Imagine my surprise when I found out that I could now dive into the adventure, complete with a makeover from Alkimia that aimed to let it take the spotlight amongst a bevy of great RPGs in the current generation of gaming platforms. It’s been a mixed bag, with the joy of unbridled, unguided discovery being marred by technical issues that have no business being in a game that’s clearly aimed at a modern, very discerning audience.

I always pick the good news first, and that’s what we’re going to do with this one. From the very beginning of your time with the Nameless Hero, you’re more or less left to your own devices as you try to survive King Rhogar’s prison/mining colony, the magical barrier that keeps you there acting as a grim reminder of the circumstances that have unfolded since the mage’s botched attempt to create their own version of an electrified fence.

The game wastes no time in setting the stakes, tasking you with delivering a letter to a mage within the Old Camp, one of three major factions within The Colony. You get a small introduction to what life is like within its confines from a helpful member of the camp before you get to begin exploring a world that’s as brutal as they come.

I’m not kidding when I tell you that this one’s as hard as any of the games I’ve played over the years, and that’s counting a bunch of Soulslikes that have had me at my wit’s end with some enemies and bosses that they’ve thrown my way. Most hostiles in this one can take you down in one or two hits, while you don’t even get a starting weapon to take them on with.

An NPC you meet along the way did tell me that I was going to need weapons and armor before I was ready to explore the world, but they were less than helpful when I asked them where I could find them. That’s kind of a pattern in this one, and the lack of the usual markers and helpful indicators that point you in the right direction was a very refreshing change of pace.

"Quests are designed in a way that gives you multiple possible approaches, if you can sniff them all out."

This is old-school game design, and it’s a very enjoyable part of the experience on offer. Of course, I must concede that it could be a detail that puts you off the experience depending on your individual preferences, but I personally love games that allow me to put in the hard work to reap the rewards.

Quests are designed in a way that gives you multiple possible approaches, if you can sniff them all out. And each option comes with trade-offs that you’re going to have to live with. For instance, an NPC whose approval I desperately needed to get past the guards at a gate told me to deal with a member of the New Camp who had been running a bit of a scam. I dealt with the man in question by leading him out of the Old Camp under the pretence of wanting to sign up with his faction, only to turn on him when a group of scavengers attacked us. Problem solved.

I returned to camp, stopping to meet a weapons vendor along the way. He wasn’t too happy with what I’d done as I put an end to his supply chain. He assured me that he wasn’t going to vote in my favor if he was asked if I was going to be a good fit for the Old Camp. Details like that make this world feel alive, and it’s what has made Gothic memorable to me.

However, I’m also going to remember it for a lot of frustrations and heartbreaks. I’m not going to forget how I lost nearly three hours of progress thanks to the lack of an autosave system coupled with frequent crashes, a combination that soon had me manually saving my game at every turn. That’s an omission that I believe is a missed opportunity, and a way to truly let the game combine its welcome old-school vision with a bit of modern convenience.

However, the problems don’t stop there. I appreciate the effort to recreate the game’s visuals, and there’s certainly a lot to like about the new lighting system and upgraded textures. However, the lack of a performance mode is something I find very hard to ignore, especially in the face of a combat system that relies quite heavily on reading enemy animations and responding to them within windows that are far too narrow even on the easiest difficulty option there is.

"The XP thresholds you need to unlock levels are quite high when you think about how difficult it is to whittle away at enemy health bars, and getting your character’s stats to a place of comfort is going to be a steep climb up a hill that has danger at every turn."

Your hero’s combat prowess is almost negligible in the game’s early hours. Couple that with enemies whose animations aren’t telegraphed as well as they should, and you’ve got a recipe for needless frustrations that actively hinder your progress. That’s especially egregious when you consider that it takes a while for you to get your hands on some decent armor, although I will concede that getting your hands on a weapon is comparatively easier once you know where to look.

