Photo: Koelnmesse / gamescom / Koelnmesse GmbH, Harald Fleissner

This year's Gamescom has concluded, providing us with thrilling insights into the future of gaming and reinforcing several key assumptions. Interesting that Gamescom 2024 set new records, attracting more people than ever before. The world's largest gaming community gathered in Cologne to celebrate their love for gaming, both in person and online. Over 335,000 visitors from around 120 countries attended, with Friday and Saturday completely sold out. Online viewership also soared, reaching over 310 million video views by Saturday evening. The figures for gamescom Opening Night Live were especially impressive, hitting over 40 million views—double last year's numbers. This year’s attendance and viewership greatly surpassed the previous record, setting a new global standard.

Among the numerous game trailers unveiled this year, I want to spotlight titles that I am especially excited about. 

Here’s TheGeekyThings future must-play list:

And the first one, straight after the unsuccessful movie adaptation of the game series, is Borderlands, which scored a mere 10% on Rotten Tomatoes. There were too many expectations for the adaptation, so I'd love to see a comeback of the series on gaming platforms. The Borderlands series is an action role-playing first-person shooter game set in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s known for its unique cel-shaded art style and humor, blending cooperative gameplay with a wide variety of weapons and engaging storylines. This year, I was excited about a new version of the game, which was announced during the Opening Night Live broadcast at gamescom 2024.

Gearbox and 2K Games shared a cinematic teaser, but no gameplay footage or additional details were revealed. Players will become legendary treasure hunters and explore a completely new planet. Borderlands 4 will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. Wishlist here.

A hardcore action RPG that follows heroes who save the empire from the dragon-berserker Gismar and his legions. General Hazan, falsely accused of treason, is exiled. The main character seeks revenge and aims to reclaim his rightful honor and glory.

Nearly ten years after the launch of the original Dying Light, Techland has announced a spin-off from the series featuring the protagonist of the first installment. Kyle Crane, after enduring 13 years of captivity and experimentation, has managed to escape and now seeks revenge. The game transports players to Castor Woods, which was once a popular tourist destination but is now overrun with zombies. Originally developed as an expansion for the sequel, the game offers approximately 20 hours of gameplay and supports cooperative play for up to four players. This highly anticipated standalone zombie adventure takes place in the post-apocalyptic setting of Castor Woods. Players will navigate a dangerous world as they step into the role of Kyle Crane, who is on a quest for vengeance after years of imprisonment.

Dying Light: The Beast started as a story DLC for Dying Light 2 Stay Human but evolved into a standalone experience after two years of development. To thank the community for their patience, Techland will offer it for free to all owners of the Dying Light 2 Stay Human Ultimate Edition.

Dying Light: The Beast will be available on both PC and current and last-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles. To stay updated, you can add Dying Light: The Beast to your wishlist on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, and PlayStation.

Atomfall is a single-player survival game that blends folklore horror with classic British science fiction. According to creative director Ben Fisher, the game will include RPG elements and a crafting system, with the story evolving as players explore the world. There won't be a character editor, and the protagonist's dialogue will not be voiced. The character's mysterious past is a key part of the story to be uncovered. The game will feature five or six sandbox maps that players can move between freely. Players will need to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons, and items, and fight various enemies to survive in a post-apocalyptic setting. Atomfall is set to launch in March 2025 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PC, and through Game Pass.

For horror fans like me, it's worth checking out Little Nightmares III. Little Nightmares III is the next installment in the series of 2.5D platformers with horror elements from Supermassive Games. This game introduces new protagonists, Low and Alone. It offers cooperative play for two players but can also be played solo with an AI companion. The trailer, showcased at Gamescom, highlights how Low and Alone work together to solve puzzles and escape threats in the Nowhere, exploring new locations and meeting new characters in the Spiral for the first time.

In Little Nightmares III, Low and Alone are on a quest to find a way out of Nowhere. Trapped in the Spiral, a series of eerie places, they must collaborate to survive and fend off dangers lurking in the shadows. Players can navigate the Spiral solo with an AI companion for the first time in the series or team up online in co-op mode with a friend. Little Nightmares III is set to be released in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. You can wishlist this game here.

A new cooperative horror game called Reanimal from the developers of Little Nightmares has caught my eye. I'm eager for more details since the release date is still unknown. In this game, players will take on the roles of a brother and sister trying to rescue their missing friends. To survive and escape the eerie island, the main characters will need to be clever. Reanimal will be available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. Be sure to check our gaming news for updates.

The first tape of the game will come out on February 18, followed by the second on March 18.

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is an adventure game from the creators of the original Life is Strange. It follows a group of teenage girls in the 1990s. Players will step into the shoes of Swann, an introvert who enjoys viewing the world through a video camera. Twenty-seven years after a mysterious event, the characters come together to uncover the secrets of Velvet Cove. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage will be available on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.

One of the standout trailers at gamescom 2024 was for Dune: Awakening, an MMO Open World Survival game by Funcom. Set to release in early 2025 for PC, with PS and Xbox versions to follow, the game immerses players in the harsh desert world of Arrakis. The exclusive gameplay reveal showcased a player's journey from scavenging to leading a guild in the hunt for spice, highlighting the game's dynamic survival and strategy elements.

Funcom also announced the third Dune: Awakening Direct airing on August 29, promising more gameplay footage and insights. Players can wishlist the game and sign up for the closed beta on the official website.

Bethesda has announced the release date for the first expansion of Starfield and shared a new trailer highlighting ground transportation. The REV-8 buggy will be able to drive off-road and comes with several weapon options. In addition, Bethesda improved the overall performance and stability of the game, fixed bugs, and made changes to the Creations menu interface. The free content update has been available since August 20, and the Shattered Space expansion will launch on September 30.

Path of Exile 2, developed by Grinding Gear Games, is a next-generation Action RPG set in the deadly continent of Wraeclast. Players can explore twelve character classes, each with unique specializations, and face over a hundred unique bosses throughout the campaign. The game introduces a new skill gem system with 240 active skills and 200 support gems, allowing for dual specialization in combat styles. With hundreds of equipment types and a rich endgame featuring over 100 maps, Path of Exile 2 promises a deep and engaging experience. Announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024, it will be available in early access on PC, macOS, Xbox Series X & S, and PlayStation 5 starting November 15, 2024. To learn more about Path of Exile 2, visit pathofexile2.com.

In summary, the list of exciting titles coming to the gaming world is impressive and inspiring, and gamescom keeps fans engaged. With around 80,000 attendees at this year's festival, it's clear the event is a hit. Let's thank the creators of the world's largest computer and video game event, which also serves as a major business platform for the gaming industry, for their hard work that is already showing results.

Source: gamescom