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The ‘World’s First Soulslike FPS’ Is a Brutally Fun Take On the Apocalypse

Ford James — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:01:13 GMT

Turning a first-person shooter into a Soulslike isn't just a matter of giving enemies more health. Sure, they'd be tougher to kill, and difficulty is synonymous with Soulslike games, but all you need to do is use more ammo to defeat them. Instead, Guns of Eschaton uses specific weak points on enemies that you're encouraged to target. Shooting them anywhere will deal a little damage, but if you hit a foe's weak point, indicated by makeshift bandages on various limbs, you'll deal considerably more damage.

The 17 Best Games of Gamescom 2026

Ford James — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:42:45 GMT

But what were the absolute best games we played while we were out in Cologne, Germany? Here's our list of the top 17 games we played at Gamescom 2026, in no particular order.

Meet Gears of War's New Monster, the 'Flying Testicle' | Exclusive

Ari Notis — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:30:14 GMT

For a prequel, Gears of War: E-Day is going to tread a lot of new ground. One of the game’s innovations is a monster known as the “flying testicle,” for which Polygon is able to exclusively reveal a new image as part of our 2026 Fall Preview.

FF7 Revelation Is Approximately 500,000 Times the Size of FF7 Rebirth | Preview

Ari Notis — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:14 GMT

This takeaway comes from a 45-minute hands-on preview attended by Polygon at Gamescom 2026. And to be clear here, “most impressive” doesn’t necessarily mean “largest.” Though Revelation certainly is massive in scale, 45 minutes is by no means long enough to assess or even fully grasp what an open-world game is trying to offer. But weeks later, I’m still struck by how Revelation builds on its predecessor, using Rebirth as the literal foundation for a jaw-dropping feat of game design.

Usual June Preview: Gaming's Secret Tastemakers Are Back with Spectral Crab Action

Ari Notis — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:30:14 GMT

If this sounds like the sort of indie gem that flies under the radar and then blows up your social feeds, you’re not off base. Usual June is developed by Finji, the Michigan-based company that’s sneakily become a modern kingmaker of indie gaming tastes. Finji has published some of the biggest breakout hits of the decade — including the Zeldalike Tunic, the adventure game Chicory: A Colorful Tale, and the narrative platformer Night in the Woods — but the company also develops its own games. Usual June is its next one, and Polygon is able to offer an exclusive look at the game for our annual Fall Preview.

The Division 2's New Echoes of Central Park DLC Isn't Setup for The Division 3

Ari Notis — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:14 GMT

For those who’ve kept pace with The Division, that might sound like a tall order, since the series is nothing if not dark. The first game, 2016’s The Division, painted a grim picture of a pandemic bringing civilization to its knees, killing millions and ushering in an era of martial law and inscrutable violence. Its sequel, 2019’s The Division 2, sent players to the Capitol, showing how effectively a pandemic can collapse a government. Two subsequent expansions, Warlords of New York in 2020 and Battle for Brooklyn in 2025, continued the story in Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn respectively.

Lovecraft Horror Meets Snowpiercer in One of 2026’s Biggest Hidden Gems

Ford James — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 19:00:14 GMT

I wake up, head pounding. A curt voice echoes through the room: "With immediate effect, free movement on the train is forbidden. We've been spotted again." I stand up and gather my bearings. I'm on a train, there's a very ominous red glow permeating through the room, and the window is obscured by a mass of slithering tentacles, so close that I can make out each individual sucker as they writhe.

Dungeon Crawler Carl meets The Finals in this wild new FPS

Ford James — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:41:34 GMT

Like or Die is an upcoming FPS game from Korean developer NC, revealed for the first time during Gamescom 2026's Opening Night Live showcase. My first thought was that it looks a lot like Embark Studios' The Finals — from the environmental destruction and the abilities on show, such as zip lines and jump pads, to the fact players explode into pixelated cubes. It certainly wears its inspiration on its sleeve, that's for sure.

'We Are Sorry,' Gamescom Apologizes For Lackluster Response To Indie Booth Thefts

Ashely Claudino — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:27:56 GMT

After severe backlash to its initial response to reports of theft at Gamescom 2026, Gamescom has now issued an apology with several promises that it will hopefully keep.

Exodus Won't Let You Bang the Octopus

Ari Notis — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:04:01 GMT

Like any narrative RPG worth its salt, Exodus will let you start romantic relationships with your party members. In fact, like many of its genre contemporaries, developer Archetype Entertainment’s debut game seems to actively encourage it. But you nevertheless can’t start a romance with Salt the octopus, the game’s narrative director confirmed to Polygon.