a giant barren wasteland with little to love about it. I guess they call it Hel for a reason.

"While the terrain doesn’t seem copy/pasted, it ends up feeling like a giant barren wasteland with little to admire."

Some of the activities you can engage with while roaming the overworld include world bosses, Stray skirmishes, Beacon signals, side missions, and my favorite of the bunch, mining. Ore is useful for its ability to craft various materials, but to mine it you need to engage with a fun little minigame. Lining up the circle in time with your ore strikes is a simple yet fun enough diversion from the usual mecha combat. But that’s not the only diversion in the game. There’s also a collectible card game called Overbullet that can be played with various NPCs around the Fort hub area, and there’s also bouts in the Coliseum to engage in too.

All of the various points of interest are very cleanly represented by icons on the map. One feature I wish more games adopted is infinite pin placement—this game has it, along with a handy function to delete all pins at once. The map also does a good job distinguishing different terrain types, which makes navigation even smoother.

One of the icons that sparked my curiosity was the outline of a horse. To my delight, the world has a number of wild horses that can be used as mounts. There’s not much to it considering your Arsenal (mech) is just as fast, if not faster, but hey, it’s something different to interact with. There’s also warthog-style vehicles that can be both driven and used for their mounted turret. By far the coolest mount is the transformer bike. Again, the function isn’t very practical considering your Arsenal packs more speed and firepower than the bike and its laser arms, but there’s a level of cool factor that I appreciate here.

Of course, your main mode of travel is your Arsenal suit. The vertical distance you can cover in such a short span of time is fun and liberating. Once you get used to the controls, dashing, flying, and decelerate to land again feels intuitive. Flying around feels almost too fluid at times, in a way I could categorize as floaty. Acceleration and stopping happen on a dime, with little transition, which can make movement feel imprecise. I can’t count the number of times I overshot a chest or loot pickup due to the sensitivity. In tight corridors like tunnels, the floatiness can lead to frustrating collisions. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but exploration and looting suffer because of it.

Speaking of, looting is more streamlined than one might expect. Players can only take one item for each downed enemy which encourages strategic planning and careful resource management. I like how this limitation forced me to weigh stats and utility of items as it developed a sense of familiarity with my equipment. The most rewarding and enjoyable open-world activity is finding new loot to add to your Arsenal.

"Ore is useful for its ability to craft various materials, but to mine it you need to engage with a fun little minigame."

Arsenals are this game’s main attraction, and perhaps the very best thing about it as a whole. There’s just a ton of depth involved in crafting the perfect arsenal mech build for combat and customizing how it looks. Customization is practically endless when it comes to your mech’s visual appearance.

Each part can be transmogged so that you don’t have to decide between looks and stats; just add your pieces in the customize exterior menu and you’ll see them on your mech regardless of your actual equipment. The coloring options are overwhelming (in a good way). Each part has three color sections, one luminous piece, and you can even add patterns and customize your own decals. This visual customization is well suited to the emphasis on loot within the open world and makes it worthwhile to explore.

Each mech is outfitted with a helm, cuirass, two vambraces, and greaves. These armor parts each contribute to a wealth of parameters ranging from weight, defense, health, resistances, ground speed, flinch resistance, etc. If that weren’t enough min/maxing for players, some parts also include attachments which further boost parameters. The range of weaponry at your disposal is no less daunting. Suffice to say, Titanic Scion features dozens of melee weapon types, dozens of gun types, as well as shields, auxiliary cannons, missiles, and even support airstrikes. These different types all feature unique gameplay functions as well as skills. Thankfully, the buffet of build options can be neatly organized and saved for posterity by setting up many loadouts.

"Customization is practically endless when it comes to your mech’s visual appearance."

Skills are acquired through a unique process called fusion. Defeating certain enemies drops genetic material that can then be absorbed resulting in new skills. It appears needlessly complex at the outset, but is quite simple in practice. Just farm enemies for the skills you want, though there is a caveat. Your character gets physically mutated in the process, so if you care about preserving your looks, you’ll need to pay a lot of credits to look normal again.

