Silent Hill Townfall

Silent Hill has made a grand comeback as of late, and Townfall takes the iconic franchise in a more experimental direction – focusing heavily on psychological storytelling and building atmospheric tension. Early teasers suggest a strongly narrative-driven experience that leans into surreal horror and several plot twists, and that will be coupled with thrilling exploration and mind-bending puzzles – and it’s definitely one of the hottest games of the near future.

 Marathon

Whatever happens, Marathon will go down as one of the year’s biggest shooters. Either, it’ll fail catastrophically, or attract and retain a sizeable playerbase – the latter once seeming unlikely, given its controversial development and underwhelming alpha reception.

Bungie has been scurrying away since alleged plagiarism tanked the game’s reputation mid-2025, implementing changes from drastically improving gamefeel, like faster TTK, to darkening its sci-fi industrial aesthetic, reflecting the 90s original. Will it work? Fact is, for every ARC Raiders, you’ve got a Concord; with online shooters, no-one knows which way the wind will blow. Still, Marathon’s post-alpha overhauls might yet secure it a long future.

Halo: Campaign Evolved

You can’t overstate the original Halo’s impact. Revolutionising first person shooters, Halo: Combat Evolved brought refined gunplay, intelligent enemies, and vehicles better suited for mulching alien grunts than traversal. Now, Master Chief’s iconic space opera is returning, faithfully rebuilt and expanded with all-new weapons, modernised gameplay, two-player split-screen, four-player online co-op, prequel missions, and more.

However, Halo Studios – formally 343 Industries – still has a tall order. Halo: Campaign Evolved’s reception was mixed on reveal, with accusations of reused Halo Infinite assets suggesting, if true, that the remake isn’t as authentic as it ought to be. Yet, crossing the frontline to PlayStation territory for the first time, Halo’s remake isn’t just a ploy to entice new players nor level the shortcomings of 2011’s remaster, but to cement the future of one of gaming’s most important franchises.

Better Than Dead

Games viewed through bodycam perspectives feel like they’re having a moment. Their realistic, shaky visuals, so often the lens for brutal, close-quarters shooting, court controversy for being a little too close to the bone. Better Than Dead looks poised to continue bodycam’s notoriety, but its slightly blocky, de-saturated art, deliberately unnatural hand gestures, and gravity-defying floating shrapnel counteract the rawness of its peers like Unrecord or Bodycam. It’s a smaller-scale title, coming only to PC via Steam, but the responsive shooting and action movie-inspired Hong Kong setting suggest a game which could land a sizeable audience.

Resident Evil Requiem

When you think of first person shooters, household survival horror series Resident Evil likely won’t spring to mind. Yet, Resident Evil Requiem ships with an optional first-person view. And, with tons of shooting at the hands of Leon in his action-orientated sections, we felt it worthy of inclusion in this rundown. If you need convincing, Requiem entry has handguns, including the sawtooth-edged revolver ‘Requiem’ that has featured prominently in the game’s marketing a sub-machine gun, shotgun, and a rifle. So, in other words, enough firepower to blast through Leon’s segments like an FPS horror.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

Saddle up, there’s a new bunch of misfits primed to take on a zombie horde. Yes, on paper you’ve already seen John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, but this upcoming four-player shooter from Saber Interactive does have a few aces up its sleeve. It’ll be deploying the studio’s Swarm Engine, which was used to great effect in Saber’s other efforts World War Z and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Also in the developer’s oeuvre is vehicular puzzler MudRunner, so you can expect countless moments where your squad must winch vehicles through sludge. Famed director John Carpenter lends his creative input and contributes to the score too, giving a distinct aesthetic to what is shaping up to be a mechanically rich shooter.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

If you can’t keep up with CoD, Hell Let Loose is the industrial war machine in which to spray your bullets. It’s quietly built up a reputation as a hardcore, yet ultimately accessible shooter. And, despite a shift from tactical realism following a developer change, publisher Team17 has greenlit another entry, taking the running and gunning out of World War II and onto a new stage: Vietnam. The explosive fury of Hell Let Loose’s origins is re-established, with Vietnam a sweltering, six-map battle ground for 50v50 matchups. Multiple bands comprise each side, from infantry and recon to mortar squads and helicopter units, meaning this is a multi-faceted, tactically varied conflict that’ll suck away your hours once it all clicks.

