A lot of critics, players, and creators, apparently. Alkimia has just dropped a new accolades trailer for its ground-up remake of the original Gothic, a game that’s grown into a cult classic over the years. We were pretty impressed by what the remake had to offer in our review, but were wary of its flaws and shaky performance messing up its chances of being truly successful.

We’re happy to swallow that bit of humble pie, though, as Gothic 1 Remake seems to be doing quite well for itself, the nostalgia blending well with the visual and system upgrades that the remake has brought to the table. We’d say it’s time to celebrate, but it’s probably a good idea to hold on to anything that could potentially mean the difference between life and death in the Valley of the Mines.

The trailer’s below if you want to check it out before you decide whether you want to dive in, or if you’re looking for a bit of validation after a thoroughly good time getting lost between the three camps. And if you haven’t played the original, then take heart as Gothic Classic launches on July 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Xbox One.

You probably spotted it on Metacritic with its current 73 Metascore, briefly glanced at a few summaries from the 23 reviews, and didn’t give it much thought. After all, for many, Laufey, E-Day, Wolverine, and whatnot garnered way more attention and traction. Suffice to say that landing during one of the more eventful Summers of Gaming didn’t do it any favors.

If you watched our review, where we gave it a 6 out of 10, you’ll see many similar grievances. Bugs, audio issues, crashes, and, if you’re playing on PS5, the lack of a 60 FPS option. Which may not sound all that bad until you realize that even the PS5 Pro version is capped at 30 FPS. And on top of all that, a melee combat system that felt too clunky, to the point where it often felt better just to let other NPCs do the fighting for you.

That’s not even getting into all the unique quirks that make Gothic…Gothic. For example, humans can’t kill you – thanks, prison colony formed from a king’s war effort gone awry – but they will take your valuables. And considering how utterly weak you are from the beginning, scrounging for every last advantage and coin you can muster, it’s enough to make anyone want to give up. Play an easier game. Maybe return to that Hardcore playthrough of Kingdom Come: Deliverance that you’ve been meaning to finish.

So why then did Gothic 1 Remake sell over 500,000 copies in its first week? Why did it peak at 77,731 concurrent players on Steam? For that matter, with all the different bugs and issues that it has – including but not limited to balancing changes based on the first major post-launch patch – why does it have a “Very Positive” rating with 81 percent of the currently 3,603 reviews recommending it?

Nostalgia is a hell of a you-know-what, and the gaming industry knows how to capitalize. Re-releases, ports, remakes, Anniversary Editions, remasters, sequels, expansions that launch over a decade later – you name it. It could be viewed cynically, especially when the sum is vastly underwhelming next to each part, but we have seen some of the best games in the past decade because of this. Look at Resident Evil.

However, each project has a different goal, and that often includes toning down or outright eliminating some of the more contentious elements. Make the combat smoother. Make the player feel stronger. Make the world less obtuse. After all, this is an open-world game, right? Why try to keep anyone from accessing all this content, or seeing all the pretty visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5?

But that’s the thing with Gothic. The friction, the unevenness, the clunkiness – it’s all a core part of the game’s identity. It’s one of the earliest examples of what would be referred to as a genre of incredibly ambitious games developed by European studios which lacked the finer degree of polish seen in your average big-budget blockbuster, but delivered on the gameplay. To revamp and remove all of that is essentially taking away everything that players loved about the original, rendering it a facsimile with prettier skin.

And one of those key aspects is making the player weak from the very start. Nothing is given to you for free. You could call it brutally unforgiving because it is – that’s the point. But step outside your own personal realm of suffering, and there’s also this feeling of incredible freedom. Of being able to explore this massive world, interact with just about anyone and push the boundaries of what you’re capable of.

