Player 2 Vs Summer Game Fest 2025
Despite the many challenges this industry faces, a Keighley party is always one to help lift the mood. Join Player 2 editors, Paul James and Matt Hewson, as the pair break down every announcement that was at Summer Game Fest 2025.
Mortal Shell II
Paul: I honestly thought I was looking at Bloodborne II for a moment there. I never played Mortal Shell as a non-Soulslike player so I didn’t recognise the similarities between the two franchises. I’ve gotta be honest, if this game has difficulty levels in it, then consider me interested.
Matt: The first game was in that initial wave of Soulslikes following in From Soft’s footsteps. This, however, looks to be kicking things up a notch. It is gruesome but damn if it isn’t enticing. I could certainly be tempted to dive into this one…at least until it kicks my ass so much I get the shits.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Paul: Stephen already has DS2 in his hot little hands already, so the buzz for me is dulled a bit due to the access P2 now has. I’m also still yet to catch myself up on Death Stranding so I simply can’t jump in at the sequel. This was all gibberish to me as a result.
Matt: It is no shock that old Geoff got his buddy in to show off some more DS2, their bro love is at the point now that it is putting JD and Turk to shame (Scrubs reference folks..) as for the game, it honestly is not my jam but damn it is impressive to watch in action.
Chronicles: Medieval
Paul: Not my type of game to be honest. I’ll applaud the team for the way that Chronicles was presented, it looked pretty great, but it’s just not the type of experience that I will immerse myself in, and with a flood of games on the way, I just don’t see the time being there for me to jump into this game at the necessary level.
Matt: I am not usually one for these sorts of historical strategy titles, but this one seems to have a level of polish they don’t often sport. I might be keeping an eye on this.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds
Paul: My son loves Sonic, and so there’s a high likelihood that this game will enter my household, but I’ve got my fill of kart racers this year with Mario Kart World.
Matt: More kart madness, I am in. I realise the world is in the rapture of MK World right now but not everyone has a Switch 2. Online crossplay is awesome too. Also…. ICHIBAN!
Code Vein II
Paul: As Code Vein is a Soulslike, I’m pretty hesitant to give this one a go, unless, as with Mortal Shell II, there are difficulty modes present to make the game more playable for someone like myself who lacks the patience to play the game by its own rules. Difficulty levels and consider me interested.
Matt: I actually gave the first Code Vein a fair go and didn’t mind it. It was a bit clunky, though and I ended up falling off. I hope the team here can take it to the next level because there is an interesting franchise here if they can nail it.
End Of Abyss
Paul: This game was giving off some creepy, Playdead vibes, which is a great starting point for this game. I’m curious to see more, but I do love twin-stick shooting, so everything is trending well!
Matt: Sci/fi horror seems to be having a moment right now, and this brings the interesting twist of being a twin stick shooter. Very cool vibes.
Mouse: PI For Hire
Paul: I love all that I’ve seen from Mouse: PI For Hire, but we’re rapidly hitting a point where the game just needs to come out and we need to stop getting teased. Playside, pull back the marketing until you’re ready to go please
Matt: I have been very excited about this game for a long time, and adding Troy Baker is only going to make people more excited about it.
Game Of Thrones: War For Westeros
Paul: Another Playside surprise, and this one is coming out of Melbourne which is exciting as a local. Game Of Thrones: War For Westeros seems like a really cool concept, but the lack of gameplay was a bit disappointing to me.
Matt: A strategy game from Playside, we saw a very good trailer, but no gameplay on show, so it is hard to say anything more than that.
Atomic Heart II
Paul: I was keen on playing Atomic Heart but ultimately, I never got to it, so while Atomic Heart II presented quite well, I won’t be going near it unless I have the context from the first game. The other thing nagging in the back of my mind is that there was a healthy portion of the audience that were a bit underwhelmed by the original game, so hopefully Mundfish can learn the necessary lessons to make this sequel vastly superior.
Matt: The first game really failed to resonate with me. The writing was terrible and it really put me off, which is a shame because I do love a game with this sort out there concept. I will certainly be trying it out, but they need to fix the issues from the first game if it is going to keep me on board.
The Cube
Paul: MMOs are a huge engagement wall for me. The time required for most games in this genre is a massive put off to me. I won’t say the concept doesn’t look cool – it absolutely does, but whether I play it or not, remains to be seen.
Matt: Well, it can’t be said that Mundfish aren’t creative. This one looks to be more of a fast-paced experience when compared to Atomic Heart. It is also a MMO so I assume a Destiny-like. Once again, I am keen to check it out, but my worry is writing and endgame stuff.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Paul: I wasn’t expecting a Marvel beat-em-up, but I’m so glad that it exists because Marvel Cosmic Invasion looks pretty cool! It’s not a high priority genre for me, but this is definitely a game I’ll keep a close eye on and will hopefully then carve some time out for it later on.