DEFECT

Finally, Rainbow Six and Bladerunner combine; DEFECT is a SWAT-sim nestled deep in a dark, cyberpunk world overrun with AI. I mean, of course it’s overrun with AI, but set dressing aside DEFECT packs plenty of variety into its dystopian gameplay. There are smuggling runs, assassination targets, and fugitive hunts which you can take on solo or in PvP and PvE co-op. Multiple warring factions imbue the familiar neon rainfall with chaos; this city’s unravelling in anarchy, and you’ll wield an arsenal of high-tech weaponry and gadgets to clean its streets.

NO LAW

Like DEFECT, NO LAW is an FPS gripped by dystopian nightmares. And, also like DEFECT, this one doesn’t have a confirmed release date. That said, conceptually at least, NO LAW’s development looks to be chugging along nicely. Here, you’re a disheveled veteran who’s a magnet for trouble in a metropolis. Locations are always characterful in cyberpunk fiction, and NO LAW’s Port Desire looks a genuine rival for Cyberpunk 2077’s prodigious Night City. So, prepare to leave your morals behind, NO LAW’s branching story, colourful characters, and blazing guns mean it’s primed to find a huge audience.

Road to Vostok 

This hardcore shooter is set in an apocalyptic border territory between Finland and Russia, and it’s here, against dense pine forests and crystalline lakes, that you’ll shoot, loot, and prepare for an expedition into Vostok proper – a permadeath zone where survival hangs by a thread. Road to Vostok might borrow Escape From Tarkov’s structure and hostility, but the sole developer behind it is promising a deeply immersive experience away from the shooting. Dynamic weather, day and night cycles, and distinct seasons bring life to the in-game economy and AI factions. It’s a huge undertaking for one person, so let’s hope Road to Vostok launches to PC without a hitch on April 7th.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

Combining the black and white charm of 1930s rubber-hose animation with the confrontational action of modern-day first person shooting, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire brings something new to the table. This jazz-fueled adventure might be too niche for some, but one thing’s for sure: the hand-drawn animation is undeniably compelling. If the gunplay, noir-esque narrative, and corrupted assailants provide a more serious backbone away from the cartoonish aesthetic then MOUSE: P.I. For Hire might land an unexpected hit for first-time studio Fumi Games. Launching March 19th, this one’s going to be playable on PS5 and Switch 2 alongside PC, too.

ExeKiller

It’s nearly five years since Paradark Studios revealed ExeKiller, but in January this year we got our best look yet at the action-adventure-slash-FPS via an official gameplay overview. We already knew the game plants the gunslinging old West into a scorched desert dystopia, but now, aside from piercing revolver battles, ExeKiller confirms survival mechanics, inventory management, device hacking, and cybernetic implant exploration. It’s a heady mix, made all-the-more complex by Paradark’s pledge for non-linear mission structure. What’s certain is ExeKiller presents one of the most unique offerings on this rundown of new FPS games.

ILL

Team Clout’s ILL pushes realism to stomach-churning extremes. Aided by visceral dismemberment, abhorrent monster design, and claustrophobic interiors, this upcoming horror shooter is not for the faint of heart. What’s most striking, however, is the game’s physics engine, with bulbous, blood-drenched creatures moving with uncanny likeness. Together with suitably squelchy sound design, ILL might just break new ground for reactive body horror in games.

Rogue Point

From the creators of Half-Life remake Black Mesa, Rogue Point is a four-player co-op shooter which indie studio Crowbar Collective say brings classic shooter feel with a modern identity. From footage shared, its colourful chaos certainly looks impactful, albeit laced with schlocky humour. This is more of a sugar rush, one-more-run type deal; entertaining, explosive, and not to be taken too seriously. It’s just here to have fun with your mates. Also, by the time this feature is published, Rogue Point will be out soon – it’s coming to early access via Steam on February 12th.

Witchfire

This dark fantasy RPG FPS blends extraction shooting with a roguelike structure, and it’s been in early access since September 2023. Now, its 1.0 release is on the horizon, launching in full mid-2026. If you’ve played Bulletstorm – arguably one of the most underrated FPS games ever – Witchfire is from the same creative minds, so you can expect tons of imaginative ways to slay your opponents. Numerous playable archetypes, a diverse set of biomes, and an array of enemies have given Witchfire a dedicated following already. Fully realised lore and a complete story are all that’s missing, but they’ll be coming when 1.0 drops.

