Its launch numbers are also fairly weak, recently peaking at 1,140 concurrent players (which could increase over the days). While there have been issues, the developer issued the first hotfix fairly quickly, fixing long map loading times and facial animations on Low/Medium graphics settings. Players should also see improved server connectivity and connection stability as a whole.

It also promised a “major patch” with various fixes and improvements soon. PIONER will remain in early access for one year, “approximately,” according to GFA Games, with more content, mechanics, and polish to be added over time. There are currently five Story Acts and numerous regions to explore for over 100 hours of gameplay. As always, stay tuned for further updates and changes, especially with the Holidays rolling around.

PIONER will be available in the form of a standard edition and a Deluxe edition. The latter will include a host of in-game items along with the game: the Renegade armour and gear skin, a unique skin for all weapons under the AR classification, the exclusive in-game Founder title, 500 Efritanium Crystals, the Creepy Charm weapon accessory, and the Katana watch inspired by classic 1980s-era Japanese wrist watch designs.

The open beta for PIONER, which was kicked off earlier this month, included quite a bit of content. Among the kinds of content that players can partake in were five acts of the story campaign, as well as the manufacture raid and a training raid dubbed Crash Site. For those who prefer some PvP action, the open beta also featured Deathmatch and the Carnage tournament modes.

Players who might not be too familiar with the kind of gameplay offered by PIONER can check out a gameplay trailer that was released back in March. The trailer gave us a great look at the title’s slow-paced tactical shooter gameplay. Along with this, it also showcased the action and survival mechanics, with players needing to explore dilapidated buildings to get their hands on resources.

Some of the enemies shown off in the trailer included airborne jellyfish, a massive flying leviathan, as well as more human enemies that run the gamut from poorly-equipped bandits to well kitted-out mercenary crews that have access to heavy weaponry and better armour.

PIONER was first announced all the way back in 2021, and GFA Games has described it as trying to strike the perfect balance between offering action gameplay as well as tense horror moments. Underneath all the gameplay is also an RPG system with progression that rewards players with new active and passive abilities that can then be used to take on even more challenging missions.

Since it is an MMO, PIONER will have quite a bit of emphasis on multiplayer gameplay, with players being able to take on missions alongside a group of friends. These missions will also offer greater rewards. Along with this, the title will also feature designated PvP zones where all bets are off.

Among the core features of PIONER will be its crafting system, which has been described by GFA Games as being flexible and in-depth. Using the system, players can craft a variety of powerful weapons and other equipment by making use of artifacts, scavenged materials, and anomaly energy.

The core game modes in PIONER include the Shadowlands mode, which makes use of extraction shooter-styled mechanics, and will offer high-stakes survival and treasure hunting where players have to deal with environmental hazards as well as potentially-hostile players. To take on these multiplayer challenges, the title will also offer a variety of social tools, including a clan system that can be used to form larger communities that can communicate with each other in the game, as well as share resources.

The studio outlines a sizable slice of content for this test including a five-act story campaign (Acts 1–5), the “Manufacture” raid plus a “Crash Site” training raid, three global quests (including a world-boss event), PvP Deathmatch, and the Carnage tournament, an in-game tactical card mode with ranked play and rewards. It all amounts to about 30 hours of gameplay, though progress will be wiped once the beta ends.

On Steam, the team previously teased timing changes as it moved from an October target to a November 4 start, and has been directing players to the app page as the entry point for the current test build.

Bottom line: This is more than a network shake-out, PIONER is letting players trial a broad slice of its MMOFPS loop. If the raids land and the story clicks, GFA Games could exit beta with positive word-of-mouth already doing the heavy lifting.

Announced in 2021 and delayed a fair amount, Pioner unfolds on a post-apocalyptic island in an alternative reality. Offering a 50+ square kilometer map with dynamic PvE and PvP, players take on quests and explore the world, working with factions and ultimately attempting to survive.

Though the trailer showcases more methodical shooting with a crossbow, which doubles as a melee weapon, the tail end showcases an assault rifle for laying waste to enemies. Environments are stylishly detailed, but there’s notable pop-in, especially with foliage and shadows.

For those who can’t get enough of the demo, closed betas will be held later for smaller groups. Head here to sign up, and stay tuned for updates.

