I tuned in to Gamescom 2026 so you don't have to — here are 6 games that are worth the wait.

      Gamescom Opening Night Live moves quickly. You might miss a major announcement in an instant, or just as you finish one captivating game, another massive trailer appears right after. The 2026 show was especially relentless, showcasing everything from well-known franchises to titles I hadn’t heard of before Geoff Keighley presented them.

      Choosing six standout reveals proved to be challenging. There’s something for nearly every type of gamer. Some games lingered in my mind even after the livestream concluded. We encountered a few familiar series, while many presented new worlds that I’m eager to invest countless hours into (likely more). Gamescom continues until August 30, so consider this my list of the six reveals that have impressed me the most thus far, rather than a definitive ranking of all that was shown in Cologne.

      The following list is in no specific order, so here are the game trailers that secured a spot on my watchlist.

      ANANTA

      I’ve been following ANANTA for a while now, mainly because each new trailer makes it harder to describe without eventually using the term "anime GTA." NetEase and Naked Rain confirmed that ANANTA will release on January 15, 2027, for PS5, PC, iOS, and Android, with the latest trailer revealing another city named Chongxiao, accompanied by flying cars, hang gliders, new companions, and more kung fu-inspired combat.

      What consistently draws my attention is the incredible amount of movement and chaos found in its cities. Previous trailers have showcased swinging between buildings and navigating through crowded streets. Now, we got an in-depth look at the urban sandbox infused with stylized anime. A release date is precisely what ANANTA needed; it has been enough time for it to feel like an intriguing idea. Now, we’re just under six months away from actually experiencing this game.

      The Witcher 3 Remastered and Songs of the Past

      The Witcher 3 is receiving the Skyrim treatment. Despite being 11 years old, it is emerging at Gamescom with enough new content to rival fresh games. CD Projekt Red announced The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered, scheduled for September 29 as a free upgrade for existing owners. This version will include visual enhancements along with adjustments to combat, movement, monster behavior, Roach handling, the skill tree, and other elements of a game that has already undergone a considerable current-gen overhaul. Existing owners will also receive Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as part of the package.

      Following this, CD Projekt announced Songs of the Past, a new full-scale expansion set for 2027. Geralt will venture to Letten, the homeland of Dandelion, for what CD Projekt is promoting as his final adventure before spotlight shifts to Ciri with The Witcher 4.

      CD Projekt Red

      It’s the latter announcement that truly excites gamers. Blood and Wine remains one of the most acclaimed expansions in gaming, and CD Projekt returning to Geralt over a decade later carries immense expectations. Apparently, retirement isn't treating him well.

      1001 Threads of Mizan

      Fantasy games have long turned to well-trodden themes. The most common settings are medieval Europe with Norse or Greek mythology, and Japanese folklore has become a new favorite when developers feel adventurous. Therefore, watching the trailer for 1001 Threads of Mizan was a genuinely refreshing experience. MBC Game Studio’s debut title draws inspiration from Arabic folklore and One Thousand and One Nights, following three heroes—Yusra, Malik, and Sufyan—as they attempt to halt an ancient jinn king.

      This game is designed as a one-to-three-player action-adventure with drop-in co-op, featuring enormous supernatural foes and a flying carpet that serves as a major method of traversal and combat. While the carpet might be too on-the-nose, I won't deny that it stands out as one of the most entertaining forms of in-game transportation I’ve encountered in a long time. Seeing characters race across deserts and soar around colossal beasts gives Mizan’s movement system a unique flair.

      MBC Game Studio

      This project is also coming from a newly formed studio, whose team includes developers with backgrounds at BioWare, Ubisoft Montréal, Bungie, and Hi-Rez. It is currently targeting PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, with cross-play planned for most platforms. No release date has been announced yet, but with any new studio, it’s wise to temper expectations.

      Metro 2039

      Metro Exodus allowed the series to break free from Moscow and discover that the apocalypse held many terrors outside its tunnels. Now, Metro 2039 is dragging us back underground, and the latest footage from Gamescom reveals a returning atmosphere darker than I anticipated. The new protagonist, referred to as The Stranger, finds himself in a Metro now governed by the Hunter’s Novoreich regime. 4A Games paints him as a traumatized exile rather