Valor Mortis

Like Resident Evil Requiem, Valor Mortis arguably isn’t an FPS game. Coming from Ghostrunner devs One More Level, it’s billed as a first-person action soulslike – an intriguing, underexplored undertaking if ever we saw one. Set during an alt-history Napoleonic war, where the stench of death fizzes over sodden battlegrounds, you awaken with supernatural powers and a hunger to cleanse the mire of horrifying monsters. A saber is your primary tool, but you keep a pistol in your back pocket, blasting specifically at the weak points of larger enemies. So, yes, not an FPS in the strictest sense, but there’s shooting so it’s in.

Bonus: Next Call of Duty

Probably boring and more of the same. Oh well.

Vdovenko spoke about the inspirations behind the grotesque creature designs in ILL, revealing the studio took inspiration from classic horror movies from between the 1970s to the 1990s. He brought up how the movies of the time relied largely on practical effects, and how this lent the creatures in those movies with unique imperfections that only added to their creepiness thanks to clever lighting and direction.

“Mostly old horror films from the 1970s to the 1990s,” said Vdovenko when asked about how Team Clout was inspired for the creature designs in ILL. “Everything was done with practical effects and quality animatronics. The imperfections were hidden with smart lighting and strong direction.”

When it comes to other games that might have served as inspirations, Verehin mentioned classic titles like Half-Life 2, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil. He especially brought up the fact that the worlds in these games felt “alive and dangerous”, and while the there was a visual element to the horror, there were also gameplay systems that supported the horror.

“In games, it’s Half-Life 2, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil series – titles where the world felt alive and dangerous, where the horror wasn’t just visual but systemic,” said Verehin. “We were especially drawn to that feeling of being trapped somewhere real, reacting moment to moment with limited resources. From the beginning, we wanted to build something that felt grounded but deeply disturbing, an experience that doesn’t just scare you, but unsettles you long after you’ve put the controller down.”

However, Team Clout doesn’t have a strict “process” for its creature designs. The studio instead tends to be more freeform in its designs, from concept drawings all the way into the creature making it into the game. He also mentioned how creature design also often has to take gameplay into account, since players will get to fight these creatures as well.

“We don’t have a set process for creating a new monster,” Verehin explained. “Sometimes you have a concept drawing and say, ‘how can I make this concept art a playable character in the game?’ Sometimes you see a video online featuring a scary concept. ‘Can I make a monster like that?’ It sounds ridiculous, but sometimes it works. It’s inspiration that you got from your life experience.”

“You also have to consider the monsters from a gameplay standpoint. They have to be fun to fight. There’s a trial and error process. Some designs were rejected because they didn’t work in the game.”

Verehin also brought up how Team Clout was helped by Atomic Heart developer and ILL publisher Mundfish when it came to setting up the studio’s animation department. Thanks to this, the studio is equipped with plenty of experience when it comes to animating grotesque creatures in unique ways that make them look creepier.

“We’ve had big help from the team of Mundfish in setting up our animation department,” said Verehin. “We have a lot of experience doing animation, like making our own short horror animations that taught us how movement should work in order to scare you. We’ll have, for example, a monster that moves normally at first, but we’ll try and tweak it in ways to make it more unique and horrifying.”

Oleg also described the challenges involved in making these animations, especially when the studio is more used to doing them in 30 FPS. “Compared to 30 FPS, [60 FPS] animations can feel less cinematic,” said Vdovenko. “But over time, I got used to it—and now I actually like the feel of it.”

Verehin also revealed that, while there are plenty of creatures to be scared of in ILL, players will have tools to fight back. “You explore, you use resources, you find and upgrade weapons,” he explained. “You can use your resources to craft and update weapons. You’ll need to manage your inventory, of course, because resources are limited. There will be intense encounters — sometimes with single enemies, sometimes a small group, and cool moments when you fight waves of enemies and bosses.”

The weapons available to players in the upcoming title will range from shotguns, assault rifles, revolvers, and snipers. Verehin also noted that there also be “fun, crafty weapons”, as well as plenty of melee options.

ILL is currently under development for PC.

ILL is a first-person action horror game that takes place in a mysterious research fort. As the trailer shows, the game focuses quite a bit on the body horror genre, with grotesque enemies waiting around every corner to take players out.

According to the trailer’s announcement press release, Team Clout has previously garnered experience in working on horror projects by working with renowned directors on horror movies.