With that being said, the game’s melee combat is too clunky for my taste, and it often comes down to chugging healing items while dealing with attacks from enemies that can end you with just one badly-timed parry. Ranged weapons served me a lot better, and I found myself relying on my bow (and a bit of magic once you unlock it) over my sword for the most part, or getting NPCs to do the fighting for me.

The XP thresholds you need to unlock levels are quite high when you think about how difficult it is to whittle away at enemy health bars, and getting your character’s stats to a place of comfort is going to be a steep climb up a hill that has danger at every turn. There’s a lot of room for improvement on the combat front in this one.

That’s a pity, considering that human enemies that defeat you in combat don’t kill you outright, but loot all of the valuable stuff you’ve spent hours gathering to fill their own pockets. In a title where combat was more balanced, that’s an opportunity to go back for a rematch and regain your lost valuables. In Gothic Remake, it’s just better to take the loss and move on, and that’s a real shame.

Crashes and wonky combat animations aside, there were other issues such as NPCs randomly appearing out of thin air, while others would get stuck in their own animations without dialogue windows popping up when you interact with them. Both problems were frequent enough to be noticeable, and definitely took away from the impressive visuals.

"On the technical front, this one comes with too many annoyances that constantly interrupt the experience in ways that can have you giving up on it altogether."

The audio was similarly buggy, often cutting off into total silence at several points, or including the chatter from other characters in crowded spaces during a one-on-one dialogue that forced me to turn on subtitles just so I could keep up with what was being said. For a remake that was meant to usher this one into the modern age, there’s a lot of problems from an era of gaming I thought we’d left behind for good.

It’s now time to answer the question that I’m sure you’re all asking: would I recommend this one to you? Personally, I’m going to persist with the adventure and hope for updates that fix the issues that I’ve highlighted here. But I wouldn’t recommend paying full price for this one in its current state.

The story is absolutely riveting thanks to how well-written each character, and the world at large is. But on the technical front, this one comes with too many annoyances that constantly interrupt the experience in ways that can have you giving up on it altogether. There’s a lot to love about Gothic 1 Remake, but the game constantly works against itself in ways that make it hard to recommend.

If you’re a seasoned veteran of The Colony, you’re probably going to find its issues easier to ignore than a newcomer. But if this is your first time with this one, know that this remake is a superb visual overhaul that fails to hide a plethora of issues that make it hard to engage with. But for those of you who persist, you’re in for a look at what games used to be like back in the day which could have you quite immersed in a story that continues to pull its weight even today.

I’d wait for a sale on this one, as much as it pains me to say it. But like The Colony, modern gaming is an unforgiving place, and Gothic 1 Remake stumbles far too often for it to stand tall amongst its competition.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

There’s a lot of new stuff to look forward to in this one, and the opening cinematic was dropped a little earlier to let you get some much-needed context as to what’s happening if this is your first time with the classic RPG. For those of you who are returning to it after a hiatus, know that the combat system might surprise you as much as the visual improvements that are clear to see.

Of course, that’s just the beginning, and you’re in for an adventure that’s a treat on both the visual and gameplay fronts. Being a convict was never this promising in our book. The game’s out on PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S – check out our feature on everything you should know before picking it up, and how it compares to the original.

Greenlit Following Teaser Demo Success

Back in December 2019, THQ Nordic Barcelona released the Gothic Playable Teaser, a prototype demo which reimagined the original Gothic with modern combat and controls. The idea was to gauge appetite for a full-scale remake, and the response from the community was they were hungry. However, the overwhelming consensus was that any Gothic remake needs to be more faithful to the original than the teaser. So, for Gothic 1 Remake, expect a reboot which honours the original’s gritty atmosphere, opaque characters, and expansive lore.

New Studio Created Specifically

To shepherd this cult-classic RPG into a new era, THQ Nordic felt it prudent to establish a new studio dedicated to realising the original vision through a modern lens. Alkimia Interactive, still based in Barcelona, comprises team members responsible for the teaser’s creation, but has also drafted in original talent – programmers, writers, and a composer – to revert the prototype’s second-rate foundations with assuring authenticity.

