The game’s promotional materials sell a world that’s impactful, but puts an emphasis on the grime that layers it all, and the style with which you’re able to deal with it. But that’s not what has us so excited to get our hands on this one. Instead, we think that Tyndalston’s gritty vibe is a potent backdrop for a game that constantly puts you under pressure, while forcing you to be disciplined about the way you approach tough situations, with very real consequences for bad decisions.

Wondering how we arrived at that conclusion? We’re happy to take you through that rather entertaining train of thought, so let’s dive in.

The Weight of the World

Samson’s core premise is decidedly heavy, and we think that it’s intended to be that way, as it underlines all of the chaos that life in Tyndalston has to offer our world-weary protagonist. He’s in deep debt with the wrong people, and the price of failure is his sister’s life. He’s managed to buy himself some time to set things straight, but it’s never that simple when your back is against the wall, is it? Your “debt grows by the hour”, since every missed deadline adds a hefty interest that piles on if you let it go out of control.

Your debtors are greedy, wanting to squeeze every possible bit of value out of a man who has managed to get himself entangled deep without any exit route, or even the hope of one. You only have that many action points to spend every day you’re in Tyndalston, and you have to use them as wisely as you can if you’re intending to keep your head up. There’s no safety net or do-overs if you get things wrong, and you’re just going to have to learn to live with the consequences of your actions.

It might look like a crime fantasy from a distance, something akin to a GTA-lite sandbox, thanks to how its visuals present Tyndalston. The clock’s like a ticking time bomb, working against you in an experience that doesn’t encourage casual improvisation in the face of complex problems. Instead, it seems designed to have you feeling cornered and under constant pressure to learn how to make the most out of systems that put you on the back foot.

In Tyndalston, Samson isn’t the hunter, but is rather the prey, and his survival is in your hands. Those are some high stakes, and it’s a good thing that the game’s combat looks like he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve. But will they be enough?

Fighting For Your Life

The game’s official position on its combat system is that it emphasizes using the world around you and improvised tools to sustain the momentum you manage to gain in a fight. With over twenty-five skills that can make Samson quite potent with his fists, with brawling being an important part of the experience, working alongside driving mechanics that come with the same design underpinnings, it can be easy to think that you’re going to be solving a lot of Samson’s problems with some stylized violence.

Once again, we think that the game’s most important message is being buried under expectations that might not truly align with the kind of gameplay loop it’s trying to sell. We couldn’t help but think of Sifu when forming our impressions of Samson’s combat. They may be entirely different games on the surface, but we think that every fight in that excellent martial arts experience was a desperate struggle to stay one step ahead of your foes through calm, calculated movements and positioning combined with some dexterous moves.

Samson’s combat could come with a similar vibe, requiring that you use his skills with precision instead of raw aggression. He’s one man against the world, and it seems designed to bury him under its weight, irrespective of how strong you can make him. We believe it’s not about the stylish chaos you might expect from a crime sandbox, but a more disciplined approach that requires restraint and aggression in equal measures.

Of course, Samson isn’t going to rely solely on his martial prowess, and there’s another important layer to his time in Tyndalston that deserves his due. We’re talking, of course, about his car.

Creating Distance From Your Problems

What does one do when their problems seem to be suffocating them, with seemingly no escape? Well, they try to run, of course. Samson isn’t above trying to put some distance between himself and his enemies to get some breathing room, and, as such, is going to depend on cars quite a bit as he tries to deal with his debts. The game’s been quick to refer to vehicles as blunt weapons, and that they’re going to be quite important to you as you engage with Tyndalston’s underbelly in your desperate efforts to get ahead.

Of course, every world-weary hero needs a ride they can count on, and for Samson, that’s Pacific Drive. It’s been presented as your only companion, a constant in a world that’s primed to pull out the rug from under your feet time and time again. You’re going to need it, as trying to run is only going to have people trying to catch you with chases, collisions, traps, and close-quarters encounters being touted as a part and parcel of life back home for Samson.