As its trailer indicates, Pioner wears its inspirations on its sleeves. In this case, the inspiration is the GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. The trailer shows off Pioner‘s slow-paced tactical shooter gameplay, while also revealing that players will have to make of various tools to ensure that the environment is safe enough for them to travel through.

Speaking of the environment, Pioner taps into similar post-nuclear apocalyptic vibes as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. does, while also going more fantastical with the idea. Along with dilapidated buildings, the environments in Pioner are also filled with strange creatures, including airborne jellyfish, and even a massive flying leviathan.

Along with fighting strange flora and fauna, players will also have to take on more human enemies that seem to range from run-of-the-mill poorly-equipped bandits to well kitted out mercenary crews that have heavy weapons and armour. There will also be things like irradiated zombies and mutated animals for players to take on.

Pioner was originally announced all the way back in 2021. At the time, GFA Games was aiming for a 2021-2022 launch window. However, things seem to have obviously changed, with the game now being slated for launch on PC some time in 2025.

The game is set to offer a mix between action gameplay as well as tense horror moments. These aspects will be held together through an RPG system that rewards players with more active and passive abilities as they take on the challenges that the game will put before them.

Pioner isn’t a single-player game, however, and players will have to interact with others as they make their way through the game. The title will feature PvE missions that groups of players can take on together for greater rewards, as well as designated PvP zones where all bets are off.

Among the multiplayer game modes in Pioner is the Shadowlands mode which is based on extraction shooter mechanics. GFA Games promises high-stakes survival and treasure hunting in the Shadowlands mode, with players having to deal with not only environmental obstacles, but possibly even other potentially-hostile players as well.

Multiplayer is a big focus for Pioner, which also feature in-game tools that will allow players to organise and take on its many challenges. Among these tools will be a clan system that will allow players to not only communicate with each other, but also to share resources, compete on clan leaderboards, and create their own community dynamics.

Players will also be able to set up their own base camp, since they will need a place to partake in the game’s crafting system. Players will be able to make use of anomaly energy, scavenged materials and artifacts to make powerful weapons and equipment.

Check out our thoughts on why Pioner looks like the perfect hybrid between Fallout and S.T.A.L.K.E.R..

PIONER is an MMORPG FPS coming from studio GFAGames is chucking nearly every possible mechanic and system into its experience. Big lungful of air now: there’s an alternate reality open world filled with Stalker and Fallout-esque anomaly; dense lore that is richly imbued in classic sci-fi; there’s a story campaign; there’ll be both PvE missions and PvP arenas; minigames in the shape of casinos and fishing; an extraction shooter mode; factions with unique personalities; extensive weapon customisation; survival mechanics; crafting; clan-based social interaction; raids, the list feels like it should go on.

We know what you’re thinking: how can a game combine all these features into one unified experience? Can it possibly be good at everything? Or is there a danger Pioner will be defined as a jack of all trades master of none?

To alleviate any concerns, it’s worth pointing out that GFAGames have been working on Pioner since its inception in 2021, so that’s plenty of time for the team of 70 to get all the game’s ducks in a row. Furthermore, the game has probably has the finances secured too, so the budget will most certainly be there to ensure Pioner is as polished as possible come its eventual release. And finally, if you pay attention to its gameplay reveals you might notice a handful of careful design considerations that’ll assist players in dividing their workload to avoid tending to numerous different game modes simultaneously.

The game’s open world is an isolated Soviet-era island, a 50 square kilometre patch of irradiated wasteland known as Tartarus populated by wild animals, mutants, and cosmic anomalies. This setting, whilst not exactly the Chornobyl exclusion zone, is how Pioner gets its comparisons with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. although it must be pointed out that this is not a rip-off as some may infer. No, both GSC Game World’s vision of The Zone in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and GFAGames radiation-heavy island draw inspiration from the same source: the Strugatsky brothers’ philosophical sci-fi novella Roadside Picnic and, by extension, Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1979 movie adaption. For reference, Roadside Picnic can be argued at this point to have spawned a whole genre off the back of its phantasmagorical phenomena, with VR game Into The Radius and 2024’s Pacific Drive showing clear influence alongside movies such as Alex Garland’s Annihilation and Amazon Prime series Tales from the Loop.