That’s even reflected in the combat. If you look at the various development diaries leading up to launch, you’ll see the lengths Alkimia went for the remake. Sure, the graphics were important, but the combat diary is especially insightful. For example, your character becoming stronger is more than just numerical – it’s reflected in their attack animations. They’ll start out looking like a novice and over time, begin to really implement advanced techniques into their repertoire. And as with the original, the goal is to pay attention to the world, your enemies, and your own strength to understand how to progress.

Which applies to the world as well, by the way. If you’re going in blind, then you won’t know what decisions lead to which consequences, which camps to ally with first (or last) or even how to survive. Is it a test in patience and sheer will, combined with judicious save-scumming? Yes – because that’s how it could be in the original, until everything fell into place.

Believe it or not, there’s a joy in such gameplay, which formed the core appeal of Gothic back in the day. And just like then, it’s not for everyone. Some want a comfy open-world role-playing experience with a strong focus on storytelling; waypoints that tell them where to go at all times; checklists of activities to complete; and buttery smooth combat that makes you feel powerful out of the gate. It’s one reason the Assassin’s Creed series continues to see strong sales, especially after the shift towards a more action RPG-like design.

That’s all well and good, and in the same vein, you’ll find plenty who enjoy the likes of Crimson Desert, which encourages getting out in the world and discovering things on your own. Or offering extensive freedom right off the bat and letting you loose to decide where your journey should end up next. Plenty of titles exist on this open-world spectrum, and it’s arguably why the genre continues to remain so popular.

But there’s nothing quite like Gothic. Plenty of other titles in recent times have attempted to capture its same feel and unforgiving style of gameplay (Of Ash and Steel comes to mind), yet inevitably fall short. The world-building, the overarching design, the progression, the freedom, and how it all works in unison to push you from “relative nobody” into someone that matters, and could very well upset the current status quo.

From the very outset, Alkimia understood the assignment – retain everything that fans loved about the original, right down to the dark fantasy aesthetic and grunginess – and delivered what they wanted. Even if it would feel clunky or unwieldy compared to what most gamers are used to.

We don’t really know the lifetime sales numbers of the original Gothic, much less how well it sold in 2001. So while it’s easy to claim the remake achieved these numbers purely based on the brand name, I think it’s more than just fans turning up for that hit of nostalgia or the desire for days when game worlds didn’t feel so utterly guided. It reflects an audience of RPG fans that want something different, even if it can be more punishing than they’re otherwise used to. Not everyone is going to like it – much like the original, they may just leave after the first hour and only return years later when everything finally clicks. But the fact that Gothic 1 Remake can pull that off while staying true to its roots is worthy of praise, warts and all.

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 studio has confirmed that Gothic 1 Remake hit a peak of almost 78,000 concurrent players on Steam on June 7th. Since then, the title has gone on to get more than 15,000 user reviews on the platform, averaging out to a “Very Positive” rating.

“Alkimia Interactive and THQ Nordic are thrilled by this initial success and extend a heartfelt thank you to all players who have entered the colony so far – and especially to all of the long-time dedicated fans who have supported the Gothic franchise over the past 25 years,” wrote the studio. “This milestone could not have been possible without such a passionate community.”

Gothic 1 Remake’s release was celebrated with a launch trailer that showcased the enhanced gameplay and new visuals for the title. Just a couple of days before the release, Alkimia Interactive had also released the intro cinematic for the RPG, giving us a look at how the opening moments of Gothic 1 Remake will play out thanks to its modern visual fidelity.

Leading up to its release, while Alkimia Interactive had spoken about wanting to bring in some improvements to Gothic with its remake, the studio had also noted that it wanted to hang on to some of the original’s aspects that help improve its immersion. Among these was the decision to not include a minimap.

“You don’t have a minimap,” explained game director Reinhard Pollice in an interview, “we very strictly kept that. We were thinking about making it optional, but we felt like even that doesn’t feel right. If you want to know where you are, just open your map. You will find out.”

