This year's Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live event has drawn criticism from Rock Paper Shotgun staff for its perceived lack of substantial new announcements and reliance on brief, "vibes-based" trailers. The editorial team experimented with a less intensive reporting approach, viewing the showcase as a typical audience member would, partly due to a feeling that the effort involved in live reporting often outweighs the journalistic return.
Despite the overall feeling of ennui, several titles managed to capture the attention of the RPS staff. Julian noted his interest in LEGO Skylines and No Law. While the LEGO game appeared colorful, the brevity of its trailer offered only a glimpse. No Law, an immersive sim, also suffered from a short trailer that couldn't adequately convey its planning mechanics. Both titles are slated for hands-on previews at Gamescom.
James expressed disappointment with the showcase, describing it as a "barrage of samey swordfighters and likely doomed online shooters." However, he found intrigue in Lofsöng, an "art-driven" puzzle adventure from Italian developers Unrelated Studio, where players must decipher the secrets of a desolate planet through visual and auditory cues, evoking a sense of solitary exploration.
Oisin highlighted Murals, an action game from Dlala Studios, the team behind Disney's Illusion Island. The game features a painterly aesthetic and vivid colors, standing out as a potential departure from the prevalence of roguelikes. While acknowledging that fairytale-twist games can sometimes be formulaic, the visual appeal of Murals suggests a potentially interesting experience. Oisin also commented on the broader trend of unoriginality in the showcase, pointing to a PUBG spin-off, a game that closely mirrors FromSoftware's style, and unsolicited remakes.
Mark found himself most intrigued by Paradox Interactive's Afterworld, a post-apocalyptic grand strategy game. The concept of building a tribe and integrating old-world technology with a new vision for a ruined world appeals to his interest in Fallout and Crusader Kings. He described the game's vibe as Mad Max-esque, with a gameplay loop that could involve warfare and alliances, while also contending with survival elements like resource scarcity and environmental hazards. He also mentioned LEGO Skylines and a potential interest in Wizards of the Coast's Warlock and Exodus.
Jeremy found many of the presented games to look similar, a sentiment he attributes to his general experience with large gaming showcases. He did, however, note The Witcher trailers and Warlock. As a Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast, he observed that the gameplay shown in Warlock did not align with typical Warlock abilities from the tabletop game, though the setting in Ravenloft's Darkon with Tasha as a patron held his interest. He also expressed a desire for a game focused on Drizzt Do'Urden.
Edwin's primary interest lies in Frictional's Ontos, though he expressed reservations about its shift towards philosophical puzzles. He echoed the appreciation for Afterworld, seeing it as an opportunity to engage with a new Paradox grand strategy series. Exodus also caught his eye, particularly an "octopus-in-a-mech" reveal, and he praised the outdoor lighting in Metro 2039 for its depiction of wintry haze. However, he ultimately felt the showcase's overall curation resulted in a "narrow and self-congratulatory deluge," with little to genuinely excite him beyond the comfort of watching from bed.