Topic: PushSquare Forum Fantasy Critic - 2026

@Th3solution My plan to invade your space was much more sinister than that. I used the tadpole that links us to look into your mind and see what your next choice would be, which obviously led me to The Duskbloods. Ha! Shouldn't have missed that passive Wisdom check, nerd. 😉

But yeah, since it's multiplayer-focused... I do hope it'll go more towards Bloodborne than Elden Ring: Nightreign. I'm sure it'll get me points nonetheless, but I'd like to maximise the amount! And that is if it doesn't get delayed still at all. I don't think Nightreign did after their server test, which is why I felt confident enough to put it on despite how little they've still shared of it. Castlevania does seem equally risky in ways just because it's a revival, but the fact that the Dead Cells developers already nailed a collab before and Konami's recent track record with its revival... it makes me confident!

@Ravix Woo! I'm (not) glad to see you found out about Grave Seasons. It's very promising (and unfortunately enough was next in line for my picks...)! I do still wonder if it won't get delayed further since it already suffered multiple delays, but let's see. If it makes you feel any better, it wouldn't have been sleeper pick eligible since it's been featured in Summer Game Fest and an Xbox showcase before. Totally feels like a possible break-out hit, so let's see if your gamble with a smaller game pays off. If not, back to the Ubisoft approach of disgustingly high-budget games only.

@Werehog I clearly should've done better research and snagged Galactic Racer away from you in that case. Woe is me. I'm happy to steal one of your drafts at least, so I can call it somewhat even in this jumbled universe where I claim you mistreated me all the same by including a game I wouldn't have. The audacity! Good shout on Ocarina of Time. I umm'ed and ahhh'd with including it in my last two picks, but ultimately went for the other two. Mostly because like you said, I'm not confident it's not getting delayed anyway. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were both delayed into later years, so that put me off! If it comes out in time though, I think you have a bonafide huge scorer on your hands.

Oh this is getting so interesting! Getting deeper into my board now I’m feeling more and more torn about whether to stick with the few big budget AAA releases that are left, or venturing into lesser known quantities.

This activity has really made me realize how barren the release schedule gets at the end of the year thanks to GTA6 scaring everyone away. Beyond October it really starts to thin out!

Fortunately, I do feel like I have a ringer that’s still available I can’t really pass up.

With the next selection in the 2026 Push Square Fantasy Draft, the Pretendo company selects:
Rayman Legends Retold

Presuming that I’m understanding the rules correctly, I believe this game is eligible (let me know @Tjuz if I’m off base here).
I’m inspired by Rog’s pick because this game feels similarly to Ocarina of Time, in that it should be a lock since the original game was a critical smash hit with ubiquitous praise. There is a risk here though because the conversion to a more 3D aesthetic could backfire. Also, the addition of voice acting does feel like it could bomb. Sometimes voice acting can actually detract or come across corny. Still, as the recent Push Square article pointed out, Rayman Origins is also to be included with the game and I feel like this remake is going to really be a critical standout this year.

————

And I guess I’m next up again. Starting round four now….

Here’s where I probably should snag a high profile game. I’m torn between a few options, but ultimately I’m going to go the conservative route since Capcom does not seem to miss lately.

With the next selection in the 2026 Push Square Fantasy Draft, the Pretendo company selects:
Onimusha: Way of the Sword

The IGN preview sold me, even though there’s just something about this game that sits in my gut as one that might not live up to the hype. Perhaps it’s the fact that I think the samurai action genre is oversaturated lately. Regardless, the critics are fairly glowing in their previews, so that’s all that matters.

And now, @Werehog is up next—

@Th3solution I am sorry to inform you that Rayman Legends Retold is indeed a valid pick, and that it was up next in my draft. I hope you feel good about what you've done! Totally agree that that's bound to get a great score. Onimusha is a solid pick too. I was scared off of it simply by comparing previous scores in the franchise, but like you said, Capcom seems to not go wrong nowadays. Could very easily be the highest rated one they've released so far!

Oi, Sol! What did I just say about stealing from my shortlist...?!

[deletes Rayman Legends Retold and bumps everything else up a space]

So much for boasting about having "a good few back-up choices" earlier. This is gonna get vicious towards the end of our drafts, ain't it?

Well, at least Rayman wasn't my next pick in sequence. That honour goes to...

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Back to @Ravix with commiserations about being stuck in the middle of this blasted snake. Second is as bad as third, my friend, but we'll get there!

Edit: i'll edit and add my pick at the end of this post soon, as werehog has since posted again

@Werehog oof! When I did my initial list research googling I kind of thought it was a PS5 release thing because of Push Square, and, when I realised it wasn't, my cursory glance at Nintendo seems to have missed this being a thing this year 😅 please do enjoy your many, many points for Zelda!

@Th3Solution darn. Rayman was working it's way up my list as a potential 85+ having thought more I think people will like the nostalgia, especially on ps5, where people were pleading for simpler, old school/platforming games (I think it is that)

Eh, I had Onimusha, but I was going to leave it for last gasp as I have a feeling it could be a little lower score than the hype might suggest. No idea why.