He also revealed that the studio had discussed the idea of adding more content to help fill out the world of Gothic 1 Remake. Among the content discussed would have been a card minigame, and even possibly a fishing minigame. However, the decision was ultimately made to not do so, since they weren’t necessary for the core Gothic experience.

“We were debating about doing some minigames to fill it up more,” he said. “Having a card minigame, or maybe some fishing minigame. Who knows what the future holds for Gothic; maybe we’ll do them one day. But we didn’t see them as a priority thing. We felt like they’re not really needed for the core experience.”

Where it did bring in some changes, however, is in its approachability. Noting that the original Gothic could be a rough game for beginners, Pollice revealed that Gothic 1 Remake includes a more fleshed-out diary-style quest log that gives players a better idea of what they’re supposed to be doing. Similarly, the crafting system has also seen some expansion, with new alchemy and scroll-inscription systems.

For more details, check out what’s new in Gothic 1 Remake.

BrokenLore: FOLLOW

After UNFOLLOW, Serafini Productions now wants you to FOLLOW with its addition to the BrokenLore franchise. What exactly is happening? Well, we don’t know, aside from the fact that Anne is back and still dealing with extensive trauma, including but not limited to issues with her mother, bullying, feelings of worthlessness, and so on. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she contended with all kinds of horrors, like a giant gagged head shuffling through the halls and Mini Anne, a sentient doll. If this is truly the end of her journey before we move on to scary climbing in Ascend, then here’s hoping Anne finds some peace when BrokenLore: FOLLOW launches on June 1st for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2)

The second chapter in the remake trilogy features a much bigger world to explore, far deeper combat, enough mini-games to trip over, and of course, more Sephiroth. With Midgar left behind, Cloud and company venture across new locations, which are more expansive open-world-esque fields with enough enemies to test out the new Synergy attacks and Summons. And if you’re just here for the story, the Streamlined Progression features allow limitless HP and MP, easier ways to earn weapons, XP boosters, and much more, keeping the focus entirely on exploration and getting to know old and new friends, including Red XIII and Cait Sith. Currently available on PS5 and PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 players will finally get their chance to join the adventure on June 3rd.

Gothic 1 Remake

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but regardless of the many clones over the years, nothing quite captured the feeling of the original Gothic. On June 5th, Alkimia Interactive is bringing the legend back to life, complete with contemporary visuals, expanded questlines, new abilities, and combat that promises to be more “fluid and dynamic.” However, the core experience of wandering around the Colony, which is a venerable ecosystem in its own right, and choosing which camps to ally with while uncovering this massive world and its stories, remains intact. If an open-world RPG that doesn’t hold your hand sounds good, then Gothic 1 Remake may be worth your while when it launches on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions

If you’re looking for a break from No Man’s Sky, perhaps a more structured co-op experience, then Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions may be your jam. It enters early access on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S on June 11th, and diverges from the original’s terraforming gameplay loop in favor of more adventure. Through the ESS Starseekeer, you’ll meet other players, pair up for expeditions, and venture to various planets to complete objectives (along with materials and loot to earn). The twist is that you have a limited amount of oxygen and avenues for violence, so you’ll need to repel creatures, explore the environment – including diving into unknown depths – and work alongside your crew to survive. With a much more polished base and monthly updates planned, it could serve as a worthwhile co-op distraction…in space.

EA Sports UFC 6

Much like EA Sports FC, Madden, and College Football, you know what you’re getting into with a new UFC title. UFC 6 sports a few new modes at the very least, including Hall of Legends, which feels like it’s taking a page out of the WWE 2K Showcase mode with its mix of gameplay and live-action footage from famous fights across UFC history. Meanwhile, The Legacy has you playing as a prospect who fights all the way to the top to become champion, offering a more narrative bent. But you still have Career Mode, where you can create a fighter and plot their career with a much larger number of choices and the option to hold and defend two belts. With its June 19th launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, maybe it could break the mold and bring some excitement to an otherwise familiar formula. Just like EA Sports is renowned for!