In terms of gameplay, ILL will feature an advanced dismemberment systems that players will have to make use of to survive against the grotesque enemies present in the game. The title will also make use of binaural audio to amplify atmosphere.

ILL will also be the first game to be published by Mundfish Powerhouse – the publishing label by Atomic Heart developer Mundfish.

ILL is coming to PC. The title also has a store listing on Steam.

Doom: The Dark Ages

Id Software has brought DOOM back into the limelight with its modern reimagining, and DOOM: The Dark Ages is looking like a bigger, badder, and better version of DOOM 2016 and DOOM Eternal in so many different ways. The combat loop has been reworked in new and clever ways, making it feel more grounded yet nimble. Add to that new tools like the shield, companion mech, and dragon – and DOOM: The Dark Ages becomes a game that you don’t want to miss at any cost. It comes out for PC, Xbox Series X/S on 13 May, 2025.

Agent

Yeah, you’ve probably heard of Agent, Rockstar’s electrifying spy opus. First announced as a PS3 exclusive way back in 2009, Agent pledged a Cold War era thrill-ride through the dangerous world of espionage, counterintelligence, and assassination, but much like the silent death knell of a secret agent, Agent’s fate has been silently snuffed. Rockstar have never officially announced its cancellation, so technically Agent could still be in the works. Given the evocative concept art which leaked a while back, let’s hope so – Agent looked great.

Slitterhead

Gory body horror from Team Silent originators meant Slitterhead’s 2021 announcement was met with much fanfare. Even – exclaim expectant fans – Silent Hill composer-in-chief Akira Yamaoka is along for the ride, lending his blend of warped ambience and bone-crushing guitar riffage to the game’s grisly take on shape-shifting parasites. Last we heard of Slitterhead was a dev diary back in June 2023, so not that long ago, meaning, you know, that Slitterhead is probably still in the works. Be nice to hear something affirmative as to release dates from Bokeh Game Studio though.

Ferocious

If it weren’t for the devlogs shared on February 26^th and April 15^th, we’d think prehistoric survive-a-thon Ferocious had gone extinct. This first-person shooter risks being overshadowed by incoming Jurassic Park: Survival if it doesn’t drop soon, but to be fair it’s blend of jungle stealth, strategy, and survival – with a healthy dose of axe swinging mayhem – looks spot on. Let’s hope the situation at developer OMYOG isn’t as grim as the game’s dinosaur infested isolation.

Pragmata

The sci-fi dad-in-space adventure Pragmata has been delayed indefinitely, so we at least know that this ambitious game has vanished for sure. Why though, the developer haven’t stated. Announced in 2020 with numerous release dates coming and going, the most recent of which was last year which passed without explanation. Even stranger was the developer releasing a brief trailer before the mysterious delaying – almost to remind us it exists before flinging into a black hole. Pragmata might not be in the deepest of development hells, but a window on when we can get our hands on it drifts endlessly further.

Perfect Dark

Just what has happened to Joanna Dark’s rebooted saga? Announced at The Game Awards 2020 with little data forthcoming in the three-and-a-half years since, this Xbox exclusive is likely a number of years from release. What does this mean for Perfect Dark? Well, nothing probably, just that development is probably happening at a very slow pace. The incredible graphics, slick movement, and tight gunplay will remain we hope.

Beyond Good and Evil 2

Despite little evidence, this long-awaited sequel to 2003 Beyond Good and Evil is apparently still in the works. First announced in 2008, it’s genuinely farcical how back in the developer stated in an investor call that development of Beyond Good and Evil 2 was still in its early stages despite contrarily announcing progress as trundling along nicely. The tragic sudden death of Beyond Good and Evil 2’s creative director might understandably have scuppered progress since, but the outlook for this game was bleak either way.

Project Awakening

Let’s be honest, how awesome was Project Awakening’s gameplay reveal? The slick, lifelike dragon slaying looked truly next-gen, but with radio silence for what seems like eons now, maybe next-gen at the time meant next next-gen. The Japanese developer behind Project Awakening Cygames isn’t some faceless corporation though, with Granblue Fantasy: Relink the most recent of their output. Most likely is Project Awakening has been shelved despite it still being listed on the developer’s website as a ‘next-gen’ title advertised as PS4 exclusive.