What is Gothic?

Released in 2001, Gothic is a dark-fantasy action-RPG renowned for raising the standard of immersion, progression, and reactivity in open world games. Yet, despite its pioneering approach, the original game is widely regarded as held back by clunky controls and technical hiccups. It’s this mechanical friction that makes the series a hard sell to modern gamers, even if contemporary RPGs still struggle to replicate many of Gothic’s defining concepts.

Remake Aims to Be Accessible

So, if the original’s notoriously cumbersome controls were proving an insurmountable barrier for newcomers, Alkimia is demonstrating sound judgment by focusing heavily in this particular area. Gone are the heavy tank controls and complex inputs, replaced by modern systems which aim for fluid, responsive movement and accessibility. Another area the studio has identified for overhaul is UI, with sparse quest logs fleshed out with more useful information. The minimalist HUD is retained, however, preserving the original’s uncompromising aesthetic.

NPC Behaviour Expanded

Beyond softening mechanical edges, Alkimia is also zeroing on expanding the elements which make the original so revered. NPC behaviour is one-such expansion, where their routines and social rules created a living, reactive world in 2001. Notable updates for this modern iteration, combining algorithmic AI and motion capture, include deeper interactions and ambient conversations, more detailed daily routines, and reacting dynamically to shifting weather patterns – they’ll take shelter during heavy rain, for instance.

Refined Lore and Orc Culture

Pushing the immersiveness of Gothic 1 Remake’s world further are refinements to its lore, with a distinct focus on re-establishing Orc culture; an area the studio feels was under-represented in the original game. Working with expert linguists, Orcs now have their own fully-functional language which you can study in-game. Orcish backstory has been fleshed out too, with you exploring their traditions, and motivations for war through cultural insight.

Up to 30% Larger Gameworld

Set in the Valley of Mines prison colony, Gothic 1 Remake is based on the original game’s location but it’s been expanded up to 30% larger. This expansion, however, isn’t so much a case of pushing the border outwards to make a bigger surface area, but the locations within the colony have been iterated upon through extra quests, including camp-specific missions and individual storylines. All in all, approximately 30 hours of extra content will feature, some which the developer has confirmed derives from original ideas that never made it into the 2001 game.

Original Quests Also Revised

In addition to extra content, some of the 2001 game’s original quests have been revised too, with additional plotlines, narrative decisions, and possible outcomes aiming to broaden the scope of the original while simultaneously plugging any plot holes. See, according to the development team, the original game’s story needed reworking due to uneven pacing and narrative gaps. Resolving these issues through mission design should produce a more satisfying experience overall.

Again, You’re The Nameless Hero

Whilst the narrative possibilities have been broadened, you’ll still embody the same nameless hero as the original game. However, gracefully, the overly-talkative character you control in the teaser has been dropped in favour of a more serious persona. You’ll start untrained, without skills, and with no idea where anything is, mirroring the refusal to hold your hand as you grow accustomed to the world in the 2001 original. The protagonist’s perceived lack of identity is key to establishing immersion. It’s a core feature of the original which Alkimia are right to revert back to after the teaser’s aesthetic changes.

Sprawling Narrative Branches

The remake is set to follow the same core plot as the original. However, the developers are broadening its scope through a greater concentration of branching storylines. Hinging on your faction allegiance, specific quests and side-character studies will be available, presenting diverging paths which you can follow to their own conclusions, although each branch will eventually re-converge. Furthermore, your chosen faction influences playstyle through training, weapon access, and magic, becoming a cornerstone of mid-to-late game progression.

Modernised Combat System

If narrative and progression showcase the remake’s approach to refining the old, its modernised combat systems, instead, represent a revamp into something new. Directional attacks demand precise timing, specific button inputs trigger combos, and active blocking and parrying systems ensure a streamlined flow to encounters. Updating the original’s combat, the focus now seems to be on skilful timing, although the tactical, high-stakes difficulty appears present; early on, at least, you’ll not want to find yourself outnumbered.