Matt: Love a beat-em-up, and I am so glad they are having their moment in the sun once again. I am also glad they aren’t just using the same old Marvel characters that they always bring out for these sorts of games.
Onimusha: Way Of The Sword
Paul: I’m loving the look of this new Onimusha, but we’re also not getting a huge amount to chew on with each appearance it makes. I’d rather the game go away for a while and ahead of its 2026 release, return in a big way with meaty chunks of gameplay.
Matt: This is looking stunning and has more style than it has any right to. I worry that it is too soulsish for my taste but damn if I am not impressed. Capcom are seemingly unstoppable right now.
Felt That Boxing
Paul: I was incredibly confused watching Felt That Boxing, but at the same time, there was something pretty cool about what was shown. I’ll need to see more, but I’m watching this space.
Matt: How cool does this look? I mean, even if the gameplay is terrible, this has to be applauded.
Killer Inn
Paul: Square-Enix is having another crack at a live-service game that sticks (outside of Final Fantasy XIV of course). I quite liked the idea of Killer Inn, and it’s far more engaging than what Foamstars. Time to party up and identify the wolf in sheeps clothing.
Matt: A very cool concept, but as always, these sorts of games always depend on the people you are playing with. If you can get a good group together, though, that could be an absolute blast.
Arc Raiders
Paul: Another dagger in the heart for Bungie. Arc Raiders is riding a wave of positivity, and a 1.0 release date is exactly what fans were looking for. To drop so close to where Marathon is supposedly going to release as well is a powerful, competitive move that I really love.
Matt: I keep forgetting about this game, but it looks like we are finally going to get our hands on it. It is impressive graphically, that is for sure, but I am still not sure if it is going to be my thing.
Dune Awakening
Paul: I’ve never consumed a piece of Dune media so I don’t think Awakening will be my entry into the franchise. It does look very impressive though
Matt: Another impressive trailer, but this is a game I really need to get my hands on to commit to. I am not big on survival games usually, but I have been known to occasionally find one that drags me into its net.
Chrono Odyssey
Paul: You simply cannot be an RPG of sorts, with the passage of time being a factor, and have the name Chrono in the title. It should be outlawed. Pass though, Soulslike again
Matt: Yet another soulslike, as always with these games, the difficulty balance will be the key for me.
Mio: Memories In Orbit
Paul: While Silksong still looms large, the next wave of Metroidvanias are coming down the pipeline. Mio looks exceptional. I was blown away when we saw the game last time, and that enthusiasm hasn’t diminished with this latest showing. Get that full release in my hands already.
Matt: A very cool looking platformer here, what a stunning style and let’s face it, we need more metroidvanias to fill the gap while we wait for the never coming Silksong.
Out Of Words
Paul: The stop-motion animation style of Out Of Words looked fantastic, and I do love some co-op platforming action. I’m watching this one very closely, and hopefully it can deliver
Matt: Another cool animation style. Gotta love that devs are taking a chance with these new styles. The fact that it is co-op also brings another cool twist.
Mafia: The Old Country
Paul: I really should just shut up and let Matt do the talking here as a mega Mafia fan. The game is looking pretty great though!
Matt: I need no convincing on this one. Every showing has been fantastic, and the fact they have ditched the open world to focus just on the story has me even more excited. I lowkey expect this to be one of my personal games of the year.
Lego Voyagers
Paul: I was a huge fan of the Lego Builder’s Journey experience, but there’s so much more ‘video game’ to Voyagers, so I’m seriously keen to see what this can become. Sign me up at release.
Matt: More cool animation, more co-op puzzling. Devs really think gamers have a lot of friends, don’t they? I do love this concept, though and it is looking like a totally unique experience.
Nicktoons & The Dice Of Destiny
Paul: I couldn’t care much less about this one if I tried. Undoubtedly great for families, but I don’t think I’ll be commiting any time to it.
Matt: Has there ever been a good Nickelodeon game? Could this break the trend? I don’t think so.
Lies Of P: Overture
Paul: I heard recently that with the launch of Overture there would be a patch coming to the main game that would add difficulty levels. After hearing so much about the brilliance of Lies Of P, and now the game is more accessible than ever, AND now Overture is here? I’m in. Nice to get a stealth drop going as well.
Matt: I never tried Lies of P, so this DLC isn’t for me, but with the recently added difficulty levels, I may dip my toes into the game and from there…. Who knows? Also bam! You can get it now.
Fractured Blooms
Paul: There’s a real creepy vibe about this that I didn’t love (but in a complimentary way!) Watching this one with some interest.
Matt: Cozy horror? Is that a thing? Well, it might be now.