This island though, it’s divided up into sectors whereby specific activities can be undertaken. In the developer’s words, the right-hand side of the island (so presumably, the east) is the territory you’ll find the harshest PvPvE zones and clan wars. This area, dubbed the Empty Lands, is where you’ll find the fiercest firefights against human opponents alongside the island’s most ferocious creatures, but here is also where the most valuable loot is found. This territory is devoid of quests and, in the developer’s words, is much less forgiving than the island’s other regions. Straight away, we’re seeing a risk versus reward in venturing into these most hostile of zones. The game’s Escape from Tarkov style extraction mode is found within the Shadowlands, a derelict wasteland nestled inside the right-hand – read: the eastern side – of the island too. Gameplay here comprises gathering resources alongside your clansmen before taking strategic choke points and production facilities by force, then attempting to reach a safe zone via a multitude of possible paths.

GFAGames points out that there are no guides on the right-hand side of the island, meaning fast travel is impossible. However, guides will, ahem, guide you in other sectors of the island, where extraction shooter zones are eschewed in favour of raids and world bosses more akin to well-established MMO FPS titles like Destiny 2.

If there’s familiarity in the game’s activities, GFAGames are banking on the fantastical phenomenon cloaking the island to inject some unfamiliarity. No matter how often Roadside Picnic’s inspiration crops up in media, video games’ interactive nature oftentimes provides the most effective adaptations. These worlds made hostile by unfathomable forces are unwaveringly intoxicating, but video games excel over other forms of media in how this phenomenon can be interacted with and how it influences gameplay.

Within Pioner’s island, bundles of energy known as artefacts are dotted throughout although these are stated as extremely rare, the implication being their value is sky-high. Furthermore, GFAGames advises that activation of these artefacts by the wrong hands can lead to disastrous consequences. Whilst they haven’t given us a precise explanation as to what these disastrous consequences entail, we are shown glimpses of anomaly-enhanced weaponry – a rifle modified with bullets that can melt whatever lands in its sight and sickly green landmines which elevate out of the marshy ground before detonating. Of course, the wrong hands could lead us towards believing there’ll be an antagonistic force operating on the island, an army hellbent on gathering up all the powerful artefacts for themselves. GFAGames are being tight-lipped on Pioner’s narrative arc, but we do see a couple of cultish looking dudes stepping through a dark forest as a sinister narrator speaks of breaking free from shackles whilst ‘the power of the tides’ destroys you.

What this means, we don’t know for sure, but it seems a safe bet that the reason behind all this inter-island conflict will be something to do with the power these artefacts bestow. The island’s factions are at war, vying for possession of cosmic forces they probably don’t fully understand. And speaking of factions, Tartarus is stated presently to be divided between four although details on two are all that’s been shared up to now. There’re the local islanders dubbed the Source Conglomerate and a paramilitary unit operating under the moniker Brigade. What little detail we do know in Pioner’s story is that players will be tasked by faction leaders to complete missions, with players choosing with whom they wish to align. Completing tasks builds relationships, fosters loyalty, and yields bonuses. Alongside resources gathered, a healthy wad of cash will be integral to crafting upgrades for the game’s host of weapons. Anomaly scanners – likely another item integral to survival – can be upgraded or, as hinted in Pioner’s gameplay reveal, be bought outright.

Survival mechanics round out the brutal experience, although we’re not seeing full Fallout style base building at present. These mechanics are likely going to include the need for rest, recouperation, and nourishment. Whilst weapon designs are suitably weathered to reflect the irradiated landscape they inhibit, we’re not seeing misfires or wayward aiming akin to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series or Far Cry 2. That’s a detail which would certainly foster a deeper immersiveness in the island’s conflict although GFAGames might have already decided surviving this hostile climate is tough enough without weapons skewing awry. All equipment is rated by accuracy, rarity, and damage though, so you never know.

At face value Pioner doesn’t seem to have a lot of originality, but the gunplay looks great, the environments are well considered, and its lore intriguing. Should all the survivalist mechanics meld well with the plethora of game modes then Pioner looks like an online competitive shooter that has a solid chance of establishing itself for a long time.

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.