The skills themselves are numerous, ranging from unique weapon-based skills to general skills and passive enhancements. Suffice to say, between the hundreds upon hundreds of skills here, players aren’t wanting for variety when it comes to mech abilities. Among mecha titles, Titanic Scion ranks near the top when it comes to visual customization and combat variety; however, the feel of combat doesn’t quite live up to the depth of its various parts.

Like the general movement, combat feels rather light and arcady. There’s a noticeable lack of weight in punches and firearm shots. Bazookas and oversized shotguns don’t recoil when shot, and the sounds of the hundreds of different guns all sound unremarkable and generic. Further, the animations don’t have that extra level of polish and spectacle, but what can be expected with such a sizable roster of equipment? I hope this doesn’t come across as belittling, but I find the combat to feel like somewhere in between Earth Defense Force and Armored Core 6, with it leaning in the EDF camp more. That said, the sheer number of weapon types, skills, and options at your disposal make this a mecha game strategic. But in terms of viscerality, the game clearly emphasizes mobility and speed over realistic gun mechanics or intricate animations.

"In terms of viscerality, the game clearly emphasizes mobility and speed over realistic gun mechanics or intricate animations."

Even though movement can feel imprecise, combat doesn’t tend to suffer as a consequence. This is because the targeting system is more or less easy to use and is often preferable to free aim. Certain enemies have weak parts that limb targeting is especially useful for—allowing you to just instantly hit the enemy without worry of flight trajectory and whatnot. I just find that there’s often too much button mashing when relying on targeting like this. The best strategy for a lot of the common mobs is just to hold shoot or mash the melee attack as fast as you can while targeting them, which gets repetitive pretty quick.

Boss fights are where combat gets particularly interesting—or frustrating. Some bosses engage with all the mechanics and repertoire available to the player, resulting in an epic air and ground-based mecha battle. But others try a bit too hard to with gimmicks, resulting in an overtuned or boring fight. Some fights can drag on for 20 minutes at a time, such as the Colossus bosses roaming the overworld. This can be especially fun and engaging with a co-op partner. And since this game supports full co-op crossplay, it’s convenient to buddy up and take care of bosses. Though, I do lament the absence of local co-op.

But some bosses are truly unsalvageable. One story boss was particularly arduous and lopsided in its difficulty curve at that point in the campaign. The boss battle in question has a unique gimmick that isn’t even slightly hinted at. The game loves over-tutorializing every little thing that pops up—but the most important mechanic to overcome an overtuned boss fight? Nah, just let the player figure that out. The real problem is how padded boss health can be, especially with some of the lopsided difficulty cliffs that pop up here and there. Of course, given the game’s open world structure, grinding for power and farming materials can be a solution to difficulty walls.

At least the campaign isn’t as padded as some of the boss health bars. The story covers around 15 hours of playtime. Though of course, the wealth of open world activities can extend your time well up into 100 hours. The narrative here is a continuation of the first game, following a special group of Outers and their resistance to the their own government and its Axiom military. You begin being experimented on up in the Outer base referred to as ‘heaven’, and then escape to the surface world often referred to as ‘Hel’. There’s some satisfying, if predictable, plot twists and character arcs here, but it’s nothing spectacular.

"There’s some satisfying, if predictable, plot twists and character arcs here, but it’s nothing spectacular."

What I do like is the voice acting. Plenty of familiar anime and RPG voice talent are represented here and make the setting and story feel more lively and full of energy than it otherwise would. Unlike the first game, the narrative is structured with the open-world in mind. In practical terms, this results in dynamic party banter while exploring as well as datalog lore tidbits, and unfortunately no more of those cool mission briefings from the first game. As a result, the story feels slightly less epic and cinematic and more informal and seamless than the first, though the guitar-laden soundtrack certainly is as good as the original game.

All in all, Titanic Scion is a flawed mecha game with extraordinary customization elements. Combat can be hit or miss and the open world is a dull checklist of loot and places to go. The main draw isn’t the story, but the narrative is adequate. If you’re a big mecha fan, wait for a sale and you’ll have a lot of fun with this. For more casual players, try the demo first before committing—the best parts of the game are niche in nature and the rest of the game won’t make up for that.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

With the studio looking to expand on the size and scope of the franchise’s first outing, things are heating up for the Outers in this new adventure, requiring that they bring their best piloting skills to the field as they attempt to navigate a new world with complex and nuanced political relationships requiring their tact and skill.