Combat Progression Via Training

Unlike most modern RPGs which require you to spend XP on buffs for skills and abilities, Gothic 1 Remake continues the original’s progression philosophy, whereby you’ll need to seek mentorship if you want to increase your fighting capability. Trainers are located in camps, and you’ll need to spend Skill Points to learn their abilities. As your capability grows, your combat animations will also evolve, where clumsy sword swings progress to powerful motions.

Reforged Armour System

Armour in Gothic is connected to faction identity, and this characterisation is maintained in the upcoming remake, albeit with new customisations and augmentations. Most armours in the remake cannot be bought from traders, but collected once you’ve aligned with a certain camp. New armours are unlocked as your rank within the faction increases, too. Wearing specific armours influences how NPCs react to your presence, but from what we currently know adding stat-tweaking upgrades such as fire buffs or magic protection won’t affect how others perceive you.

All-New Camerawork

Gothic 1 Remake also introduces all-new camera features to modernise the game’s presentation as well as its mechanics. A dynamic conversation camera shifts perspectives during NPC interaction, plus adjustable field of view and optional target lock-on allow you to tailor the action to your own comfort level. If you’re not a fan of the new over-the-shoulder view, you can choose to play the game from directly behind the character via the classic camera preset.

Unreal Engine 5 Brings Modern Tech

Gothic 1 Remake is being built in Unreal Engine 5, meaning the studio is able to take advantage of dynamic global illumination, photogrammetry surfaces, and lifelike facial animations. Yet, conversely, the developers are also using this modern tech to retain the original game’s visual grit and degradation.

Deeper Environmental Storytelling

While the original Gothic relied heavily on implied detail, eschewing lore drops and quest markers in the process, Gothic 1 Remake embeds storytelling more overtly into its world. Environments now showcase clearer narrative meaning through visual clues and observable NPC routines, to weathered textures, a dynamic ecosystem where animals and monsters hunt each other, and other contextual details, making the Valley of Mines feel more lived-in, relatable, and dangerous whilst still maintaining the original’s oppressive tone.

Factions More Culturally Defined

Factions in the 2001 original were distinct, sure, but broadly defined through gameplay. The upcoming remake, instead, gives each camp a stronger cultural identity. By redefining each of their visual identities, moment-to-moment behaviours, and narrative altercations – keeping pre-established hierarchical structures and philosophies intact – the remake seeks to create a more cohesive world to get immersed in.

Broader Traversal

The remake expands traversal mechanics, including both climbing and swimming. These even become skills that you can develop over time, feeding into exploration meaningfully, where sunken chests, submerged weapons, and other hidden rewards await.

Expanded In-World Economy and Trading

Trading played a major role in the original Gothic, yet its ‘Barter’ system felt more functional than compelling. The upcoming remake expands the in-world economy by introducing dynamic trading systems which simulates passive merchant trading outside of your economic actions. They’ll exchange excess stock and raw materials, ensuring the market is consistently in-flux. It appears real-life capitalism’s supply and demand, where rising cost mirrors scarcity, is fully ingrained into the Valley of Mines, bringing a survival-driven element to your in-game activities.

Reworked Script and Voice Acting

The remake brings a reworked script and recorded voice acting. While German and Polish translations welcome back veteran actors from the original game, the English cast is an all-new ensemble who are poised to characterise the Valley of Mines’ denizens in a more grounded, serious, anti-fantasy tone than both Gothic 1 and the remake’s playable teaser.

Adjustable Difficulty Settings

Key to Gothic 1’s uncompromising aesthetic, the original game didn’t include any adjustable difficulty settings. Instead, every player faced life in the colony with the same challenges as each other. Whilst difficulty is indeed one of Gothic’s defining traits, the remake introduces selectable difficulty levels, making the experience more universal for all skill levels. If you’re a purist looking to suffer, the hardest selectable setting preserves the challenge you remember.

