Previews & First Impressions - Level 2
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1001 Threads of Mizan Preview: New Action-Adventure Blends Solo and Co-op Play
MBC Game Studio has revealed 1001 Threads of Mizan, an action-adventure inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, with a focus on both single-player and drop-in co-op gameplay. Early impressions highlight its unique setting and accessible combat system
Sea of Remnants Shows 10 Minutes of Gameplay and Reveals New Details
Joker Studios has released over 10 minutes of new Sea of Remnants gameplay, highlighting its roguelike structure, dice-based combat, and world-building ahead of its 2027 launch on PC, consoles, and mobile
4 Penny Coffins Playable at gamescom 2026 with Magistrate Mode Demo
Other Ocean Interactive has confirmed that 4 Penny Coffins will be playable at gamescom 2026, offering attendees a first look at its single-player Magistrate Mode and opportunities for community engagement
Ninja JaJaMaru: Yokai Night Parade Announced for Steam, Switch 2 and PS5
Clear River Games and City Connection have revealed Ninja JaJaMaru: Yokai Night Parade, a new hack 'n' slash action RPG inspired by 90s hip-hop and Japanese folklore, coming to Steam, Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5
Black Myth: Zhong Kui Trailer Reveals a More Grounded Direction
Game Science has released the first gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, signalling a shift from the epic scale of Black Myth: Wukong to a more grounded, character-driven approach. The footage suggests a focus on narrative and atmosphere over spectacle
Nautus Preview: Survival-Crafting Meets Undersea Exploration on a Tropical Island
Magic Design Studios has revealed Nautus, a survival-crafting adventure set on a tropical island with a strong focus on underwater exploration and community building. The game blends cosy surface life with Metroidvania-inspired submersible gameplay
Zork's Unusual Design in The Duskbloods Explained by Miyazaki
FromSoftware's The Duskbloods network test has sparked discussion around Zork, a character whose bizarre appearance and abilities have made him a standout. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has now clarified the inspiration and gameplay role behind Zork
Control Resonant Preview Highlights New Abilities and Open World Structure
Remedy has revealed new details on Control Resonant, showcasing expanded melee combat, traversal abilities and open-world design in Manhattan, with a September 24 release date set for PC and consoles
My Dear Emma Demo Playable at gamescom 2026 in Cologne
Soulven has confirmed that My Dear Emma, its narrative-driven first-person adventure, will be available to play in demo form at gamescom 2026, with the team present in Hall 10.2 for hands-on sessions and direct discussion
Ukiyo Studios Brings Dead As Disco, Rain98 and More to Gamescom 2026
Ukiyo Studios has confirmed its return to gamescom 2026, showcasing a varied selection of indie games including Dead As Disco, Rain98, Dungeon Lurker and ANOMALITH at Hall 10.1, Booth F063, with hands-on demos available
Modern Warfare 4 Beta Brings New Matchmaking and Campaign Mission Access
Infinity Ward has detailed major changes for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, including a new matchmaking system and the first-ever inclusion of a campaign mission in the beta, as the studio responds to player feedback ahead of launch
Black Myth: Zhong Kui Gameplay Trailer Reveals New Combat and Protagonist
Game Science has released a 15-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, offering a detailed look at the new protagonist, combat mechanics and elemental abilities, but leaving release timing and platforms unconfirmed
Palettopia Puzzle Mode Playtest Opens on Steam for One Week
Oh Wow Games has launched a public playtest for Palettopia's new Puzzle Mode, running from 20 to 27 August on Steam. Players can try the city-building puzzle experience and provide feedback ahead of the game's full release
Silver Pines Channels '90s Survival Horror With Modern Indie Style
Wych Elm Games has revealed Silver Pines, a pixel-art survival horror adventure inspired by classics like Silent Hill and Alan Wake, with a demo highlighting its atmospheric visuals, resource scarcity and Lynchian narrative influences
HELLCARD II Steam Playtest Opens for PC Players with Four-Player Co-op
Skystone Games and Thing Trunk have launched the public Steam playtest for HELLCARD II, a cooperative roguelike deckbuilder for up to four players, offering early access to new features and tactical card battles ahead of release
Honeycomb: The World Beyond launches 8 September on PC, PS5 and Xbox
Frozen Way Studio and Snail Games USA have confirmed Honeycomb: The World Beyond will release on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles this September, with a playable demo arriving on Steam a week before launch
Stormforge Demo Arrives on Steam Ahead of PvE Survival Fest
Roboto Games has released the public demo for Stormforge, its upcoming fantasy survival crafting game, on Steam. Players can try out early content and features before the Early Access launch and the Steam PvE Survival Crafting Fest
Gamescom 2026 Schedule, Livestreams and Major Reveals Detailed
Gamescom returns to Cologne from 25-30 August 2026, with IGN providing live coverage, developer interviews, gameplay reveals and exclusive trailers. Here's what's confirmed for the event, how to watch, and which games are set to appear
Insomniac Responds as Marvel's Wolverine Faces Social Media Backlash
Insomniac Games has addressed the surge of negative reaction to Marvel's Wolverine on social media, arguing that algorithm-driven criticism does not reflect the wider player base ahead of the game's imminent PlayStation release
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Preview Highlights Expanded Co-op and Class Options