To that end, let’s take a look at what’s new in Titanic Scion and perhaps help you decide if this one is worth your time, attention, and of course, your hard-earned cash.

1. The Story Continues

Marvelous has stated that Titanic Scion is a sequel to the first game. Your character is an Outer, a human being who has been granted the power to control and pilot mechs called Arsenals thanks to the power of Femto, an element formed during a past catastrophe called the Moonfall Calamity.

You are thrust into a struggle for control of a planet that’s the stage for an armed conflict between the Outer Government and its military branch, called the Axioms, and the Reclaimers who form a resistance group dedicated to retaining their home planet’s freedom. Expect nuanced interactions with their members and perhaps even a few key decisions to make over the course of the story.

2. A True Open World

While the original Deamon X Machina featured large explorable areas in which you carried out missions, Titanic Scion features an open world that you must explore, navigating it between missions and encountering enemies, field bosses, and side content along the way.

It’s a welcome change that builds on the size and scope of the first game while allowing players a modicum of freedom in how they approach its content.

3. New Traversal Mechanics

Getting around the open world that Marvelous is bringing in this time around might sound daunting for an Outer who needs to get a rather large mech moving and covering ground quickly. But the studio has been clever to introduce mechanics that make those journeys easier, and dare we say quite fun!

That’s because Early previews show the player character being able to mount a horse along the way to their next objective, while others choose to use the newly introduced Femto-boost mechanic to take their mech to the skies, covering ground rapidly in the process. All of this is facilitated by mech designs that are streamlined and lightweight, making them perfect for mobility during exploration and even combat.

That’s an intelligent change if we ever saw one.

4. Reclaim Fast Travel Points

Like many other open worlds, Titanic Scion’s map features fast-travel points that you can use if you feel like zipping around in your mech isn’t your cup of tea. While that’s certainly convenient, you will need to visit each one and complete objectives to ensure it is available for use later down the line.

While the objectives themselves seem fairly straightforward, we believe that it’s an interesting wrinkle that balances convenience with engagement, making you actually put in the work to earn the right to skip tedious journeys from point A to B. It’s way more immersive than simply having to visit the area to unlock the added functionality of each point, for sure.

5. New Combat Mechanics

The sleeker mech models find another place to shine, with Titanic Scion’s combat benefiting greatly from their improved mobility. The option to lock-on to an enemy during battles is now present, as is a plethora of ways to deal with the threat that the enemy poses. 

The action has been stepped up a notch with the new particle weapons system that lets you essentially switch between attacking, guarding, and dodging, along with the heavy Armor mechanic that lets you call down a massive mech to obliterate your enemies in a pinch as long as you have enough power to do so.

Expect a more refined, seamless combat loop in Titanic Scion, and try to enjoy it as much as we’re going to.

6. Cool Bosses

If you’re the type to seek out the biggest and baddest enemies in a new area the minute you enter it, we’ve got good news for you. Titanic Scion’s early previews suggest that there are both field bosses to discover alongside a roster of enemies that you will have to defeat over the course of the main campaign.

The boss designs we’ve seen are quite impressive, ranging from giant monstrosities to agile characters who are probably going to bring a relentless stream of attacks for you to manage out in the field. There is a possibility that each of these fearsome foes drops useful gear or weapons, incentivizing you to take them on and emerge victorious with some skillful piloting of your mech.

8. A Layer of Strategy to Looting

Speaking of loot drops, Marvelous seems to be averse to players hoarding items in their inventory, allowing players to select only one item from downed enemies from a range of options. These could include items that might serve you well in your current encounter or upgrades to your mech that let you play the long game and create a build that withstands increasingly difficult assaults.

It’s a great way of ensuring that your choices matter in the game, making you think carefully about your progression in a title that places a lot of emphasis on loadouts and their effective use in the field.

