Summer Game Fest has come to a close, and now it's time to reflect on everything that we've seen. Push Square's ever-intrepid assistant editor Stephen Tailby was shipped off to Los Angeles in order to cover Geoff's big event in person, and the lucky git got to go hands on with a whole bunch of blockbuster games.
Naturally, we forced Stephen into writing all about his experiences, to ensure that he wasn't just taking an unofficial holiday. As such, we've been inundated with previews over the last week or so, and while Stephen no doubt takes this opportunity to repair his utterly broken sleeping patterns, we've gathered all of our Summer Game Fest previews into this singular article for your reading pleasure.
You'll also find two additional previews from Nintendo Life's Alana Hagues, and regular freelancer Scott McCrae, who were kind enough to assist in Stephen's endeavours.
Summer Game Fest 2024 PS5 Previews
Below, you'll find a list of all the PS5 games that we covered in person at Summer Game Fest 2024, complete with links to the full preview articles.
Assassin's Creed Shadows
The Assassin's Creed series got its start with a heavy emphasis on stealth, and while it stuck with that formula for many games, it eventually pivoted to a full-on action RPG. Whether you're into the earlier titles, the larger-scale RPGs, or both, this shift has resulted in a somewhat split fanbase. Assassin's Creed Shadows, with its duo of protagonists, feels as though it's addressing this issue head on, with the pair representing these two contrasting approaches.
You can read our full Assassin's Creed Shadows preview here:
- Preview: Assassin's Creed Shadows' Two Characters Will Satisfy Both Old and New Fans on PS5
Astro Bot
We didn't want to stop playing. This has only further cemented in our minds that Astro Bot will be a real treasure of a PS5 exclusive when it launches in September; the invention and passion pours out of the screen, and if the few levels we've played are any indication, this could be on its way to becoming a standout 3D platformer of the modern era — and pure bliss for PlayStation die-hards.
You can read our full Astro Bot preview here:
- Preview: Astro Bot on PS5 Could Be the Best 3D Platformer This Side of Nintendo
Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong has the same addictive pull of all your favourite action RPGs; through repeated attempts, you'll gradually learn how to deal with each boss, and putting it all into practice and finally coming up victorious is just as satisfying here as ever. Though we didn't quite finish the hands-on demo, we thoroughly enjoyed our time.
You can read our full Black Myth: Wukong preview here:
- Preview: Black Myth: Wukong Could Finally Be the Game Journey to the West Deserves
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Companions and choices have always been at the heart of Dragon Age, and that looks to be no different in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. In fact, the game recently picked up its new subtitle in order to emphasise how important your party of pals will be during the adventure. From what we saw at Summer Game Fest Play Days — hosted in a strangely ominous back corner of the site — BioWare is leaning into these aspects of its RPG series even more.
You can read our full Dragon Age: The Veilguard preview here:
- Preview: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Leans Hard into Companions, Choices, and Consequences
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Despite our concerns about the depth of the fighting, we came away from our demo with a smile on our face. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a feel-good game, because it’s bringing back a fan-favourite fighting series and doing it in fine form; the presentation is excellent, the battles are always a thrill, and the amount of options players have is solid.
You can read our full Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero preview here:
- Preview: Playing Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero with Zero Knowledge of the Series
LEGO Horizon Adventures
With the excellent presentation, lighthearted tone, and simplified take on the series' gameplay, we're confident in saying that LEGO Horizon Adventures really works. It's not a game we were expecting from Guerrilla, but Studio Gobo and Sony's developer are about to deliver a great, kid-friendly title that'll satisfy both old and new fans.
You can read our full LEGO Horizon Adventures preview here:
- Preview: LEGO Horizon Adventures Is an Unexpected But Very Pleasant Surprise
Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals feels like it should be the most sure-fire success in the current gaming landscape. It stars just under 20 heroes and villains (at launch, anyway) from the comic book house's extensive roster, and they're thrown together into a free-to-play third-person shooter that, despite the perspective change, feels very Overwatch. After playing a few rounds with various different characters, our main question is whether that slam-dunk combination will really result in a memorable game.
You can read our full Marvel Rivals preview here:
- Preview: Marvel Rivals Is Overwatch with Superheroes, But Can It Live Up to Either?
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor is truly shaping up to be an incredibly addictive RPG. We want to know more about the story, the characters, the world, and even the bonds you’ll forge, but even from just the combat alone, this could be one of 2024’s best games.
You can read our full Metaphor: ReFantazio preview here:
- Preview: Metaphor: ReFantazio Is Already a Contender for RPG of the Year
Monster Hunter Wilds
Of all the games we saw at Summer Game Fest Play Days, we were probably most confident in Capcom's hotly anticipated action RPG, Monster Hunter Wilds, and it didn't disappoint. We were led into a viewing room with an enormous screen, showing the game off in a way the franchise deserves. What we saw of Wilds — about 30 minutes of live gameplay — has simply reinforced our belief that it'll be the best entry in the series when it arrives next year.
You can read our full Monster Hunter Wilds preview here:
- Preview: Monster Hunter Wilds on PS5 Is Everything We Expected and We Couldn't Be Happier
New World: Aeternum
With New World: Aeternum, Amazon Games is bringing its action RPG MMO to consoles after several years exclusively on PC. This new version of the game is essentially a relaunch for the title, making many quality-of-life improvements and including a brand new onboarding process, ensuring new players get off on the right foot. At Summer Game Fest Play Days, we were able to check out Aeternum's earliest moments, and while it's far from perfect, we found ourselves falling into the typical action RPG rhythms very easily.
You can read our full New World: Aeternum preview here:
- Preview: New World: Aeternum Gets a Fresh Start on PS5, But Can It Stand Out?
Phantom Blade Zero
When you use everything in your arsenal and get into a good flow, chaining together parries, utilising different combos, and keeping on the pressure with Phantom Edges, it all looks and feels fantastic. There are some rough edges to the visuals, but with steady performance and such expressive animation, we barely noticed them in full motion. Any fan of fast-paced action games will definitely want to keep this on their radar — especially if you're a little weary of the endless supply of Soulslikes these days.
You can read our full Phantom Blade Zero preview here:
- Preview: Phantom Blade Zero PS5 Slashes Through Soulslike Tropes for Pure, Cutthroat Action
Star Wars Outlaws
There are so many little things to like here (we really love the lockpicking minigame), and the attention to detail and adoration for Star Wars undoubtedly makes it exciting — but without seeing the open world gameplay we can't really make a proper judgement call on Star Wars Outlaws just yet.
You can read our full Star Wars Outlaws preview here:
- Preview: Star Wars Outlaws on PS5 Has a World of Possibilities, But Is Let Down by a Rough Demo
Unknown 9: Awakening
There's a really interesting game to be found in Unknown 9: Awakening, even if its core story feels a little convoluted. It's important to remember that each story in the overarching universe is standalone, so you won't need to engage with the other parts unless you want to, but it still feels like a lot to chew on even then. With the game due to arrive in Fall 2024, it shouldn't be too long before we can play it ourselves to see if the gameplay can keep it afloat.
You can read our full Unknown 9: Awakening preview here:
- Preview: Unknown 9: Awakening Shows Real Promise, Once the Story's Out of the Way
Have you enjoyed our in-person coverage from Summer Game Fest? Have any of our previews upped your hype levels? Look to the future of PS5 in the comments section below.
