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The Best of Summer Game Fest 2024 & More
By Dayna Eileen,
6 days ago
Every June, the video game industry gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate the future of gaming. Since the end of E3, the summer of gaming has been very busy, albeit disjointed, between events like Summer Game Fest , the Xbox Game Showcase , Ubisoft Forward , The Mix, IGN Live and more. This year, several of the CGMagazine staff members gathered in LA to preview the next several months of video games and beyond.
So much was on display this year at multiple showcases. From hands-on appointments like Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco and Phantom Blade Zero to hands-off demonstrations like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, late 2024 and beyond, leave so much to look forward to.
We at CGMagazine have gathered our favourites from this prime video game season and are ready to share the best of Summer Game Fest and more with you.
Unknown 9: Awakening was a hands-off live demonstration behind closed doors with Reflector and Bandai Namco. The story follows Haroona, played by Anya Chalotra, Yennefer from The Witcher TV Series. She is able to access a realm called The Fold and must learn to wield its powers. Another faction, The Ascendants, looks to harness those powers for themselves.
I can’t wait to go hands-on with Unknown 9: Awakening . The game features gorgeous vistas and has Haroona venturing across continents that I am very excited to explore. With something new called Umbric Abilities, you’ll explore a power called “Stepping,” where you can essentially possess your enemies and more. With an unofficial release date, I am very eager to see more from Unknown 9: Awakening .
This game from EA and BioWare has had fans waiting ten years, and after my first hands-off live demonstration, I can confidently say the wait was worth it. I’ve been saying people online commenting on the trailers and sneak peeks so far, with the general feeling that this is “not Dragon Age .” I would imply the exact opposite. Dragon Age: Origins was completely different from Dragon Age 2 , and that was far from Dragon Age: Inquisition .
This is not the Dragon Age from ten years ago. This is the evolution, made for our current-gen consoles, with stunning graphics and updated gameplay. The characters are progressive and the game lives in this decade. It is a complete overhaul but still holds true to everything I love about Dragon Age in the first place. Dragon Age: The Veilguard pays homage to the iterations before it and all its rich lore. It is bringing so much to the table. And, without spoilers, the first hour alone will have fans GASPING (seriously, I did). There is no question that it deserves to be on the Best of Summer Game Fest 2024 list.
I saw a lot of games across this year’s showcases, but this is one that perhaps didn’t blow my mind at the hands-on appointment. However, every time I look back on what I played in my several days at the showcases, it always stays fresh in my mind. THRONE AND LIBERTY has all the makings of a great MMORPG. Paired with some stunning visuals and coming free-to-play, it makes sense that I keep looking back on it fondly.
My first time around, I felt a bit lost when I jumped in, but anyone who plays MMOs knows they can be a lot to take in, which makes for difficult previews. This time around, they brought us through a live dungeon, which is an intricate part of games like this that I used to love in World of Warcraft and Elder Scrolls Online . I loved the art style and flashiness that was added to combat. I only hope the levelling process is just as exciting.
Surprising no one, sitting down and going hands-on with Atlus’s new JRPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio , was incredible. Much in the vein of the Persona and SMT series, Metaphor: ReFantazio sees the United Kingdom of Euchronia after its king is assassinated. This causes chaos to spread through the region. Its mix of fantasy and modern setting makes it a story that will surely hit home.
Story-wise, the demo didn’t get too deeply into what we, as the player, would be doing, but there was a focus on the combat and dungeons in our hands-on time. It’s easy to say that Atlus, known for its style, has come out in full force here, with stylistic fights, incredible music, and a difficult and strategic combat system. After a few years of seemingly being stuck to Persona 5 , Atlus is making a strong comeback with Metaphor: ReFantazio .
I like Star Wars A LOT. But what works for me more than anything in the universe is stories centred around non-Jedi characters; they feel way more relatable and, in the same sense, realistic. That’s where Star Wars Outlaws shines. It’s a personal story of scum and villainy in the eyes of Kay Vess and Nix.
What made it really stand out was just how polished and good it felt to traverse around the world. Every inch of what I saw was dripping with detail and love for the lore and world of Star Wars . It helped that while there are stealth options available to the player, you don’t need to stick to those and can just go in guns blazing, which I did… every time.
What might be the biggest surprise for me was Phantom Blade Zero . Going into it, I really thought it was going to be a Soulslike, with RPG mechanics, a focus on Stamina-based combat, and a slow, methodical approach to its enemy encounters. While the stamina is present, it doesn’t heavily focus on it.
What I came away realizing is that comparing it to something, it would be more like a Devil May Cry . It’s fast-paced and challenging unless you can really master the systems. It helps that the setting is gorgeous and brutal. It seems like every square inch of Phantom Blade Zero is going to be a vista to take in. While I’ll be interested to see how it’s expanded on, as my hands-on was only twenty minutes, it left quite an impression.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows stole the show for me at Summer Game Fest 2024, promising a thrilling new chapter for the franchise set in feudal Japan. The dual protagonist system, featuring the shinobi Naoe and the legendary African samurai Yasuke, offers fresh perspectives and playstyles. The updated Anvil engine brings the Azuchi-Momoyama period to life with stunning detail, from bustling castle towns to serene temples.
The non-linear campaign structure and expanded gameplay mechanics, such as building spy networks and utilizing the environment, add depth to the classic Assassin’s Creed formula. While some animations may need polishing, Shadows has the potential to be a landmark title for the series, making it one of my most anticipated titles revealed at the event and one I am eager to play once it hits stores this fall.
Astro Bot was many people’s favourite game from Summer Game Fest 2024, and it is easy to see why. Delivering a whimsical and delightful platforming experience that feels right at home on PS5. The game seamlessly integrates the DualSense’s unique features, enhancing immersion without ever feeling gimmicky. With its generous checkpoints, ample power-ups, and responsive controls, Astro Bot is accessible to all while still offering plenty of challenge for seasoned gamers.
The intricately crafted levels and imaginative environments pop with personality, rivaling the best of Nintendo’s offerings. If the full adventure can sustain the creativity, polish, and sheer joy of the demo, PlayStation may have a new mascot to stand proudly alongside its most iconic heroes. Astro Bot is a must-play for any PS5 owner.
Black Myth: Wukong , the visually stunning action RPG from Chinese studio Game Science, was a standout at Summer Game Fest and one of CGM’s best of the show. This retelling of the classic novel Journey to the West puts players in the role of the legendary Monkey King on an epic quest filled with gods and demons. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game’s lush environments and intricately designed creatures are breathtaking.
The fluid combat, reminiscent of Souls-like titles, is challenging but balanced, rewarding persistence and mastery of Wukong’s abilities, including his iconic magic staff and shape-shifting powers. With its jaw-dropping visuals, stylish gameplay, and rich world, Black Myth: Wukong has the potential to be a legendary action RPG that provides a refreshing take on the genre.
Though Summer Game Fest, the Xbox Game Showcase, Ubisoft Forward, and beyond have concluded for this year, there are already announcements for the 2025 summer gaming season. Now, we move into the next year of even more previews and official reviews, and we at CGMagazine look forward to sharing them all with you.
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