30 games. That’s how many games I originally planned on mentioning in today’s article, but when the oil tycoon who finances this site heard such a large number, he said, “No way! My oil money can handle that many games.” I didn’t think that made much sense, but who am I to argue with a man who keeps the lights on around here? That said, after spending hours upon hours looking over my list, I managed to whittle it down to 6 games. Sadly, that means certain games like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Echo Generation couldn’t make the list. It doesn’t matter if Metaphor looks to be an early favorite for Game of the Year. Sure, the talented team behind the Persona series appears to be taking everything that the highly acclaimed series does so well and somehow amplifying it into what looks to become a new beloved franchise, but I can’t talk about it. The same goes for Echo Generation, which will be coming to Switch on June 19. I’d love to talk about how its unique art style blends with gameplay that reminds me of such classics as Earthbound, BUT I can’t because I’m only allowed to talk about 6 games. So, without further ado, here are the 6 “let’s go!” games of Summer Game Fest 2024.

6.) Demonschool

“Explore a mysterious island that reveals its mysteries morning, noon, and night, day by day, week by week, across a university semester. Plan your team’s schedule to enhance their skills and gain new abilities. Gain new teammates and enhance their relationships depending on who you choose to pursue.”

If the description above doesn’t make you understand why Demonschool is not only one of my favorite games of the Summer Game Fest but also one of my most anticipated games of the year, then you must be new here. I’ve had Demonschool on my radar for quite a while, so when it showed up at the PC Gaming Show to announce it was coming out on September 13 and also coming to consoles, I couldn’t have been more excited.

5.) Expedition 33

Talk about a game that caught everyone off guard. When Expedition 33’s trailer started, everyone watching was captivated by the game’s story, visuals, and immediately recognizable cast. It wasn’t until the gameplay appeared that hype levels across the internet shot through the roof. A turn-based RPG?! Featuring adults?! And with a lot of the combat giving off vibes of the cult classic Lost Odyssey, all the boxes have been checked. 2025 was already shaping up to be an insane year for games, and from the look of things, Expedition 33 only intends to add to that insanity.

4.) Grave Seasons (and Blumhouse)

When film company Blumhouse said they were getting into the gaming world, we all thought the same thing: Paranormal Activity: The Game, Insidious: The Game, Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Game… But thankfully, that isn’t what we’ve got. Instead, Blumhouse appears to be taking the same approach with video games they made with movies. Invest in small-budget titles until one of them makes enough money to fund the rest of your projects until the end of time.

That said, Blumhouse didn’t just show off one game but six. Whether it was Fear The Spotlight, Sleep Awake, Crisol: Theater of Idols, Grave Seasons, The Simulation, or Project C, there’s at least one game for somebody. And while Fear The Spotlight (coming out later this year) looks fantastic, I think my personal pick is Grave Seasons. A Stardew Valley-esque game where one of the townsfolk is secretly a supernatural serial killer. Developer Perfect Garbage lit a very specific section of the internet on fire when gamers started seeing just how hot some of these villagers are. For me, though, what got me excited was the new gameplay shown in the Blumhouse montage. Grave Seasons has been a game many have been eagerly awaiting, and it’s great to see the game is starting to pick up momentum.

3.) Mixtape

“On their last night of high school, three friends embark on one more adventure together. Play through a mixtape of memories, set to the soundtrack of a generation.”

When Mixtape debuted during the Xbox Showcase, it was like being greeted with a warm hug by a close friend. Developer Beethoven and Dinosaur are responsible for one of the best feel-good games I’ve ever played, The Artful Escape. I’m not one to shame someone for their taste in video games, but if the trailer for Mixtape doesn’t get you excited, what are you doing with your life?

2.) Life is Strange Double Exposure

While I have been known to cry at a game or two, I’m not someone who gets overly emotional at the sight of a returning character. When I watched Maximilian Dood cry at the announcement of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the reveal of the updated characters, I thought it was amazing because I simply don’t have a relationship with video game characters like that. Don’t get me wrong; there are quite a few characters I would be more than happy to see show up in future trailers, but there isn’t that one specific character that would make me emotional. Right?

Let me tell you about Life is Strange protagonist, Max Caulfield. Life is Strange, and the journey Max goes on helped me deal with a time in my life when things were incredibly difficult. So when I saw Max reappear in Life is Strange Double Exposure, I was speechless. I never thought I would see this character again, and I especially never thought I would get to go on another adventure with her. October 29 can’t come soon enough.

Honorable Mentions:

I know, I know. I said I was only talking about 6 games, but do you remember when I said I saw 30 amazing games? How am I supposed to only talk about 6?! Here is a quick shoutout to five more amazing games.

1.) The Crush House

I’m a child of Reality TV, and I love it when games try anything original.

2.) Slitterhead

I can’t explain why, but every time I watch the trailer for this game, I get more excited. It’s so weird, and once again, I love it when games try anything original.

3.) Littlelands

LOOK AT THIS ART STYLE!!!

4.) Music Power Up

I literally do this in my free time. Did I make this game???

5.) Street Fighter 6 Year 2

I’ve wanted a reason to get back into Street Fighter, and I think Terry Bogard might be that reason.

NUMBER ONE!!!

1.) Dragon Age: The Veilguard

I won’t lie to you. After 10 years of waiting for the follow-up to Dragon Age Inquisition, I was a little nervous when the first trailer shown at the Xbox Showcase made me think I was watching an announcement for the latest 5v5 hero shooter, but after watching 15 minutes of gameplay, I think it’s safe to say that Bioware is back. Granted, I’m one of the ten who enjoyed Mass Effect Andromeda, so for me, they never really left, but either way, BIOWARE IS BACK! Everything shown in those 15 minutes was everything I needed to see to confirm that it is finally safe to be excited for Dragon Age: The Veilguard. On top of that, folks who got an extended preview of the game at Summer Game Fest talked about how the game’s character creator looks to rival the recent spectacles created by Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3. And considering Dragon Age is the franchise that started the “Horse equals Game of the Year” theory, as a games scientist, I feel comfortable saying Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be competing for 2024’s Game of the Year.