This week I used to be lucky sufficient to move over to Cologne, Germany, to attend Gamescom 2026, one of many world’s largest gaming conventions. However with solely a restricted time on the present flooring, I knew I needed to lock in and play as a lot as attainable in only a single day.
In simply over 9 hours, I obtained hands-on with 7 upcoming video games, together with Alien Isolation 2, Metro 2039 and Silent Hill: Townfall. Plus, I additionally caught an prolonged 50-minute presentation for The Witcher 3’s new growth Songs of the Previous. With a lot to speak about, I’ve put all the brand new video games I performed at Gamescom 2026 into an internet-friendly ranked record.
One notice earlier than diving into the record: whereas I did get a 30-minute hands-on session with Stuntman: Hollywood, my impressions are embargoed, in order that recreation isn’t included in my rating. In any other case, right here’s all the things I performed at Gamescom 2026, ranked from “not offered but” to “I would like the complete recreation now.”
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Every part I performed at Gamescom 2026, ranked
7. Loopy Taxis: World Tour
It’s been greater than 20 years since Loopy Taxis obtained a full console launch, and World Tour brings the arcade racing collection again into the highlight, soundtracked by the tunes that outlined the franchise (Sure, The Offspring are included). I obtained to play half-hour, and inside moments, I used to be nitro-boosting by means of packed metropolis streets and drifting round tight turns.
It’s all good enjoyable, and as someone who performed the PS2 port of the unique extensively, fairly nostalgic, however on the identical time, even on this comparatively quick hands-on session, repetition began to creep in rapidly. Passengers routinely ask to be dropped on the identical locations, and the green-haired protagonist, Axel, repeated the identical handful of voice strains advert nauseam.
Loopy Taxis: World Tour appears primed to be throwaway enjoyable, however I’ve issues about its endurance. I’m unsure it’ll maintain gamers’ consideration for longer than quick periods. Perhaps the complete expertise will supply extra selection.
Loopy Taxis: World Tour launches in 2027 for Nintendo Change 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S
6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Previous
I’m being just a little cheeky by together with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Previous, as a result of I didn’t play this new growth for the acclaimed RPG. As an alternative, I obtained an prolonged have a look at the upcoming third main DLC. But it surely’s simply one of many largest titles at Gamescom 2026, and the general public curiosity is excessive. The phrase on the present flooring was that the sales space wait time exceeded 5 hours on Thursday, which isn’t even the conference’s busiest day.
So, contemplating I like The Witcher 3, why is Songs of the Previous ranked decrease on my record? That’s just because, whereas I’ve little question it’ll be a high-quality RPG expertise, based mostly on what I noticed, it is simply extra Witcher 3. That’s a really compelling pitch, however the presentation didn’t have that one “wow” second that I used to be in search of. One thing that might neatly showcase why The Witcher 3 is getting a brand new growth, 12 years after its launch.
Like several self-respecting RPG fan, I will be returning to The Witcher 3 for this growth subsequent yr, so do not take this as a significant knock on its potential.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Previous launches in 2027 on Nintendo Change 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S
5. Persona 4: Revival
Persona 4: Revival isn’t essentially a recreation that demos properly. Even with a chunky 60 minutes to discover this remake of the beloved 2008 RPG (which was already expanded and remastered as Persona 4 Golden in 2012), that’s no time in any respect when you think about a correct playthrough will run you 100+ hours. However as a result of I’ve already accomplished the bottom Persona 4, I used to be capable of get my bearings rapidly and luxuriate in all of the methods Revival polishes issues up.
Very similar to 2024’s Persona 3: Reloaded, the largest praise I may give Persona 4: Revival is that it takes an already nice recreation and offers it a visible overhaul that matches trendy requirements. The beloved characters, setting, and core gameplay are retained (although the brand new “Prime Time” skill in fight boosts your choices), however all the things is prettier and extra trendy.
I’m assured this remake will supply newcomers the right probability to step into the world of Persona 4, and returning gamers can even itch to move again to the comfortable setting of Inaba.
Persona 4: Revival launches on February 18, 2027, on PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S
4. Hellraiser: Revival
Hellraiser Revival is likely to be essentially the most violent and graphic recreation I’ve ever performed. The builders didn’t maintain again. We’re speaking buckets of blood, guts and physique fluids. In actual fact, there are scenes right here that I can’t even describe for worry of creating readers really feel just a little bit queasy. It’s most undoubtedly a recreation that some will discover in unhealthy style. Hellraiser: Revival gained’t be for everyone.