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

GSC Game World’s upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is all about surviving and thriving as a lone wolf in the radiation-infested Exclusion Zone all while you try to make your way to the Heart of Chornobyl. The open world is full of NPCs to meet and opportunities to pursue, and your decisions have the potential to affect the world and the people around you. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has endured a tough development cycle complete with all sorts of delays and pushbacks, but the game finally seems to be on track to release this December for PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Forza Motorsport

While Gran Turismo 7 earned significant praise for its visuals last year, Turn 10 Studios’ next Forza Motorsport has been cooking well. Based on gameplay shown thus far, car models are insanely detailed, and the development team has promised a full day/night cycle, varying weather on tracks and real-time ray tracing. Forza Motorsport is out in the first half of this year for Xbox Series X/S and PC, so we’ll find out soon just how gorgeous it looks.

Quantum Error

To say a lot is going on in TeamKill Media’s Quantum Error would be an understatement. Despite being last shown on an early access version of Unreal Engine 5, it showcased an impressive array of lighting, shadows and environments. From grounded, claustrophobic facilities to dark sci-fi structures, it looks impressive. A release date has yet to be confirmed, but Quantum Error is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, and PC.

Witchfire

The Astronauts’ rogue-lite first-person shooter, which recently went open-world, has been a long time coming, but it still looks as enticing as ever. From gothic environments and detailed monstrosities to sharp weapon effects, it promises a fast-paced dark fantasy adventure unlike any other. Witchfire goes into early access for PC in early 2023.

Pioner

As an MMOFPS, GFA Games’ Pioner takes more than a few cues from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. A post-apocalyptic setting, Soviet territory occupied by strange technology and mutants, decrepit buildings, survival elements – it’s all here. The environments are still incredibly realistic, with some unique sights like massive bones and overgrown mushrooms. Pioner is coming to PC, though a release date has yet to be announced.

Starfield

Bethesda Game Studios has struggled to keep up with the graphical curve over the years, as Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 have exemplified. Starfield aspires to break that curse with realistic materials, great-looking planets and cities, and detailed character models. Performance and facial animations are still a toss-up after the last gameplay reveal, but the former should look better when the next showcase rolls around (fingers crossed). Starfield doesn’t have a release date, but it’s scheduled for the first half of 2023 on Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Forspoken

No current-gen title should need 24 GB of RAM and an RTX 3070 (8 GB) to run at 1440p/30 FPS on PC, but Forspoken begs to differ. For as many mixed reactions as it’s received, Forspoken does look stunning overall. Draw distance and outdoor environmental details are on point, while the spell effects look vibrant. Even the animations are well done, as seen with Frey’s seamless acrobatics.

Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16 is out this year and looks like a stellar affair. The art style channels a more medieval European setting, mixed with the grittier subject matter and a darker tone. The environments look incredibly distinct and detailed, the insane battles are lovingly rendered, and the sheer amount of details is something to behold. Final Fantasy 16 is very close – it’s out on June 22nd for PS5.

Hogwarts Legacy

The work Portkey Games and Avalanche Software have put in is quite tremendous. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry vibrantly comes to life, whether it’s the Great Hall or the common room for each house, to say nothing of the various creatures and their animations, the spell effects or the weather effects. Here’s hoping the gameplay holds up when it launches on February 10th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Silent Hill 2

Before its official reveal, there were plenty of rumors about Bloober Team’s involvement with the Silent Hill 2 remake and skepticism about whether it could pull it off. The jury is still out on that, but the remake looks phenomenal based on whatever footage and screenshots we’ve seen. Developed on Unreal Engine 5, the texture quality, lighting, environments, and more look incredible. It’s currently in development for PS5 and PC.

Sons of the Forest

Endnight Games’ 2018 survival horror sandbox title still looks good by today’s standards, but Sons of the Forest looks like a big step up. It’s still on Unity and features much more detailed foliage, grass, and textures on trees, water, and more. Dynamic weather conditions like rain also look incredibly realistic and seeing enemies react more naturally to threats, or the sheer amount of detail that’s gone into the new crafting animations is great. Sons of the Forest launches on February 23rd for PC.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

For all the acclaim and criticism over polish that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order received, it’s easy to forget how good it looked. Jedi: Survivor expands on this further with larger levels, more varied biomes, and a higher degree of polish (not to mention ray tracing support). There’s still so much we’ve yet to see, but it looks like a huge step up in every single way over the original. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launches on March 17th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Resident Evil 4

Capcom set the bar for remakes with 2019’s Resident Evil 2, but Resident Evil 4 is looking to go above and beyond. The graphics are heavily revamped, transforming classic indoor sections with shadows and ambient lighting. Forested areas look much denser and more foreboding, lending to a more eerie feel. There’s so much to pick apart and admire, which doesn’t even factor in ray tracing. Resident Evil 4 is set to launch on March 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Dead Island 2