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 has been previewed ahead of release, showcasing its expanded four-player co-op, deeper class customisation and a stronger narrative focus as players return to the Xenomorph-infested world of LV-558
Splatchinko brings cosmic pachinko roguelike action to Steam in 2026
Stupidi Pixel has announced Splatchinko, a pachinko-inspired roguelike with turn-based strategy elements, is coming to Steam later this year, blending cosmic narrative with physics-driven combat and procedural runs
Modern Warfare 4 Beta Adds Single-Player Mission for the First Time
Xbox has confirmed that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta will, for the first time in series history, include a playable single-player campaign mission alongside its usual multiplayer content
The Watcher Announced for PC as Psychological Surveillance Sim
Indie studio Yesterday's Sandwich has revealed The Watcher, a psychological surveillance simulator set in a totalitarian city. The game is in development for PC, with its first trailer and screenshots now available for viewing
Control Resonant Boss Battle Footage Reveals Central Resonant Encounter
Remedy Entertainment has released new Control Resonant gameplay, showcasing a major boss fight against the Central Resonant and offering a closer look at the evolving threats within the game's corrupted New York setting
Marvel's Wolverine Preview: Combat, Story and Release Date Revealed
Insomniac has unveiled new details for Marvel's Wolverine, confirming a linear action structure, brutal combat and a September 15 PlayStation 5 release, but questions remain about long-term gameplay variety and narrative depth
Wardogs Preview: New Tactical FPS Impresses in Early Playtest
Wardogs, a large-scale tactical FPS from Bulkhead, has drawn strong early interest after a closed alpha playtest, with players highlighting its blend of accessible gunplay, team-driven mechanics and punishing respawn system
Fields of Mistria's 1.0 Update Expands Fantasy Farming Sim Ambitions
Fields of Mistria's full release brings a pastel pixel art world to life, blending classic farming mechanics with light RPG elements and a cast of villagers who interact beyond the player's presence
Control Resonant Reveals Metro Fault Mission and New Traversal Ability
Remedy Entertainment has unveiled new gameplay from Control Resonant, highlighting the Metro Fault mission and introducing the Reach traversal skill as part of IGN First's August coverage
Madden NFL 27 Preview: Persona Engine and Passing Overhaul Impress Early
EA Sports has released early impressions of Madden NFL 27, highlighting a reworked passing system and the new Persona Engine for Franchise mode, with initial feedback suggesting meaningful improvements over last year's entry
Gears of War: E-Day Beta Sets Franchise Record for Steam Players
The Gears of War: E-Day open beta has delivered the highest Steam concurrent player peak in series history, with early access numbers already surpassing previous entries ahead of the full October release
Ubisoft Confirms New Ghost Recon Game and Opens Closed Test Sign-Ups
Ubisoft has officially announced a new Ghost Recon game and is inviting players to register for closed tests, offering fans a chance to influence development as the series returns after several years away
The Secret of Weepstone Demo Brings 1980s RPG Nostalgia to Steam
The Secret of Weepstone demo is now available on Steam, offering players a taste of its hand-drawn, monochrome dungeon-crawling inspired by classic tabletop RPGs and early Macintosh adventures
Gears of War: E-Day Beta Headlines Xbox Game Pass August 2026 Additions
Xbox Game Pass will introduce a wave of new titles in early August, led by the open beta for Gears of War: E-Day, alongside several notable indie and sports releases for subscribers on console and PC
Probably Stolen brings cyberpunk shopkeeping to Steam playtest
tinyBuild and Questing Goose Studio have announced Probably Stolen, a cyberpunk shop simulator set on a dystopian space station, now available for public playtesting on Steam with a debut trailer and early gameplay details
Cyber Rail demo brings high-speed FPS roguelike action to Steam
Torn Ace Studios has launched the first public demo for Cyber Rail, a fast-paced roguelike first-person shooter set on a flying diesel train, now available for PC players to try on Steam
Vampire: The Masquerade 6th Edition enters open alpha with major system changes
White Wolf has officially announced Vampire: The Masquerade 6th Edition, now in active development with a free open alpha playtest on Demiplane, offering players a chance to influence the next evolution of the iconic tabletop RPG
13th Ball: The Nightmare Shift Opens Closed Steam Playtest Registration
Bumi Studio and Web Global Gaming have announced a closed playtest for 13th Ball: The Nightmare Shift, with registration open on Steam from 31 July to 5 August 2026. Player feedback will help shape the upcoming narrative-horror game
The House Dreams Along With Them demo launches on Steam for PC and Steam Deck
Solo developer Jeffrey Nordin has released a playable demo for The House Dreams Along With Them, a dark first-person puzzle adventure now available on Steam for PC and Steam Deck, offering players a first look at its enigmatic dream-based mechanics
The Defiant Brings Story-Driven WW2 Shooter Action to China's Frontlines
The Defiant, developed by Hangzhou Hoothanes Entertainment, is a single-player shooter set during the Second Sino-Japanese War, offering a rare look at China's role in World War II with a campaign spanning multiple perspectives
The Blood of Dawnwalker Rejects Filler for a Connected Open World
Rebel Wolves has detailed how The Blood of Dawnwalker's open world is designed to avoid filler content, focusing on meaningful activities, deep lore and handcrafted experiences that connect gameplay and narrative in new ways
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