The 7th Guest Remake

As obtuse and impossible as the old-school adventure games were, it’s nice to see the more contemporary remakes capturing their essence with updated visuals. The 7th Guest Remake, based on Trilobyte’s critically acclaimed 1993 adventure, offers the same mystery as before. You’re the titular seventh guest, investigating a mystery surrounding the previous six and the villainous Henry Strauf in a dark mansion. Numerous puzzles await, unraveling more of its secrets while bringing you ever closer to the truth. Perhaps more intriguing, however, is that the remake retains the original’s use of live-action actors in 3D environments, except with newly recorded footage that looks far crisper. The 7th Guest Remake launches on June 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, so if you covet adventure mystery titles with a dash of horror, this might just be another worthy addition to the collection.

#DRIVE Rally (Consoles)

Sega will continue dragging its feet and never give us a brand new Sega Rally title, so in the meantime, efforts like #DRIVE Rally will have to suffice. Currently available on PC, it’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on June 18th, packing six massive locations and 25 customizable vehicles in three classes. If you’re serious about competition, there are multiple Championships to earn and leaderboards to compete in (complete with ghosts), or you can kick back in Free Roam and add some sweet interior decorations to your collection. #DRIVE Rally definitely leans more towards the arcade side of racing, especially with its aesthetic, but it still offers some fun off-roading action.

NBA The Run

Remember the good old days of NBA Street? Play by Play Studios is seemingly trying to capture some of that magic with NBA The Run, a $30 street basketball title coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. The main goal is to win the Run the World Tournament. Four rounds, knockout rules, winner is crowned the champion. Pair up with two other players, taking control of a single player in Knockout Squads or control the entire team in Knockout Solos. Private Tournaments are also possible in Knockout Friends, and you can either take on the AI alone, with other players, or organize a massive competition with a staggering 48-player limit. And even with the indie studio budget, there are still over 30 NBA superstars to control, as you make a run for the top.

Star Fox

The audible groan of certain communities when this was revealed to be a remake of Star Fox 64 was palpable. But the latter arguably remains the series’ peak, and Star Fox for the Switch 2, launching on June 25th, retains everything that made it so great, save for completely overhauled visuals. You can experience the story on three different difficulties, either solo or in co-op, or partake in Challenge Mode with different objectives. Even multiplayer has been revamped to support multiple objective-based modes pitting Star Fox and Star Wolf against each other. It may not be the next big Switch 2 exclusive, but personally, it’s great to see the franchise return and looking so good.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

After bringing the brutal conflicts of World War 2 into the multiplayer space with unrelenting realism and a massive scale, Expression Games has its eyes set on Vietnam. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, out on June 18th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, leverages Unreal Engine 5 to deliver six massive maps where one side attempts to annihilate the other. With 17 different combat roles, new aerial units like helicopters, patrol boats, to battle across extensive rivers, dragging allies away to help them recover, revamped movement and the ability to tunnel for ambushes, this could be the definitive war sim shooter experience of the year.

As its name might imply, Gothic 1 Remake will be a ground-up recreation of the seminal RPG that was originally released on PC all the way back in 2001. At the time, the title was well-regarded for its story, the design of its world, and its atmosphere. However, it was also quite buggy at launch, and featured a control scheme that was considered odd even for its time. This ultimately led to it getting a smaller audience than other RPGs of the era, and it went on to be considered a cult classic.

The story of the original Gothic revolves around an unnamed prisoner – the player character – being thrown into a mining colony. There wasn’t much in the way of exposition at the time, and it was largely up to the player to figure out what was happening and what role they could play in the larger plot. Ultimately, the story starts becoming quite grander in scale.

Just last week, Alkimia Interactive released a new developer diary for Gothic 1 Remake that focused on how the remake’s combat would be an evolved form of what we first saw in the original. While much of the fundamentals are the same, there have been a few tweaks made to the combat system, and the studio has noted that the motion-captured movements for characters and creatures mean that players will have to be more careful about when they attack.

