Gamescom is getting ready to kick off on Wednesday, with several press conferences scheduled for the day prior. Things are about to get serious in Cologne, Germany as the biggest video game publishers in the world gather to show off what they have in-store for gamers.
Not only is Gamescom going to have the big announcements you expect from a convention that had an attendance of more than 340,000 in 2013, but most of the games will be playable by anyone at the event. Even games like Bloodborne that were nowhere to be seen at E3 will have hands-on stations available for attendees. Because of this, some are holding this year’s Gamescom in a brighter light than E3 2014, which is really saying something.
Related: 5 Reasons We’re Excited About Gamescom 2014
The question is, what are the biggest games to look out for at the show? There is certainly a lot to choose from, but we’ve broken it down to the 10 we think are going to make the biggest impact. You can see what they are in the gallery below.
The 10 Games to Look Out For at Gamescom
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Bloodborne
Bloodborne is currently the most anticipated game that will be on the Gamescom show floor. It was announced at this year's E3, and became one of the show's most discussed games.
From Software established itself is an elite RPG developer during the past generation. Bloodborne looks to carry its success with the Souls series into a new IP with an emphasis on agility and ranged weapons. Exclusive to the PS4, this is a game that is going to get a lot of show time at Gamescom, will certainly take up several minutes of Sony's press conference, and will be playable on the show floor.
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: TBA 2015
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Destiny
Destiny recently exited its Summer Beta. As much as it's one of the biggest games of the year, the Beta was met with mixed reception. Some gamers, including myself, are doubtful about its ability to merge Bungie's AAA shooting mechanics and world design with bold MMO qualities.
Nonetheless, this is a Bungie game, and it will release just a couple weeks after Gamescom. This is Destiny's last chance to show people why it's received so much attention, and why Sony has invested in partnering with Bungie for a Destiny PS4 bundle and exclusive PlayStation content.
Publisher: Activision
Release Date: September 9th, 2014
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Dragon Age: Inquisition
If you're into RPGs, there are two games coming in the next six months that you need to know about. While the first is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the second is Dragon Age: Inquisition. I know what you're thinking, "Dragon Age 2 was disappointing". Well, you'll be glad to hear that BioWare learned a lot from its last Dragon Age release, and won't make the same mistakes twice.
Dragon Age: Inquisition has all the qualities that made Dragon Age: Origins a huge hit in 2009. We're talking about interactive dialog, high quality character interactions, and a fun battle system. But it's been given a lot extra to make it feel like a five-year newer game. The graphics are incredible, and it'll have a stunning world many times larger than the series has ever seen. This is going to be the centerpiece of EA's Gamescom showing.
Publisher: EA
Release Date: November 18th, 2014
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FarCry 4
The last time we saw FarCry was with FarCry 3, one of 2012's best games. As great as it was, FarCry 4 looks like it'll be everything its predecessor was, and then some.
Set in the Himalayas, FarCry 4 promises a more well thought out narrative centered around a civil war that the protagonist mistakenly becomes a part of. It has the graphics, the open-world gameplay, the hunting, and everything else you expect from FarCry at this point.
FarCry 4 hands-on demo stations will be set up in Ubisoft's booth so anyone at the show can try it out.
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 18th, 2014
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Quantum Break
Quantum Break has been a quiet game since it was announced more than a year ago. As unsuspecting as it is, it's a game with huge implications for the Xbox One's exclusive library.
Quantum Break developer Remedy Entertainment struck a home run with Alan Wake. It's been working day in and day out on Quantum Break since, a game that is ambitious with time manipulation and astounding physics. Absent from E3, we know it'll be in attendance at Gamescom, and chances are it'll produce some smiles.
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: TBA 2015
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Sunset Overdrive
After having seen all that the Xbox One has to offer for the rest of the year, we're convinced that Sunset Overdrive is its biggest game. Made by Insomniac Games, the team that made Spyro: The Dragon and Ratchet & Clank, it's a game full of humor and fun-to-use weapons.
Although it was absent from the show floor at E3, we're convinced it'll be playable at Gamescom. If so, thousands of gamers will be convinced that this is one of this Fall season's biggest releases.
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: October 28th, 2014
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Super Smash Bros. Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Wii U was the premier spectacle of this year's E3. Hands-on stations became crowd-gathering hubs as nearly everyone came to see what Nintendo's next brawler is all about. The same is likely to happen at Gamescom.
Super Smash Bros. Wii U isn't doing much to change what made its predecessors so popular, and that's a good thing. That said, there are going to be new characters to play, more complex level designs, and a much more fleshed out Adventure Mode. This is going to be a fantastic local and online multiplayer game that is a mainstay for living rooms around the world.
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: Holiday 2014
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The Sims 4
The Sims is one of the best-selling series in gaming history. As much as the last release was a hit, it was merely an experiment for seeing what the series could do once it hit its fourth release.
The Sims 4 has a ton of qualities that make it a game worth looking forward to. Its character creation could very well be the best the world has ever seen. Tons of creation and sharing options, including being able to crop portions of houses and other structures to upload online, means it'll feel like a much more social experience. Made better, managing sims as they go about their daily lives has been carefully crafted to make it intuitive. No more clunky camera controls and difficult inputs.
The Sims 4 will be on the Gamescom show floor, and you can be it'll be popular.
Publisher: EA
Release Date: September 2nd, 2014
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Until Dawn
Until Dawn is the only game on this list to not only have a single teaser, but two. Sony is betting that it's going to wow gamers when it's re-introduced during the Sony Gamescom Press Conference.
What we know so far is Until Dawn is a horror adventure game centered around a group of young teenagers who decide to stay in a log cabin. They quickly find out that they've made a mistake once a serial killer makes an appearance.
This could end up being a very unique and compelling exclusive for the upcoming PS4 library. It's rumored to be coming out before the end of the year, and may even be playable on the Gamescom show floor.
Publisher: Sony
Release Date: TBA
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World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
Blizzard is going big for Gamescom by bringing its entire library to the show. As much as Heroes of the Storm is sure to get some attention, everyone is wondering about World of Warcraft. Activision just published its quarterly report which showed a loss of over one million subscribers.
Thankfully, Warlords of Draenor is looking like the best expansion since Wrath of the Lich King. Unlike Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria, it's centered around characters that most Warcraft fans would agree are some of the most profound in its mythos. There are also new character models, a beautiful new continent, and some serious restructuring to make the game more manageable.
Warlords of Draenor might get a release date announcement at the show, and is confirmed to be playable.
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: Fall 2014