9. The Fusion System

Strategic looting is one part of the equation in creating a lethal build for your mech, with the new Fusion System being another. The parts and materials you nab from enemies let you choose upgrades across four categories, opening up a lot of options for your build.

There are weapon skills, stylish new moves, upgrades to specific mech components, and so much more on offer in a customization system that runs pretty deep. You could find yourself sinking a lot of hours into this game if you like crunching numbers to min/max your build, and that’s a good thing in a title like Titanic Scion.

10. Navigate Complex Rivalries

We touched upon the Axioms and Reclaimers in an earlier section of this list but it’s worth mentioning that their natural affinity towards a less-than-friendly relationship could be a source of interesting conflict for your character to navigate.

The game could potentially include story threads or side content in which you would have to pick one side over the other to get to a specific reward or upgrade, saving the other option for your next playthrough. It could mean a fair bit of replay value for Titanic Scion while allowing its players the chance to see familiar story beats from a different perspective if Marvelous has indeed made use of the narrative potential here.

11. Multiplayer Options

Aside from teaming up with your buddies in online co-op play, the lone wolves among you might be interested to know that asynchronous multiplayer is making its way to Titanic Scion. Early previews have revealed that the actions of other players do affect your version of the mysterious planet your character is in, bringing the feeling of a world in which other mercenaries are after similar goals as your own.

It’s a nice touch and is one that could be quite immersive once the game gets some traction going post-release.

12. An Excellent Soundtrack

Marvelous has been clever to bring a soundtrack that fits well with the action and theme of the game, mixing rock and roll into the game’s soundtrack to create some memorable tracks you might just find yourself playing even when you’re not actively fending off enemies in your mech.

The soundtrack might very well become our favorite part of the game if the tracks we’ve already heard are any indication.

13. Minigames Galore

Exploring the open world could get all the more entertaining with the presence of minigames, such as one in which you mine for useful resources, using well-timed button presses to improve your chances of obtaining more of them. There may even be a collectible card game to track down in some obscure corner of the world if some previews are to be believed.

That might be music to the ears of Gwent fans who have been longing for an alternative to scratch that itch.

14. How Long to Beat

While Marvelous has been rather cagey about the playtime Titanic Scion brings to the table, expect the main story to take anywhere between 15-20 hours to complete while completionist runs could take that number up by a significant amount.

Additionally, its multiplayer elements could have you constantly returning to the game’s world to take on missions with your friends or perhaps indulge in a few versus battles to blow off some steam. Titanic Scion could keep you occupied for a long time to come if its gameplay loop resonates well with your love for mech-action titles.

15. System Requirements

If you’re looking to play the game on your PC, the minimum specs your setup will need include an Intel Core i5-10400 CPU, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, Windows 10 64-bit and 50 GB of SSD storage, and DirectX Version 12. The recommended specs take things up to an Intel Core i7-12700 CPU, 32GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, Windows 10 64-bit and 50 GB of SSD storage, and DirectX Version 12.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Remember when this was just supposed to be a second playable character and DLC for Hollow Knight? Over six years since its announcement, Silksong is indeed real, and based on Team Cherry’s own admission, it’s as big, perhaps even bigger than its predecessor. Because you weren’t planning on anything for the rest of the month? Over 200 enemy types, more than 40 bosses, numerous new abilities – and based on demo impressions from Gamescom, best-in-class movement. Hollow Knight: Silksong releases on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and at this point, we’re beyond ready.

Hell is Us

If you’re in the mood for a different kind of action-adventure, one that very adamantly won’t hold your hand, there’s Rogue Factor’s Hell is Us. A dark horse of sorts, it’s semi-open-world-ish, focusing on peacekeeper Rémi, who explores Hadea in search of his parents. The country has seen better days – it’s devastated by war and Hollow Walkers emerging in the wake of the Calamity. With just the bare minimum, you have to gather clues and ultimately unravel the mystery behind Rémi’s parents while uncovering the mysteries of Hadea. With Souls-lite gameplay and a mysterious yet foreboding vibe, Hell is Us could very well make a name for itself when it launches on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Cronos: The New Dawn