Interestingly, the player’s own animations will also see evolutions over time, depending on their skill with their weapons of choice. This was done to bring a new dimension to the RPG’s progression system, which starts you off as an incredibly weak character that has the potential to become the ultimate hero.

Director Reinhard Pollice had also spoken about wanting to make sure that Gothic 1 Remake feels as immersive as the original did. In an interview from back in April, he even confirmed that the title won’t have a minimap.

“You don’t have a minimap,” explained Pollice, “we very strictly kept that. We were thinking about making it optional, but we felt like even that doesn’t feel right. If you want to know where you are, just open your map. You will find out.”

As for other potential changes, Pollice no ted that the studio had discussions about adding more things to the world, like a card minigame. However, these additions never ended up being a major priority for the team, since they weren’t necessary for what the studio felt was the RPG’s “core experience”.

For more details on Gothic 1 Remake, check out a previous developer diary that showcased its improved character models.

Arknights: Endfield

Arknights: Endfield represents a major shift for the franchise, expanding its tower-defense roots into a full-fledged action RPG. Real-time combat, squad-based mechanics, and large-scale environments are just a few highlights of the experience, but there’s a lot more to get excited about as well. Despite the stark change, the game retains its distinctive art style and emphasis on world-building. Arknights: Endfield already received great critical and commercial reception on PC, and it is definitely worth checking out.

Mouse: PI for Hire

If you ever played Cuphead and ever wanted a rubberhose animation-style first-person shooter, Mouse: PI for Hire may very well be it. Set in Mouseburg (naturally), you control PI Jack Pepper as he exposes a deep-rooted conspiracy. With a wide variety of weapons, including chainsaws and freeze, it’s looking to be a real swell time when it launches on March 19th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

007 First Light

Few 007 titles and media have ever explored the origins of the superspy, but IO Interactive is going about it the right way. With a mix of classic gadgets, gorgeous sandboxes that encourage creative solutions, and a more impulsive James Bond, 007 First Light has all the tools to provide a fantastic action-adventure. It’s out on March 27th for current-gen consoles and PC.

No Law

From isometric cyberpunk twin-stick shooting to, well, first-person cyberpunk shooting, Neon Giant’s next game is certainly unexpected. Set in Port Desire, a more condensed open world, it’s a non-linear story about Grey Harker and his past mistakes returning to haunt him. How you solve those dilemmas is completely up to you, which is music to my Dishonored-loving ears. Here’s hoping the execution in No Law is as brilliant.

Phantom Blade Zero

Of course, you can’t have just one John Wick-esque journey. Cue S-Game’s Phantom Blade Zero, whose protagonist faces off against numerous assassins while clinging to life. While focusing more on fast-paced combat with multiple weapon types and brutal enemies, the world is littered with secrets, to the extent that you might not see everything on the first playthrough. Style and substance should be a winning formula indeed when it launches on September 9th for PS5 and PC.

Control Resonant

Remedy kind of spoiled us on the sequel, venturing beyond the confines of The Oldest House into something much bigger, but none of us expected a sequel like this. Battling through the streets and skies of Manhattan as Dylan, Jesse’s brother, wielding dual blades and heavy weapons alongside telekinesis and other powers – it feels almost like a dark fantasy, albeit through a paranatural lens. Control Resonant will hopefully channel that into something more, and we can’t wait to see the studio’s creativity truly unleashed.

The Sinking City 2

Frogwares’ return to the flooded city of Arkham, tackling eldritch horrors and attempting to survive with our sanity intact, is one that we’ve been waiting a long time for. The original showed promise, but The Sinking City 2 looks to expand on that, both graphically and in terms of far-reaching consequences. And let’s be honest – with Cthulhu, who doesn’t want to see how badly things can go? With a release sometime in the first half of 2026, it’s not long now.

