Games That Interested Me in 2023’s Game Showcases Part 1
Games I found interesting in 2023 game showcases!
Just like last year, I’ll be forgoing doing recaps for all of the game showcases for Not-E3 (rip E3, I’ll miss everything being announced in one place). This time, it’s because I was playing Danganronpa 2 when Summer Game Fest started and well, I was pretty focused on it. Plus I don’t want to wreck my hands and wrists more than I already have.
Anyway, I’ll be putting a focus on games that personally interested me. Hopefully, you see games that interests you as well (considering I have a pretty broad taste) and be sure to check out the VODs to see the full showcase.
So here’s to Part 1!
Humble Games Showcase
Save your friends, fight off the vampire apocalypse, and survive the horrors of freshman field hockey practice in #BLUD, a delightfully zany animated dungeon crawler that blurs the line between action RPGs and hyperkinetic 90s cartoons.
This one looked so cute and seemed like it would be fun to play.
Flow gracefully through a colorful, hand-drawn 2.5D action platformer inspired by Japanese folklore. Engage in acrobatic aerial combat, unlock powerful mystical abilities, and explore an interconnected world of myth as you seek to unravel the mysteries of your origin.
This one looks interesting and seems like it’ll be fun to play, plus I like the art, but I do wonder how it would feel to play. I do hope it has a satisfying game feel as it does look right up my alley.
Flow gracefully through a colorful, hand-drawn 2.5D action platformer inspired by Japanese folklore. Engage in acrobatic aerial combat, unlock powerful mystical abilities, and explore an interconnected world of myth as you seek to unravel the mysteries of your origin.
I’ve been looking forward to this one even before the game’s title was changed after crowdfunding. I like musicals and I like RPGs, so there’s a good change I’d like this one. Though, voice acting and the script will make or break this one.
Playstation Showcase
“What’s your plan, knowing you have only 66 days to live?” Phantom World, the universe in which the game is set, is a place where many kinds of powers converge. Here you’ll find Chinese Kung-Fu, intricate machines reminiscent of steampunk, arts of the occult, and other intriguing elements that don’t quite fit into any of these categories.
This one looks so badass I love it. Even more so that it’s going to be approachable and not be an overly difficult souls-like.
Let the FOAM begin! The fresh online multiplayer shooter from Square Enix! In FOAMSTARS, foam is the ultimate resource. It can be used in multiple ways: To create slippery surfaces that players can use to surf around the arena at high speed; to build terrain, helping players defend from enemy attacks or creating high vantage points to take out opponents; and finally, to foam up the opposition and win the match.
I’m kind of on the fence about this one. I do like the visual aesthetic, the cinematic trailer looks good, and it does seem like it’ll be fun, but at the same time the foam looks…bad.
Storybook characters discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book and must jump between 2D & 3D realms to save their friends in this charming action-adventure.
Another game I knew about before the showcase! This one looks so cute and I love how you’ll be going between the storybook and the “real world” to save the Squire’s world from the big bad.
Enter the dark fantasy world of Valisthea in this highly anticipated single-player action RPG. The 16th standalone entry in the legendary Final Fantasy series marks a darker turn for the RPG franchise, with a complex tale of revenge, power struggles and unavoidable tragedy.
It’s Final Fantasy, of course I’d be interested haha. Since I heard we are getting a demo, I’ll be sure to play it to see if I would like it or not. But, so far, it does seem like it’ll be good.
A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.
Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.
So the rumored October release was right. My reviews for the previous two Alan Wake games haven’t been posted yet, but I really enjoyed them so I was looking forward to Alan Wake 2. I even got happy hearing Alan Wake’s narrator voice during the trailer lol. I’m not too sure about controlling a new character (that may or may not be from Quantum Break? Idk I haven’t played QB) not related to Alan Wake (like why not have us play as Barry or his wife?), but we’ll see once it releases. I did see that the game is going to have us play half as Alan Wake and half as Saga Anderson (the new character) so hopefully this is true. Nonetheless, the story does seem interesting. I also wonder if American Nightmare is going to be canon.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 is the PlayStation VR2 sequel to the terrifying VR experience that brought new life to the iconic horror franchise. Improving on the original title, Help Wanted 2 introduces several brand new minigames that bring you face to face with familiar characters and locations from the series’ past. But all is not as it seems in this new job… It’ll be up to you to brave through the horrors to figure out the truth.