Jurassic World Evolution 3
Paul: I loved the last Jurassic World Evolution game and while I feel like the turnaround between games is a little bit too fast for there to be any meaningful additions, I’m nonetheless still keen to dive deep into the game in a few short months from now
Matt: I love these games, and they have been getting better with each release, so I have no doubt that the 3rd game will be a banger. I know this sort of game isn’t for everyone, but it is absolutely for me.
Mina The Hollower
Paul: Here we go! I’ve been hyped for the release of Mina The Hollower since the day it was announced, and for years I’ve been getting frustrated by the various delays that hit the game. At long last the wait is nearly over.
Matt: These guys love the 8-bits, don’t they? I have no doubt they will nail it once again, though and I have to say that despite the seemingly simple graphics, it certainly looks ambitious.
Deadpool VR
Paul: Geoff, why would you do this to me? You teased Hollow Knight Silksong and then delivered a sub-par voiced Deadpool. I couldn’t care less about the game after that behaviour.
Matt: They should have got Nolan North, not whoever this Ryan Reynolds imitator is. The voice work feels so bland, and that will kill this game before it even gets going.
Dying Light: The Beast
Paul: Not much of a Dying Light fan, but I do like that we’re on something of a power trip with The Beast. Either way, I’ll leave this to the enthusiasts like Matt and if it turns out that the moment-to-moment gameplay is more appealing given the shift in power, then I might tip into it as well.
Matt: Excited, love the series, and this one looks to be leaning more into the power fantasy instead of just surviving, which is a cool twist on the usual Dying Light gameplay. August 22 as well, I am in.
Mixtape
Paul: The Artful Escape is one of the most fascinating games I’ve played, especially through the visual and tonal lenses. I’m keen to see what the success of that game, and what I presume is increased scope and budget, will mean for Mixtape. Let’s see how we go.
Matt: I have been keeping an eye on this one since the first announcement trailer. Super cool animation on show. I am not sure if the gameplay will hold up to the style, but boy, I am ready to find out.
Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree
Paul: I absolutely love the look of Towa. The name itself is a bit of a mouthful, and so is the game itself, it looks like there is going to be a lot to chew on for a good chunk of time. I’m right into this and I’m keen to see more.
Matt: I was ready to dismiss this out of hand, but the gameplay I saw seems to be something I could get behind. I will keep an eye on that one.
Acts Of Blood
Paul: I don’t know that there’s anything overly unique or particularly special about Acts Of Blood, but the game does look like a prime case of doing the basics well. Keen to see more about this one.
Matt: Basically The Raid: The Game, which is 100% my brand. If the combat is on point, I am all in on this.
Scott Pilgrim EX
Paul: I wasn’t expecting a Scott Pilgrim return. I thought the remaster from a few years back would essentially bring about some closure for fans and that would be it, and yet, here we are.
Matt: A new Scott Pilgrim, well, sure, why not? I don’t think I have seen this many 16-bit beat-em-ups since a 1993 issue of Nintendo Magazine System.
Mindseye
Paul: I read all the recent previews and I hear that while the foundations might be solid, that the game might also be a bit of a technical, buggy mess. I hope that it was an older build, and the final game, which is now just a couple days away releases in great shape.
Matt: I was very keen on this one, it looks fantastic, but I have been hearing that the trailers are very misleading. Interesting situation we are in, I guess hands-on is the only way to find out.
Hitman: World Of Assassination
Paul: Mads wandering on stage was cool, as is the Bond crossover with Hitman, but I just can’t get into the Hitman formula so I’ll need to pass on this one.
Matt: Looks like it is time to install Hitman again. So cool that they go Mads in, to do the voice work as well and not just a sound-alike.
Lego Party
Paul: More Aussie representation! SMG Studio only do good work so I suspect that the 60+ minigames that they’ve concocted for this one are going to be pretty fun to play. Interested to see more.
Matt: The last LEGO party game I played was the worst game I had reviewed in a while. This one looks to be a bit more complete, but let’s just say I won’t be holding my breath.
Wildgate
Paul: I must say, I do love the look of Wildgate, but is it something that will really stick with me? I have my doubts there. But I’ll keep watching this space, and hopefully it develops into something that resonates with me.
Matt: I am going to be honest, I only really have room for one team shooter in my life, and I suspect that is going to be Firebreak: Control. This does look to have a lot of style, though, so who knows?
Blighted
Paul: Drinkbox only developer bangers so I’m really hyped for Blighted. Hopefully the game isn’t too far off, because I need another quirky Drinkbox game in my life now.
Matt: Man, there is so much cool animation on show today. This looks to be absolutely my jam, and I love their previous work, so I am wishlisting now.
