It’s that time again for the world’s largest gaming event. If you were dialed-in to this summer’s many showcases, then you’re probably aware of just how many upcoming games could headline Gamecom’s opening night.

I’m waiting for news on a few release dates myself for games like The Good Shepard, Kena: Scars of Kosmora, Tides of Annihilation, and the Sea of Sorrows DLC for Silksong. Naturally, I didn’t get my wish for any of them😤.

That doesn’t mean the show wasn’t good, though. Admittedly, there was more generic-looking fare than I wanted to see. That didn’t stop me from spotting a few new projects to add to my ever-growing Wishlist. Here are the new reveals I recommend checking out for yourself.

Free Witcher 3 Remake Upgrade

Okay, obviously the game isn’t the new reveal. Instead, CD Projekt Red Witcher 3 Project Lead, Miles Tost, surprised everyone by announcing a free upgrade for Witcher 3 containing remastered graphics, improved combat, a reworked skill tree, and more.

Consequently, Witcher 3 is almost always on sale for around $10 somewhere. That’s an 100-hour GOTY winning game, right there! You can’t find a modern day remaster of a 10 year old game at that price anywhere. Not only that, but the upgrade also applies to the two existing DLC.

It drops on September 29th, 2026, so schedule your next playthrough accordingly.

Nodus Falls

The show opened up with a slick video showing destroyed landscapes, a flood, an enormous dragon, and a demon wrapped in flames. The whole thing looked like it could be pulled straight from a FromSoftware game. Is it Bloodborne 2? A last minute teaser for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?

Then, out of the darkness it sprang…Hoyoverse 🤨!?! WTF?

Nodus Fall seems about as far removed from Genshin Impact as Beasts of Reincarnation is from Pokemon. Frankly, I’m all for it. Yes, Game Freak has a cautionary tale to tell about straying too far from the path, but Hoyoverse has a sterling track record of producing top-tier open-world games.

Unfortunately, the last thing I can afford right now is to get sucked into another live-service, so I’m approaching this game cautiously. That said, the trailer looks sick, and Nodus Fall is totally worth checking out.

Lofsong

Lofsong was introduced by its developer as a game about love and sound. That alone should tip you off that this is the most indie title of the bunch.

It reminds me a lot of Sword of the Sea in the way it lets players travel through big, desolate spaces while solving puzzles that transform the landscape. The visuals are right up my alley, and I love the impact of the red on grey color scheme.

There’s no launch date yet, but I’m excited to learn more about it in the meantime.

Ontos

Ontos wasn’t technically a reveal. Instead, we got a first look at footage from the actual game…and it’s pretty messed up!

In a good way of course. The trailer shows footage of the game’s main character exploring a space station where strange experiments took place, presumably carried out by her father to save her life.

I love when games take creative license to come up with imagery like this. It’s a horror game, which is always a barrier for me, but I could see myself muster the courage to try this one when it comes out sometime next year.

Pony Island 2: Panda Circus

A month ago, I read a piece from prolific Medium gaming writer Alex Rowe about how much he enjoys when developers inject arcade games into their titles.

Wouldn’t you know it, here comes Daniel Mullins with Pony Island 2 — a game that looks entirely too committed to sticking arcade games as part of a greater effort to free yourself from…something?

Not gonna lie, I haven’t played Pony Island (or Inscription for that matter), and I have no clue what the hell is going on in this trailer. Whatever it is, it’s weird, chaotic, and creative. Those are three qualities that usually coalesce into an indie gem.

It’s out on April 27th, 2027, and I hope I can get my hands on a demo to get better acquainted.

Zoopunk

My first reaction to Zoopunk’s trailer was an eyeroll and a pretty deep sigh. The first 30 seconds feature what looks to be the Easter Bunny from Rise of the Guardians, a rhino burping out ramen, and a cutesy bunny probably voiced by the same actor that does Paimon from Genshin Impact.

Then, the action started, and my skepticism slowly melted away. Yeah, it has furries and the dialogue ranks high on the cringe scale, but the gameplay looks kind of amazing. I’ll gladly tune out an annoying rabbit if it means I get to be a lightsaber-wielding sky-pirate!

Truth be told, I’m still not sold on this one. Luckily, I’ll give any game a fair shot at winning me over, and hopefully I’ll see something that changes my mind between now and its release sometime in 2027.

Lego Skylines

I find the idea of a LEGO x Cities: Skylines baby curiously enticing. Yes, this is indeed a crossover title made by the same studio behind Cities: Skylines.

Now, some of you may point out that this kind of concept has been tried before — sometimes with mixed results. To that I say: “I have no idea what you’re talking about or what those experiences were like!” because I don’t play LEGO games.

Seriously though, combining Cities: Skylines’ intense city management with LEGO’s sandbox creativity could yield some great results. The one thing I’m worried about is what kind of price tag these two famous licenses might command. Dropping $60 USD on something that might be good is tough with so many other choices out there .

Regardless, this is a game I’ll be keeping an eye on as a city builder fan.

Plenty More Gamescom Left

That’s it for me on the new announcements that stood out during Gamescom’s opening ceremonies. I only showed a fraction of the trailers that ran during the two hour show. Here’s a link to the recording on Youtube if you’d like to watch the whole thing.

There’s still three more days of event left, and I plan to tune into some of the livestreams — especially the indie corner. I’ll be sure to highlight anything that peaks my interest along the way.