However that can be true of the Hellraiser film franchise, so I commend the staff at Saber Interactive for staying true to the horror collection. By way of gameplay, it takes inspiration from the fashionable Resident Evil video games.
It’s a first-person survival horror the place you discover detailed environments, looking for keys and lock mixtures to discover but extra rooms. The grotesque sights make Hellraiser: Revival stand out, and my hands-on preview concluded with a bit clearly impressed by the (in)well-known PT demo, which was novel.
Maybe it says one thing disturbing about me, however Hellraiser Revival’s dedication to graphic violence had me intrigued and desirous to see what much more horrific sights are discovered inside the full recreation.
Hellraiser: Revival launches on October 8, 2026, on Nintendo Change 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S
3. Metro 2039
In my thoughts, Metro has all the time been a story-first franchise. The shooter collection, based mostly on the written works of Dmitry Glukhovsky, is all in regards to the morally gray characters and bleak post-apocalyptic Moscow. Curiously, my 25 or so minutes of Metro 2039 had been largely stripped of narrative beats. The preview targeted on gunplay as the brand new protagonist, referred to as the Stranger, assaulted an enemy hideout.
The basics of the taking pictures felt implausible; each shot fired was punchy, and I significantly turned connected to the sport’s shotgun, which hits enemies onerous. I ran by means of the hideout greater than as soon as, letting me experiment with a stealthy and a guns-blazing strategy. I nonetheless have many questions on Metro 2039’s narrative, however maybe this fourth installment within the collection would be the one the place the gameplay matches up with the narrative high quality.
I additionally wish to acknowledge that the sport comes from 4A Video games, a Ukraine-based staff. So, when you think about they’ve been engaged on the title throughout Russia’s invasion of the nation, it provides real-world weight and makes what they seem to have produced all of the extra spectacular.
Metro 2039 launches in February 2027 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S
2. Silent Hill: Townfall
I don’t wish to downplay my pre-Gamescom curiosity in Silent Hill: Townfall. I like survival-horror (as this record most likely tells you), so any new installment within the long-running collection has my consideration. Nonetheless, I wasn’t anticipating to love the 90 minutes I spent creeping by means of Townfall’s setting of St. Amelia, a (fictional) resort city in Scotland, fairly a lot.
Perhaps it’s simply that as a Brit, any recreation set within the U.Okay. appeals to me, however Silent Hill: Townfall was my largest (nice) shock of Gamescom. Its unsettling environment was stellar, and since I obtained to play from the very begin, its cryptic narrative actually hooked me. Konami appears to be all in on the Silent Hill collection now, and whereas 2023’s Silent Hill 2 Remake set a excessive bar, based mostly on what I performed, Silent Hill: Townfall may attain an identical degree of high quality.
Oh, and the choice to set the sport in 1996 seems one other impressed selection; using CRT know-how provides to the spooky vibes, with the protagonist, Simon, getting access to a pocket machine with each gameplay and narrative capabilities. I am glad the complete recreation is lower than a month away.
Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24, 2026, on PC and PS5
1. Alien: Isolation 2
If you recognize me, you’d know that Alien: Isolation 2 was possible all the time going to be my high Gamescom choose. 1979’s “Alien” is my favourite film of all time, and the primary Alien: Isolation was virtually my dream recreation. I gave up hope of a sequel years in the past, so when it was unceremiously confirmed in a social media publish in October 2024, I used to be genuinely dancing round my residence.
I didn’t count on it could be playable already, however at Gamescom 2026, I obtained to expertise the 30-minute prologue chapter, and it was all the things I needed. Based mostly on this early preview, it doesn’t seem to be a sequel that may transform the components, however the shift to a planetary setting, moderately than a claustrophobic spaceship, may very well be sufficient to inject freshness.
The short-and-sweet demo was heavy on environment, and whereas the Xenomorph solely seems briefly, my palms had been sweating as I crept by means of the detailed degree to keep away from turning into alien chow. I additionally adore how Isolation 2 connects to the primary recreation. The Xeno right here is the one which Amanda Ripley fired out the airlock in Alien: Isolation. That is genius!
Alien: Isolation 2 launches TBA on Nintendo Change 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Collection X/S
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