Skip to main content

These are the 10 best games we played at Gamescom 2022

We may not have had E3 this year, but this summer didn’t go by without a big gaming expo filled with reveals. Gamescom returned as a live show this year, bringing a whole host of announcements via Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live show and a convention center full of playable demos. Digital Trends flew out to Cologne, Germany, this year to go hands-on with some upcoming releases and speak with the creators behind them.

Over the course of three days, we played dozens of games ranging in scope from big-budget showstoppers to indie hidden gems. The show proved that the video game industry is in a healthy place despite a year filled with high-profile delays. With so many games to talk about and so little time to play them all, we’ve put together a list of the best games we played at Gamescom – including our pick for Game of the Show.

Game of the Show: Moonbreaker

Moonbreaker: Gameplay Reveal Trailer

Moonbreaker is exactly what you want to see out of an event like this: a left-field surprise that completely steals the spotlight. Developed by Subnautica studio Unknown Worlds, the strategy game debuted at Opening Night Live with a trailer showing off its miniature-based combat, where players drag Warhammer-like figurines across the battlefield. We were intrigued by that clip, but we were astonished by the actual game once we got to demo it. The strategy portion of the game feels incredibly tight, but what really impressed us was the game’s figure-painting tool, a powerful system that lets players easily create detailed custom paint jobs for their figures just as they would in a real tabletop game.

Our excitement for it only grew when getting more information from Unknown Worlds about the game. The developers filled us in on some exciting details, discussing how Mistborn author Brandon Sanderson helped craft a rich story that the game will tell over the course of years – both in-game and via a full episodic audio drama podcast.

Every new detail we heard about the game through the weekend only made us more intrigued to try it out when it launches in early access on September 29. Considering that it’s the one game we couldn’t stop talking about this weekend, it deserves this Game of the Show slot.

Dead Island 2

Dead Island 2.

When Dead Island 2 leaked prior to Gamescom, I was skeptical: “Wasn’t Dead Island that OK zombie game famous for having a misleading trailer?” I didn’t really understand why I should be excited for it until I got to play it. Developer Deep Silver Dambuster rescued the 10-year-old project from obsolescence by rebuilding it from the ground up, a move that the developer said it needed to make to achieve its vision. And what was that vision? Ultimate carnage.

Dead Island 2 impressed us with its procedural flesh system that lets players target parts of a zombie’s body and carve them off in a grotesquely satisfying fashion. That’s paired with in-depth first-person melee combat that actually lets players take advantage of that gorey system. As soon as I poked a zombie’s leg off with a pitchfork, I was sold.

Pentiment

Pentiment – Official Announce Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022

Despite not having a giant release coming this fall, Xbox had a huge presence at this year’s shows. Smaller titles like High on Life got a bright spotlight as a result, but the best Xbox exclusive I saw at the show was Pentiment. Developed by Obsidian, the 2D narrative game is a unique murder mystery set in the 16th century. It features eye-catching art and light RPG systems that have a real impact on the story. After getting to see a tease of how that’ll play out, I left Gamescom excited to see a company as big as Microsoft support a small-scale project that’s as charming as this one is.

Friends vs. Friends

Friends vs Friends Reveal Trailer

Sometimes the best games at events like this are the ones you randomly stumble into while exploring the show floor. That was the case with Friends vs. Friends, which got a quick trailer at Opening Night Live. The multiplayer shooter features an ingenious deck-building system that lets players sabotage one another in increasingly creative ways. Play a card to turn an opponent’s head bigger for a round, reduce their jump, or just drop a nuke on the entire battlefield. After just a few rounds, I was already hooked on its zany premise.

One Piece Odyssey

One Piece Odyssey - Announcement Trailer

Despite never having watched the anime or read the manga it’s based on, One Piece Odyssey won me over at the show. I feared that the project could be a low-effort cash-grab, but I was happy to be wrong about that. It contains clever RPG systems that push players to make smart decisions on each and every turn. Using a “rock, paper, scissors” damage system reminiscent of Fire Emblem, players have to constantly juggle which party members are in their lineup to get the most out of every attack opportunity. Though for One Piece fans, the real appeal here will be seeing all their favorite characters brought to life in a 3D world, complete with voice acting. This is feeling like a high-effort project that will cater to players beyond its built-in audience.

