This was my second year attending Opening Night Live, and it was by far the biggest yet. The Kolnmesse Confex was packed to capacity with 5,000 attendees, sold out and buzzing with energy. The show itself ran with its usual slick production values, but a few issues stood out that are worth highlighting.
- The sheer number of Soulslike titles was overwhelming — easily into the double digits. Last year was dominated by live-service showcases, but this time the pendulum swung firmly toward Soulslikes.
- Modern gaming is becoming depressingly predictable. Almost everything shown fell into the same tired categories: Soulslike, shooter, RPG, or some variation of them. Even titles with striking art styles ultimately played it safe, offering minimal innovation in mechanics while chasing maximum profitability.
- Far too many CGI trailers and not nearly enough gameplay. We’ve been having this conversation for years now, but the industry still leans too heavily on cinematic teasers.
- The organisation at the exit after the show was frankly dangerous. After a long walk to the doors, attendees were funnelled through a single narrow gate that allowed only two people through at once. All it would have taken was a bit of pushing for a crush to develop. Fortunately, this didn’t happen, but the frustration in the crowd was palpable. Eventually, another gate was opened — far too late to avoid the bad impression.
The Games – A Selection and Some Thoughts
Pre-Show
He-Man – Dragon Pearl of Destruction
Published by Limited Run Games (whose logo prompted a mixed reaction given their recent controversies), this was a surprise reveal. A He-Man title at ONL was not something I expected, but it was a welcome one. Styled as a 2D, 16-bit era side-scrolling beat-’em-up, the game lets you brawl your way across Eternia to protect the planet from the evil Greyskull. Gameplay looked solid, with up to four-player action and an art style that nailed the He-Man aesthetic. Hopefully there’s more to come on this soon.
Sonic Crossworlds X Pac-Man DLC
SEGA seems determined to milk Crossworlds with every possible crossover, and this time it’s Pac-Man’s turn. Interestingly, it’s a two-way exchange: Sonic joins Pac-Man in the upcoming Pac-Man World 2 – Re:Packed. A short clip of DLC gameplay was shown, but with the full release landing in September, the bigger question is: what other crossovers are waiting in the wings? Perhaps we’ll find out more on the show floor at the SEGA booth.
Main Show
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
To my surprise, this opener drew a few boos — not a universal reaction, but there was definitely a collective groan when the trailer started. The game itself looked slick, polished, and exactly what you’d expect from COD. That in itself is the issue: there’s a real sense of fatigue around the franchise, at least from those in the room, even though it’ll no doubt still sell millions.
Later in the show, Sekiro revealed its upcoming anime adaptation. Produced by Crunchyroll, it looked faithful to the game’s violent roots — a reminder of how well gaming IPs can translate into other media. (But seriously, where is Shenmue Season 2?)
Lego Batman – Legacy of the Dark Knight
Simply put, this was the game of the show. Fans of the Lego series know what to expect: tongue-in-cheek humour and affectionate parody. This time, the game spans multiple Batman eras — from films and comics to TV adaptations — covering the Dark Knight’s full career. The trailer showed off combat, stealth, and an open-world Gotham, with mechanics clearly inspired by the Arkham series but wrapped in Lego charm.
The moment that brought the house down? Bane stepping on a piece of Lego mid-speech during his iconic “I was raised in the dark” line. The entire room erupted with laughter. Pair that with an enthusiastic project lead on stage, and you had the night’s standout presentation.
Onimusha – Way of the Sword
Due in 2026, the long-dormant Onimusha franchise is making a comeback. The showcase included combat footage, cutscenes, and some truly grotesque monsters, all of which captured the series’ original atmosphere. Performance looked rough in places, with some choppy frame rates, but overall it was a promising first look at a beloved franchise reborn.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – DLC: Order of the Giants
One of the highlights of Gamescom 2024, Indiana Jones is back with new DLC. Order of the Giants expands on the base game with more of what players loved: tight gameplay, strong storytelling, and a faithful Indy tone. It launches September 4th, 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox, with a Switch 2 release following in 2026. If you loved the base game, this looks like more of the same — and that’s no bad thing. (Though it does mean our planned Tweetathon may have some tough competition on release day!)
Deadpool VR
Arriving November 18th, 2025 for Meta Quest 3, this game embraces a colourful comic-book art style to capture the fast-quipping anti-hero. Combat, gunplay, and trademark one-liners were on full display, making this one a must-play for Quest owners.
Ninja Gaiden 4
A highly anticipated return, Ninja Gaiden 4 impressed despite leaning heavily on cutscenes in its trailer. What little gameplay we saw looked slick, brutal, and impactful. The formula hasn’t changed much over the years, but the series’ expanded lore continues to grow into a proper universe of its own. A bit more gameplay would have been welcome, but as a teaser, it did its job. Launches September 25th, 2025 on Xbox and PC.
Ghost of Yotei
PlayStation Studios rarely miss, and Ghost of Yotei looks set to be another jewel in their crown. The world is visually stunning and felt alive, with combat that was satisfying to watch — great swordplay in particular. A free DLC expansion, Legends, is already confirmed for 2026. The base game launches October 2nd, 2025, and it looks every bit the AAA powerhouse we’ve come to expect from Sony.
Black Myth – Zhong Kui
Finally, the sequel to Black Myth: Wukong made its debut. Titled Black Myth – Zhong Kui, it dives further into Chinese mythology. What we saw was a pure CGI trailer, but even as a first look, the excitement in the room was clear.
Final Thoughts
Opening Night Live 2025 was, in many ways, a microcosm of the modern games industry: big, slick, and packed with spectacle, but also weighed down by repetition and predictability. The overabundance of Soulslikes and reliance on CGI trailers underscored the industry’s growing conservatism, while the chaotic exit management was a reminder that even the most professional of shows can stumble on the basics.
That said, there were clear standouts. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight stole the show with humour, heart, and a clear vision of fun, while long-dormant series like Onimusha and Ninja Gaiden offered exciting glimpses of the past reborn. PlayStation once again flexed its AAA pedigree with Ghost of Yotei, and the return of Indiana Jones showed that quality expansions can feel every bit as enticing as brand-new IPs.
In short, ONL 2025 had its highs and lows. The industry might be stuck in safe patterns, but when creativity shines through — whether in Lego parody, mythological epics, or daring revivals — it reminds us why we still pack out halls of 5,000 people to witness these announcements live.
