Yesterday we got tons of game reveals, world premieres and news during Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live 2021. This week is Gamescom, which is one of the largest video game conventions of the year and usually takes place in Cologne, Germany — this year it is happening mostly online.

Geoff Keighley events are always exciting. His two main events each year are Opening Night Live and The Game Awards, and both are always packed with world premieres and game reveals. What makes these two events so special is that Geoff truly loves games. Watching him on stage you can feel how happy he is to be sharing all of these secret games he’s found with us.

The one part of Opening Night Live they can get rid of is the strange awards. Maybe they just shouldn’t call them awards. Instead, they can just call it, “The most anticipated [platform] game.” It’s weird to give “awards” to games that haven’t even been played yet. Elden Ring won an award and it wasn’t even part of the presentation. Let’s save the awards for The Game Awards, Geoff.

With all of that said, it was still a fantastic celebration and showcase of games. We received a good mix of new info for games we’re already waiting on (like release dates, gameplay and features) and brand new surprises that we get to be excited about now.

Here’s my TOP FIVE from Opening Night Live 2021. There were too many big announcements, but I kept my Top Five to the surprises and games I just learned about yesterday:

5 Midnight Fight Express

Although this game was first seen last year, this was the first big gameplay trailer. Midnight Fight Express is developed by one man, Jacob Dzwinel and it’s a top down fighting game, featuring crazy environments and cool characters.

From the title and gameplay video I’m guessing that in Midnight Fight Express, you travel around the city fighting folks late at night. The game mechanics feature a mix of old school street brawlers with fast-paced motion-captured combat. I’m a big fan of the stylized design and the multiple types of environments.

Midnight Fight Express is coming to Nintendo Switch, PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Game Pass in Summer 2022.

4 Park Beyond

There were a few simulation/management type games during Opening Night Live. I don’t normally play these games, but Park Beyond stood out to me. For one, it’s a next gen only game, and I want to find out why. Jurassic World Evolution 2 was also shown, and I would love to give that game a shot too.

What made Park Beyond stand out to me was the story and the idea of building a futuristic theme park. The story seems very fun and creative. You have your old school theme park owner building this modern day theme park, but you’re about to come in and change the whole thing up.

I’m not a fan of rollercoasters and fast rides in real life, but it looks like fun to plan and build out some future tech-style rides. In a normal theme park tycoon type ride I feel like you just connect the pieces to create a ride. I’m hoping this one gives you some trail and error/test drive your ride.

Park Beyond is coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2022.

3 DokeV

I feel guilty because I used the beginning of this trailer to run to the bathroom real quick and when I got back I was totally impressed. Lately I started thinking how we need a good surfing and long boarding game — DokeV features both, plus tons of cool stuff. DokeV is an open world action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss.

The game takes place in this cute world that’s sort of a mix between a Pokémon-themed world and something Splatoon-ish. It feels like a more grown-up (or big kids) Pokémon. The music is fun and catchy, and the town is colorful. You also fight a bunch of monsters which bring wild weather patterns to battle with them. I’m also guessing that you catch the monsters you defeat and are able to use them as allies later on, like that polar bear with boxing gloves in the video.

I don’t think we received any info on release plans for this game, but I already love it and hope it comes out soon.

2 Marvel Midnight Suns

When this trailer first started I was thinking, Oh man, I guess it’s time to jump into Marvel’s Avengers. I thought this was the next expansion — I was wrong. Marvel Midnight Suns is a brand new game from the team behind the X-Com series (Firaxis Games).

We didn’t see any gameplay, yet but we will on September 1st. I don’t know if this will be a real-time strategy game like X-Com, but because of the heroes featured and the tone and look of this video I’m already willing to give this a try. In the trailer we saw Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Blade and more heroes. They even created a brand new hero with the help of the Marvel team that you will play as “The Hunter.”

The dark, metal tone of the game reminds me of recent DC Dark Knight Death Metal comics and audio stories — especially that Wolverine look. He looks like the frontman for a sick Death Metal band in this trailer. I’m very excited to see where this game goes and what it is.

Marvel Midnight Suns is coming to all consoles and PC in March 2022.

1 Saint’s Row

I played so much Saints Row (from the original to the third and possibly some others) back in the day. I really like that this one is taking a whole new approach while feeling like a Saints Row game. This story features brand new characters, gangs, a new city and more.

The game features a new “start up gang” of techie/nerd kids, instead of your normal buff gangster from the older games. It looks like you’ll be playing as the smart kids, taking on the bullies in this one. It could have a bit of a Watch Dogs feel to it, but with the tone of a Saints Row game.

I’m ready to jump into this new city and get back into the world of Saints Row after such a long time away.

Saints Row is coming to PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One and Series X|S on Feb 25, 2022.

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Other Stuff

We also got some more news on some games we have been waiting for including some release dates.

Release Dates:

Death Stranding: Director’s Cut • September 24, 2021 • New missions, weapons and other gameplay updates

Far Cry 6 • October 7, 2021

Call of Duty: Vanguard • November 5, 2021 • PS4/PS5 Alpha this weekend 8.27-8.29

Jurassic World Evolution 2 • November 9, 2021

Halo: Infinite • December 8, 2021 • Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 & Limited Edition Halo Xbox Series X announced

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge • 2022 • New character update: April O’Neal

Horizon: Forbidden West • February 18, 2022 • Horizon: Zero Dawn PS5 update 60 fps

Sifu • February 22, 2022

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga • Spring 2022

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You can watch the full Opening Night Live right here, and there’s more happening today and tomorrow.