Perhaps the biggest night in the gaming calender, The Game Awards, delivered yet again with an impressive lineup of showcases for upcoming games. The show included a number of first-looks, release date reveals, as well as a couple of massive surprises.
Surprises this year included DS2 from Kojima Productions as legendary game-maker Hideo Kojima returns to the world of Death Stranding with a brand-new offering. The show featured a good mix of massive AAA blockbusters as well as innovative indies.
Here is a full rundown of every showcase at this year’s The Game Awards.
The Game Awards: A List of Everything Announced at This Year’s Event
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
Kicking off this year’s The Game Awards pre-show was the upcoming DLC for Dead Cells, Return to Castlevania. Dead Cells’ newest DLC is a result of a collaboration with Konami as players return to Castlevania for a brand-new adventure featuring iconic characters from the franchise: Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania will be available in 2023 and will feature the signature Dead Cells-style Metroidvania maps and gameplay that will likely have a Castlevania spin on it.
Vampire Survivors for Mobile
The original Vampire Survivors is now available for free on both Android and iOS. This classic brings bullet-hell action to mobile in a fantastic return to form. The franchise has found new life in the new era of gaming on the back of the solid reboot, Vampire Survivors, and it looks like its presence on mobile could be a big hit as well.
Valiant Hearts: Coming Home
The latest Ubisoft-Netflix collaboration headed players’ way is Valiant Hearts: Coming Home, a follow-up to 2014’s Valiant Hearts: The Great War. The game was previously only available for consoles and PC, but the sequel will also be available on mobile through Netflix sometime in 2023.
Returnal: PC Trailer
The worst-kept secret in gaming is now officially out of the bag as Returnal is now officially confirmed for release on PC. Returnal is one of the best games currently available on the PS5 and features a ton of cool mechanics, including a rather fast-focused soulslike combat loop that gets more and more intricate and challenging as players progress through the game.
Mike Mignola’s HELLBOY: Web of Wyrd
One of the most interesting titles to get an announcement at this year’s The Game Awards, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd will be available later in 2023, developed by Upstream Arcade and Good Shepherd Entertainment. The game seems to feature a melee combat system with a beautiful cel-shaded art style, more in line with Dark Horse Comic’s signature comic book series.
Horizon: Call of the Mountain
Horizon Call of the Mountain gets a new gameplay trailer as well as a release date. The game is now confirmed to be out for the PlayStation VR2 on February 22, 2023. This will be a major launch title for the new VR console and it will be interesting to see if the game turns out to be a major system seller.
Post Trauma
Up next was a curious horror title by Red Soul Games and Raw Fury, Post Trauma. The game seems to be taking inspiration from horror classics like Silent Hill and crafting a decidedly spooky environment for the player with all sorts of intricate puzzle mechanics and exploration. The game is set to release on PC and Console and can be wishlisted on Steam right now.
Viewfinder
This absolute mind-bending puzzle game brings pictures to life and presents players with intricate worlds to explore. Viewfinder looks like a very interesting game that has the potential to discover a novel experience for players.
Scars Above
Scars Above is the latest from Prime Matter and Mad Head Games, scheduled for release on February 28th, 2023. The game looks like it features a deep exploration and combat system but much of its narrative is still shrouded in mystery. Scars Above appear to be a fairly novel concept that has the potential to be one of the more interesting games showcased at this year’s event.
Among Us: Hide n Seek Mode
Up next was probably one of the evening’s most exciting announcements as Devolver Games revealed the newest game mode headed to Among Us, Hide n Seek. It looks like the game will take on an asymmetrical horror shape and task a certain player with hunting down the rest of the crewmates in a variety of maps while other players try and run for cover. The game mode will be available on Dec 9, 2022.
After Us
Private Division and Piccolo’s After Us got a trailer this evening and the game appears to be a truly ambitious title. The game features a bevy of interesting locations, enemy types, and traversal. The game is scheduled to release in Spring 2023 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam.
Replaced
Up next was perhaps one of my personal most highly anticipated games as Replaced gets a brand-new trailer. The trailer showcased new locations the player will explore in the game as well as some elusions to its story and narrative. The game looks incredibly exciting on the back of its fantastic art style and exciting combat and soundtrack. The game is scheduled to release in 2023.
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 gets a brand-new trailer showcasing its signature and iconic combat. A pleasant surprise was the inclusion of minigames, which could be an interesting addition to the standard Street Fighter formula. The game is currently available for pre-order and will be available on June 2, 2023.
Hades 2
Kicking off the main show was none other than Supergiant’s game follow-up to their 2020 hit, Hades. The sequel will feature a brand-new protagonist and seems to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor with an engaging new storyline and adventure for players to explore and uncover.
Judas
Bioshock creator Ken Lavine finally unveils what his team, Ghost Story Games, has been working on for the last few years – Judas. The game is a first-person action-adventure title that looks in the vein of Bioshock. As is the case with all of Lavine’s games, the game features an extremely interesting plot that seems to tackle a bevy of themes. The game will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
Platinum Games doubles down on the Bayonetta 3 hype with what looks like a massive spin-off for the franchise. The game is a major departure for the franchise, featuring a top-down, isometric perspective, ditching the signature melee character combat gameplay that the series is known for. Scheduled for release on March 17th, 2023.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Up next was perhaps one of the most emotionally potent game trailers as Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League’s latest trailer featured the voice of the late and great Kevin Conroy reprising his role as Batman one last time. The trailer featured the return of the iconic Caped Crusader in a villainous new turn as a lethal protector(?). The game is scheduled for release on May 26th, 2023.
