Aside from the Xbox Developer Direct, there typically aren't many gaming presentations after The Game Awards until showcases like Summer Game Fest or the Xbox Games Showcase in summertime. One very noteworthy one that's kicked off this year, though, is the New Game Plus Showcase (often stylized as New Game+).
New Game Plus is a content creator-made event designed to bring "genuine excitement and conversation" back to video game announcements and reveals, and notably, it doesn't charge developers for a slot in the show like other presentations do. It was announced on December 29, with its first showcase running on January 8 (today!) at 1 P.M. PT / 4:00 P.M. ET.
Blind Descent
This dark survival game from Pokuch and META Publishing looks like Valheim crossed over with Prey, featuring a blend of base-building mechanics and survival systems with mysterious alien powers. It's available to wishlist now on Steam, and is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC platforms like Steam, GOG, and Epic Games, and PS5.
Deep Dish Dungeon
Up for a pixelated dungeon crawl that emphasizes cooking? Deep Dish Dungeon looks to deliver the tense and ominous adventuring experience everyone wants in dungeon exploration, but with charming retro-style pixel graphic visuals and a focus on cooking that makes me think of Dungeon Meshi. It's coming to Steam, and can be wishlisted now.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
We got a long gameplay presentation and developer interview for The Blood of Dawnwalker, an open-world fantasy ARPG in which you play as a human by day and vampire by night. The dynamic nature of the world and how it reacts to your actions was shown and explained prominently during the interview. It's expected to come at some point in 2026 to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5.
Prologue: Go Wayback!
PUBG creator Brendan "PLAYERUNKNOWN" Greene talked about his new survival game Prologue: Go Wayback! during the show, explaining its procedurally generated map elements, some of its deeper survival elements, how its world generation works, and more. It's currently available on Steam in Early Access for $19.99, with a free demo available.
Beautiful Light
We got a fresh look at the STALKER-inspired extraction shooter Beautiful Light that's coming in December 2026 to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The trailer showed intense combat against mutants as well as other players, along with exploration in the game's atmospheric environments.
Project Shadowglass
Starhelm Studios offered an in-depth look at its upcoming stealthy immersive sim that challenges you to plan and execute "daring heists" in a dark fantasy world. Unlike most retro-style pixel graphics games, Project Shadowglass features a first-person view, making it stand out quite a bit. We know it's coming to Steam at some point, and can be wishlisted now.
Aphelion
DON'T NOD's next game, Aphelion, got a nice little showcase in the show that focused on its music in particular. The action-adventure sci-fi game is about an astronaut named Ariane who has to brave the dangers of a frozen world in order to rescue her wounded partner Thomas, with hostile alien wildlife and the elements both proving to be deadly threats. It's coming to Xbox, Steam, and PS5 later in 2026.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
There was a developer interview for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a third-person ARPG from Owlcat Games set in the sci-fi universe of the beloved TV show. The presentation focused on the process of making your Pinkwater Security mercenary character and determining their background, as well as on details about progression, the reactivity of the game world, and more.
Distant Shore: BRETAGNE
This nifty game from developer DISTANT SHORE looks to be an action-adventure, physics-based puzzle title centered around your ability to magnetically push and pull objects in the environment closer or apart from one another — or closer or apart from you. You can wishlist it now on Steam.
Avowed
Xbox's Obsidian Entertainment came to the show to talk about two games, the first being the 2025 fantasy RPG Avowed set in the Pillars of Eternity. Its developers highlighted that the game's been updated with new playable races, improvements to certain weapon classes, Photo Mode, and more. Most notably, the studio also officially announced that Avowed is headed to PS5 with preorders now, though the game doesn't have a release date on the console just yet.
Grounded 2
Obsidian also took some time to chat about Grounded 2, showing off some upcoming bugs you'll be able to encounter in the insect-sized survival game like wasps, black ants, crickets, and earwigs, along with armors, weapons, furnitures, and other items you'll be able to turn these critters into. The ridable ladybug buggy mount was showcased, too, complete with a back-mounted water gun that transforms the bug into a tank.