Nioh 3

Be Tokugawa Takechiyo. Be next in line to become shogun, until your power-hungry sibling can’t take it, embroiling Japan in a massive Crucible. Venture back in time to various eras, even the Bakumatsu, for the first time in the series, and attempt to set things right. All in a day’s work for those who stand against the Yokai and with a massive scale, new weapons, revamped exploration, and more, Nioh 3 could be Team Ninja’s best yet (at least it seems to think so). Launching on February 6th for PS5 and PC, we’ll find out for ourselves soon enough.

Order of the Sinking Star

Braid Anniversary Edition may have underwhelmed commercially, but Jonathan Blow is back at it again, this time venturing back to the puzzling well. Much like The Witness, you’ll solve numerous puzzles, but spread across four worlds with various characters that intertwine in intriguing ways. With over 1000 in total, the Order of the Sinking Star is beyond ambitious and could serve as another instant classic.

Gears of War: E-Day

After what feels like years of being left on the hook, Gears of War returns with a familiar duo – Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. No, we haven’t fallen into an alternative universe – instead, it’s a prequel, set during the Emergence War right as it began. If you’ve ever sought a return to a more linear campaign, then E-Day may very well fuel that desire and even cater to those who enjoyed the first game’s horror. We’re certainly ready to learn more.

Halo: Campaign Evolved

Master Chief is back in yet another revisitation of the first-person shooter that started it all. Skepticism aside, there’s plenty of reason to be excited, from the inclusion of later-game weapons to the addition of four-player co-op. And if sprint isn’t your cup of tea, just switch it off. Combine all this with the new prologue missions and cross-play, and Campaign Evolved could be the clean slate that the series needs.

Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf

After everything that happened in the first game, you would think that Lana and Mui are due for a break. For better or worse, the sequel sees the duo delving deeper into Novo, unearthing new abilities and secrets while contending with a mysterious new threat. As an evolution of the original’s environmental storytelling and platforming, Planet of Lana 2 feels like a significant leap in every way.

The Blood of Dawnwalker

When vampires take over Vale Sangora, enslaving the local population, Coen is left with 30 days to save his family. As a half-vampire, however, he’s afforded some unique advantages, harnessing magic as a human by day and incredible strength as a vampire by night. Which affords more advantages, depending on the situation? What route will you take to dismantle the vampire’s hierarchy? The choice is yours, though care is necessary when deciding when to advance time. The Blood of Dawnwalker still doesn’t have a release date, but it’s out in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake

At long last, Koei Tecmo is remaking perhaps the best game in the Fatal Frame series – Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly. Releasing on March 12th, it offers more than just revamped visuals. There are new areas, side stories, Camera Obscura features, and even the “Holding Hands with Mayu” mechanic, which surely won’t be required for a brand new ending. Surely.

Pragmata

Fighting killer robots is tough enough when your bullets won’t even penetrate their armor – try doing it while simultaneously hacking their defenses. As unwieldy as that sounds, Pragmata just feels right, as Hugh teams with the android Diana to navigate a hostile Lunar base. The developer has remained tight-lipped on many things, but thus far, its gameplay loop has proven compelling in its own right. With a launch finally set for April 30th, we’ll see if it can carry the entire gorgeous experience.

Resident Evil Requiem

A requiem for the dead. An examination of the truth behind the Racoon City Incident. Old faces and new, working together to survive a new nightmare. If previous Resident Evil games felt like a big deal, then Requiem seems like the end of an era. That said, with a choice between first and third perspectives, the intertwining of survival and action horror, and more, it’s going to be one that fans never forget upon launching on February 27th.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Meanwhile, another long-running IP gets a new lease on life. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is straightforward enough – traverse Kyoto, cut down the Genma, and don’t die. But it’s from the perspective of the legendary Miyamoto Musashi, who’s armed with an Oni Gauntlet and must contend with his rival Sasaki Ganryu. Based on gameplay thus far, it’s shaping up into an incredible action-adventure – now all we need is a release date.