Early Game Pacing

Alongside a fixed challenge, the original Gothic is also renowned for its unapologetically steep learning curve, famously dropping players into its brutal world with little guidance. The upcoming remake, however, appears to soften this approach slightly, offering a more forgiving introduction to ease you into its systems. It’s still set to be tough as nails at the bottom of the food chain, but those elements we mentioned in our other “15 Things To Know” feature – responsive controls, modernised combat, and so on – means the climb up the pecking order will feel achievable.

Earlier Access to Magic

Becoming a skillful mage in both the original Gothic and the upcoming remake is something you work towards, with your first taste of magic coming during chapter two of the original. In the remake, you’ll gain access to magic earlier by using spell scrolls as a consumable item, opening up build variety and playstyle experimentation sooner regardless of your faction.

Updated Creature and Armour Design

While staying faithful to the original gritty, grounded designs, the remake reinterprets creatures and armour with modern, realistic fidelity. Predatory monsters, in particular, are now anatomically more formidable, with particle effects and dynamic animations showing that this enhancement goes beyond simply refreshing visual detail. Meanwhile, the appearance of armour has been overhauled, with a suite of all-new modifications to tailor the look of your defensive garments, ensuring every piece feels distinctly personal.

More Reactive Combat Feel

Beyond the systemic changes we discuss in our other “15 Things” preview feature, the remake’s overhauled combat also addresses the original’s notorious clunkiness with smoother animations, clearer sound cues, and responsive, more natural character movement. Transitions from standstill to attack are now seamless, while realistic foot movement replaces the immersion-breaking sliding in the original. The result is combat mechanics that appear more readable and reactive, whilst still maintaining the original weighty feel.

Expanded Magic and Alchemy

Much like the original, magic and alchemy in Gothic 1 Remake remains tied to progression, but both showcase a handful of modern twists. In magic’s case, the remake allows you to move whilst firing lower-tier spells, eschewing the static casting of the original. Higher powered spells still root you to the spot though. As for alchemy, the remake significantly expands this system from the original’s relatively straightforward healing and mana restoration. Now, you can brew potions with more potent effects, crafted by following specific recipes. You’ll need to spend time gathering all your ingredients – herbs, creature parts, and more – making alchemy a much more involved profession that will prove instrumental to survival in later chapters.

Richer Crafting Systems

And alchemy isn’t the only crafting system Gothic 1 Remake is set to expand. No, deeper weaponsmithing sees you maintain your blade at a grindstone, retaining its sell-on value whilst keeping its edges sharp. Cooking is now much broader of an activity too, with elaborate recipes and exotic ingredients to keep you busy beyond the original’s simple meat roasting. These expanded systems aren’t just there to give you more work, but they reinforce the survival aspects of life within the brutal colony.

Ambient Audio Design

Sound design in the original Gothic was arguably ahead of its time, mixing parts of environmental foley sounds and shifting musical motifs to create a dynamic web of audio instead of relying on standard looping tracks. The remake aims to recreate this groundbreaking feat of atmospheric ambience, with a richer sound palette and spatial audio for wildlife, weather, and human activity adding an immersive, real-world feel to the colony’s claustrophobia.

Reimagined Soundtrack

Gothic’s original composer is back in the studio to reimagine the soundtrack for the upcoming remake. Serving as audio director, Kai Rosenkranz is both remastering original music whilst producing all-new tracks, recording with live instruments, which are set to match the game’s more resonant emotional depth.

Overall Philosophy: Recreation vs Reinterpretation

Perhaps the biggest shift between Gothic 1 Remake and the original lies in philosophical intent. See, the 2001 original is shaped by technical constraints, whereas the remake, by contrast, is a deliberate reinterpretation. Its aim appears to be to preserve the spirit of the original while rethinking how its systems and world should function for a modern audience.