PLAN 8

This exo-suit MMO shooter was announced in 2019, yet in what is an increasingly crowded sphere of the video game-verse PLAN 8 still seems like it has enough to stand out in 2024. Shame then that the most recent glimpses on its progress date back to screenshots shared in January 2020. The writings on the wall with this one: it’s dead in the water. The developers are supposedly still working on the title but it’s next-gen, genre-defying announcement is going to be woefully out of date by now.

Everwild

Hopefully still incoming from legendary British studio Rare, now owned by Microsoft, is magical nature adventure Everwild. We say hopefully as the glimpses we’ve seen are utterly spellbinding. An MMO in the vein of Sea of Thieves but in a fantasy setting, Everwild looks to meld multiple genres and gameplay mechanics in what is a hugely ambitious project. Every scene in the trailers seen so far look like oil paintings so let’s hope an official reveal is not too far away.

ILL

One of the Unreal Engine 5 tech demo games that drum up reasonable hype but never actually see the light of day, ILL has immense intrigue in it’s The Evil Within-­style torment spliced within a setting reminiscent of John Carpenter’s The Thing. This narrative driven first-person horror has all the ingredients to be a game changer, it’s just that tech demos are hard to believe at the best of times, let alone for a game with little to no update barring a glimpse into gameplay over six months ago.

The Last Night

This is a strange one, as the most hype-accelerating aspect to The Last Night was a tweet some five-or-so years ago which shared a screengrab of its cyberpunk aesthetic comparing it to The Matrix. The loss of esteemed indie game publisher Raw Fury and controversy surrounding game director Tim Soret have likely contributed to The Last Night’s lengthy development., the former especially as developer Odd Tales had to work to reclaim their publishing rights. 19^th November 2023 was the last official update we had of The Last Night. It’s likely still in development, just that progress has been stifled by misfortune.

Vigilancer 2099

This one will ride on the coattails of Cyberpunk 2077 when it eventually drops, it’s neon-soaked cityscapes are so reminiscent of Night City. In Vigilancer 2099 you’ll play as a secretive bounty hunter in a densely populated open world, with limitless traversal options on hand to get to grips with the verticality of Vigilancer’s megabuilding. There’s been next to no news for a couple of years now, so maybe this small-team developer has unfortunately folded.

Splinter Cell Remake

From rumour to full-blown conclusion, it’s been a few years now that a remake to Sam Fisher’s first outing in Splinter Cell has been on the go, but at present it doesn’t feel like we’re close to reliving Sam’s formative missions. For what it’s worth, Splinter Cell remake is confirmed to feature an updated story that will appeal to a modern audience. As and when we get to relive the game, we don’t know, but info will hopefully be forthcoming soon.

Routine

Nearly a decade after it was first announced, sci-fi moon base horror Routine received a new trailer during Summer Game Fest 2022. It’s 80’s retro-future and creepy atmosphere conjure a deep feeling of dread through juxtaposition of style and gameplay, and whilst development has been restarted at least once since its original announcement the aforementioned indie publisher Raw Fury is on board to see this one through to completion. Routine looks genuinely exceptional.

Deep Down

Despite being near completion and never being officially cancelled action role-player Deep Down has still never been released. Instead, this souls like game has been treated to titbits of info over the years since its first announcement in 2013. The developer stated in 2019 that hope wasn’t completely lost on Deep Down, but all hope has all but died. Development might always pick up again seeing as the assets were reportedly close to conclusion, but there’s no sign of that presently.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

GSC Game World is bringing the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series back with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and the sequel is looking like an excellent modernization of this highly revered post-apocalyptic franchise. The team is using Unreal Engine 5 to bring the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone to life, and the textures and cutting-edge lighting techniques help create a really convincing look to this desolate landscape which in turn, should make for some really immersive gameplay.

Black Myth Wukong

The Soulslike genre is brimming with plenty of new and exciting releases looming over the horizon, but few are as popular and highly anticipated as Black Myth Wukong. While a lot of what makes the game such a looker is the fast and frenetic combat, equal praise needs to be attributed to the astounding world design. Black Myth Wukong’s fantasy world is highly imaginative and is peppered with fierce beasts to fight and wondrous realms to explore. Developer Game Science has made great use of Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 with its project, and it serves as a great example of how UE5 enables small teams to craft experiences that are capable of competing neck to neck against AAA blockbusters.