For a different flavor of horror – the sci-fi survival third-person shooter kind – there’s Bloober Team’s Cronos: The New Dawn, where players control a Traveller under the mysterious Collective, tasked with extracting the essence of key individuals. Or not – you don’t really have to, though that could affect the ending. Between these choices, you’re exploring run-down buildings and structures infested with monsters born from the mysterious Change, using shotguns, SMGs and flamethrowers to bat them back, while casually manipulating gravity and the environment to progress forward. It’s very Dead Space-esque on first appearance, but the mysterious narrative and time travel elements help set Cronos apart when it launches on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion

I’m not the biggest Daemon X Machina fan out there, but credit to Marvelous Inc. for doing something different with the sequel. You’re still in this world of Arsenals and Outer factions, destroying similarly armored foes and extracting their parts for your own usage, but Titanic Scion veers hard by turning Arsenals into power armor. The vast open world also facilitates new traversal methods, such as horseback riding, which is as hilarious as it looks, and even a larger Arsenal frame for dealing big damage in a limited window. Launching on September 5th for Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and PS5, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion could very well be the standout mecha title of the year.

Borderlands 4

It’s funny to think we’ve gone from…whatever Borderlands 3 was meant to be to this epic tale of resistance against a dictatorial figure on an unknown planet that Gearbox promises is its biggest yet. And yet, from everything showcased thus far and against all odds, Borderlands 4 doesn’t look half-bad. The four new Vault Hunters – Vex, Rafa, Amon and Harlowe – all look great in their own ways; the prospect of Licensed Parts for combining different gun manufacturer pieces into one weapon is great; and the addition of grappling, dashing, double-jumping, and more feels just right. Whether the story will stick the landing remains to be seen (I still haven’t forgiven you for Maya, Gearbox), to say nothing of the endgame, but as a co-op looter shooter with slightly classier mayhem, Borderlands 4 could excel. It’s launching on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Silent Hill f

As the newest mainline title in the Silent Hill franchise since 2012’s Downpour, Silent Hill f ventures into unknown territory. It’s the first title set in Japan, specifically the fictitious town of Ebisugaoka in the 1960s, and features Ryukishi07 as the writer (with artist kera behind the creature designs). As Hinako Shimizu, who finds herself swallowed up by the fog, players embark on a more action-packed journey, one with a heavier emphasis on melee combat. Don’t let that fool you, though, as it offers some of the most disturbing creatures and sights in the franchise yet. After the success of Silent Hill 2 remake, here’s hoping Konami can pull off another when Silent Hill f launches on September 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

NBA 2K26

Another year, another NBA 2K and even if last year’s iteration sported solid gameplay, one has to wonder if NBA 2K6 is worth the upgrade. Outside of the improved player and arena visuals, you can embark on The Playoffs online; a new MyCareer mode sees you working up the ranks to the NBA, with The City returning; and all the usual modes, including MyTeam and The W, return with various improvements. Maybe it’ll be enough to hold one over till next year, but for now, NBA 2K26 launches on September 5th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland has been on a venerable marketing overdrive for Dying Light: The Beast, promising its “most diverse world,” a fairly lengthy experience (about 40 to 50 hours for the story and side content), and much more. And based on the gameplay thus far, it seems like a return to everything that made the Dying Light franchise great while continuing the story of Kyle Crane, who now possesses powerful beast-like abilities. Whether it can redeem the series after the whelming second entry or not, the call of the night is hard to resist. Dying Light: The Beast arrives on September 19th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

EA Sports FC 26

With how underwhelming FC 25 turned out, EA is listening in a big way with the latest entry. Various gameplay improvements include faster overall gameplay and two experiences – Competitive and Authentic, each determining the style of play and pace. Archetypes are also debuting and will be added to Clubs to shake things up. There’s honestly a lot more, and it could be the most exciting sports offering from EA in years when it launches on September 26th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, PC, PS4, and PS5.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition

If you thought the title was a mouthful already, this is actually Part 1 of Survios’ VR title-turned-regular-first-person shooter. It follows Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks as she investigates a Weyland-Yutani black site. Which, to no one’s surprise, is full of Xenomorphs. While it may seem like a running and gunning affair, Rogue Incursion also features classic tools like the Motion Tracker, creating a familiar wave of dread when a Xenomorph periodically shows up. Launching on September 30th for PS5 and PC, Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition will support 60 FPS and DualSense functionality.