I haven’t played the first Help Wanted, but man do I like FNAF and want to play the first Help Wanted. Especially so since this one is going to have Sister Location stuff in it. The barrier for me though is VR, which I don’t have and a bunch of people say it’s way better in and to avoid “flat screen”, so yeah. One hope, though, is that we get to see Ballora’s creepy spider walk when she’s off her track like in FNAF AR.
In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, players will get to experience Marvel’s New York as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. The main storyline of the game will have you take control of both Spider-Men at different points of the campaign. In the open world, you will be able to switch nearly instantly between them as you explore Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Both Spider-Men have stories and missions in the world exclusive to each of them.
VENOM. But anyway, Spider-Man 2 looks really good. I have yet to play the first game (or the Miles Morales game) so I’ll need to play those first to see if I’ll be picking this up.
Marvelous Game Showcase
Your choices shape the world in this coming-of-age RPG. As a new arrival in a 1980s rural Japanese town with a mysterious ability to loop time, your every decision and relationship will affect the outcome of battles against the invading Kegai.
Visual novel centered around a time loop tthat also has a unique battle system based around relationships? Sign me up! Loop8 has already been released, and I have a copy to play once I finish Danganronpa ready to do (ps not a review key) so I can’t wait until I get to it. I have been hearing the negatives that go against this game, the repeated dialogue and slow skip read text scaring me a bit, so hopefully I end up liking it.
Enter a virtual world of fashion fantasies made real, where coordination and communication mix like never before. Your new life as an influencer awaits!
Ever since I tried out the demos for Style Savvy games I fell in love with the premise of being a fashion designer and being in charge of a clothing store. So Fashion Dreamer is definitely on my radar. The character model even gave me Style Savvy vibe (specifically looking like updated Styling Star models) and it actually is from the same developers! Though the gameplay they were showing did make me a bit nervous. Especially with the focus on being an “influencer” and getting a lot of likes (and lets be honest, that’s going to be dominated by a few people). It also doesn’t look like there’s going to be any story or gameplay, just making outfits and going around to look at and liking other’s outfits, so that’s disappointing. Especially since I loved the fashion store gameplay loop in Styling Star.
Building upon the central theme of “East and West”, “PROJECT DRAGON” is set in the “Land of the East,” which has long been referenced but never shown in the series, where Earthmates will explore new lands and communities with Japanese-styled design influences. Additionally, Maekawa-san confirmed that Rune Factory 6 is also in development and will take place in the western continent of Adonea, with both upcoming titles representing the East and West.
We really only saw Project Dragon, but it looks pretty cool. I have heard performance issues with Rune Factory 5, so hopefully Project Dragon and 6 doesn’t suffer the same fate.
Guerilla Collective
>Part 2
Forgotlings is a breathtaking cinematic action-adventure set in a magical land of sentient forgotten objects.
Wait wait wait wait. Is this a sequel (or prequel) to Forgotton Anne? Cause the pose doll in this game, Fig, looks a lot like the one in Forgotton Anne (which I forgot his name). Also it does look like Anne was at the very end of the trailer. Either way, this successfully got my attention.
A Tiny Sticker Tale is a cozy miniature adventure about changing the world, using the power of stickers!
This is just too cute and I love the mechanic of certain things being stickers and using them to solve puzzles and progress. Also this has a demo!
Dive into a thrilling survival adventure where an unknown liquid takes control of your life. Extract Serum to stay alive, battle dangerous creatures, solve puzzles, and uncover clues about past events. Find your way out alone or in a 4-player co-op mode.
Not gonna lie, the premise of you knowing how much time you have left to live, and needing to make serum so you can live longer, was the only thing that sold me on this game. I’m not sure I’d pick this up, as I’m pretty meh on everything else, but the premise is interesting.
Join Erika and friends in an empowering coming-of-age turn-based RPG as they journey into a mystical book realm. Equip unique items and tailor your party’s abilities to battle vicious monsters. Test the strength of friendship, teamwork and personal growth as the secrets of the book unfold.