For a game in development since 2014 and has gone through several developers, Dead Island 2 looks pretty good. Running on Unreal Engine 4, its cadre of zombies is as realistic as they are hilariously over-the-top when dying. The physics, effects and animations have also looked on point thus far, and even the environments are pretty detailed (though we still need to see more). It’s out on April 28th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC, and hopefully suffered the last delay.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Launching on May 12th, the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the most anticipated games of the year. That’s despite being less than four months away from release and just a few minutes of gameplay footage. What we’ve seen is incredibly impressive, from the sky boxes and atmospheric effects to the textures and draw distance – at times, it’s hard to believe this is running on almost six-year-old hardware. Whether it tops the original or not, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom already looks like a grandiose spectacle.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Say what you will about Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and its marketing, but it’s certainly taking an interesting approach with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Despite launching on May 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, there’s been no extensive gameplay footage. What we have seen looks great, be it Metropolis or the facial animations of the various characters. We still need to see more, but given Rocksteady’s pedigree, there’s plenty to be excited about (even with the rumored live service model).

Street Fighter 6

It’s hard to dislike Street Fighter 6 after seeing some gameplay. The renewed emphasis on street culture and fighting, combined with an abundance of colors and effects, is amazing. Each fighter moves better than ever with unique animations and facial expressions, and it all runs rock-solid online as well (going by recent closed betas, at least). Releasing on June 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC, Street Fighter 6 looks like an incredible renaissance.

Diablo 4

Diablo 4 leans heavily into the dark fantasy art style but with more realistic visuals. The environments are also incredible to behold and appropriately detailed – here’s hoping they’re fun to explore as well, when the sequel launches on June 6th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

It feels strange to hype up Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, even if it uses the Snowdrop Engine and uses ray tracing by default on consoles. Still, even based on in-engine footage, the sheer amount of vegetation, volumetric clouds and superbly detailed lighting and shaders have us interested. Currently slated for release sometime between April 1st, 2023 and March 31st, 2024, Frontiers of Pandora is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

How long has it been since Assassin’s Creed was actually about stealth and, well, assassinations? Assassin’s Creed Mirage looks to fill that niche. Gameplay has yet to be showcased and there are only a handful of screenshots showcasing denser environments. Nevertheless, if the final product – which is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Xbox One – offers even half the quality, it could stand out.

Pragmata

The strangest project in development at Capcom, Pragmata is set in a “dystopian near-future” and offers a “unique lunar world” to explore, which still doesn’t clue us into the gameplay or story. Visually, it looks nice – the reveal trailer features photorealistic textures and effects while extensively utilizing ray tracing. We’ve seen how far RE Engine can go with its fidelity, so it should be interesting to see how Pragmata leverages it when it launches this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Layers of Fears

As much excitement as there is around a remake of Silent Hill 2, Bloober Team’s other horror project – a follow-up to Layers of Fear – may warrant more caution. Out early this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, Layers of Fears, thankfully, isn’t a straight sequel. It uses the previous games as a base, expanding on them to go in a new direction (whatever that may be). Even if the horror may be a bust, the visuals courtesy of Unreal Engine 5 look great, from the immersive lighting with Lumen to ray tracing and HDR support.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Insomniac still hasn’t debuted gameplay for its next open-world superhero epic, but the initial trailer was enough to set expectations soaring due to running real-time on the PS5. The original and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales still look very good, and there’s no doubt that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will raise the visual bar higher. Currently, it’s exclusive to PS5 and slated for Fall 2023.

Lies of P

Even if Bloodborne wasn’t a huge inspiration, Lies of P feels like a dead ringer with its Gothic-style city fallen into ruin and Souls-like mechanics. Nevertheless, it distinguishes itself in terms of lighting, texture quality and environmental details, looking very crisp but still delightfully dark. It also runs in 4K/30 FPS and 1440p/60 FPS modes on Xbox Series X and PS5 (with the aim of 4K/60 FPS in Quality Mode). Expect it to launch sometime in 2023 for consoles and PC.