All of that looks like your car is going to be an integral part of your time in the game, woven into the gameplay organically enough to make it a foundational inclusion, not a decorative one. Pacific Drive isn’t a fancy toy for you to play with, but a potent tool that you must use to its fullest if you want to increase the chances of your survival in this game’s gritty world, which brings us to how the game seems structured.

A Focused and Frenetic Experience

We think that Samson isn’t going to be a stream of content that many would call bloat, an attempt to pad out a world that otherwise feels empty. The reason for that is the developers telling us that the main story is roughly ten hours long while that’s a rather short run time that doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t be a good one.

Well, Samson might disagree considering why he’s in it, but we think that the game is more about quality over quantity, and that Tyndalston is going to pack more meaningful content that fits within the larger narrative to make a cohesive, focused adventure that sustains a fast pace while maintaining the tension that the game places on your shoulders. It’s a game that doesn’t seem interested in mass appeal, instead focusing on delivering a memorable experience for those players who choose to engage with it.

And while we’re on the subject of the game’s world, it’s time to turn our attention to Tyndalston as a stage upon which Samson’s fate unfolds.

A World That Keeps You In Check

With the game’s official position being that the chaos you create dictates the pressure you’re going to face, it only makes sense to weave the city itself into that loop. Samson isn’t just running from outlaws, but from a reactive sandbox that’s just waiting to respond to his actions in the game.

The city fights back if you try to push it too hard, and demands that you carefully navigate its intricacies via your interactions with the various factions and people you’re going to meet as you try to help Samson find a way out of his quandary. Tyndalston isn’t a city that’s waiting for your strong hands to take over it, but is instead one that remembers what you do, and responds to those actions in ways that matter via tangible shifts to its streets and who you meet in them.

That’s a facet of the experience we can’t wait to see more of, if we’re being honest, as we think Tyndalston isn’t going to be like GTA, where you go all out to create chaos. It’s less of a playground and more of a pressure chamber that you’re meant to navigate with care and tact, evolving your strategy in the face of a constantly shifting world.

Balancing Excitement and Expectations

Samson’s wishlists are definitely a cause for celebration, and all of those players waiting to dive in are not wrong to be excited for it. Heck, we’re more than ready to dive in and see how its systems come together after all. But we can’t help but wonder how much of the hype is built around the aspects of it that are more in your face. It’s so easy to think of this one as a crime fantasy where you unleash your fists and drive around causing mayhem as you evade your enemies or bring a grisly end to their bad intentions towards you.

But it’s more than that. We’re excited because we see a game that’s built on tension, requiring a restrained approach while you navigate choices, while trying to offset trade-offs that come from your decisions. The game’s wishlists are only an indication of how many eyes are on it, and the hype surrounding it is certainly justified. But for a game as ambitious as this one, the expectations that its players carry might be a factor that influences its early reception.

We believe that Samson is going to be a pleasant surprise, not because its size and scope surpass what is expected of it, but rather because it won’t be a game that’s afraid to hit back at every turn, and demand more of its players than they are ready to give it. And that’s the part we’re most excited for, as we love beating a game that does its utmost to punish us.

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.

As indicated by the title, you’ll play as Samson, a man who returns to Tyndalston to wipe out an extensive debt. The problem? It becomes more oppressive as time passes and the city consistently reacts to your actions, becoming more hostile. You have a limited number of Action Points to spend on different jobs daily, and the consequences can be permanent.

Of course, the actual gameplay in Samson isn’t exactly strategic. Combat is rough and tumble, and encourages leveraging the surrounding environment to survive, whether it’s tossing enemies into obstacles or using rudimentary weapons. And despite Sundberg’s pedigree, Tyndalston isn’t a fully open-world setting, mixing dense content-rich areas with a more narrative-driven focus.

Overall, the main story promises about ten hours of gameplay. However, there may be room for repeated playthroughs, especially as you opt for different decisions to find the best way forward. For more details on the pricing and how Samson punches above its price, head here.

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.