Lies of P

Lies of P - Gameplay Reveal

Lies of P was an oddball hit at Gamescom, with long lines waiting to get into its demo. Perhaps players just had to see the Pinnochio-inspired Soulslike in action to believe it really existed – I know I did. Fortunately, Lies of P is more than just a bizarre premise; it’s a promising action game that features smooth but still challenging combat. It may just be Bloodborne-lite, but I found that I actually enjoyed the faster-paced action even more than most actual FromSoftware games. The fact that it stars a broody Pinocchio is just the weird icing on the cake.

What the Bat?

What The Bat - Official Announcement Trailer | Upload VR 2022

Earlier this summer, I was thrilled to learn that the team behind the excellent comedy sports game What the Golf? was entering the world of VR. What the Bat? takes the same idea as that game and applies it to baseball, with hysterical results. During my quick demo, I used Oculus Quest controllers to swing my way through an increasingly absurd gauntlet of challenges. It started with me hitting a ball at a trophy and ended with me painting a stone horse statue, using baseball bats as brushes. I can only imagine where it’ll go from there in the final version.

Vikings on Trampolines

Vikings On Trampolines - Announcement Trailer

Indie developer D-Pad Studio made a name for itself in 2016 with its hit platformer Owlboy. However, its new game is much older than that. Vikings on Trampolines is a modernized remake of a now-defunct browser game that one of its developers first created when he was 14 years old. As its title implies, players control Vikings who only move around by bouncing on trampolines. What’s lovely about the project is that it’s designed for players who usually find games too complicated, as it’s only controlled with one joystick. Based on my demo, that’s all it needs to deliver a simple, fun experience with some excellent pixel art.

Gungrave G.O.R.E.

Gungrave G.O.R.E.'s main character points his pistols at enemies.

Gungrave G.O.R.E. wasn’t the most sophisticated game I played at Gamescom, but it’s perhaps the one that made me smile the most. The over-the-top action game is a revival of a long-defunct PlayStation 2 series about a gun-toting hero who carries around a casket. The sequel retains the feeling of a PS2 hack-and-slash, with players using their oversized guns to rack up massive combos. It’s bombastic, bloody, and an absolute blast to play.

Inkulinati

Inkulinati - Official Early Access Trailer

Gamescom’s massive Indie Arena booth was densely packed with fascinating games, from The Wandering Village to Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles. One game that really caught my attention was Inkulinati. The “ink-based strategy game” has players drawing animal troops in a manuscript and sending them into turn-based battles. What’s especially charming about the title is that its 2D visuals look like medieval doodles that move across paper. I had just as much fun watching other people demo it as I did playing it myself.

Editors' Recommendations

Giovanni Colantonio
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…
PlayStation VR2’s best launch game isn’t the one you we’re expecting
fantavision 202x impressions hands on psvr2 outer space fireworks

With the PlayStation VR2 out now, all eyes are on Horizon Call of the Mountain. The action-adventure title is Sony’s first big exclusive for the platform, acting as its tentpole launch title. While it’s a must-buy for anyone picking up the device on day one, it's more successful as a strong technical showcase for the headset rather than as a fun game that stands on its own. If you’re looking for the latter, you’ll want to check out PSVR2’s real hidden weapon: Fantavision 202X.

『FANTAVISION 202X』 - ゲームプレイトレーラー

Read more
PlayStation VR2 adds even more games to its launch lineup
Gameplay from Sushi Ben, an upcoming PlayStation VR2 game.

Sony has finalized the launch lineup of the PlayStation VR2 headset just before its February 22 release. With that comes the confirmation of the new games coming to the PSVR2 platform throughout the rest of 2023, including a sequel to a critically acclaimed PlayStation VR title, as well as many exciting ports.

Starting with the newly confirmed launch titles, ports of the Viking rhythm game Ragnarock, 1980s anime-themed motorcycle combat game Runner, sci-fi simulator Startenders: Intergalactic Bartending, medieval sword-fighting game Swordsman VR, and VR Guitar Hero-like Unplugged: Air Guitar will all be available on February 22. This cements the following list as PlayStation VR2's 43-game launch game lineup.

