Summer Game Fest 2025 review: Red Hot reveals over a long time

It’s June once more, so that means Summer Game Fest is back for another year with another extravagant showcase, hosted by Geoff Keighley. For the next two hours, we’re gonna be looking at the highs and lows of this year’s SGF stream and seeing what's next for the gaming industry.

 

Kicking off the show, we have Mortal Shell 2, a souls-like game that acts as a sequel to the first game, which came out in 2020.

 

Next up, we have a trailer for an event in Fortnite, titled Death Star Sabotage, where players can go attack the Death Star that has been haunting the players throughout the mini-season. 

 

While inviting legendary game director Hideo Kojima on the stage, we see a new glimpse at Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, where we see two new characters: Neil and Lucy, who are played by Luca Marinelli and Alyssa Jung respectfully. The game launches in a few weeks, so it is nice to see what else they can showcase before it comes out. 

 

After that, we have the showcase of a brand new medieval sandbox game called Chronicles: Medieval, where you control the fate of medieval times and where no two stories are the same, all while voiced by actor Tom Hardy.

 

Up next, we have another trailer for Sonic Racing Crossworlds, featuring unexpected guest characters and tracks, both as free updates and paid DLC. The new free characters joining the game are Hatsune Miku, Kasuga Ichiban from Yakuza, and Joker from Persona 5. The new paid characters are Steve, Alex, and a Creeper from Minecraft. Each of these characters comes with new carts which is bound to shake things up in the long run.

 

Up Next, we have the announcement of a brand new game called Code Vein II, a sequel to the 2019 action RPG that alot of people have referred to as the anime Dark Souls. This impressively violent game comes out in 2026, and I want to see more of this title already.
 

After that, we have a new game by Epic Games and Section 9 called End of Abyss, a creepy exploration game where you control a lone wanderer as they try to get through the horrors that are bestowed on him, all while eyeing a 2026 release.

 

Next up, we have a brand new trailer for the 1930s cartoon noir game called Mouse: P.I. For Hire, which it showcased a lot of cartoony violence including Tommy guns, shotguns, canned veggies, and alot more, all while giving the cartoon enemies a realistic threat to face. Plus, it was also announced that voice actor Troy Baker is playing the main character Jack Pepper, the detective mouse that’s deep into a new mystery. 

 

Next, we have a trailer for a brand new real-time strategy game inside the world of Game of Thrones, titled War for Westeros. While we don’t see any gameplay footage, the game does have alot to promise in hopes of sticking to its player base.

 

We then come to a brand new trailer for two new games made by Mundfish. The first of which is Atomic Heart 2, a full-on sequel to the hit game where it showcases a retro-futuristic setting, even if the song choice they had didn't fit the theme of the game. The second game is a brand new title set inside the same universe called The Cube, a new MMO spinoff that takes place a few years after Atomic Heart 2 which showcases a mysterious entity known only as the Cube. Both of these games look to expand the universe in which they creatively crafted for many years, and I would be interested in picking them up.

 

Afterward, we have a new trailer for the previously announced 2D beat-em-up game Marvel Cosmic Invasion, which debuted two new player characters: She-Hulk and Rocket Racoon. Both of these characters bring their unique fighting style to the game and would be willing to pick this up when it launches later this year.

 

We then come to see a brand new trailer for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, an upcoming samurai game made by the legendary studio Capcom where Musashi Miyamoto, the protagonist you play as, takes on demonic entities with various weapons, such as dual-wielding swords and more. This game launches in 2026, and this game does look pretty enticing. 

 

Up next, we have a quirky new boxing game called Felt That Boxing, where everyone is a foul-mouthed muppet. Showcasing an underdog story about a lone boxer who’s saving an orphanage he grew up in, the gameplay showcased the flimsy actions of these puppets in a way that presents itself as a spiritual success or to Punch Out, except that everyone is made out of felt and fur.