Saros

Minor delays aside, Housemarque’s next title is shaping up to be a dark horse just like Returnal. I’ve always sought a deeper challenge in this third-person shooter/bullet hell framework, and by leaning more into rogue-lite mechanics and progression, Saros looks even more enticing. Not to discount the bosses and other challenges, of course – if the story ends with fighting an actual eclipse, then it’s worth the price of admission.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

The Wings of Theve will fly once more, as players return to the world of Strangereal to liberate the Federation of Usea. Promising the same epic campaign as its predecessors, Ace Combat 8 features stunning visuals and high-octane aerial combat when it releases later this year.

Styx Blades of Greed

The Green Plague returns, this time to pull off the heist – or heists – to end all heists. Working with the Black Hand in his own zeppelin, Styx utilizes the power of Quartz to manipulate space and time to his benefit. There are three massive environments to explore, each unlocking new areas as you gain more tools, and overall, it looks like a major step up from Shards of Darkness.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

Speaking of returns, the legendary Lara Croft once again enters the action-adventure spotlight with Legacy of Atlantis, a Unreal Engine 5 reimagining of the original. Between all the familiar areas (and dinos), it also offers modernized gameplay and revamped controls, but Crystal Dynamics is keen on respecting the original’s legacy, which should be good news for purists.

Ontos

Count on Frictional Games to deliver a horror experience that’s completely unlike anything else out there. As a spiritual successor to the similarly mind-bending Soma, Ontos takes place in a moon hotel, where you partake in experiments as Aditi to find her father. Reality, for all intents and purposes, isn’t what it seems and who knows what secrets this labyrinth holds (which only makes it all the more enticing).

Fable

With the next Xbox Developer_Direct due in January, there’s no time like the fast-approaching present for Playground Games to showcase Fable. And not just a cute trailer with celebrities or a modern interpretation of a classic story – we’re talking raw gameplay. Considering the pedigree of those involved, Fable could live up to its lofty aspirations, but for now, we need to see more, especially when it’s out in 2026.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

Say what you will about Gotham City, but the legend of Batman, as he fights crime and struggles with his morality, remains as timeless as ever. Of course, TT Games is going for a more lighthearted touch with its sequel, packing in humor galore while still paying homage to the Batman’s legacy. With multiple playable characters and a massive playground, Legacy of the Dark Knight is shaping up to be an incredible tribute when it launches on May 29th.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection

A catastrophe in a fantastical world that somehow involves a Rathalos – where have we heard this before? Beyond the promise of an epic adventure, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is also venturing into new directions with raising monsties. You can now fight off invasive monsters, retrieve endangered eggs, hatch them and reintroduce them into the wild to restore a habitat. Which is a nice ecological message, but it also nets a sick fire-wielding Zinogre, among other mutations, and that’s what really matters.

Beast of Reincarnation

A triple-A game from Game Freak, known for the Pokémon series, sounds…odd, if nothing else. It involves a human named Emma and her dog Koo working together to save humanity in a post-apocalyptic future. Between majestic creatures, bizarre enemies, a beautiful depiction of Japan’s wilderness and extensive violence, you have to wonder whether this is the same developer. Regardless, it should be worth the wait.

Marvel’s Wolverine

When talking about violence – and lots of it – Insomniac speaks to us on a primal level with Marvel’s Wolverine. Every aspect of that berserker fantasy is preserved in this original story, as Logan seeks the key to his past, even if he might not like the answers. There’s more to learn, but really, we’re way past sold based on the dismemberment alone.

Grand Theft Auto 6

By now, we’ve covered the sheer agony of delays that Rockstar’s sequel has inspired, not to mention everything we’d like to see. The crazy thing is that despite the hype and every detail in its last trailer, it still feels we haven’t truly seen the core of Grand Theft Auto 6, much less its gameplay. With a release date of November 19th, which hopefully won’t change any time soon, there’s plenty of time to learn more. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.