Of course, the story it aims to set off is only a part of what makes the remake a very attractive offering. There’s a new and improved combat system to look forward to, while the game’s visuals have received a massive makeover to help it blend better with the crop of current-gen offerings. There’s a lot to like in what we’ve already seen of this one, and the mages that raised the barrier this intro speaks of are going to be the least of your problems once you start interacting with the different Camps in the prison colony.

All in all, the new cinematic intro is only one part of a marketing campaign that has us counting the hours until we get to dive in. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long, as Gothic 1 Remake is out on June 5th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Retaining the accessibility of the original game, it’s easy to learn, but it comes with its own tweaks to make it stand out. It abhors the current trend of light and hard attacks in imitation of the Souls-like formula, which has led to the creation of original motion-captured movements for your characters.

It’s an interesting approach that leads you to study animations over weapon stats, choosing those that suit your playstyle while also being aware of the damage they can deal in a pinch. It certainly works well with combat that is reliant on directional inputs and how well you’re able to read enemy attack patterns and animations to exploit them.

What’s even more interesting is the fact that your own animations begin to evolve with your player level, with higher levels bringing changes that better reflect your character’s evolution over the course of the adventure you undertake. That’s definitely very welcome in an RPG such as this.

It’s also really cool that the game’s tutorials are baked into its dialogue instead of popping up on your screen to interrupt the experience, which often feels like a game’s learning curve sacrifices a bit of immersion on the altar of accessibility. Thankfully, that’s not the case here.

There’s a lot more to like in the full showcase, and it’s a good primer for when Gothic 1 Remake launches on June 5th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

“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.”

He went on to reveal that the studio thought about adding its own new content to Gothic Remake, like minigames that would help make the world feel more dense. However, Alkimia Interactive ultimately decided against the idea, since the world would have felt too padded out otherwise.

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.”

These decisions ultimately came down to the fact that the original Gothic was a grounded game in terms of its storytelling and world, and Alkimia Interactive wants to continue that feeling with Gothic Remake. This has, however, meant that the studio had to do extensive rewrites of the original’s English version, since it suffered from stilted dialogue when compared to its German language release.

“It had this down-to-earth, grounded type of writing,” Pollice explained. “At least, the original German version. When we set out, we also realized that maybe one of the reasons why it wasn’t so popular in English-speaking territories was that the writing was a little bit hit and miss in the English version. That was one of the things we started very early on, that we did a rewrite of the original English version, and we decided to get this distinct working-class feeling and tone into it.”

The studio has also tried to make Gothic Remake more approachable than the original, namely by providing players with more guidance through a more immersive diary-styled quest log. Through this, Alkimia also ended up avoiding making Gothic Remake too easy with objective markers cluttering the UI.

“We felt that maybe the way Gothic handled guidance back then just wasn’t enough,” he said. “I mean, it had a very bare-bone quest log, so we extended that. You now have the option instead—you have a diary-style quest log, but you also have an objective view where you can see, OK, what does it boil down to? What do I have to do? But it’s always written in this immersive context of being what would the hero know.”

Crafting is also getting expanded in Gothic Remake, with a full-fledged new alchemy and scroll-inscription systems to accompany the in-game forge. Cooking has been made more elaborate as well. However, among the things the studio had originally planned but decided against was character customization.

“We had everything on the table,” Pollice said, “but we quickly discarded that as being a very important thing. We felt like the Nameless Hero is known for a specific type of look, and it’s a hero’s journey in a way. We didn’t really lean into character customization. You can customize the armor set you’re using.”

Gothic Remake is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on June 5th.

But that’s not the only good news. If you’re looking to play it on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S, preordering it for $59.99 gets you a free copy of the original game, playable immediately. That’s quite a good deal if you haven’t played it and want to familiarize yourself with its systems and mechanics. If you’re a returning veteran, it’s going to work well as a refresher before you get to engage with all of the new additions that are coming your way.

For those of you who missed this one back in the day, it’s an excellent RPG that puts you in control of the Nameless Hero, a protagonist who finds themselves navigating the brutal Colony, a prison housing three factions with volatile relationships. You must find a way to escape with the help of a few allies you make along the way, although your choices may influence how those relationships play out over the course of the story.