 

Afterward, we have a brand new party game by Square Enix called Killer In, where the players are split into 2 different groups: wolves and lambs. The wolf's job is to kill, while the lambs try to stay alive. It’s very much like other party games such as Among Us, but this game does look interesting enough to check out its closed beta test.

 

Next up, we have a brand new trailer for Arc Raiders, a game that was announced 4 years ago and did not get any updates until now, it looks like a fun game where players sneak back to the world above to uncover valuable loot while avoiding the machine threat that comes to attack them if they’re spotted. This PvPvE game is set to launch later this year.

 

Next, we have a new trailer for the brand new Dune game titled Dune: Awakening, which just came out. For fans of recent movies and legendary books, Dune: Awakening is a sandbox 3D world that showcases the world of Arrakis in all its sandy and spicy glory.

 

Next up is a brand new co-op game titled Out of Words, and it plays similarly to It Takes Two and the recent game Split Fiction where two players are needed to complete this game. It stars a pair of friends who have lost their mouths and must find a way to get them back, and this game is done entirely out of stop-motion animation.

 

Next up, is a new look at Mafia: The Old Country, showcasing a prequel to this franchise set in the past in 1900’s Sicily. We see the beginnings of this life of crime, what family is, and how far you’re willing to go with loyalty. We also see the release date for this game, set to launch on August 8th.

 

Out of Words isint the only co-op game shown off here. We also see a new Lego game that scratches that itch: Lego Voyagers, where we see this group of bricks that are trying to traverse a land of Lego by using the world around them to their advantage.

 

After a short speech done by Carolyn Lawrence, the voice of Sandy Cheeks, we see a brand new Nickelodeon game called Nicktroons & the Dice of Destiny. While not much is known about the game, we do see that it’s a 3D adventure game played by iconic characters like Spongebob Squarepants.

 

After that, we then see that the brand new Life of P expansion: Overture, gets a new trailer, showcasing this new take on the classic tale of Pinnochio, and they also announced the release date of the new content, which was the same day—a Complete shadow drop.

 

Up next, we see a brand new horror game titled Fractured Blooms, a game made by Serenity Forge, where the main character, Angie, is stuck in a time loop as you try to find a way to break the curse. While not alot is known about the game, we do see hints of interesting developments of the game itself, including remembering who the character was.

 

Next up, it’s another showcase for Yacht Club’s newest game Mina the Hollower, which looks incredible with referencing the old Game Boy Color days. Play as a mouse named Mina who is trying to save an island from a dark curse as you acquire weapons, fight the creatures of the night, and more. Plus, this game finally has a release date of October 31st, and if you’re a bit impatient, you can play the demo now on Steam which transfers all the content to the main game. 

 

After hacking the stage’s screens and a strange letter sent to Geoff, we see a brand new Marvel Game announced titled Deadpool VR, where you play as the merc with a mouth as he battles through Marvel Enemies, making not safe for work quips about the world around him, and trying to escape a hellscape that is Mojoworld. It’s set to come out later this year, and Neil Patrick Harris is playing Deadpool himself.

 

Up then, we see a new gameplay trailer for Dying Light: The Beast, where we see more of Kyle Crane as he tries to escape a zombie-invested tourist trap. It looks just as violent as previous games and is a good game for horror fans to enjoy. Plus, they finally showed off a release date of August 22nd for consoles and PC

 

After that, we see a new trailer for Mixtape, a coming-of-age story where 3 Friends are about to split for college soon after the summer, so they plan one more time to hang out. This game features alot of songs from famous bands and artists, thus capturing the feel of nostalgia before setting off into the world at large.

 

Next up, it’s a new game by Bandai Namco, titled Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, a rogue-like action game that also harbors the nostalgia of classic Japanese animation. Looks pretty fun and it’s coming sooner than people think on September 19th on all major systems.

 

Then we see a new game called Acts of Blood, and the surprising thing is that this game is done by a single person from Indonesia. It’s just as bloody as it was promised as it launches next summer.