This one looked interesting to me and I’m loving how you’ll be following a group of friends (which you’ll have to rescue some of them based on the game’s info outside of the trailer) trying to survive in a strange new mythical world. It’ll be interesting to see how everyone grows throughout the story. I already know what character I’ll keep in my party (aside from Erika as I assume she’s a required party member).
Greetings, valued employee. You have been tasked with sorting the Ringo CorpoNation’s genetic samples. With the credits that you earn, you can shop, game and pay your bills on time. Rogue workers may try to entice you into betraying your beloved employer, but we know you’ll give 110%.
I remember a press release comparing this to Papers, Please and yeah it does seem similar, but with a different premise and more things to do. I still need to play the demo to see if I’d like the full game, but for now this is an interesting take on the Papers, Please gameplay.
Experience the joy of running your own cozy small business: Create stickers, pack orders and hear your customers’ stories. Time to build the cutest shop on the internet!
A game where you create stickers and pack them up when you get orders? How could I refuse. This is also another game with a demo out now!
Hands down the most adventurous and handsome hand in the world! You play as a hand on a gripping handventure where you single-handedly face dangerous obstacles and de-feet a handful of evil feet.
You play as a disembodied hand going on an adventure for revenge? Dude yes. Also I humbly request some glittery (pink) nail polish for the hand. I want my nail polish to be so sparkly it blinds my enemies MWAHAHAHAHAHA.
Noun Town Language Learning is the new way to learn a foreign language! Interact, listen, read, and speak your chosen language in a world that regains color as you learn. Test your skills with mini-games & talk to the local villagers. Learn Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and more…
This one looks cute and man, I know I’m hopeless in learning a new language but I love language learning games.
Olliefrog Toad Skater is the amphibian-based skateboarding game where its easy to be steezy!
I don’t play skating games, but Olliefrog is so cute.
Imagine you’re a 12 year old, suddenly in charge of the guard shed at the castle gate, where you decide if elves, goblins and 100+ other characters should be admitted. It’s a wonderful combination of deduction, narrative and puzzle games.
I remember seeing this game being announced somewhere and it’s still as cute as I remember! I can’t wait to play this one. Also demo!
Bye Sweet Carole is a horrific thriller game inspired by the greatest animation movies and created by Chris Darril. (Remothered series) Be ready to jump into the world of Corolla and meet the rabbits that has infested it.
A horror game with a Disney aesthetic? Yes, I need to play this. Why can’t this be releasing this year so I can play it sooner.
Go on an adventure in a world packed with secrets helped by your friend, a poulp with many abilities. Explore, solve puzzles, wander across dungeons, blast through races and much more in this game inspired by the best 3D platformers
This one looks so cute.
Crypt Custodian is a charming metroidvania about cleaning up the afterlife. Play as Pluto- a mischievous cat who has died, and is sentenced to be the afterworlds janitor… FOREVER! Hang out with other doomed ghosts, battle beasts, and explore a vastly expansive landscape.
You grabbed me with being a custodian for ghosts and hooked me with being a cat.
Play as a badass murder-kitty on a death-dealing hoverboard in Gori: Cuddly Carnage, a third-person ‘skate ‘n’ slash’ set in a neon-glowing futuristic world filled with intense destruction and fast-paced combat.
This one looks pretty crazy, but the trailer really hooked me and convinced me to finally get my eye on the game.
An alien world sometimes needs a farmer’s touch to bring it to life. In this sci-fi, colonization-life sim, terraform a barren world: turn wastelands into verdant landscapes while exploring, farming, building, and unlocking all the mysteries of this strange new planet.
I’m not convinced on the art change yet, as I liked how it looked before, but I’m hoping the gameplay is at least good.
Embody a hard-boiled detective seeking bloody justice. in an old-school, Korean-style beat-’em-up. Plow through the criminal underworld to find and punish those responsible for his sister’s death…before his mind unravels and his vengeance completely destroys him.
I was not expecting a beat ‘em up to interest me, but here we are. I’ll be looking forward to seeing more of this one.
Enter the world of Mutter Island as Sylvie, a newfound witch with the ability to grow magical Critters. Restore the island, welcome the unwelcome, and uncover the mystery of Sylvie’s past!
This one is another cute game and I see it has a demo available.