The First Descendant

Currently in development at NEXON, The First Descendant is an upcoming looter shooter that puts you in the shoes of a Descendant – warriors that are the last hope of humanity against the invading forces. Players can either jump in solo or with friends, and the gameplay revolves around fending against enemy waves all while juggling between your weapons and special abilities. Suffice it to say, The First Descendant looks absolutely gorgeous with high-quality textures and creative creature designs among a slew of other impressive graphical features.

Unrecord

One might be forgiven to think of Unrecord’s gameplay as real-life footage, and that alone speaks volumes about its amazing visual presentation. Everything from the subtle camera shakes to realistic movement mechanics and photogrammetry-based textures come together to create a very convincing illusion of real life, and we can’t wait to step into the shoes of these covert operatives and take on high-stakes missions when Unrecord releases for PC sometime in the near future.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 was one of the first UE5 games to be publicly showcased, and developer Ninja Theory has done a fabulous job of utilizing the engine’s toolset in a wise manner, which can be easily seen in every aspect of the game right from how the cloth physics work to how accurately the actors’ emotions have been mapped to the models and how realistic the lighting is. And that’s just scratching the surface of Hellblade 2’s amazing visual quality, which easily stands tall as one of the best-looking Xbox games to be released in the near future.

Post Trauma

Developed by RED SOUL Games, Post Trauma is as much a glorious throwback to the past as it is a technical achievement in modern game rendering. It borrows gameplay ideas and an isometric perspective from survival horror classics like Resident Evil 2 but presents it all with high levels of fidelity which should make for a great time. Post Trauma will be released for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime in the near future.

Phantom Blade Zero

Phantom Blade Zero thrusts players into a dark and twisted world brimming with masked warriors and demonic abominations waiting to slaughter you on the path of revenge. The game features some slick combat with fast-moving animations along with great environment design, which has been brought to life through smart usage of Unreal Engine 5’s assortment of visual features. It sounds pretty exciting, and we will be checking it out when it comes out for PS5 sometime in the near future.

Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater

After a long line of rumors and speculations, we finally have confirmation that Metal Gear Solid is indeed coming back albeit in the form of a remake. But thankfully, Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater is a complete reimagination of the original with updated gameplay mechanics and visuals recreated with Unreal Engine 5 – and it looks absolutely amazing. The gameplay also looks promising with just the right modern touch, and we can’t wait to experience this remake when it comes out for current-gen consoles and PCs sometime this year.

ILL

Clout Games’ ILL is an upcoming hardcore survival horror game where players will be facing all sorts of gnarly undead monsters as they explore desolated mansions and abandoned countryside settlements all while trying to get to the bottom of an overarching mystery. Like any promising survival horror game, ILL features some thick atmosphere that’s wonderfully brought to life through the use of Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 with quality indirect lighting and high poly textures evident in every frame of the action.

Paranormal Tales

Paranormal Tales will tell mini stories of different survivors as they experience all kinds of paranormal activities from varying perspectives like a VHS camera or a fish eye lens or even a digital smartphone camera. Much like ILL that we discussed previously, one of the game’s biggest strengths are the visuals which are amazingly detailed and that coupled with a minimalist soundtrack should make it a bone-chilling horror experience.

Tekken 8

After a long and arduous wait spanning almost 9 years, fans have finally got a new entry in the beloved fighting franchise – and we are happy to report that it’s a significant step up from what came before in almost every conceivable way. Tekken 8 not only makes big changes to its brawling gameplay but also bumps up the game engine to Unreal Engine 5 and delivers some truly stunning visuals. While it doesn’t utilize the complete breadth of the engine’s features to prioritize performance, the stages and character models do look breathtaking nevertheless.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Bloober Team is hard at work on a full-fledged remake of Silent Hill 2, and it is looking like a very competent modernization of this excellent survival horror classic. Animation issues aside, the team seems to have nailed the ominous atmosphere of Silent Hill, and Unreal Engine 5’s suite of visual features like dense volumetric fog and reactive lighting do a lot of heavy lifting in bringing that creative vision to life. It comes out for PS5 sometime this year.

Kingdom Hearts 4

The adventures of Sora and friends are primed to continue with Kingdom Hearts 4, which sees our protagonist trapped in the real-life world of Quadratum as his friends try to save him from dark monsters hellbent on destroying anything and everything in their path. Kingdom Hearts 4 flaunts a weird but beautiful mixture of realistic and cartoony visuals, and Unreal Engine 5’s impressive feature set of realistic lighting models and a wide array of texture assets help in accurately mapping that mishmash of contrasting art styles into a cohesive visual presentation.