 

Hot off of the new anime on Netflix and another game from Tribute Games, we see the reveal of another beat-em-up game: Scott Pilgrim EX, formed by many of the people who made its last game. It’s jam-packed with action sequences, vibrant colors, and seeing many of the sights of Canada. 

 

Hitman: World of Assassination also gets a surprise update with a new mission being added right now, featuring a 007 crossover where players can track down the villainous LeChiffre from Casino Royale, but only for a limited time. 

 

We then see another Lego game announced during the showcase, titled Lego Party. It’s pretty similar to the Mario Party games where it has fun stages to traverse, over 60 fun minigames to play after every turn, and complete brick-layered chaos that Lego is famously known for.

 

Then, we see another new trailer on Wildgate, a PvPvE game where players can traverse the stars in their ships, and collect weapons, and vibrant colors fill the cosmos at large. Plus, we’re getting an open beta start now, and the full game is dropping on July 24th.

 

Hot off of their previous games like Guacamelee, Blighted is a brand-new game from Drinkbox Studios that showcases an interesting new Metroidvania in which you’re trying to reclaim lost memories while fighting off gigantic bosses.

 

Then, we see a trailer for a brand new first-person horror titled Ill, which is from a new studio called Team Clout. It looks very horrifying to experience and honestly gave me some scares. 

 

We finally get a new trailer for the upcoming online shooter Mecha Break, and it looks like alot of fun. This game appears to be a mecha fan’s dream come true as you fight off enemy mechs in search of a new energy source. It finally comes out on July 1st, and I can’t wait to give it a shot.

 

Next up, we are getting a new game from a new studio Cubit Studios, we see their first game titled Infinitesimals, which is a mixture of Grounded and Halo where a group of tiny aliens have landed on a strange planet, all while you’re dodging local wildlife and robotic threats alike.

 

Similar to last year’s show, Capcom has announced Street Fighter 6 Year 3 with the help of wrestler Kenny Omega, where he cosplays the 4 new characters joining the game as DLC: Alex, Ingrid, C. Viper, and classic antagonist Sagat. Sagat is coming first in a few months and looks as brutal as his other appearances.

 

Then comes the reveal of Last Flag, a brand-new online multiplayer game that combines the quirkiness of TF2 and the strategy of Call of Duty. From its zany characters to the vibrant stages, even its gameplay looks to be a smash hit.

 

Up next, we get a brand new trailer of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, a souls-like action game made by 505 Games and Leenzee Games. It’s a game that takes up a female pirate as she tries to make sense of the strange land she got trapped in. It launches next month on July 24th on PC and most major players.

 

Next, we have the newly announced Wu-tang: Rise of the Deceiver, based on the real-life Wu-tang Clan. Fight through enemies to find the missing members of the Wu-Tang Clan to help restore what was once broken. You can also team up with your friends to help out. No release date as of now, but it is at least coming to PC on both Steam and Epic Games

 

Next up, we have a game Into the Unwell, a 1930’s rubber hose cartoon-themed game made by the same people that made Goat Simulator. It can be enjoyed from a solo perspective, or get up to 4 friends to explore this weird and semi-colorful world of cartoons, through the weird and wacky landscape that follows. It’s still early to know alot of details, but I think we might get more information soon.

 

Following up on that, we see RGG and SEGA’s brand new game Project Century, which is now revealed to be called Stranger the Heaven. Following the main character Daito, we see this game take place from 1915 all the way to 1943, with possible connections to the origins of the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance. 

 

Finally, the show wraps up with one more reveal, and it’s the world premiere of Resident Evil 9: Requiem, part of Capcom’s legendary horror franchise as it goes back to its roots they return to where it all began: Racoon City. 

 

In conclusion, this year’s Summer Game Fest had alot of games shown, both new and previously announced, with a lot of these announcements being met with interest which isint bad, but this could have been done differently. At least the announcements are rapid-fire enough to fill the 2-hour timeslot. Some of these reveals were met with hype, and some were met with genuine criticism. Overall, this showcase did what it needed to, and that’s fine with me.

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6/10