Deliver Us Mars

Despite launching in 2019, Deliver Us The Moon looked incredibly sleek on Xbox Series X and PS5, with 4K resolution support and ray-traced shadows and reflections. Deliver Us Mars builds on this further with more biome diversity, performance capture for more authenticity in scenes, and a larger scale. It releases on February 2nd for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

WILD HEARTS

While Monster Hunter is still catering to previous-gen consoles, Koei Tecmo’s WILD HEARTS is committing to the current generation. Taking place in Azuma, a world overrun by dangerous beasts known as Kemono, WILD HEARTS offers large regions and intricately detailed beasts to go with multitudes of particle effects and gorgeous scenery. It releases on February 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with support for 4K Ultra HD, 60 FPS, and HDR10.

Alan Wake 2

Aside from the teaser trailer at The Game Awards 2021, we’ve seen no gameplay from Remedy’s upcoming survival horror sequel. Regardless, the studio is known for its visual prowess, and the Northlight Engine has delivered some truly stunning sights in games like Control. Alan Wake 2 is on track to release this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Redfall

The co-op FPS from Arkane Austin may not seem like all that in the visual department. However, a closer look reveals intricate lighting, shadows and effects, with the art style crossing a fine line between realistic and animated. Throw in some surreal environments and 60 FPS gameplay while vampires and other terrors run around, and Redfall looks to be a supernatural blast when it launches in the first half of 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

VR gaming has seen several advancements over the years, and when PlayStation VR2 launches next month, it will signify the next big leap for the medium. As a launch title, Horizon Call of the Mountain looks to “change what triple-A means for VR,” as per a former senior world designer on Forbidden West. It leverages all of the PS VR2’s features to deliver a world teeming with life and stunning environments through one’s own eyes. From rock climbing to facing down massive Machines, it’s truly an experience unlike any other.

Atomic Heart

Mundfish’s Atomic Heart has been through a lengthy development period but finally launches on February 21st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. Set in an alternative history Soviet Union in 1955, it offers a retro-futuristic aesthetic that gives way to body horror. Everything is meticulously detailed, from the weapons and robots to the effects and ray tracing, to the point where it feels like an overload to the senses. In a good way, of course.

Dead Space

Motive’s Dead Space remake is built for current-gen hardware. The USG Ishimura retains its signature layout but with massively revamped textures and details, new atmospherics, gorgeous textures, improved animations, and much more. Ray tracing at 4K/30 FPS is possible on Xbox Series X and PS5, but a 60 FPS mode running at 1440p is also available.

Lost Soul Aside

Taking inspiration from the likes of action games, developer UtilZeroGames’ upcoming Lost Soul Aside is looking like a promising hack and slash game. Players take control of a warrior and a shapeshifting companion as they make their way through a world where technology and fantasy coalesce together in a beautiful way. The combat is fast and frenetic, and the visuals are absolutely stunning – which is why you should definitely keep an eye out for Lost Soul Aside when it releases in the near future.

Project: The Perceiver

One of the more recent announcements in the list, Project: The Perceiver can best be described as Ghost of Tsushima meets Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Set against the backdrop of ancient China, the game follows an artist who dies moments before completing his masterpiece – but is brought back to life by a mysterious force following which he embarks on a quest to save his land from intruders. The combat is stylish yet retains a methodical flair to it, and the open world looks gorgeous with stunning vistas and a grand sense of scale.

Project GRAY

Currently in development at In-D, Project Gray puts you in the shoes of a native who has gained some special abilities thanks to an advanced civilization that has landed on its shores. Now, it’s up to him to stand up to the aliens and drive them away from this planet. Project GRAY started life as a one-man project and it’s still some ways from release, but it looks gorgeous with some dynamic gameplay that revolves between traversal and combat flawlessly.

Mumbai Gullies

Mumbai Gullies is a story about the protagonist rising through the ranks of Mumbai’s underworld throughout different time periods. The game is open-world, so it seems fair to expect a number of surprises while exploring every nook and cranny of this faithfully recreated rendition of the Indian city of dreams. Mumbai Gullies has the potential to morph into a grand hit, and we really hope that it does exactly that.

Airtight City 2.0

Airtight City 2.0 sees players assuming the role of a soldier who is powered by millions of souls, and if you think that premise is interesting – wait until you see the game in action. The combat looks absolutely brutal with our armored protagonist seamlessly switching between weapons and abilities to get through hordes of enemies. Airtight City 2.0 doesn’t have a release date at this point, but stay tuned to learn more.