EA Sports NHL 26

Not one, not two, but three sports games in September? What a deal! NHL 26 launches on September 12th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5, packing several changes, including reworked X-Factors (now with three tiers), goalie size and style now affecting how they play, a new Goalie Crease Control System with over 80 new animations, and more. EA Vancouver has its work cut out after last year’s release, but thus far, it’s looking decent.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants

Everyone’s favorite archaeologist returns in a new story DLC, building on the stellar base experience by returning to Rome, as players venture deeper underground to learn more about the Cult of Mithras and the legendary giants. Based on the latest trailer, it seems the undead are also involved. In terms of puzzle-platforming goodness, The Order of Giants should be another compelling adventure for Indy when it launches on September 4th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Metal Eden

Metal Eden launches on September 2nd for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and sees ASKA, a Hyper Unit, venturing into Moebius to save humanity’s rapidly decaying cores. All the usual weaponry, from a pistol, shotgun, SMG and whatnot, awaits. However, Aska’s main calling card is ripping out enemy Cores and either consuming them for a boost (and rocket punch) or tossing them back to deal explosive damage. Paired with a Brutalist aesthetic, extensive mobility and an intriguing narrative, we’re keen to see how deep the cyber-punk rabbit hole goes.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Everyone has their dream remake, and for a subsection of role-playing game fans, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is pretty much it. A ground-up remake of the 2004 classic, it offers fully 3D environments and characters alongside Daybreak’s dual turn-based/real-time combat system. And while there are new voicovers and localization, the tale of Estelle and Joshua, who venture across Liberl, changing lives along the way, remains as timeless as ever. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter launches on September 19th for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with a free demo currently available.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac

This may or may not fall under “dream remake” – really, it depends on how much you love Pac-Man – but Pac-Man World Re-Pac wasn’t half-bad. Re-Pac 2, launching on September 26th for every platform, follows in the same vein, remaking Pac-Man World 2 with gorgeous new visuals. However, its latest comparison trailer highlights noticeable differences in levels (which have also been expanded) and Bandai Namco promises quality-of-life improvements, updated bosses, and even a two-player mode.

While I couldn’t play the original title thanks to it being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch on release and not having access to a PC when it was eventually ported to Windows, I’m glad that Marvelous decided to take on a multi-platform approach to its upcoming title, making it accessible to a wider audience this time around. That approach seems justified by what is shaping up to be a solid effort based on previews and trailers.

Titanic Scion appears to blend a solid gameplay loop with an engaging story, stylish combat, great visuals, and a soundtrack that I might just add to my work playlist if it turns out as good as it seems. But all of these are standard fare in modern games that have the potential to truly stand out from the crowd.

So what makes Titanic Scion a title that has me so eager to dive into? Well, the answer’s quite simple. It seems like it’s going to be fun to play. Although its open world could be considered generic by modern standards, I’d say it’s what’s in that world that truly counts. Allow me to elaborate.

Me(ch) Against The World

Your player character is left to their own devices on an alien planet after the game’s introduction, and what a planet it is. It may seem that it’s just a desolate wasteland, but from what I’ve seen so far, there’s a lot to do as you explore it. There are secrets to ease out and NPCs to assist as you earn a name for yourself, not just because you’re a skilled Arsenal operator (as the mechs are called in this universe) but because you earn every bit of goodwill that comes your way.

If that’s not engaging enough, there’s also the fact that you need to be careful about what you loot from the ruined mechs of your enemies. You could choose between useful items that could be of immediate use in combat situations, or pick up stuff that you can take back to your base to develop your mech and give it much-needed advantages against harder challenges later down the line.

That’s a choice that could be hard to make in the heat of battle, as your enemies are not going to wait around while you make up your mind. And as somebody who abhors hoarding items that I loot in the field, I’m quite interested to see if this approach can lead to an inventory with less clutter and more utility over time.

