Wow, that was a good one, hey? The May 24th PlayStation Showcase was brimming with exciting titles of all sizes. But while we’re certainly hyped to start sneaking through Baghdad in Assassin’s Creed Mirage and command two separate web slingers in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, those weren’t the games that stuck with us. Among Sony's expected major players, it was the surprises that sold us. Here are the 13 unexpected games from the PlayStation Showcase that we can’t wait to get our hands on.
Helldivers 2
© Arrowhead Game Studios
The twin-stick shooter gets an over-the-shoulder sequel. Helldivers 2 will still see you and your friends dropping onto worlds to battle alien bugs in the name of Managed Democracy. Collaboration is key to success, but remember that friendly fire is definitely not your friend in the middle of a frantic firefight. Helldivers 2 launches on PS5 and PC later this year.
Immortals of Aveum
This single-player, cinematic first-person magic shooter sounded brilliant when first announced, and the PlayStation Showcase’s gameplay trailer only has us even more desperate to give it a play. The spell combos and animations look slick, and we can’t wait to discover which color of magic suits our playstyle best. It's set to release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on July 20.
Sword of the Sea
© Giant Squid
Journey meets SSX. Giant Squid, the developer behind Abzu and the Pathless is back with a serene new adventure about surfing over rolling waves of sand. Sword of the Sea promises a mix of skateboarding, surfing, and hoverboarding as you explore glistening ruins, tombs, shipwrecks, and more.
Phantom Blade Zero
Chiense kung fu, steampunk, and occult arts combine in this fascinating debut title from S-Game. The story of this dark world see you as a dextrous assassin serving The Order, a mysterious and powerful organization. Things turn south when you're framed for the murder of the group's leader and left on the verge of death. Phantom Blade Zero promises a bleak, semi-open world with rapid action sequences that wouldn't look out of place in a '90s martial arts movie.
The Talos Principle 2
© Croteam
One of the finest puzzle games of the last decade is getting a sequel. The developer behind Serious Sam’s mindless mayhem shocked us all back in 2014 by releasing an ingenious, portal-style puzzler which pushed our minds to their limit and wasn’t afraid to let players break the rules in a world which questioned the definition of life and purpose. The next entry promises gravity manipulation puzzles and optional challenges intended to test even the finest of gaming minds. If the sequel can measure up the first, it’ll be a must-play release for anyone with a craving for conundrums. It's due out on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year.
Neva
The creators of Gris are out to break out hearts all over again. Neva’s surprise reveal was the most tear-jerking moment of the showcase, featuring a woman battling a dark force only to lose her canine companion and be left in charge of its young pup. The pair must then travel together on a new adventure of growth and the relationship between children and parents.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
© Konami
Sing it with us: Snake Eeeaaateerrrr! Yes, Konami is back in the game with a “faithful remake” of Metal Gear Solid 3. Also on the way is a retro collection including Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Alan Wake 2
Our favorite haunted writer will return this year. Remedy Entertainment has been silent on Alan Wake 2 since its announcement back in 2021, but we now know it’s set to arrive on October 17! The first gameplay trailer teases a new playable character called Saga Anderson and shows of a variety of spooky enemies that she and Wake will need to confront. The two leads will have separate but intertwined stories which can be played in either order. It'll release October 17 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Revenant Hill
© The Glory Society
Set in 1919, Revenant Hill follows Twigs the cat on a journey to become a witch’s familiar. Such a high-ranking profession isn’t easy for a cat to secure though, so Twigs will need to make friends and money within the community before he can achieve his dreams.
Dragons Dogma 2
Capcom’s action-RPG sequel looks set to capitalize on the many grand concepts introduced in the 2012 cult classic adventure. Scale mighty monsters and summon otherworldly pawns to join you in a quest to slay the dragon in a world that is far less straightforward than it seems. The game is being developed in RE Engine, and Capcom promises it'll use "the latest in graphics, artificial intellgiance (AI), and physics technology". Dragon's Dogma 2 will release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/.S.
Resident Evil 4 VR
© Capcom
We’d all but assumed Capcom had given up on Resident Evil 4’s VR mode, but the PlayStation Showcase kindly offered the VR lovers out there another teaser. There’s no release date confirmed just yet, but the new teaser certainly implies that the virtual reality adaptation of the remake will cover the game’s full story mode. If so, it’s likely to be one of the finest VR experiences out there. It may even surpass the original’s excellent VR adaptation! Naturally, this will be a PS VR2 exclusive to start.
The Plucky Squire
© All Possible Futures
A storybook tale which comes to life. The Plucky Squire is both a 2D and 3D adventure. Exploring the edges of his paper-bound world, our Squire and his friends must also make the jump to 3D by literally springing from the pages of their book. Shifting between 2D and 3D opens the opportunity to explore around and inside all manner of household objects in a realm of creativity. It's a stunning shift that looks ready to make this adorable adventure an unforgettable one too. It's planned to release in 2023 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.
Marathon
Well this was unexpected. Despite sharing a name with Bungie’s pre-Halo FPS title, this isn’t a remake. The Destiny creator’s first new project in more than a decade, Marathon is a sci-fi PvP extraction shooter. Players compete as cybernetic mercenaries exploring a lost colony to secure riches. The cinematic reveal trailer features a bold visual aesthetic that has wedged itself right into our minds. It's currently being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S with cross-play and cross-save.
Those were our favorite surprises from the PlayStation Showcase but what games caused you to gasp in delight?