Hell Is Us

Hell Is Us describes itself as a third-person action-adventure game in its description, but it’s pretty hard to decipher just by looking at the cryptic visuals showcased in the teaser trailer. There are giant swords, companion drones, a post-apocalyptic world, and whatnot – and while that does make it hard to keep track of what’s going on, it’s also what makes it so intriguing in the first place. Of course, the visuals are also a big factor in nailing that ominous presentation, and suffice to say – Hell is Us uses UE 5’s toolkit to great effect for its purposes.

Ark 2

The original Ark turned out to be a big hit thanks to an addictive gameplay loop and its community-driven nature, and developer Studio Wildcard seems to be doubling down on these elements with Ark 2 along with a greater focus on the narrative side of things. Much like the original, Ark 2 flaunts some impressive visuals and realistic textures on the many creatures that populate the world.

State of Decay 3

Undead Labs has been hard at work on the next entry in the State of Decay franchise, and we haven’t seen much of the game except a short cinematic teaser that just gives brief hints about what to expect. It’s obviously going to be a brutal survival game where players will be clearing out waves upon waves of zombies with scant resources, and fans are here for it. It’s being developed using Unreal Engine 5 as well, so fans can be sure that the game will be a looker. It will be released for Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in the future.

Little Nightmares 3

Little Nightmares 2 is one of the best horror games of recent memory, thanks to its excellent jumpscares and consistently ominous atmosphere. Little Nightmares 3 is looking to knock those strengths up to eleven with an even better atmosphere, gargantuan enemies waiting to maul you at every turn, and a wide variety of cryptic environments housing these threats. It’s set to release sometime this year for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Echoes of the Living

Currently in development at MoonGlint, Echoes of the Living feels like the perfect homage to the classic Resident Evil games complete with an isometric perspective and tank-style controls. It’s a brutal horror game where players will have to go for long stretches with little to no resources, solve brain-tackling puzzles, and engage in boss fights. If Echoes of the Living manages to nail the element of nostalgia while avoiding the inherent frustrations with the previous designs, Echoes of the Living could turn out to be a big hit. It’s set to release sometime in Q1 2024 for PC.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is making a return with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, an ambitious post-apocalyptic sequel that seems to have a great understanding of what made the originals so great in the first place. Everything from the gameplay to the atmosphere and the graphics are looking really promising, and we can’t wait to dive into the Exclusion Zone once again and scour every inch of this carefully curated map. It’s set to release sometime in Q1 2024 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is a game that takes inspiration from a bunch of action horror films of the 80s and uses those elements to craft a thrilling co-op experience. Little is known about the game at the moment, but the cinematic trailer has given some hints including but not limited to large groups of enemies and vehicular combat being in the game among others. Toxic Commando doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for this ye

Hideo Kojima OD

A collaboration between Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions, OD is being touted as the video game auteur’s most experimental game to date. And that’s saying something since Death Stranding in itself was a game that went against the current gaming trends and open-world conventions. The game’s announcement trailer was about as cryptic as you would expect, with actors muttering out seemingly random words that don’t make any sense. OD will also be utilizing Xbox’s cloud technology to power its mechanics, and we can’t wait to learn more about the game itself. It’s set to release sometime in the near future for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Siltterhead

Slitterhead is the latest game from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, and the game revolves around the player trying to fend off against a host of deadly parasites. The gameplay showcases the protagonist using melee and ranged weapons along with some magical elements, which seems to make for a fresh gameplay experience. Slitterhead will be releasing for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 sometime in the near future.

Blight Survival

Blight Survival thrusts players into a brutal medieval setting and tasks them to slaughter waves upon waves of undead enemy soldiers with nothing but primal weapons like swords and shields. It looks really beautiful with realistic environments and smooth animations accompanying each moment of the gameplay, and the added benefit of experiencing it all with a friend through co-op also makes it an even sweeter deal. Blight Survival will be released for PC at some point in the future.

Still Wakes The Deep

Set against the backdrop of the ever-mysterious sea, Still Wakes The Deep tells the story of a sailor trying to find his crew all while he comes to grips with the many paranormal activities going on around him. It looks like a highly atmospheric game that pays a ton of attention on its visuals and audio design, and the developer The Chinese Room is known for its work on games like Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs – so there’s a good chance that it might just be great.

