[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Sonic Pico Park” is best enjoyed playing with pals at a party

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Sonic Pico Park” is best enjoyed playing with pals at a party

author image by Danreb Victorio | PC Previews Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

At events like Summer Game Fest, it’s too easy for those in games media to get caught in the bottleneck and grind of previewing certain games for work. Whether it’s for the clicks, something you’re contracted to do, or to…

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Crimson Moon” is an engaging blend of Soulslike and roguelike mechanics

author image by Michael Fertitta | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

One such combination that I did not expect to encounter at SGF was a crossover of soulslike and roguelike gameplay styles. Crimson Moon sets out to do just that and blend together the consequential difficulty of soulslikes with the replayability of roguelikes. After playing a demo at SGF, I’ve got to say that this combination absolutely works!

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “CONTROL Resonant” shifting genres could make it the best game of 2026

author image by Danreb Victorio | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

CONTROL: Resonant was the very last game I got my hands on at Summer Game Fest. It was also the very last game I scheduled an appointment for. Little did I know that I was saving the best for last…

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Valor Mortis” is a fascinating first-person take on the soulslike genre

author image by Michael Fertitta | PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

Dark Souls has inspired countless games that have taken its hardcore gameplay structure and iterated on its high skill ceiling and item scarcity. Regardless of whether some enjoy such mechanics, the gameplay has become highly influential for studios of all sizes when creating their own experiences. One such game that excels in this is the upcoming first-person soulslike, Valor Mortis. I was fortunate enough to play through a couple of levels during my demo session, and I came away thinking it was one of my highlights of the show.

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HANDS-ON – “Star Fox” demo promises a stellar adventure to come

author image by Dylan Lahaise | Nintendo Switch 2 Previews | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

Developed by Velan Studios, this new take on the series looked very impressive upon its reveal. A free demo was announced in the latest Nintendo Direct and immediately became available to download from the Nintendo eShop. I recently had the chance to play it, and I came away eager to play more.

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[Steam Next Fest] HANDS-ON: “Dragon’s Brew” could be the next indie cozy sim of your dice-rolling dreams

author image by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam Steam Next Fest | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

If you fancy board games, cafes, or board game cafes and perhaps even flirted with the idea of running one yourself for whatever reason, then Dragon’s Brew should be on your radar.

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[Steam Next Fest] HANDS-ON – “The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival” if nothing else continues a tradition of middling games for the franchise

author image by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

The Walking Dead has a hell of a past with video game adaptations and unless there’s something big in store for the final release of Streets of Survival, it’s looking to stay that way.

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Demi and the Fractured Dream” feels like a dark Wind Waker, but not quite Zelda

author image by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PlayStation 5 Previews Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

Developed by Yarn Owl Studios, Demi and the Fractured Dream is a game very much inspired by The Legend of Zelda, specifically The Wind Waker. Judging from the trailers alone, the toon-shaded look is dazzling, and the protagonist even wears a colorful cloak. The short demo at SGF took us through a small dungeon that felt like a tutorial, but there was nothing particularly challenging about it.

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Nekome: Nazi Hunter” is delightfully visceral

author image by Michael Fertitta | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

ProbablyMonsters has commanded more attention over the past few months for its unique and varied game output. This year’s Summer Game Fest was a demonstration of this approach, with one of two titles being a story-driven action game that involves beating up Nazis. On that premise alone, it was difficult to turn down the chance to try out a game with a simple but brilliant beat, but I was also interested to explore the uniquely stylized world that ProbablyMonsters had built for this title.

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Forever Ago” made me excited to be an old man and give it a “Best of Show” award

author image by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PlayStation 5 Previews Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

In Forever Ago, you play as an old man named Alfred who has lived quite a life. In the short demo I played, Alfred stops at a gas station that he appeared to have a more than passing connection to. While he’s really just there to grab a few supplies and snacks for the road, Alfred can’t help but think about a previous visit he’s made to that exact same years ago.

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[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – The surrealist art style makes “Bub” standout

author image by Brandon Craw | PC Previews Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

With a reported runtime of ninety minutes to two hours, Bub is a short but meaningful narrative adventure game. The developers at Paperfrog, Case Jernigan and Todd Anderson, used their own experiences as struggling artists as inspiration for this evocative indie gem.

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[SGF 2026] PREVIEW – “Onimusha: Way of the Sword” impresses again

author image by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Previews Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

At Summer Game Fest, Capcom hosted a behind-closed-doors presentation of a new section in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, along with a separate one-hour demo of another section, and while there are some blemishes we didn’t notice before, the game still looks like yet another winner and was one of the best experiences to be had at Play Days.

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