Outward 2
Outward 2, a sequel to Nine Dots' immersive open-world fantasy RPG, is coming later this year and emphasizes that you're "just a dude or dudette," challenging players with a more difficult survival experience rather than your traditional hero's fantasy. It got a nice developer interview during New Game Plus, and is expected to release in Early Access in Q3 2026 on PC, with launches on consoles later.
Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call
Inspired by Fable and The Elder Scrolls, Forsaken Realms: Vahrim's Call is an open-ended action RPG that emphasizes complete player buildcrafting freedom, deep interactions between RPG systems, and engaging with plenty of side activities in its fantasy world of Leyda. It's coming to PC later in 2026, and consoles at some point after.
Dragontwin
Who doesn't want to fly a dragon? Draconic Interactive AB is putting together Dragontwin, an open-world strategy RPG in which you customize and fly a dragon into combat, so head's up if you're into that concept. It will come to PC first in Early Access and then consoles later, with an early version playable now for Patreon supporters. Check it out here.
Atomic Heart DLC #4
The first-look teaser Mundfish posted for the upcoming fourth DLC for Atomic Heart a month ago was replayed at New Game Plus, so check that out above if you haven't seen it yet.
The CUBE
Mundfish's trailer from last year for The CUBE, an MMO shooter set on a mysterious, ominous, and massive cube in the sky that rotates about, shifting the environment in unexpected ways, was shown again too. It's headed to PC at some point in the future, and can be wishlisted now.
IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre
IMMORTAL: Gates of Pyre, the RTS that emphasizes easy to learn, but hard to master gameplay with a variety of PvE and PvP gameplay modes, got a sweet new developer interview. It's been in development for five years, and is coming to Steam at some point in the future.
ExeKiller
This retro-futuristic western action game blends shooting, melee action, vehicular combat, and more into one package, complete with a large degree of player freedom that encourages you to complete quests and go about your adventure in any way you see fit. It's coming to Steam at some point, and can be wishlisted now.
Far Far West
The six-man team at developer Evil Raptor is cooking up Far Far West, an explosive 1-4 player co-op shooter in which you play as robot cowboys and take on bounties to take on monsters with gunslinging, spells, and more. It's coming to PC later in 2026, and is one to keep an eye on if you're a co-op fan.
Erosion
This fascinating open-world roguelike features time-looping mechanics, charming pixel graphics, and a heavy story focus in a post-apocalyptic Wild West setting. Notably, a decade passes with each of your deaths, which is sure to lead to some interesting gameplay developments. A playtest is live on Steam now, and it's coming to both Steam and Xbox on PC in Spring 2026.
The Division 2: Survivors and The Division 3
The Division 2 developers showed off the upcoming winter-themed extraction mode Survivors for the game, while also confirming that The Division 3 is in development and noting that a mobile game inspired by the first The Division is in the works as well.
Alpha Response
This Payday-meets-Counter-Strike co-op shooter got a fresh trailer during the New Game Plus show, and is available to play now on Steam in Early Access for $19.99.
Last Man Sitting
This silly bullet hell shooter pits you and friends against wave after wave of sentient, evil office supplies, tasking you with blasting and cutting your way through the "hordes" from your all-powerful office chair. It's coming to PC, with a multiplayer beta coming this month.
SAND: Raiders of Sophie
This bombastic vehicular action game sees you build and take control of gigantic armored "Tramplers" before battling other players and their walking fortresses to compete for "loot, weapons, precious artifacts," and more. It's launching on Windows PC and PS5 in March 2026.
Dark Light: Survivor
This action roguelike is quite a mindbender, as it blends top-down and third-person perspective gameplay with guns, magic, and more against horrifying creatures in a cyberpunk world. It's coming to PC in Q1 2026, and can be wishlisted on Steam.
Nested Lands
Nested Lands is a "ruthless medieval RPG" with in-depth village development mechanics, social management systems, and combat against unsettling threats in a dark fantasy setting. It's hitting Early Access on January 23, and is coming to Steam, GOG, and Epic Games.