Paranormal Tales

Digital Cybercherries Paranormal Tales is all about getting through well, paranormal tales experienced by a bunch of survivors in different places. The game is presented in a bodycam perspective with different types of filters like a fish eye lens, a digital camera, or a phone camera which combined with the myriad of different settings should make for a consistently entertaining experience. Paranormal Tales is being built using Unreal Engine 5, and it does not have a release date at the moment.

Tormented Souls 2

Tormented Souls 2 is currently in development at developer Dual Effect, and it looks to be a worthy sequel to the original. The gameplay here revolves around carefully plotting your way through cramped corridors, solving puzzles, and overcoming tough obstacles – which remains fun despite its familiar nature. Between this and tank controls reminiscent of the original Resident Evil games, Tormented Souls 2 should be a rather unique experience that sounds really promising.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Silent Hill 2 is one of the most revered survival horror games of all time, and a lot of that could be attributed to the amazing atmosphere and the constantly twisting story about the town of Silent Hill. Bloober Team is hard at work on a full-fledged remake that not only brings the game’s visuals up to a modern standard but also changes the gameplay in significant ways to better serve a modern audience.

Silent Hill F

Set against the backdrop of an unnamed Japanese town, Silent Hill F is one of the more interesting projects from the array of Silent Hill announcements. The trailer doesn’t show much information about the game, but we have seen some wonderfully ominous atmosphere, a schoolgirl holding a metal pipe, and all kinds of weird imagery that has us excited for what’s in store.

Silent Hill Townfall

Yet another Silent Hill project in the works, Silent Hill Townfall is developer No Code’s take on this legendary horror franchise. The announcement trailer hints at the story revolving around the protagonist being trapped in a hellish nightmare as a punishment for his evil deeds, but it’s too vague and disjointed to make any concrete conclusions from what we know. Hopefully, Konami will shed some light on the game in the coming months. Currently, Silent Hill Townfall doesn’t have confirmed platforms and neither a release date, but hopefully we should know more this year.

Killing Floor 3

Much like prior entries in the franchise, Killing Floor 3 is all about shooting your way through hordes of different zombie types along with a group of friends. Killing Floor 3 thrusts players into a futuristic setting with high-tech weaponry and bioengineered monsters, so returning fans can expect plenty of new features and mechanics jumping into this game. The game will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in the near future.

The Casting of Frank Stone

Supermassive Games is known for its signature brand of narrative-based horror, and the developer is currently hard at work on its next project The Casting of Frank Stone. The game is set in the Dead By Daylight universe, and the story follows a group of young friends facing the horrifying mystery of Frank Stone and his deadly legacy. It’s obviously a story where you make critical decisions at every turn which dictates the ultimate outcome, so it’s not uncharted territory for the developer – but it’s definitely worth a look.

ILL

Currently in development at Clout Games, ILL is an ambitious survival horror game that’s being built using Unreal Engine 5. Featuring stunning visuals and superb-looking gameplay, ILL seems to be punching well above its weight class and might just put up some fierce competition against its AAA competitors if it manages to stand true to its promises. It will be released for PC sometime in the near future.

Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding wasn’t a pure horror game by any means, but there were plenty of horror sequences that would snugly fit in the box of such games. Death Stranding 2 is set to build upon these foundations with a story that features both new and returning faces, new mechanics, and a convoluted story. Its release date isn’t set in stone, but it will be releasing for PS5 in the future.

Sons of the Forest

Instead of a full release, Endnight Games’ survival horror sandbox sequel is launching into Steam Early Access on February 23rd to add more features over time and get feedback from the community. There’s already tons to look forward to with this launch, whether it’s the map that’s four times larger than the first game, AI companions, revamped building mechanics, or all the little secrets. Even if it needs some more time to be fully “complete,” Sons of the Forest should be an incredible experience when it arrives later this month for PC.

The Last of Us Part 1

If The Last of Us Part 1 is a cash grab, it’s one of the more gorgeous cash grabs yet. Built from the ground up for PS5, the remake supports 4K resolution and 60 FPS. However, the real story can be seen in the character rendering (as displayed with Tess’s new model), lighting, and the sheer amount of details, whether it’s cloth and skin textures or environments. Given how the first game pushed the boundaries of realistic video game visuals, it’s great to see the remake going further beyond. The Last of Us Part 1 launches in September for PS5 with a PC version also in development.