Read more
Bringing VR’s best Star Wars game to PlayStation VR2 was a no-brainer, devs say
star wars tales from the galaxys edge psvr2 interview ilmxlab starwarstalesee screenshot c 3po and r2 d2

When ILMxLAB learned about the PlayStation VR2, Director Jose Perez III thought it was a "no-brainer" for the studio to bring the Oculus Quest game Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge to the new headset.
"We're always looking at how we can push the fidelity of the work that we're doing," Perez III tells Digital Trends in an interview. "PlayStation VR2 is ridiculously powerful; we got really excited about what we could bring to that. We started talking with our friends at Sony because we had a great relationship with them for Vader Immortal, and it was really a no-brainer. Then, you put the headset on, you start feeling the haptics, and you start seeing what you can do with the visual fidelity and lighting, and it's like, 'Oh, this is awesome!'"
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition | Official Trailer | PS VR2
PlayStation VR2's launch and its first wave of games are nearly upon us, and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Enhanced Edition is one of those titles. This is a make-or-break time for VR, which is still struggling to move into the mainstream but could become more popular if Sony's headset can offer a compelling and accessible virtual reality experience. Ahead of its release, Digital Trends spoke to Director Jose Perez III and Producer Harvey Whitney from ILMxLAB to learn about the process of crafting one of these critical "no-brainer" launch games and PlayStation VR2 will ultimately stand when it comes to the future of VR gaming.
The power of PlayStation VR2
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge was originally released for Meta Quest VR headsets in November 2020. It's set on the planet of Batuu, which people also explore at Dinsey parks, and follows a Droid Technician who gets caught in the middle of a grander fight against the First Order after crash-landing on the planet. At the time, it was meant with decent reviews and only got better as its story was completed and expanded with the Last Call DLC.
After getting the "Enhanced Edition" of the game for PlayStation VR2 greenlit, ILMxLAB actually had to go and make it. As the team was dealing with new hardware for the first time, producer Harvey Whitney thought it was good that the team's first project on PlayStation VR2 was an enhanced version of an existing game.
"Early on, knowing that we already had the content that was created for the original, that changes things quite a bit," Whitney tells Digital Trends. "We're not redeveloping the story and coming up with all of that. We just had that opportunity to work as a team and ask, 'What do we really push here, and where are the changes that we want to make, and what we can do to really take advantage of this hardware?'"

The VR space is full of different headsets with unique specs, with the much higher specs of the PS VR2 standing out. The PlayStation VR2 sports some impressive specs compared to its VR peers, displaying content in a 4000x2030 HDR format at a 90Hz or 120Hz frame rate. Plus, games have the PS5's power, spatial, and brand new Sense controllers to take advantage of, rather than the 2013 console and 2010 motion controls that limited the original PlayStation VR.
PlayStation VR2 supports Roomscale, Sitting, and Standing play styles, which added more complexity as Tales from the Galaxy's Edge supports all three. Thankfully, Perez III that bringing Tales from the Galaxy's Edge to PlayStation VR2 was relatively manageable because of how impressive the system's specs were.
"A lot of the development processes are similar [to other VR platforms]," Perez III says. "We're still working inside of Unreal, and we're doing a lot of those same processes. But we don't have to look at performance quite as much as we do on some of the other devices, so we're able to open up a lot of things or not be as concerned about certain things. That comes with better hardware."
Better hardware, better games
Looking at the biggest games of the PlayStation VR2 launch window lineup, the visuals of titles like Horizon Call of the Mountain and the VR modes of Resident Evil Village and Gran Turismo 7 are impressive. In our discussion, Whitney also made it quite clear that one of the real advantages of working on this remaster was not having to worry about strict limitations on the visuals or even the audio. "We got lucky in the sense that there's a lot more to PlayStation VR2 that we hadn't had previously," Whitney says. "We could really push the graphics and make it shine. But then there were also some other things that came into play. We totally redid the audio, it sounds amazing."

Read more