Tape 101
For the horror fans, Tape 101 is a psychological horror walking simulator experience "shaped by the Kübler-Ross model" and the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It's got a playable demo now, and is coming to PC.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy
Owlcat Games gave a nice in-depth look at Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy during the New Game Plus show, showing many of the numerous options players will have in combat, along with the process of putting together a deep narrative with many different players and factions for the upcoming CRPG. It's coming to Xbox, Windows PC (Steam, GOG, Epic Games), and PS5.
Towerborne
Xbox Game Studios' Towerborne made an appearance, with its developers chatting about a big overhaul for the title that's coinciding with its full February 26 game launch following its Early Access release in 2024. The full game is coming to Xbox, PC, PS5, and Xbox Game Pass.
Denshattack!
This wacky extreme sports title features bizarrely acrobatic trains, tons of different races and tricks to do, boss battles (huh?) and an extremely vibrant and colorful visual aesthetic. It's heavily inspired by Jet Set Radio and Japan's train systems, along with anime and other elements of Japan's wider culture. It's coming in 2026, and can be wishlisted now on Steam.
Sprint City
How about some intense competitive 2D platforming? You'll find it in the charming and colorful little game Sprint City, which is headed to PC via Steam in Q1 2026.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
This gorgeous adventure platformer features completely hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation, and is coming to PC via Steam down the line. Notably, it will have a playable demo this February as part of Steam Next Fest, and can be wishlisted now.
Core Keeper: Void & Voltage
The mining sandbox adventure Core Keeper showed off its Void & Voltage update coming on January 28 that's bringing a new biome, tons of new weapons and other craftable items, and more to the 1-8 player co-op title. It's the biggest update for the game since its 1.0 launch, available on Xbox, PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Duskfade
Duskfade, described as a love letter to Ratchet & Clank, is a time-bending 3D action platformer with colorful visuals, Kingdom Hearts vibes, and plenty of flashy action. It's headed to Xbox, PC, and PS5 in 2026.
Shadow of the Road
One of New Game Plus' more unique games was Shadow of the Road, a turn-based RPG set in feudal Japan that incorporates magic and machines into its narrative-heavy story. It's coming to Steam, GOG, and Epic Games, can can be added to your wishlist now.
Starfighter: Afterlight
This top-down science-fantasy RPG got an overview during the New Game Plus show, with its developers talking about the story and more, including voice acting (with Arthur Morgan's Roger Clark as narrator). It's headed to PC, and getting a free demo soon during Steam Next Fest.
Gallipoli
As the name suggests, this shooter is set in the Turkish straits during the Gallipoli campaign of World War 1 in which the Allied powers clashed with the Ottoman Empire. Its developers focused on realism and authenticity, striving to feature the exact same weapons, uniforms, and even terrain that were used and fought on during the conflict. It's coming to PC later in 2026.
Where Winds Meet
The free-to-play Wuxia open-world ARPG Where Winds Meet made an appearance at the show, with its developers showing off a new boss fight coming to the game tomorrow, January 9. It's available to play on PC and PS5, with mobile Android and iOS versions too.
Dinoblade
Dinoblade is a game about, you guessed it, dinosaurs and blades. Specifically, it's about dinosaurs using blades, which is pretty sick. You play as a spinosaurus with a gigantic sword and fight other dinos to "prevent a looming extinction." It's coming to PC later this year, with a free demo out now.
Crimson Desert
Last but certainly not least was a developer interview with Pearl Abyss, the team behind the extremely promising science-fantasy open-world RPG Crimson Desert. The devs showed off how the game is completely open-ended with a wide-open world with combat, crafting, and puzzles to engage with, and notably, twice the size of Skyrim and bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2. It's set to release on March 19 in a few months on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PS5, and even Mac.
FAQ
What is the New Game Plus Showcase?
The New Game Plus Showcase — named after the mechanic of starting a new game with a character you used to beat a playthrough already — is a new gaming showcase organized by content creators. Like other presentations, it features premieres, announcements, gameplay footage and trailers, and developer interviews. Notably, though, it's designed to put games first and be accessible to developers, as they don't have to pay for a slot in the event.
How can you watch the New Game Plus Showcase?
If you'd like to watch the New Game Plus Showcase live (or after it ends with a VOD), you can do so on both YouTube and Twitch, as well as X (Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram.
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