The Bookwalker is a narrative adventure in which you play as Etienne Quist, a writer-turned-thief with the ability to dive into books. Use your powers to journey between reality and book worlds, and steal legendary items like Thor’s Hammer and Excalibur to restore your ability to write.
I remember hearing about this game somewhere, but I don’t remember where. I don’t think I actually saw the trailer and from what was shown, it looks interesting. Even better, there’s a demo available now.
Summer Game Fest
Honkai: Star Rail is an all-new strategy RPG title in the Honkai series that takes players on a cosmic adventure across the stars. Hop aboard the Astral Express and experience the galaxy’s infinite wonders on this journey filled with adventure and thrill.
I was hoping we’d get a solid release date for Honkai: Star Rail (and I’m wondering why it’s taking so long to get it on consoles). I tried playing this on mobile and it was fine during combat but terrible during exploration so looks like I’m waiting longer. Hopefully, I don’t get bombarded with ads featuring a character that shares the same name as me until then like I have been since mobile release lol. You already hooked me and I’m already going to aim to get her, you don’t need to try harder.
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.
I forgot how I came to know about this game, but nonetheless I am interested in it. Playing as pretty boy Pinochio in a souls-like game? Dude yes. A beefy demo also got released and I did play a bit of it. I’m not sure whether I like it or not considering I haven’t gone through it all yet plus I had to restart since I hated the strong attack for the Dexterity starter weapon. Also I didn’t really like the dodge during the first boss battle and apparently this puts focus on parrying which I didn’t know I could do (which is kinda bad that this key mechanic is so easy to miss), the text is so small, and I heard there’s an annoying durability system.
I did also notice the tutorial (which here it’s mainly just the controls) can go away too quickly. Which could be why I didn’t know there was a parrying system.
Palworld is a brand-new, multiplayer, open-world survival crafting game where you can befriend and collect mysterious creatures called “Pal” in a vast world! Make your Pals fight, build, farm, and work in factories.
Multiplayer Open World? Mehhh. Totally not Pokemon with guns? Yes!
ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding.
I like the Yakuza series already, but I still need to you know…play all the other Yakuza/Like A Dragon games lol. I was about to say that the main character looks like Kiryu so I’ll have to see if I need to play Yakuza 0-6, but it actually is him (idk Kiryu, maybe you should have gotten plastic surgery if you wanted to fake your death).
Though I thought Kiryu’s story was completed?
Escape to the magical life of your dreams in Fae Farm, a farm sim RPG for 1-4 players. Craft, cultivate, and decorate to grow your homestead, and use spells to explore the enchanted island of Azoria!
I liked Fae Farm when it was showcased in a Nintendo Direct and I’m still interested. It looks cute and I know I have a lot of cozy farming sims, but I’m still going to get it. And we have a release date now, yay!
Your Kingdom’s fate relies on you… you… and you. Rewind time to create clones of your past-selves, and fight with an army of your own. Become legion and triumph over hordes of monsters to rescue Antala in this Hack’N’Slash game with a tactical twist.
The premise of you getting duplicates of yourself each time you die, basically doing what you did before you died, is interesting. I really want to try this one and I can’t wait to see speedruns and challenge runs people do.
Day of the Devs
Coach a sports team of Beasties in this turn-based volleyball RPG! Your Beasties’ relationships power up their teamwork!
Okay I was not sure about this game starting out, but like I like how combat is you basically playing volleyball with your Beasties that you coach. And I’m loving the different relationships your Beasties can develop, which in turn results in a combo they can do. Though with how many cuties I saw, I’m going to have a hard time deciding who to have on my team lol.
Challenge perception, redefine reality, and reshape the world around you with an instant camera. Viewfinder is a new single player game offering gamers hours of interesting and fun experiences while uncovering the mysteries left behind.
I really like the premise of taking pictures and using it to create a 3d space, but the quips your character makes seems like it’ll annoy me after a while.
A beguiling adventure in which you uncover the secrets of an expansive and mysterious world – haunting both the environment and its denizens to craft ingenious solutions to the many challenges that await.
This one looks so unique and I’m really like the premise of you being a ghost, meeting other ghosts and learning about their stories, and having the gameplay be you haunting objects to solve puzzles and explore around.
