Shack Chat: What was your favorite reveal from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026?

The Shacknews team opines on its favorite reveals from Geoff Keighley's Gamescom-opening presentation.

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 has come and gone, but the reveals are still with us. We got to see some cool new games and exciting details on some of the ones we already knew about. So what were the highlights of the show? The Shacknews team shares their favorites on this week’s Shack Chat.

Question: What was your favorite reveal from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026?

Stage Tour in December - Ozzie Mejia, Senior Guitar Hero

I've had my eye on Stage Tour from the moment it was announced. A project from Red Octane, the Guitar Hero hardware maker-turned-game developer, led by the studio director who previously helped lead the Guitar Hero series at Neversoft, developed by a team filled with veteran Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, and Rock Band talent? A team filled with people for whom the plastic instrument era never died, who have put time in on third-party mods like Clone Hero? I've been on board from the jump.

What I wasn't expecting was for it to be ready so soon. A December release date is enough time for me to scrounge up my old plastic guitars and start rocking like old times. That's true, by the way, that it's just like old times. My preview from the Gamescom show floor is coming soon to Shacknews.

We are so back!

LEGO Skylines - TJ Denzer, Senior City Planner

I really thought about picking something else, just because our team has picked LEGO Skylines so much this week. I couldn’t. Everything about LEGO Skylines appeals to me, and the thing my mind keeps going to the most is one of my favorite parts of a Skylines mid-game: I cannot wait to attach the camera to one of my LEGO people and let it follow them around the city I made while I vibe out.

This is kind of a game dream come true for me.

LEGO Skylines - Asif Khan, Completed 100% of LEGO City Undercover

Geoffcom Opening Night Live had some great game announcements, but the LEGO Skylines trailer has to be my favorite reveal from the entire event. A LEGO city builder makes so much sense that I am kind of shocked that it has not happened already. LEGO games are always so damn charming that I can’t wait to see how the brand adds its flair and humor to one of my favorite game genres.

Mega Man Dual Override - David L. Craddock, Blue Bomber

My love for Mega Man dates back to the NES era. I can’t help getting excited every time Capcom announces a new entry, but until Gamescom ONL, Dual Override had left me cold. No wonder: There was very little information to go on. The Gamescom trailer changed that: an upgrade system, Twinkle Girl, an expanded look at gameplay, and Twinkle Girl! All I need now is a release date.

The Witcher 3 Remastered - Bill Lavoy, Shackmaps Overlord

A huge part of me wants to say Metro 2039, but The Witcher 3 is one of the best games ever made and one of my personal favorites. The fact it’s being remastered and anyone who owns the game can upgrade for free, as well as get the two existing DLCs for free, is bonkers. But, it’s also exciting for me because Shackmaps exists, and our plans to produce a map for The Witcher 3 just got moved up in a big way.

LEGO Skylines - Sam Chandler, LEGO Island citizen

Between all of the HoYoverse announcements, there were a few games that piqued my interest during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026. While I already knew about Ontos, I’m stoked to see that Frictional Games is still hard at work on this next creepy masterpiece. In terms of brand-spanking-new announcements, LEGO Skylines immediately clicked for me.

I think LEGO is best when it forgoes IP deals and focuses on its roots. The idea of creating buildings and a city for my LEGO people to live in is such an obvious idea that I’m struggling to accept this hasn’t been created before. While LEGO games tend to be rather simple, I hope LEGO Skylines embraces rich systems and mechanics to create a surprising depth.

Rainbow Six Tactics - Donovan Erskine, Tactical Editor

2026 has truly been a treat for tactical game fans. Mewgenics was the year’s first masterpiece, Star Wars Zero Company is the best Star Wars game of the decade, and we’ve still got a new Fire Emblem right around the corner. Now, we’re getting Rainbow Six Tactics, which sounds like a perfect marriage of an IP and a new genre. Siege never grabbed me as older games in the series did, but I’ll absolutely be there for Rainbow Six Tactics.

Mega Man-Dual Override - Steve Tyminski, Super Fighting Robot!

What was my favorite reveal from Opening Night Live at Gamescom?  It was very close for me between Ananta and a certain blue robot. I have to go with Mega Man on this one because whenever we get new Mega Man info, it wins out every time. Now, Dual Override does look a lot like Mega Man 11, and I didn't care for 11. That being said, the trailer shown at Gamescom has me eagerly awaiting the new game. They showed off a new robot master, Twinkle Girl, and had a few classic robot masters coming back for revenge on Mega Man. Capcom also showed off new Pragmata skins starring Mega Man and Roll. I loved Pragmata so I'll be going back to see how these costumes look! As much as I'm looking forward to Ananta, the Mega Man series is one of my all-time favs and when Capcom remembers to make Mega Man games, you have to pay attention!  

LEGO Skylines but… - Dennis White Jr., LEGO is winning right now

Lego Skylines makes so much sense as a game that I’m surprised that it hasn’t happened sooner. There’s so many ways that they can add that LEGO charm and quirky humor to a city builder in ways that we’ll all love. My co-workers have talked enough about how awesome the game could be so I want to show some love to another LEGO reveal from the night, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight - Mayhem Collection DLC. They are letting us play as The Joker & Harley! I’m going to have so much fun being ridiculous in the new story mission and it drops a few weeks from now with the Nintendo Switch 2 release of the game. Who knew we’d get more crime-filled couple’s action before GTA 6?

These are our favorite picks from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, but what are yours? Let us know in the comments below!

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