ILL
Paul: This is nightmare fuel. That said, it was also like watching a car crash – I couldn’t take my eyes off the game. Let’s see how it goes come launch time though
Matt: Well, that’s rather gross. Makes my bacon and eggs look less enticing, that’s for sure. I am ok with a more action-focused horror experience though, so this could have the juice.
Mechabreak
Paul: How many times do we need to see Mechabreak before it finally releases? No, don’t actually give me a number. I’m burnt out on this one before it has even released.
Matt: Isn’t this game out already? I zoned out 3 trailers ago.
Infinitesimals
Paul: That name is a mouthful, but the game looks great. I’m keen to see more of it, and a massive shoutout must go to Epic Games Publishing for the myriad of impressive indie titles they’ve taken under their wing and are on show this SGF.
Matt: If A Bug’s Life had a child with Star Wars. What a cool-looking game. Great concept, and I will be watching it closely.
Street Fighter 6
Paul: The wrestling shit was irritating and I’m done hearing about Street Fighter 6. Pass.
Matt: A great list of new fighters coming for those that are still playing Street Fighter 6. I have to say, they are supporting it wonderfully.
Last Flag
Paul: Ignoring the fact that I’m not the biggest multiplayer guy, I didn’t see anything overly special about this game that would make it appealing to the masses. Maybe I just missed the point, or I need to see more of it in action but I wasn’t won over. It just washed over me.
Matt: Multiplayer is usually not my bag, but this game has a fantastic style to it, a real sense of fun. Puts me in the mind of my old days playing Team Fortress with mates. Probably won’t play it, but I can appreciate what it is doing.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Paul: Wuchang looks to be one of those B-tier Soulslikes that doesn’t quite execute on any of the things that Souls fans love about the genre. Could be wrong though since I don’t have a great read on the genre. We’ll see soon enough.
Matt: We’ve seen this one a few times now, and look, at this point there are so many soulslikes that they need to do something special to stand out. I am not sure that WuChang is doing that, at least in the trailers.
Wu-Tang: Rise Of The Deceiver
Paul: Wasn’t a Wu-Tang game something that Xbox was working on? Is that no longer the case? Or are we about to get a string of Wu-Tang games? Either way, no thanks.
Matt: Ok, I didn’t expect a Wu-Tang game, especially one with such a cool sense of style. Sure… why the hell not?
Into The Unwell
Paul: Cuphead did something extraordinary with its style and we’re seeing more and more games inspired by what it achieved, from Mouse, to Into The Unwell. I loved the style of this game, and the gameplay looks really engaging as well. Lock me in for a purchase.
Matt: Action roguelike seems to be my brand of late, but I can’t say that what I am seeing here is exciting me. In a show of unique animation styles, this one seems to be a miss for me. Gameplay still has a shot at making up for it, but at the moment, I am not super keen.
Splitgate 2
Paul: I really got into Splitgate before suddenly the buzz all dried up and the investment of the team went into this sequel. They’re going hard and I’m ready to dip my nose in again this time.
Matt: I really need to get in and give it a try. I loved the first one, and it is one of the very few multiplayer shooters that have clicked with me, so I need to get into this one. Also… nice Titanfall shoutout.
Stranger Than Heaven
Paul: So I’m really curious to know if this somehow connects to the Yakuza/Like A Dragon IP, if it does at all. If it doesn’t consider me even more interested because I don’t need the backdrop of a dozen games to draw upon. I’m watching and waiting for more info.
Matt: Well… you know I am in. Judgment in 1943. God, I love this studio. I am smiling from ear to ear.
Resident Evil Requiem
Paul: There was a tease during the show that we’d hear something soon, but I didn’t think they’d mean that we’d hear of Resident Evil 9 less than an hour later. Well done Capcom! The game looks fantastic, and Resident Evil has won me over in recent years so consider me on board for this sequel.
Matt: After a big old tease throughout the show, it is here. RE9. Looks amazing, I have to say. I mean, Capcom… just can’t miss.
Final Thoughts
Paul: A Geoff show always has ups and downs. While we still had the F2P slop, we also had a few highs like Resident Evil and Mina The Hollower. I just don’t think there was as many of those high highs in this SGF showcase so it made for a good, but not great showcase. I’m also still burning with rage over the Silksong acknowledgement that led to nothing. Not to mention the fact that Final Fantasy IX has been teased relentlessly… and it didn’t show! Damnit Geoff!
Matt: Well, look. I don’t know how I feel about this show. Some good stuff, but apart from RE9 and Stranger than Heaven, there was nothing that really blew my mind. I do have to say that the impressive array of indies on show was nice, but there was too much time spent on Gatcha crap and I know that the genre is popular but it felt like there were 20 soulslikes so that brought the mood down for me. So, I guess it was a good show, just not an amazing one.