Helskate is a skateboarding action roguelite. Grind, perform tricks, and chain combos to power up your attacks to slay the monsters of Vertheim. Combine unique weapons and gear to suit your playstyle as you fight, die, and upgrade your abilities to come back to this labyrinth over and over again!
I’m not someone that plays skateboarding games, but this one looks so fun. I probably should play Tony Hawk Pro Skater, since the developers did say the mechanics are similar to it, but right now I’m interested. This game is definitely one I really hope I like once it releases.
Meet Henry, merely half a head, but with the peculiar ability to possess and control any object within their reach. Discover every object’s unique properties and abilities and cleverly combine them to progress through Henry’s not-so-ordinary everyday life.
This premise is so unique and I liked the gameplay that we saw.
Eternights is a dating action game where you try to make the most out of life during the apocalypse. Monday: Go on a date. Tuesday: Clear dungeon. Friday: Freak out! The clock is ticking!!
This is one I mentioned I was interested in last year and we got a release date of September 12!
It begins with a kidnapped captain and a stolen ship. Where it leads next? That’s up to you… In this story-driven adventure game you will explore strange and wonderful communities, uncover a deep conspiracy, and chart a journey through twists and turns, difficulties and delights.
This one sounded pretty interesting and I did like the writing style this had in the bits that we saw.
Devolver Direct
Immerse yourself in an enchanting narrative experience as Fortuna, a fortune-teller Witch condemned to exile on her asteroid home. Craft your own Tarot deck, regain your freedom, and shape the fate of the cosmic Witch society.
I actually found out about this game through Twitter and I am so interested in it. Like yeah I want to make my own tarot cards! Yeah I want to shape fate! Plus I like the art style.
Wizard with a Gun is an online cooperative sandbox survival game set in a magical wilderness wrought with dangerous creatures and arcane mysteries. Embark on a journey alone or with friends to collect, craft, and outfit your wizard however you see fit as you explore the unknown.
Another game I found out about through Twitter, though part of my interest was customization. I do like the art and visual aesthetic and the combat looks fun, but I’m not too sure about the online co-op sandbox part. Luckily, there is a demo to check out!
Play as Nate, an unemployed failson with nothing going for him, until one day he discovers a power he never knew he had… putting one foot in front of the other.
This one is weird lol. This reminds me of Manual Samual, but you know more realistic, and I’m kind of digging it. Especially with the conversation you get into after you (accidentally?) kick over a pile of rocks and your character looks like such a loser.
Access-Ability Showcase
BOSSGAME: The Final Boss Is My Heart is a lesbian romance boss rush! Sophie and Anna are broke and trying to pay rent by hunting devils. Fight colorful bosses, flirt with your girlfriend, and uncover the mysteries of Mammon City in this lightning-fast action game!
You had me at rhythm based combat. Though, it is a bit unclear how the rhythm combat is going to play out (especially when the bits we saw looks like failed blocks). It looks like the triangle bar is the combination of the two protagonists’ health and like their energy as shielding and getting hit takes away from the same bar. I did look up the trailer outside of the showcase and the last combat moment was Sophie (I think?) shielding too soon so she was already at half health when she was hit and then was almost dead afterwards, so you’ll have to make sure to not shield too soon. I’m also assuming damage is way more without shielding as well, so you have to find the perfect timing. We also did see that one can give the other energy/health to heal or revive them too.
Okay a lot of speculation later and I’m looking forward to this one. I hope we get a demo when it’s closer to release since I really want to see how the combat is.
‘Space Boat’ is a humorous investigative narrative game set on an intergalactic cruise-ship inhabited by various carpet based lifeforms.
Not gonna lie, I was a bit expecting this to be a VR title only lol, but I’m glad it isn’t so I can play it (yay!). This one is colorful and the story premise seems interesting (and having us play as a space cat detective???? Omg yes).
Tribeca Games Spotlight
Moira McKinnon is running away. A wild adventure through the Scottish Highlands, with open platforming and dynamic storytelling, maps and music. From the creators of Heaven’s Vault and 80 Days.
This one seems really interesting. The gameplay and story we got to see seems like something I would like and the stuff the developers were telling us made me even more interested.
Recent Comments