Gamescom 2023 Overview - Zenless Zone Zero, King Arthur, and more

At Gamescom, I played numerous games that were only available as previews or short, non-playable presentations. Although information about these games is still somewhat scarce or their development is in an early stage, I would now like to share some further details about a few hidden gems and quieter titles that I played during the event.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage

Gori: Cuddly Carnage is an indie hack-and-slash game developed by Angry Demon Studio, where you take on the role of a cat who, in a frenzy of rage, carves their way through a variety of insane unicorns and other evil creatures. Oh, and you also have a cool skateboard. The combat was smooth, and I felt powerful as the little kitten, with a variety of power-ups, combo moves, and a wealth of bloody carnage on the screen.

King Arthur: Legends Rise

King Arthur: Legends Rise is a new game by Kabam. The studio is generally known for mobile gaming titles, but this is their first game to be released simultaneously for PC and mobile devices. Developed by their studio in Seoul, this is a fascinating interpretation of the Arthurian legend, redesigned with a variety of characters that can be earned in this expansive RPG game. My time with the game at Gamescom had some ambitious promises regarding territory control and endgame activities, but what I saw was pleasantly surprising - interesting turn-based combat, references to mythology (particularly entertaining and fresh from a South Korean perspective), and an update plan that hints at a lot of future content.

Zenless Zone Zero & Honkai: Star Rail

Zenless Zone Zero once again demonstrates that Hoyoverse is the champion when it comes to introducing new IPs. I didn't see much of the game at Gamescom, but the brief glimpse of boss battles, exploration of the game world, and character design convinced me that this will be another game that will consume hours of my life. It's a captivating cyberpunk setting this time, but it's still a Hoyoverse game: extravagant costumes and aesthetics, lots of banter and character conversations, and action-packed combat. I also took a look at the new Honkai: Star Rail update, and yes, I downloaded the game again and played for several hours. It's just that kind of game.

Tormented Souls 2

Tormented Souls 2 is the sequel to the successful Tormented Souls from 2021, a classic horror game with fixed camera angles developed by Dual Effect and Abstract Digital. There have been some significant upgrades to the original game, primarily in the form of the engine - the studios have made the switch from Unity to Unreal Engine 5, giving Caroline Walker's terrifying adventures a new level of graphical precision. Although I couldn't see much at Gamescom, I suspect that fans of the original will enjoy it.

Songs Of Conquest Siege Mode

A meeting with the developers of Songs of Conquest was a delight, and it was also a pleasure to have the opportunity to rediscover a game that I haven't played in a while. Developed by Lavapotion, this homage to Heroes of Might and Magic is a labor of love - incredibly detailed, well-thought-out, and balanced, based on the feedback of a highly engaged community. The new "Siege" update finally allows players to attack fortified castles and cities, and the promises for a possible version 1.0 sound fantastic. However, the development doesn't end with the game's release, as the developers confirmed that they have further plans for the future.