Gaming Trend’s Best of E3 2019 Winners

We saw a lot of exciting things at E3 2019, and we all have a whole host of games to look forward to. Keanu Reeves and Ikumi Nakamura may have been our favorite people of E3, but what were our favorite games of the show? Read on to find out all about our Best of E3 2019 Awards!

Final Fantasy VII Remake – Winner, Best RPG

Be honest, who expected the action-menu based hybrid battle system that Square-Enix revealed? Some of us have been waiting twenty years for this remake, and it seems to be paying off. With gorgeous graphics, a battle system which lets the player choose between action and menu-based combat, and the promise of two blu-ray discs worth of content for Midgar alone, the first chapter of FF7R is our favorite RPG of the show. Get ready to join Cloud and the gang when Final Fantasy VII Remake comes to PlayStation 4 (and maybe PlayStation 5?) on March 3, 2020.

Other nominees include:
Cris Tales
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield
Darksiders: Genesis
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Cris Tales – Winner Best Indie Game

What do you get when you combine time travel mechanics, turn-based battles, hand-drawn art, and a healthy dose of Columbian charm? The answer is our favorite indie game of E3 2018, Cris Tales. This love-letter to JRPGs uses the concept of time travel like nothing else, allowing you to see the present, future, and past all at once, and even allows you to manipulate time inside of battles. This unexpectedly delightful game stole our hearts and our time, thanks to the playable demo on Steam. Go check it out for yourself and get ready, Cris Tales will be available on Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in 2020.

Other nominees include:
Mosaic
Atomicrops
Darksiders: Genesis
Sky: Children of the Light
Wild Hearts

The Outer Worlds – Winner Best New IP

The Outer Worlds, the spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas from Obsidian, was one of the best things we saw at E3. In a time where sequels, remakes, and licensed properties are more common than anything else, it’s refreshing to see a brand new AAA IP with so much potential. Wacky, pessimistic, and colorful, the 30-minute demo of The Outer Worlds showed off a dystopian vision of the future controlled by the most outrageous, dangerous corporations imaginable. In addition to introducing us to the world, the demo focused on showcasing all the different paths available to the player to complete a single questline, and the sheer amount of options was staggering. You can charm or threaten your way through it, betray those you agreed to help, or use stealth, brute force, or technological savvy to find a unique conclusion to each adventure. And yes, they even have a “stupid” option for those characters with low intelligence. The Outer Worlds will be available later this year, and we couldn’t be more excited — that’s why we’re giving it our award for best new IP of E3 2019.

Other nominees include:
Cris Tales
No Straight Roads
Roller Champions

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening – Winner Best Adventure Game

E3 2019 was strong on remakes, so who knew that a classic GameBoy game would once again be stealing our hearts? Fans have long been anticipating a remake of Link’s Awakening, but the charming, toy-like style of the game caught everyone by surprise. While the slick new interface, new expressions on familiar faces, and beautifully remastered score are nice, they’re only the tip of the iceberg; Link’s Awakening feels wonderful to play, and we are very much looking forward to September 20th, when it will be available on the Nintendo Switch.

Other nominees include:
No Straight Roads
Sky: Children of the Light

Xbox Elite Controller Series II – Winner Best Hardware

In a year where the show floor seemed more packed with high-end hardware and accessories than ever before, Xbox’s latest go at a pro gaming controller stood out among the crowd. Xbox is marketing the Xbox Elite Controller Series II as “the world’s most advanced controller, and frankly, that might not be too far from the truth. With improved hair lock triggers, additional game profile customization options, adjustable-tension thumbsticks, and the game-changing “shift” functionality, this controller might just prove to be the last word on premium controllers. And with that, the Xbox Elite Controller Series II earns our award for Best Hardware.

Other nominees include:
GAEMS Guardian
BuddahTek Rover 1

No Straight Roads – Winner Biggest Surprise

Sure, the slick neon art style grabbed our attention, but it wasn’t until the hands-on, when we dodged, drummed, and strummed our way through the opening section of the game that No Straight Roads won us over. On the surface, it’s a cool looking 3-D action adventure game where you can bonk your enemies with a guitar. But where No Straight Roads really shines is the seamless interweaving of music and gameplay. Music plays a central role to the story, obviously, but we didn’t expect the admittedly toe tapping tunes to play an important role in boss battles, as the enemy attacks in time with the beat, and the music transitions from EDM heavy to rock as you battle your way to victory, with other music genres mixed in (including Disco!). Throw in a great story idea, hints of really compelling gameplay mechanics, and hilarious, cartoonish villains, and you’ll get the biggest surprise the editors at Gaming Trend discovered at E3.

Other nominees include:
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Wild Hearts
Phantom: Covert Ops

Dying Light 2 – Winner Best Action Game

While developer Techland was a little disappointed to find that Dying Light was generally classified as a zombie game, they are hoping to break free of that label with Dying Light 2, and they may just have a chance. This huge, open world features gangs for you to ally or form rivalries with, world-altering choices for you to make, plenty of spaces, both up high and buried deep, for you to parkour your way through, and yes, no shortage of undead to avoid and murder along the way. Survival, horror, and action will all come together when Dying Light 2 releases on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2020.

Other nominees include:
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Contra: Rogue Corps
No Straight Roads

Doom Eternal – Winner Best Shooter

Doom (2016) was something of a sleeper hit when it breathed new life into the long-running franchise just a few years ago. Hailed for its quick, brutal combat, incredible soundtrack, and surprisingly engrossing storyline, Doom was one of the best games of 2016. Going into E3 2019, Doom Eternal was one of our most anticipated games, and still it managed to surpass all expectations. Our hour-long demo showed off tons of new gadgets and abilities, including a grapple hook, the ability to dash short distances, a shoulder-mounted, flamethrower, and new, deliciously lethal secondary fire modes. Doom Eternal seems poised to build upon the awesome foundation of Doom (2016), and turn things up to 11. Simply put, Doom Eternal was one of the best games we played at E3 this year, and that’s why we’re giving it our award for Best Shooter.

Other nominees include:
Atomicrops
Gears of War 5

Mosaic – Best Narrative Game

Burnout has become a frequent topic in the gaming industry, but few have approached the subject as thoughtfully or artfully as Mosaic. Low poly but rich in style and atmosphere, Mosaic deals with monotony, depression, and inspiration in a truly breathtaking way, and absolutely stole our hearts. Get ready to find the little, golden moments of wonder in the world around you when Mosaic comes to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Other nominees include:
Man of Medan
Lost Words: Between the Pages

Cyberpunk 2077 – Best Game of Show

The more we learn about Cyberpunk 2077, the more excited we become. Graphics, branching dialogue options, gameplay and customization, a sprawling world to explore: this game has it all. This year we got not only our first look at V, the playable character, but also how the game changed based off if you were playing a stealthy Netrunner or a physically augmented fighter. And let’s not forget the show-stealing Keanu Reeves reveal! We’re counting down the days to April 16th, 2020, when Cyberpunk 2077 comes to PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Other nominees include:
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Dying Light 2
The Outer Worlds
Doom Eternal

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