IGI Origins

Toadman Interactive is bringing back a beloved franchise with IGI Origins, which looks like everything we would want from a modern entry in the series. IGI Origins presents itself with a fresh coat of paint thanks to updated visuals, and the hybrid gameplay loop of action and stealth is sure to captivate gamers once again when it releases for all major platforms sometime in the future.

Moon Mystery

Moon Mystery – at its core – is a game about uncovering the many secrets that lie undiscovered on its surface. Cosmonauts ask some pretty intriguing questions about our race to the moon, such as what was the real reason behind the mad race to reach the moon. It’s pretty rooted in alternate history and sci-fi fiction, and the gameplay seems to put equal amounts of attention to combat and exploration – which has us salivating for the final release.

Bramble: The Mountain King

Bramble: The Mountain King might seem like an ordinary adventure game at first glance, but upon further inspection – you will soon realize that it’s so much more than just that. The story (which is inspired by dark Nordic fables) sees you embarking on a grand adventure to rescue your sister from dark threats that haunt these lands. The journey will be punctuated by interesting set-pieces, gargantuan threats, and emotional story beats that should make Bramble: The Mountain King a game worth looking into.

Little Devil Inside

Neostream Interactive’s Little Devil Inside has been a long time coming, and suffice to say – it looks really promising. The trailers showcase our explorer characters going through a mundane personal life as well as an adventurous professional life as they search for monsters. The game will be open-world, and the minimalist cartoony art style really draws you in.

Aftermath

Aftermath puts you in the shoes of Charlie as he trudges through a city in vain hopes of finding his daughter, all while dealing with perils of an inhuman invasion. Apart from that, Aftermath will also put a lot of focus on Charlie’s own mental health issues such as PTSD which will have huge ramifications on gameplay as well. Aftermath looks really intriguing, and while it doesn’t have a release date just yet – we are really looking forward to playing it.

Vigilancer 2099

Vigilancer 2099 is all about your player character taking up on bounties to pay off some huge debt. Envoidant Studios’ upcoming action adventure is steeped in references to famous works of cyberpunk art, but it also has enough flavour of its own to help distinguish it from the rest of the pack. The visuals look gorgeous, and while gameplay details remain scant for now – Vigilancer 2099 certainly has our attention.

ILL NESS

Not to be confused with Project ILL from Clout Games, ILL NESS is another upcoming different survival horror experience from publisher ASDStudio. ILL NESS is inspired by a classic horror fiction novel Dreamcatcher, and it paints a bleak and dim world where survival seems unlikely – but you must trudge through all odds to remain alive. It looks absolutely brutal, and it’s currently set for a 2022 release date – though that would be updated soon.

Where Winds Meet

Much like Project: The Perceiver that we discussed before, Where Winds Meet is an open-world action RPG that’s set against the backdrop of ancient China. And it also tells a story that’s deeply personal to the protagonist, as he faces a moral dilemma between upholding his code of conduct or use everything in his power to defeat his enemies. The combat and traversal are looking pretty fast paced, and they all culminate to form a dynamic gameplay proceeding that looks really enchanting.

Pioner

In so many ways, Pioner looks like a true next-gen survival game. GFA Games’ paints a bleak world on the brink of destruction, and that gives way to interesting gameplay elements like well-designed first person combat, PvP elements, and base building among others. Pioner will be coming to PC sometime in the near future, and more details will be revealed soon.

Paranormal Tales

Digital Cybercherries’ upcoming Paranormal Tales is a collection of stories about people who went missing in a dark forest, and players must play through footage of those recordings to find out the mystery behind those disappearances. Paranormal Tales utilizes a rather unique bodycam perspective, and the developers are teasing some disturbing horror elements that are likely to get under your nerves. And that has us excited to know more about it, and hopefully we will get to play it soon.

Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Zero Dawn is a great looking game even by today’s standards but Forbidden West looks to improve on it in every single way. Along with character models having more polygons and improved texture details (while Aloy has more skeletal joints), there are tons of improvements to the effects, water rendering, environmental details, Machines, the list goes on. The PS5 version even has the advantage of using cinematic-grade lighting throughout the entire experience (while it’s only for cutscenes on PS4). Couple all of this with improved cinematics and facial animation for its characters, and Horizon Forbidden West could very well be the best-looking game of the year.