It is Wednesday, an early morning in Germany, and two Cubed3 writers are on their way to the Messe in Cologne. Ahead lies a day full of brand-new games, novel experiences and tons of fun. Here is what day one at Gamescom 2026 held!
Persona 4 Revival
Having played Persona 4 Golden in the past and thoroughly loved the experience, it was a real treat to get to try Persona 4 Revival at Gamescom. During the appointment, Cubed3 got to experience some of the brand-new graphics and gameplay – and it was very impressive.
The visuals have undergone a complete overhaul, with everything looking clear and crisp, and perfect to play in HD on a big screen. At the same time, gameplay continues to be fluid and uninterrupted. It feels a lot more like Persona 5 Royal, so much more flexible and free. Of course, entering the Midnight Channel, it became clear very fast that there was a huge overhaul in here as well. More detailed palaces, changes to the battle system, and an improved soundtrack are just some of the enhancements that can be spotted here. In particular, the new additions to the battle system make battles a lot more dynamic and enjoyable.
Persona 4 Revival is definitely not a simple reboot of a previous Atlus title. Changes to gameplay, graphics and sound make this remake feel like a brand-new, modern title. Both Persona connoisseurs and absolute newcomers will definitely enjoy experiencing this iteration in the Persona series. Persona 4 Revival will be released on 18th February, 2027 on Xbox series X/S, PlayStation 5 and Steam.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Following the success of Ace Combat 7, this new entry seeks to further scale up the cinematic flair and increase the g-force of flight. The demo mission was cool but naturally they picked this writer’s weakness: an air to land assault. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve feels very polished with some enhanced flying physics – very difficult in expert mode – and has some fantastic visuals that really seem to make the detail levels of the last game look like a PS2 game. It is incredibly impressive and the full game will likely feature some mind-blowing high octane action.
Releasing 2nd October, Bandai Namco is shooting for new skies! Look forward to this evolution of the series landing on consoles and PC.
The Jackbox Party Pack 12
The time has come: Jackbox Games is releasing a new party pack to provide hours of fun and entertainment for you and your friends! The Jackbox Party Pack 12 comes with five new games: Debate & Switch, Hyperface, Idol Factions, Megapals, and We Forgot A Card. Cubed3 got an exclusive shot at trying Hyperface at Gamescom. Here is how it went.
In Hyperface, players get a prompt on their phone for which they have to create a face. This can be a selfie or a generic face provided by the game. The important part is to edit the face according to the prompt. Players can add illustrations, change colours, and morph things around to create the perfect facial expression for their prompt. Subsequently, the two players with the same prompt then compete for votes; who created the more accurate reaction? The other players will vote for their favourite. This title is especially fun when making use of the selfie option and editing it accordingly. Cubed3 had a grand time playing and laughing at everyone’s creations!
The Jackbox Party Pack 12 is planned to release on 15th October.
My Arms Are Longer Now
My Arms Are Longer Now is the first non-Jackbox game published by Jackbox Games. The title says it all already: players control a very long arm to cause mayhem. The idea stems from Australian developer Toot Games and is very similar in humour to what we know and love about Jackbox Games. My Arms Are Longer Now is a single-player title with a very distinct art style. Controlling the long arm, players can steal, slap people, and cause other…accidents. It is a game about ruining people’s day, and it feels very satisfying to do so! The arm physics are both fun to control and rewarding to watch. The sound effects are amazing, and objectives will become more and more difficult throughout the course of playing the game.
This is a fun title that is worth looking forward to! My Arms Are Longer Now is planned for release in 2027.
Silent Hill: Townfall
Ordinarily living in Scotland, Silent Hill: Townfall was one of the titles that sounded most exciting to play on a personal level. Konami very kindly invited both Cubed3 representatives to experience this game, one of whom is an absolute wimp of course and basically played with her eyes closed, but the experience was absolutely amazing.
Starting in a small Scottish seaside town, everything feels like an early Sunday morning in November. It is eerily quiet, extremely foggy, and nobody seems to be around. So far, so realistic! The level designers did a fantastic job here at capturing a Scottish town that has seen better days. The signage that has not been updated in years, the old shops that have not seen any customers in ages, and the style of streets and houses – it all feels incredibly realistic.
What happened here? The protagonist Simon starts to explore the town to find answers, and soon enough enters into confusing dimensions. Solving puzzles and utilising stealth, he is searching for his own answers. Weapons are a rare treat, and the stealth elements are sure to get the heart racing. The whole atmosphere is incredible. Silent Hill: Townfall is the next entry of the Silent Hill series, and we are looking forward to playing the whole game!
Silent Hill: Townfall is planned to release 24th September.
Krafton Media Day
The last appointment on Wednesday was the Krafton Media Day, with Krafton introducing news about different titles.
No Law, which is planned to release in 2027, is a systems-driven, cyberpunk-style first-person shooter that allows players to create their own unique story based on their play preferences. Players can choose to go through the game by utilising deception, stealth, action, or a mix of all; the choices players make in each situation will determine how the game plays out. No Law will release on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Another upcoming title is something a little bit different from a Spanish team. In Age Twisters, two players will play co-operatively and go on a quest together. The twist is in the age! Each player’s character can age up or down, and depending on the age chosen, different abilities and conversations will be available. The team behind this game aimed to address the generational gap, and hopes to bring different generations together with this novel title by reminding older generations about how it was like to feel young, and show younger ones how it feels to be older and have more responsibility. The story and idea sound unique and interesting, and we are looking forward to the full game.
Tarae: The Unbound is an Eastern dark fantasy RPG. It takes inspiration from the historical and fantastical stories of Korea, China, Japan and Mongolia. This means that different classes are based on real professions from Eastern history, which gives the whole game a new and different atmosphere. Tarae: The Unbound is due for release on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with the release date yet to be announced.
