This week the industry convened in Germany for gamescom, the biggest annual gaming event in Europe. From updates on previously announced titles like Final Fantasy VII Revelation to grand reveals of new projects, there was something for players of all tastes. The festivities kicked off on a high note with the Opening Night Live showcase, a two-hour Geoff Keighley-hosted feast of trailers highlighting games that lie ahead in the back half of the year and beyond.
With so many great things to drink in, it can be daunting to sort through and find the cream of the crop—so here are our favourite announcements from gamescom’s big show, the things that had us feeling the hype.
5) Mega Man: Dual Override
We’ve known for a little while now that the Blue Bomber is coming back once again, but we were finally graced with a proper glimpse of Mega Man: Dual Override during gamescom’s Opening Night Live. Capcom revealed that the subtitle refers to two key gameplay elements: the ability to play as either Mega Man or Proto Man, each with their own distinct playstyles; and the new “override” ability, allowing them to remove their limiters temporarily for a boost.
Capcom also revealed the first Robot Master the duo will face off against, called Twinkle Girl, who wields an explosive pyrotechnics ability. So far Dual Override looks like the best of both worlds, fittingly—old-school gameplay and modern presentation. We’ll get to take it for a spin in 2027, just in time for the series’ 40th anniversary.
4) Stage Tour
Twenty years ago, our living rooms began to collect big gaudy plastic instruments as the two-headed hype dragon of Guitar Hero and Rock Band took gaming consoles by storm. For years we were caught up in the fun of fulfilling lost dreams of rockstar fame, or at least doing something more stimulating than mere karaoke at parties. And then the bubble burst, and both games faded into the background and obscurity.
Luckily for us, since Fortnite Festival can’t hold a candle to the real thing, gamescom brought the full reveal of Stage Tour, a successor to the Guitar Hero legacy. Developed by RedOctane, Stage Tour looks to be picking up the torch from where the original series stagnated. It will launch with over 90 songs on December 10, with many more following via DLC, and an overall bias toward rock and metal songs (while still incorporating some other genres for broader appeal). Just dive in and play in Quickplay, have a chill party in Karaoke, aim for accuracy in Judgments mode, or explore a roguelike career mode in Tour.
And yes, the instrument controllers are back in full force, with various bundle options available depending on your tastes or needs, and official licensing deals with legendary companies like Gibson and Epiphone. Although, one of the most exciting things I took away from the gamescom trailer was the ability to actually choose your bandmates.
3) LEGO Skylines
Building cities and LEGO go hand-in-hand. And yet, despite all the LEGO games made so far, none have really tapped into the potential of digitizing this partnership… until now.
Though developer Paradox Interactive only showed a quick glimpse during gamescom’s big showcase, the prospect of Sim City meeting the ultimate imaginative toy brand is incredibly tantalizing. LEGO Skylines will allow players to control the minutiae and infrastructure of their city while also indulging in their own kooky, creative impulses. Though there are no details yet on when we’ll get the key to the city, it could be something truly special if the sky really turns out to be the limit—reliving those childhood memories of both building our own mini cities and of a time when Sim City was still good.
2) The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt—Songs of the Past
One of the biggest reveals of gamescom 2026 was a new DLC for a 2015 Game of the Year contender, as The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is getting a massive new addition called Songs of the Past.
The new story will act as an epilogue for The Witcher 3 while laying some foundation for The Witcher 4, which may not grace our systems for some time yet. Original staff members have returned for the expansion, helping maintain the tone of a game that has become near and dear to countless players over the last decade. Dandelion will feature prominently, as Geralt accompanies him to Letten, his ancestral home. This more character-driven expansion will help Geralt pass the torch of protagonist to Ciri for the sequel.
Perhaps what truly sold this gamescom reveal was the news that players who own the base game on Nintendo Switch already will be eligible to upgrade to The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 for free.
1) Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons
At last, the curtain has been pulled back at gamescom to reveal Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, the next big video game based on the world’s premier tabletop game since Baldur’s Gate III. Luckily, it doesn’t look anything like Larian’s massive RPG, as developer Invoke Studios is seeking to forge its own destiny using the larger D&D umbrella.
Warlock focuses on the titular class of magic users, who owe their spellcasting talents to otherworldly patrons. Kaatri, our protagonist, has a deal with a legendary figure from D&D history, Tasha the Witch Queen. The relationship between the two women (portrayed by Tricia Helfer and Maggie Robinson, respectively) is intriguing enough on its own, but the gameplay looks captivating too.
Warlock‘s gamescom reveal trailer has Kaatri showing off many of the bells and whistles associated with the class. Perhaps most interesting was the use of actual spell components in a ritual spell that alters the local weather—incorporating a detail from the rules that many Dungeon Masts homebrew away. Kaatria also uses a handy spell to swap places with an unlucky minion, pulling him into the path of a charging behemoth at the last possible second. It’s refreshing to see the D&D brand used with a new sort of gameplay, focusing on a character-driven approach and a particular class, instead of chasing Baldur’s Gate III‘s lightning-in-a-bottle.