It’s a title that has been quite popular over the years, and the remake remains true to its original vibe while making meaningful upgrades for modern audiences. Gothic Remake is available on June 5th, retailing for $49.99 on PC. Pre-orders even get Kai Rosenkranz’s soundtrack, which contains new tracks and reimagined “familiar melodies,” for free.

Well, that’s exactly what we’re setting out to do. Here are a few recently announced titles that are sure to make 2026 and the next few years all the more exciting with their presence. Let’s get started!

1. Sons of Sparta

This one was quite a pleasant surprise, being made available right after its reveal at State of Play. If you love hard-hitting action, big set-piece battles, and a setting that goes all-in on spectacle and emotion, this one’s an absolute no-brainer.

It’s a 2D platformer that rewinds the clock, diving into a protagonist’s past as he fights alongside his brother and begins carving out his place on the battlefield. It leans heavily into tight platforming challenges, while its spear-and-shield combat proves surprisingly addictive, rewarding precision, smart parries, and well-timed evasions.

2. The Trilogy Remake

It was a welcome surprise to see the announcement land at the show, especially with a full remake project on the table for players. We’re eager to see how the updated versions modernize the classic gameplay loops, sharpen the pacing, and refine the combat feel while keeping the general flow and feel intact.

Either way, we’ll be jumping in the moment it’s playable, though it sounds like it may be a while, with development still in the early stages.

3. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

It’s always great to join one of the Belmont’s on a monster hunting adventure, and this one’s setting in Paris has us fascinated by its gothic vibe and buttery smooth combat animations. Of course, the Vampire Killer is making its return to your side along with new weapon types that let you take the fight to whatever monstrosities the game throws at you.

While details about its story are a tad scarce at this time, we’re sure that Konami and the Dead Cells team are up to the task of making it one worthy of the long-standing franchise.

4. Gothic Remake

This is another remake that we’re itching to get our hands on considering just how much work is going into making it a game that stays true to the classic RPG while modernizing it to make it appealing to a new generation of players.

With the most recent in a series of videos about its development showcasing how the team has crafted its NPC character models from the ground up, this one’s shaping up to be a very fine addition to a slew of remakes of classic titles. Even better is the fact that it’s currently scheduled for a 2026 release.

5. Samson

This one’s quite unique in that it features a man in a leather jacket literally taking on the world in order to pay off his debts and save his family. That’s easier said than done, however, as the city of Tyndalston is not an ideal place where one can earn their fair share without a little bit of violence involved.

Miss a day’s payment, and you’re even deeper in the debt trap with both the law and the lawless out to get you. This action brawler is going to keep the pressure on you, but of course, it gives you everything you need to come out on top. Just don’t expect it to give you cash or mercy.

6. Aphelion

While we’ve seen our fair share of sci-fi adventures where humanity needs to move out from the Earth thanks to hostile living conditions, we’re still excited for Aphelion as it does things a little differently. You see, it focuses on two explorers stranded on a potentially new home for their fellow humans, their ship having crashed, and one of them being injured in the process.

With two protagonists with their own abilities and skills, and a story that explores the burden of duty in a dire situation, this one could pull at your heartstrings more than you’d like to admit.

7. John Wick

It’s always going to be great to see Keanu Reeves play another video game badass after his work as Johnny Silverhand. And John Wick’s excellent take on the character’s signature gun-fu style is looking very promising in the reveal trailer at State of Play, February 2026.

Saber Interactive looks like it’s staying true to the character while bringing all of the action and chaos that seems to chase him around to the table in a title we’re excited to play, although that could take a while.

8. Knight’s Path

When life gives you lemons, you pick up a sword and wander the land in search of redemption. At least, that’s what Arlyk, the protagonist of this action-RPG set in ancient Rome, sets out to do in order to rebuild his life as a noble.