As Samson, who’s returned to the city of Tyndalston indebted to some rough customers, players won’t be controlling a “soldier” or “martial arts master,” as principal programmer Strati Zerbinis describes him. Rather, he’s a tough guy who’s having to improvise more often than not when against the odds.

“You’re going to get ganged up on. They’re going to try to get behind you. They’re going to charge in on all sides. You’ve got to keep moving. Keep swinging, you know, maybe fight a little dirty. Fair fights are for chumps, right?”

It’s a fascinating proposition backed by the fact that the entire city is your weapon. “You can walk into a nice, clean room and totally wreck the place. The world is not just an arena in which you have a fight. The world is part of the fight.

“You can use everything you break. You can take broken things and make them into weapons. You can knock stuff over onto people. Debris can get in enemies’ way. Heavy stuff can fall and kill people. Like it’s crazy. We really want you to be able to use the city to really, really hurt your enemies.”

That approach carries over to vehicles as well, especially when you have to take out enemies that are speeding away. All it takes is a little nudge with Samson’s Magnum Opus (a nice little nod to Mad Max, which studio founder Christofer Sundberg previously worked on) and you can send another car careening into a pole.

“It’s the relative momentum of the two cars, like how fast the car is, how much mass they have, that dictates the damage done,” says senior design Alex Williams. Cars also have many different parts that can be damaged in the process.

“I don’t want to feel like a car just dies. Cars don’t die. They’re made up of lots of different parts. We have a parts system – there are tires, wheels, the engine – these can all degrade. The player will feel the consequences of how those parts are damaged.”

Of course, there are plenty of other uses for vehicles, like acting as a getaway vehicle during a heist or delivering items. Standard open-world activities, despite Samson not being a fully open world. Regardless, having that freedom and mixing things up on your terms, whether it’s with fisticuffs or behind the wheel, looks enticing.

Samson launches in early 2026 for PC, with console versions due later.

“You are free to approach missions in different ways, and the world supports and encourages exploration. However, the experience is structured and intentional, rather than endless or sandbox-driven.”

Essentially, it “sits between” a fully open-world experience and one that’s more narrative-driven with “limited areas.” “You have freedom to move through the city and explore, but the world is designed for density, pacing, and purpose. We value meaningful content over sheer size.” This sounds pretty similar to Mafia, except with more content in the surrounding spaces.

As for how long it will be, which is vital given the price, the developer said the main story takes roughly ten hours. However, it anticipates that “players will spend 25 hours or more exploring everything the game has to offer.”

Samson’s story focuses on the protagonist paying off their debts, with each day bringing new challenges. The twist is that you have total freedom in accomplishing this. You could take on “high-stakes hits” or participate in underground races alongside “vehicle-based jobs” and getaways.

“The game also offers opportunities for theft, hand-to-hand combat, and tailing missions to gather critical information, delivering a rich and diverse gameplay experience that extends well beyond the main storyline.” Of course, you may want to take on those jobs to improve and unlock different upgrades, which could help make “better choices” down the line.

Samson will launch for PC first before coming to consoles later. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay leading up to launch.

A “specific date” will be shared in the coming months, but even more intriguing is that Samson will retail for $24.99. “As an independently developed and published title, we don’t have the overhead of a large organization — just the core development team. This gives us the freedom to set our own price.”

“At $24.99, we hope players will be encouraged to give it a try and discover an experience that truly punches above its price point.”

Of course, it won’t be available for all platforms at once. Console versions will be released later since this allows Liquid Swords to deliver “the best possible version” on PC first, without “spreading ourselves too thin.”

And just for the sake of clarification, there’s no multiplayer in Samson. It’s a single-player title without any microtransactions. “We believe that when you buy the game, you get the game. “

Localization focuses on English, French, Italian, German and Spanish for launch, but the studio has plans for more down the line. That said, the voice acting will be English only. Also, if the trailer didn’t make it clear, this is a “Mature” game with plenty of violence, crime, “moral ambiguity,” drug use and more.