The annual Summer Game Fest Play Days event in Los Angeles has concluded, and with it, a flurry of embargoes on newly revealed and playable games have lifted. Following a whirlwind of appointments, a comprehensive ranking of the 18 titles experienced offers a glimpse into the diverse landscape of upcoming releases.

The Top Tier

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Capcom's latest entry in the Onimusha series, tentatively titled Way of the Sword, earned the top spot with its fantastic combat system. The hands-on demo featured intense swordplay reminiscent of Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima, but distinguished itself with exceptional sword clashes. While many found the public demo easy, a challenging boss fight against a multi-armed foe provided a stern test, solidifying its position as a highly anticipated title.

N+ Infinity Times Two

Metanet's multiplayer-focused spinoff of the N+ series proved to be a highlight. The hands-on demo, particularly the 'Tag' mode, showcased sublime party platforming that generated significant excitement among players.

Fable

Playground Games' reimagining of Fable stood out as a promising social sandbox. The hands-off demo illustrated deep social simulation systems, allowing players to build relationships, careers, and even own all properties in the game world. While the interactions were noted as somewhat mechanical, the potential for emergent storytelling and player freedom was a significant draw.

Strong Contenders

Stranger Than Heaven

RGG Studio's Yakuza prequel, Stranger Than Heaven, impressed with its unique limb-based combat system. The demo focused entirely on combat scenarios, showcasing a challenging and distinct approach to melee, where shoulder buttons control arms and triggers control legs, facilitating parries and directional attacks.

Stupid Never Dies

Developed by ex-Capcom producers, Stupid Never Dies offers a charming and fun experience. The game features a zombie protagonist named Davy who absorbs enemy powers, transforming into monsters with unique movesets. Its story-focused roguelite format, combined with engaging combat, makes it a noteworthy title.

Blood Message

NetEase ThunderFire's Blood Message delivered a grounded, cinematic action experience akin to a gritty God of War. The game, set in the late Tang dynasty, blends stealth and animation-heavy combat, showcasing impressive production values.

Spyro: A Realm Beyond

Toys for Bob's return to the Spyro universe, A Realm Beyond, generated excitement. The studio, having regained independence, is dedicated to the purple dragon's world. The game will feature a new flight system utilizing flame sources to maintain aerial lift.

Notable Demos

The Wolf Among Us 2

Telltale Games provided an early look at The Wolf Among Us 2, showcasing its evolved toolset powered by Unreal 5 and full motion capture. The demo focused on establishing Bigby's next case and featured slick cutscenes and an improved behind-the-back camera.

Bad Magpie

Described as an "Untitled Goose Game" with a magpie protagonist, Bad Magpie offers charming puzzles and chaotic fun. The demo included a memorable sequence involving disrupting a mouse soccer match.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2

Cold Iron Studios' sequel aims for a Left 4 Dead-style co-op shooter experience. While the fundamentals are solid, including extensive progression and loadout options, the gunplay and cover system were noted as areas for potential improvement.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game

Despite being a foreign genre to the reviewer, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game was recognized for its faithful adaptation of the Nickelodeon show's look and lore-accurate fighting styles. The fast-paced brawler was praised for the love and detail put into its design.

Gears of War: E-Day

Xbox Games Studios' Gears of War: E-Day was presented with a focus on its core gameplay, looking fun but not radically different from previous entries. The developers confirmed all PvP modes will be 4v4 and indicated that legacy movement techniques like wall bouncing would be adjusted.

Mid-Tier and Rougher Edges

Join Us

This intentional jank title from Wolf Haus Games offers a blend of management sim and third-person shooter. Players build a cult branch and fend off raids, providing a dose of intentional silliness, especially for co-op play.

Resident Evil: Veronica

Capcom's presentation included a brief segment on Resident Evil: Veronica, though little new information was shared beyond the reveal trailer. Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi offered a vague intention to explore characters more deeply than in the original game.

Grave Seasons

This Stardew-like life sim, Grave Seasons, features a compelling twist with a murderer among the townsfolk. However, the demo provided was criticized for being too focused on the opening day's mundane tasks rather than showcasing its unique intrigue.

Crimson Moon

A roguelike soulslike with a grimdark fantasy aesthetic, Crimson Moon played well and offered a decent challenge. Its potential for two-player co-op was highlighted as a key feature.

Minecraft Dungeons 2

The sequel to Minecraft Dungeons introduces improvements like jumping and deeper buildcrafting. However, the four-player demo felt largely unexciting, consisting of linear progression without ample opportunity to appreciate loot or builds.

Nekome: Nazi Hunter

Despite a compelling premise of a Romani man hunting Nazis, the pre-alpha build of Nekome: Nazi Hunter was rough. The stealth action game's combat pace was slow, and animations felt overly long, though a year of development remains.