With combat that’s looking like you’re going to earn your reputation as a swordsman without comparison, this one is going to have us spending a lot of time with mechanics that are designed to make each swing or slash of your blade count. Add in an immersive world and a potentially memorable cast of characters, and you have yourself a winner.

9. Kena: Scars of Kosmora

Kena is now older, wiser, and more determined to bring her unique blend of empathy and compassion to Kosmora, a brand new location that’s opened its doors to her. She’s more confident in her role as a guide and is determined to help the living as well as the dead as she goes about her duties.

That’s good news for us as it gives us more opportunities to experience a story that hopefully retains the wit and charm of Bridge of Spirits with a combat system that seems fast, fluid, and, most importantly, fun.

10. Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2

We’re never going to say no to any opportunity to play more Metal Gear Solid, and the chance to replay MGS4 on a modern console without having to boot up our admittedly ancient PS3 is always a reason to celebrate.

And with Peace Walker retaining its online play components, this is a title we’re eager to get our hands on when August 2026 finally comes around. It’s time to round up your friends and take on a Metal Gear title that was built around cooperative play in this second addition to the Master Collection series from Konami.

11. GreedFall 2: The Dying World 1.0

The prequel to Greedfall has been in early access for a while now, but it’s finally ready to face the world this March. We’re stoked to return to Tree Fradee, a place where your choices carry wait and there’s always a bit of danger for those adventurers who care to go looking for it.

If this new title is anything like its predecessor, this one could have us spending more than a few hours finding out that our actions have consequences, and ones that we didn’t expect more often than not.

12. ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies

The spiritual successor to Disco Elysium is definitely up there with the more interesting concepts we’ve seen in recent years. You play as a former secret agent who harbors dark secrets and is now working as a PI after being forced out of the agency in disgrace.

The story is about rebuilding burned bridges as much as it is a mystery, where you need to think carefully about your actions while also paying attention to your crumbling mental state. That’s a lot to take in, but it’s going to be worth it from everything we’ve seen about this one.

13. Road to Vostok

Coming to early access in April 2026, this post-apocalyptic survival title takes you to Vostok, a harsh place in which even a silly error could mean the end of your adventure, with permadeath being a constant threat that hovers over you as you make your way through the story.

With a dynamic world that features a comprehensive weather system, multiple hostile factions all determined to give your character a premature death, and of course, a ton of loot to be gathered, Road to Vostok has us quite enthusiastic for all of it.

14. IKUMA – The Frozen Compass

Any adventure where you’re accompanied by a NPC is one that’s worth it in our book, and this one definitely caught our eye with its unique visuals and art style. You play as Sam, a boy who finds himself alone and stranded on an island in the Arctic with his loyal furry friend Ellie at his side.

Together, they must find a way home, braving all of the challenges in their way in a coming-of-age story that forces Sam to confront his past in order to ensure he has a future.

15. Project Windless

If you liked The Bird That Drinks Tears series of novels, this is a game that’s going to be a treat for you. It’s an open-world RPG set in the same universe as the books, placing you in the shoes (metaphorically, of course) of a giant humanoid bird who is armed with a pretty cool pair of dual blades and out on a mission that has you taking on several enemies who are quite skilled at coming at you from all directions based off what we’ve seen in the trailer.

This is a game that we’re eager to play thanks to its focused, single-player experience.

And that’s a wrap on our most anticipated titles for the rest of this year and perhaps a few that are going into 2027 and beyond. Of course, you can be sure you’re going to hear from us the moment new information on any one of them becomes available.

Grand Theft Auto 6

Rockstar’s upcoming return to Vice City is easily the biggest open-world release on the horizon, and the perfect candidate to start off the list. Grand Theft Auto 6 promises a living, breathing world packed with dynamic NPC routines, reactive law enforcement, and an unprecedented level of environmental detail. The dual protagonists inspired by the adventures of Bonnie and Clyde look to be a promising storyline filled with several emotional moments. Of course, missions, side activities, and emergent mayhem are also important pillars of the experience – so we are definitely looking forward to this one.