Ikuma – The Frozen Compass

From Lost Ember developer Mooneye Studios comes a new adventure about survival in the Arctic. As Sam and his dog Ellie, you’ll traverse the harsh environment, climbing and foraging for resources to survive while seeking a way back home, even as something strange lurks beyond the ice and snow. Beyond the gorgeous aesthetic, Ikuma – The Frozen Compass could be a uniquely emotional journey.

Cairn

If you’re looking for a different but still harrowing survival narrative experience, look no further than Cairn. The Game Bakers’ latest focuses on Aava, who seeks to scale Mount Kami, perhaps becoming the first to ever do it. While the path is littered with good intentions, it’s also fraught with danger (and that’s before you decide to try and climb at night). Still, with the ability to climb anywhere and find your own path, Cairn isn’t messing around and could end up as the premier climbing title.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties

The Yakuza series is no stranger to deep side activities that will occupy you for hours. So how about managing an orphanage, participating in unique bonding events, and even raising your Daddy Rank (seriously)? If that sounds a little too cutesy, don’t worry – Yoshitaka Mine’s story, as told through Dark Ties, offers Kanda Damage Control, where you fulfil requests, complete challenges (including combat), and ascend past the ranks of trash. Between all this and their deeply involving narratives, there’s little reason not to delve into Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties when it launches on February 12th.

Code Vein 2

What’s the end of the world between blood-sucking, dungeon-crawling, and friends? Unlike the first game, Code Vein 2 is about hopping through time, meeting various important figures, and hopefully stopping the apocalypse. The lack of online co-op is a bummer, but at least the robust character creator is back, while build variety is freer than ever. With bigger foes, bosses, and stakes, Code Vein 2 should offer a more impactful experience when it launches on January 30th.

Gothic 1 Remake

The original “Explore a Eurojank world without any hand-holding and try to survive”, but this time with improved visuals. Everything about the original remains unchanged; however, as you navigate the Colony in whatever manner you wish. Choose a faction, become a hero, interact with NPCs – whatever you desire across a 50-hour journey when Gothic 1 Remake launches in Q1 2026.

Valor Mortis

“All men must die”, says Valar Morghulis, but not you. Instead, Ghostrunner developer One More Level wants you to show courage in the face of death, especially after you’ve been brought back to life and must battle against plague-ridden foes. As a first-person Souls-like with responsive melee combat, Valor Mortis is shaping up pretty well, and we can’t wait to see how far the horror-filled rabbit hole goes.

Decrepit

Of course, if you want something even darker, there’s Decrepit, which offers an even simpler goal: Escape a castle teeming with danger. There’s a rogue-lite loop where getting caught means starting over, but beyond the Souls-like combat, the emphasis is on learning more about the world, uncovering secrets like permanent upgrades, harnessing equipment to suit your playstyle, and so on. It’s intriguing, and complements Valor Mortis in several ways.

Forza Horizon 6

If the millions and millions of players throughout the years didn’t clue you in, this franchise is unstoppable, and Forza Horizon 6 could be the best yet. New cars and a bigger map, spreading from Tokyo to the area around Mt Fuji, is a given, but Playground cramming it with activities to make it the “most full” yet is intriguing. With rumors claiming a release in the first half of 2026, Xbox Series X/S and PC won’t have to wait long to go hands-on.

Xardas provides a rough outline of the world, from the Khorinis mines and its prisoners to the orcs wreaking havoc against the kingdom as a whole. It also offers a closer look at the revamped combat, from hacking and slashing to spell-casting and even summoning skeletons to fight for you.

If that wasn’t enough, the Nyras Prologue demo is also available now for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S (previously exclusive to PC). This provides a sample of the overall gameplay and art direction that the team is going for.

For more details on Gothic 1 Remake, check out this “Making of” video, which highlights differences from the original. You can also learn more about the changes to the visuals here.