Factor in mutations, or Fusions as the game calls them, that you can tack on to your character, and the early beginnings of a wide variety of builds begin to take shape, leading me to hope that respeccing is as quick and seamless as it is in some recent releases, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers being an example.

And while many of you may swear by bringing your buddies along to the fight in co-op multiplayer sessions, I prefer to operate as a lone wolf, taking on my foes with just my brains and brawn to help.

However, I’d say that there’s something to like about asynchronous multiplayer, as it makes the game’s desolate world feel lived in every time I come across evidence that there are other mercenaries out there facing down the same challenges, perhaps with methods that are vastly different from my own.

From what I’ve seen of the original title, Titanic Scion looks like it’s building on its gameplay loop in ways that could make it a great addition to my library of current-gen games.

An Outer Looking In

While I wouldn’t recommend seeing the opening sequence from any previews or even trying to find out more about it if you’re interested in playing the game, know that it’s a great setup for what comes after. I watched it so you didn’t have to.

Your character, Nova, is an Outer, a human who was born with the ability to control Arsenals, or mechs, thanks to events that happened in the past. You are thrust right into the conflict between the Axioms, who serve as the Outer Government’s military arm, and the Reclaimers, a resistance group determined to end the Axioms’ tyranny.

While the Reclaimers are hesitant to trust you right off the bat, proving yourself to them and earning that trust is likely to be a crucial part of Nova’s adventures. The Axioms seem like a cool bunch despite the fact that they seem antagonistic in nature.

What’s special about this narrative is that each member of these groups brings something cool to the table aside from distinct personalities. There’s a guy wielding a lightsaber, for instance, and I can’t wait to take him on and perhaps channel my inner Obi-Wan as I hopefully take the high ground and bring him down if he chooses to take me on.

I’m hoping that the story lets me make choices between the two factions, and that those choices influence how things play out later down the line. Maybe I could try to bring them together and take on the real enemy: a tyrannical government that looks down on those it governs.

The potential for thematic influences like resisting oppression and perhaps a struggle to retain Nova’s humanity, the more they use their Arsenal, could very well be a feather in Marvelous’ cap if it plays its cards right in Titanic Scion.

Raging Against the Machines

Of course, a great combat system is what would really pull the experience in Titanic Scion together into a cohesive whole. And from what I’ve been able to see, the game brings sleek, stylish, and seamless moves to the field. Nova has a lot of options while in the field, the Heavy Armor mechanic being chief among them.

While your Arsenal is lighter and potentially more mobile, the Heavy Armor is a giant mech you can call down once you fill up a bar, allowing for a sort of ultimate attack that can devastate your enemies as long as you’re strategic about its use.

There’s also the Particle Weapon system that I see as a sort of stance mechanic, allowing you to switch between Assault Mode, Guard Mode, and Wing Mode. If I’m guessing correctly, that would mean switching between them on the fly based on whether you want to attack, block/parry, or dodge out of the way of an attack.

I’m fairly certain that Nova can use weapons picked up from bosses, too, although there might be a tough choice between picking up the weapon or a useful upgrade that seems too good to pass on.

If that’s the case, it could also mean that New Game Plus could be on the table, as it would be a sensible addition, allowing you to collect items you missed out on in your first run. The original game was sorely lacking post-game content, and Marvelous might be looking to fix that mistake with this one.

The bosses are another part of why I can’t wait to dive into the fray, with designs that are outlandish yet deadly. They look like quite the challenge, although I suspect they aren’t going to measure up to the ones I’ve taken down in Armored Core. However, with everything else on offer, I’m still going to be right there trying to take them down when the game hits the shelves.

The Right Beats For A Deadly Dance

That brings me to the final part of why I’m quite enthusiastic about Deamon X Machina: Titanic Scion, which is its soundtrack. My love for electric guitars and heavy metal extends to my video games.

The metal-themed soundtrack on offer in Titanic Scion seems to be right up there with many action games, a genre that had me firmly in its grip thanks to their combat and soundtrack. It’s the perfect fit considering the game’s premise, and I’d like to think that it’s playing inside my Arsenal’s helmet, letting me indulge a Tony Stark fantasy that continues to make me grin whenever I think about it.