Party Animals
One of the funniest trailers all evening, Party Animals is the latest from Recreate studios and will feature the signature Gang Beasts-style brawler gameplay that fans have come to love. The game is scheduled for release in Early 2023 on Steam and Xbox.
The Last of Us Part I on PC
The Last of Us finally makes its way to PC as fans finally get a look at the PC version of Naughty Dog’s modern classic. The game is scheduled for release on March 3, 2023.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The highly anticipated follow-up to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Survivor, gets a brand-new gameplay trailer that showcased new gameplay elements that will be present in the sequel. The trailer elaborates on the game’s central plot line as well as certain new gameplay elements such as dual-wielding lightsabers as well as animal traversal and ally combat. The game is scheduled for release on March 17, 2023.
Earthblade
EXOC returns to the big stage after their seminal hit, Celeste, with a brand-new offering, Earthblade. The game features elements similar to Celeste with all sorts of new combat and traversal mechanics. The game is scheduled to come out in 2024.
Dune: Awakening
Dune: Awakening gets a brand-new trailer showcasing the expanse of its world as well as some narrative beats. The game is one of the most highly-anticipated MMOs and it will be interesting to see more gameplay from it. Players can sign up for the beta from the official site.
Death Stranding 2 (Working Title)
Finally, one of the most surprising appearances on the show, Hideo Kojima’s DS2 is finally unveiled. Featuring a masterful musical appearance by Troy Baker, DS2’s trailer sheds light on the direction of the sequel. It looks like the game will be taking place after the events of the original with Sam Bridges, Fragile, and Lou. It appears Baker’s villainous Higgs will be making a return and it will be interesting to see how the new members of the cast, Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna fit into the game. The game looks like it will be available exclusively on the PS5.
Immortals of Aveum
Up next was a brand-new IP from Ascendant Studios and EA Originals, Immortals of Aveum. The game appears to be some sort of sci-fi first-person action-adventure game. There is a good chance that this could be one of EA Original’s Games as a Service lineup.
Tekken 8
Tekken 8 gets a brand-new, action-packed trailer that elaborates on its central plot line as well as some gameplay snippets. The trailer featured the signature Tekken ridiculousness fans have come to know and love deeply.
Nightingale
Nightingale is a first-person open-world survival crafting game set in 1889. This is a rather interesting premise for a survival-crafting game and it will be interesting to see more gameplay from this and how expansive the game can really get.
Baldur’s Gate III
Baldur’s Gate III finally has a release window, in August 2023. This action RPG is one of the most highly-anticipated games of the coming year and fans cannot wait to see what Larian has in store.
Wayfinder
Atomic Syndicate’s latest is Wayfinder, an intriguing new fantasy game that features a pretty striking art style. This looter-slasher looks like it could really take off in a big way and become the next big multiplayer sensation.
Diablo IV
Accompanied by a live music performance by Halsey, Diablo IV made one heck of an appearance at this year’s The Game Awards. The cinematic trailer showcased the narrative direction of the upcoming game that left audiences spellbound. Fans cannot wait to see Blizzard has in store for players and what sort of gameplay changes and innovations awaits them come June 6, 2023.
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
Horizon goes Hollywood as the first DLC for Horizon Forbidden West showcases new lands as Aloy discovers the lands that were once known as Hollywood. The DLC comes out on April 19, 2023.
Blue Protocol
Blue Protocol is the latest from Bandai Namco and Amazon Game Studios. The game looks like a pretty flashy fantasy RPG and is scheduled to come out in 2023.
Remnant II
Remnant II gets a flashy new trailer showcasing all kinds of horribly deformed environments and enemy types, accompanied by a rather beautiful score. The game comes out sometime in 2023 is currently available for wishlisting on the Epic Games Store and Steam.
Transformers: Reactivate
Splash Damage returns with a brand-new sci-fi shooter offering in Transformers: Reactivate. While The Game Awards trailer didn’t let on too much in terms of gameplay, fans cannot wait to see how Transformers makes a return to the gaming stage.
Banishers: Ghost of New Eden
One of the most exciting new trailers at this year’s The Game Awards, Banishers: Ghost of New Eden looks likes like a powerful, emotional narrative experience that will take players on a rather dangerous journey through a mystical world.
Meet Your Maker
One of the most action-packed trailers at this year’s The Game Awards, Meet Yor Maker is scheduled for release on April 4th, 2023.
Up next was a fantastic, new trailer for Crime Boss: Rockay City. Featuring a star-studded lineup of actors, Chuck Norris, Michael Rooker, Kim Basinger, Vanilla Ice, Danny Trejo, and Michael Madsen – Crime Boss looks like it could be making a play for the go-to crime sim on PC.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
We take a trip back to Night City in Cyberpunk 2077’s upcoming DLC, Phantom Liberty. The trailer features the returning Keanu Reaves as Johnny Silverhand and showcases gameplay from the upcoming DLC. The biggest reveal however was the appearance of Idris Elba as a new character, Solomon Reed, a NUSA Agent.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
The biggest surprise at this year’s event, FromSoftware makes a quick turnaround for 2023 with a brand-new offering, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. This futuristic title features mechs and war-torn earth and it will be interesting to see what FromSoftware have in store in 2023.
