Summer Game Fest 2026 provided a glimpse into the future of gaming, with hundreds of developers showcasing their upcoming titles. Game Informer's team met with developers and played many of the most anticipated games, compiling a list of their favorites from the Los Angeles event.
End of Abyss
Developed by former Little Nightmares developers at Section 9, End of Abyss is a moody, sci-fi Metroid-inspired twin-stick shooter. Set to release on October 1, the game features unsettling enemy designs and survival horror elements. Players will manage limited ammunition and use items like flares to distract enemies or grenades for offense. The game also emphasizes environmental scanning to gather intel, mark objectives, and identify enemy weaknesses, with a confirmed achievement for cataloging all discoverable elements. The title aims to capture a creepy atmosphere for its October launch.
Slap Out Of It!
Slap Out Of It!, from developer Turbo Button, is a comedic puzzle game scheduled for release in 2027. Players step into the role of a new employee at the enigmatic corporation PUZZL, tasked with increasingly absurd customer service duties. These tasks involve interacting with the environment using both hands to solve lighthearted yet involved situations. One demo sequence saw players infiltrating a nightclub to retrieve a fog machine by solving a room-rotation puzzle to acquire sunglasses, which then revealed lasers blocking access to a key item. The game encourages freeform interaction with objects and characters to overcome its challenges.
Valor Mortis
One More Level, known for the Ghostrunner series, is developing Valor Mortis, a first-person action game with a Napoleonic Wars theme and a Souls-like difficulty. Scheduled for release on October 13, the game blends slick first-person combat with sword duels and magic. Players wield a blade in one hand and a pistol or supernatural abilities in the other, fighting mutated coalition soldiers. The combat emphasizes parrying and deflecting attacks for satisfying executions. The game features a premise that includes the spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte offering guidance to the player.
My Arms Are Longer Now
Toot Games, an Australian developer, is behind My Arms Are Longer Now, a bizarre puzzle-comedy game with a planned release in 2026 for PC and 2027 for consoles. Players control an extremely long arm to solve puzzles in a style reminiscent of Untitled Goose Game. A demo on a subway involved using the arm to steal a sleeping woman's locked and handcuffed briefcase by pickpocketing her for the keys, then retrieving the case and exiting. The game also allows for optional, humorous interactions, such as stealing a passenger's subway card or abducting a dog, all while reacting to the comical distress of onlookers.
Erosion
Erosion, a twin-stick shooter from Plot Twist, is slated for release in 2027. Despite its simple voxel graphics, the game features a unique time-advancement mechanic where the world ages 10 years each time the player dies. This means the objective—rescuing a kidnapped daughter—can see her grow from a child to an elderly woman. The gameplay includes over 100 weapons and abilities, encouraging players to create powerful builds similar to Hades. Erosion's destructible open world is highly reactive, allowing players to influence events, such as aiding cultists or eradicating them, which in turn shapes the available missions and outcomes as time progresses.
Turok: Origins
Saber Interactive is developing Turok: Origins, a prequel to the 1997 Turok, set for release in 2026. The game offers a solo experience but also supports three-player co-op. It features slick gunplay, a variety of weapons, powerful special abilities, and encounters with dinosaurs. The developers aim to revitalize the Turok franchise with this upcoming shooter.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Capcom is bringing back the Onimusha series with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, launching on September 25. Preview sections have highlighted the game's exceptional combat system, which focuses on thrilling swordplay with an emphasis on parrying and deflecting attacks. A challenging boss battle against a wish-granting demon tested these mechanics, showcasing the game's blend of entertainment and difficulty.