Measured Optimism

While it’s certainly tempting to throw caution to the wind and state outright that Deamon X Machina: Titanic Scion is going to knock it out of the park, I’ve been bitten by awesome-looking video games before. I won’t stop talking about how much I wanted to enjoy MindsEye after my positive initial impressions.

But despite myself, the allure of a game involving mechs has me counting the days to Titanic Scion’s release. Although The FIres of Rubicon has set a very high standard for me, I do believe that Marvelous’s attempt to build on a successful pilot outing (pun intended) could come close to the highs of that particular experience.

I’m hoping that the vast planet we get to explore has enough in it to make this one of my favorite titles this year. It does have enough to stand out with its open world and cool stories. And at the end of it all, that’s what matters the most.

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 demo for Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion features the first nine chapters of the main story, while also giving players access to the open world so that they can take on some enemies and experience the high-speed combat for themselves. The demo also includes support for asynchronous multiplayer, where players can experience the game at their own pace while still being connected online and benefiting from other players spending time with the title.

For those that might be worried about having to replay these opening segments of Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion when the full game comes out on September 5, Marvelous has also confirmed that save data can be carried over from the demo into the full release as long as you play on the same platform.

For more details about Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, check out the behind-the-scenes documentary that was released back in July.

The video was produced by documentary filmmaker Archipel, and features series producer Kenichiro Tsukuda. The subjects discussed in the video include Tsukuda’s experiences with the mecha genre at an early age and how they ultimately inspired the creation of the original Daemon X Machina, as well as insights into the studio’s approach to making Titanic Scion.

The documentary also features the producer and the development team discussing how they are making use of modern game development tools and techniques to help improve the visuals and gameplay. From a design perspective, it also discusses how the team made use of 3D printing technology to help them come up with the distinct visual look in Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion.

A follow-up to the original Daemon X Machina, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion was first unveiled all the way back in May 2023. The game is under development for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2, and will be hitting store shelves on September 2. The release date was announced alongside the first gameplay showcase for the upcoming title back in April this year.

The trailer gave us a look at quite a few details about Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, including the fact that players will once more get to customize their Arsenal to equip them with the gear they like. Over the course of gameplay, players will be able to take on enemies and collect their parts, which then can be used to improve their own Arsenal. As players get further into the game, they’ll start facing off against Titanic bosses, which can be taken on either solo or as part of a group.

May saw the release of another trailer for Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, this time around giving us an in-depth look at the title’s combat basics. It explained various aspects of the combat in the game, including the ability to equip up to six different weapons, as well as how auxiliary gear can be equipped and used.

The original Daemon X Machina was released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch back in 2019. A year later, the title also made its way onto PC. The story of the game revolved around The Outers—mech pilots that make use of their well-equipped Arsenals to take on enemies known as the Arms of Immortals.

For more details about the original, check out our review, where we gave it a score of 7 out of 10. We praised the tight gameplay and impressive mission variety, while criticising other aspects, including how overwhelming it can feel for some players, as well as the slow, plodding pacing of its story.

Metroid Prime 4

The Metroid Prime games have been one of the biggest games in recent years, and funnily enough at one point, Metroid Prime 4 was supposed to be an early release title for the original Switch. It’s finally coming out for the Switch 2 (and even the original Switch) after undergoing plenty of delays, and it looks absolutely fantastic. Samus looks quite resourceful, decked with so many powers and weapons, and it’s going to be an absolute blast. It’s scheduled to come out sometime this year.

For instance, it has slots for equipping up to six weapons, including swords, railguns, bazookas, mid-range rifles, missile launchers, and bows. You can also have auxiliary equipment for support skills, like generating damaging fields. While each weapon type is ideal in different scenarios, enemies usually have hard and soft exteriors.

Hard exteriors are weak to laser weapons, while soft exteriors take more damage from physical weapons. After an enemy is knocked down, you can grab it and either continue attacking, throw it onto other enemies or tear off their armor to expose weak points. If it’s a boss, rip out a body part and wield it as a weapon, as seen against the Grausam.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion launches on September 5th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 for $69.99.