Everyone’s calling Tokyo Game Show 2025 a disappointment, but after going through everything that was announced, I found myself asking: were there actually some hidden gems worth getting excited about? While the major showcases failed to deliver the blockbuster reveals we wanted, digging deeper revealed a solid lineup of games that deserve attention.
Here are the titles from TGS 2025 that genuinely caught my interest and might make the event more worthwhile than people are giving it credit for.
The Capcom showcase highlights
Monster Hunter: Wilds x Final Fantasy XIV Collaboration
This was genuinely the biggest highlight of the Capcom showcase. The crossover content between these two massive franchises actually made me want to jump back into FF14. Sometimes the most exciting announcements aren’t new games but unexpected collaborations that breathe fresh life into existing experiences.
Pragmata (2026)
Showed some new weapons and details, and I’m definitely going to play this. Still looking forward to it and it’s firmly on my must-play list. The Capcom showcase reinforced why this remains one of my most anticipated games.
Onimusha: Way of The Swords (2026)
Showed some new cutscenes and I’m definitely going to play this game. It still looks solid and is firmly on my must-play list. Everything from the Capcom showcase was amazing.
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Other standout games
SAROS (March 20, 2026)
This game looks phenomenal and reminded me why I need to finally play Returnal before SAROS releases. The visual presentation during the showcase was impressive enough to put this firmly on my radar as a potential day-one purchase.
OD: Knock (Kojima Productions)
One of the genuine highlights of Tokyo Game Show week. This feels like P.T. being revived, and the graphics look phenomenal—exactly what you’d expect from Kojima. It’s the kind of creative vision that made TGS worth following.
State of Play: Missing the mark
Sony’s State of Play was the biggest letdown of TGS week for me personally. While they showcased some decent titles, they completely whiffed on the franchises I actually care about. Where was Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3? Resident Evil 9? Kingdom Hearts 4? Instead of any major franchise announcements, we got a God of War controller reveal. A controller.
Wolverine had some impressive visuals, but Marvel games aren’t really my thing. It might end up on my wishlist eventually, but it’s not moving the needle for me right now.
Don’t get me wrong – games like SAROS, Crimson Desert, and Nioh 3 all look genuinely good and I’m interested in them. But when you’re sitting there hoping for news about beloved series that have been quiet for years, it’s hard to get as excited about new announcements as they probably deserve.
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Xbox showcase surprises
The Xbox showcase actually delivered several titles that stood out:
Gungrave Gore Blood Heat
A complete remake of the 2022 original, built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. This isn’t just a remaster—it’s a full rebuild addressing the criticisms of the original G.O.R.E. With character design by Yasuhiro Nightow (the Trigun creator), this could be the Gungrave game fans have been waiting for.
Fatal Frame 2 Remake (Early 2026)
A proper horror experience with enhanced Camera Obscura mechanics and a “Holding Hands with Mayu” feature. Japanese horror done right never goes out of style, and this looks like it could deliver genuine scares.
Ninja Gaiden 4 (October 21, 2025)
Launching incredibly soon! The collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames promises signature brutal combat with accessibility options. Being Day One Game Pass makes this an easy pickup.
Project EvilBane and Mistfall Hunter
While I’m not typically into co-op games, both caught my attention purely for their visual quality. EvilBane’s dark fantasy presentation looks graphically impressive, and Mistfall Hunter reminds me of Elden Ring—the character design is particularly similar to the Wylder class in Elden Ring Nightreign.
The “maybe” pile still has potential
Crimson Desert (March 19, 2026)
Graphically stunning, though I’m not feeling another Witcher-like experience right now. Going on the wishlist but probably not a day-one purchase.
Nioh 3 (February 6, 2026)
Continues the series’ tradition of gorgeous visuals, but not something I’m compelled to buy immediately.
Deus Ex Remastered (Early 2026)
This is a remaster of the original Deus Ex, not Human Revolution. Since I never played the original Deus Ex, this could be interesting to check out. Something I might consider for the future.
Wolverine
Looks graphically amazing, but I’m not really into Marvel games. Could go on the wishlist.
Resident Evil 9: The mystery deepens
While TGS 2025 didn’t deliver the Leon Kennedy reveal that leakers had been promising, it did provide some intriguing new information for RE9 fans willing to dig deeper.
The ELPIS Document Discovery The most significant find came from someone who managed to record the RE9 demo despite screen recording being prohibited. Hidden within the demo was a secret document containing heavily censored information, but players pieced together references to “ELPIS” – what appears to be a codename for a secret US government operation in Raccoon City’s ruins.
This ties into previous hints from director Nakanishi’s Gamescom t-shirt, which featured newspaper headlines about Raccoon City and a special section dedicated to “Elpis.” The document suggests this operation may cover up the real motivation behind Raccoon City’s destruction and explains why the city lockdown has been extended until 2040. This could be the “hidden truth” Capcom has promised RE9 will reveal about the outbreak.
What We Already Knew Most other TGS information was rehashing existing details: Grace Ashcroft as protagonist, February 27, 2026 release date, and the hotel investigation setting. The Nintendo Switch 2 demo was playable, and RE7/RE Village were confirmed for Switch 2 on the same release date.
The Leon Situation Despite persistent leaks claiming Leon Kennedy would be revealed at TGS with pre-orders opening during Capcom’s September 28 panel, none of this materialized. Leon’s involvement remains unconfirmed despite all the speculation about timeline splits, vehicular gameplay, and his aged appearance.
While TGS 2025 didn’t provide the major RE9 revelations many hoped for, the ELPIS document discovery suggests there are still secrets waiting to be uncovered – both in the demo and in the full game’s story.
The verdict: Hidden gems in a disappointing package
Was TGS 2025 a nothing burger? Not entirely, but it came pretty close. While the event failed to deliver the major franchise updates we wanted most, digging through everything revealed a surprisingly solid lineup of games worth attention—16 titles that caught my interest in various ways, from must-plays to graphical showcases.
The real problem wasn’t that good games weren’t shown; it’s that none of them generated the kind of excitement that makes you clear your schedule or mark your calendar. SAROS, Ninja Gaiden 4, OD: Knock, and the Capcom showcase games are genuinely exciting, but they’re not Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 or Resident Evil 9 revelations. Even the RE9 ELPIS document discovery, while intriguing for lore hunters, doesn’t move the needle for mainstream excitement.
Maybe our expectations for gaming showcases have become unrealistic in an era where publishers control their own narrative through digital events year-round. TGS 2025 delivered a solid B-tier lineup when we were hoping for A+ blockbusters, and there’s nothing wrong with that – it just means the event served a different purpose than we expected.
The bottom line: Tokyo Game Show 2025 proved that sometimes the most interesting discoveries come from looking beyond the main stage announcements. While it wasn’t the industry-defining event we hoped for, it wasn’t the complete disappointment everyone’s calling it either. Sometimes that’s just how these things go in modern gaming.
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