@Tjuz this gives me great pleasure (and relief) that I went for it early, I would have been devastated as it was the one that stood out from when I first thought this was a good idea you had. But seeing as I gave it such a hopeful high predicted score on my draftboard I had to go for it now. It was actually the game I referenced, without mentioning what it was, when talking about being good for discovering games at the start 😄 there have been delays, but it seems to be for polish now, and hopefully they can get it ready enough to reveal it is out on Halloween week or early October, as that will be good for word of mouth and marketing in the build up to spooky season.

Sorry to have stolen this from under your nose, especially since my overinflated predictions have this as scoring an 88/93 and being a surprise outside GOTY contender 💀

At least i'm glad I didn't steal Rayman from you too, and you can level some of that hate toward Sol now 😄

Hmm, my next pick. This is tough, there is a game i'm not sure how reviewers will recieve, as it is the kind of game that will maybe satisfy more of one type of gamer than another. But then nostalgia, and a drastic need for it to be good for the publisher. It really depends who reviews it, though. I also have it 7th on my list so I should obey that, as it is the highest left, but a few below it I have as potentially scoring higher. Long story long, right, guys 😅

F*** it. Gears of War E-Day 😭 You better be reviewed by those Mountain Dew loving fellows in America. But was making it exclusive a sign of confidence in it? Is it a crowd pleaser, or will it only be a certain type of crowd that is pleased, we shall see 😭😭 why have I done this? I think the fact it focuses on (apparently) characters that people are invested in might help it? And I guess PS reviews won't be reviewing it, so maybe it will be more partisan 😂

I do still feel like there is one more game we are kind of avoiding, and it will be interesting to see who takes it, and the reasons why we haven't yet taken it.

On to you, @Tjuz apologies for the insight into my mind over that pick, especially as it boiled down to taking the one i'd already marked as the next logical pick from the start (yay, draftboards) 😛

This thread has been going too fast to keep up but I'll try. So firstly I sided with TheSoloution because he stole my game (which I respect, it took initiative) Then Ravix went for Grand Theft Auto so bid rigging became the right move, it's technically collusion but very hard to prove so good luck Tjuz. Especially because Tjuz imposed sanctions and dissolved PocketPet's actions (temporarily) in the region. I did start off pondering bribery as a viable option though, but again Tjuz is incorruptible so I adapted and formed a silent partnership with (checks the name) Pretendo Entertainment Corp instead. I can't say I've looked over the companies portfolio of games but I did take over the PR division too and now we have brand identity. That's got to be worth extra points no?

@Werehog Darn it! Why haven't I even had a single thought in passing for Ace Combat? Great shout. Seems to be shaping up as a big one. I see iDoss is specialised in aerial vehicles with both this and Galactic Racer. Let's hope your confidence in these aircrafts doesn't crash and burn. Oh... what's that I see in front of this tie fighter? A goose branded with the TjuziMax logo? What a weird coincidence!

@Ravix If Grave Seasons ends up scoring as highly as you predict here, you can expect my salt to match the salt contents of an ocean. I can only hope that the murder in this game will be reflected in it's review scores. -30 points for you, sir! We need something to make up for your Grand Theft Auto VI pick!

Your Gears of War: E-Day pick definitely seems like a somewhat risky one. Not like these games ever scored badly, but they can definitely be on the lower side of the plus points at their worst (and most recent). I admire your bravery to go for a game that is not a guaranteed 90+ juggernaut. To be fair, the fact that it's more partisan with no PlayStation release might be a benefit to it with Xbox gamers maybe celebrating having an exclusive again for the first time in a whole console generation.

@GirlVersusGame Well, Pretendo no doubt has the marketing going. I'll have to confer with my shareholders and friends in the government to see how I can somehow make this team-up illegal... Here at TjuziMax, we just have an old guy with a dog doing the art. And he's petting the dog more often than doing any work. Unfortunately, I can't get rid of him or he's going to break his NDA...

***

As the head of the snake, I will once again be choosing two picks. It's been some considerations, but I've decided I'm going with the following:

My first pick will be Halo: Campaign Evolved. This one's cutting it close to being eligible for the draft since I expect critic reviews to scream in within the next week with its early access, but hey. Just in time is good enough for me! These games have generally been 80+ scorers as well with some of the older ones even reaching into the 90s. It being a remake of the first seems promising it'll likely do well with critics once again... Besides, aren't people constantly starving for some good Halo? I sure hope so! I don't know these people personally!

My second pick will be Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. Once again snatching a Nintendo exclusive from its lesser imitator Pretendo, I can only laugh in their face when my exclusive hits the high digits! Ha! The lay-offs after its success will be astounding, truly. This one is specifically a sequel to Three Houses, which as the first Switch entry that got an 89 score. Yum yum, some established pedigree. Get to crunching and make me a hit.

That means, @Ravix, back to you!

@GirlVersusGame I feel attacked 😛

You definitely don't want to see what an AI came up with for the Boobisoft logos, but it's kind of funny so I might share them at some point, anyway 😭😂

@Tjuz ah, the battle of the Xbox classics. I feel like people do like Halo, but this not having multiplayer annoyed some people (I think) and being slapped on playstation with just a campaign when it was the multiplayer that made it a big success? Not one I'd dare to pick myself incase reviewers just ask "why?"

Your Nintendo knowledge I know I can never match, and so my picks are definitely reflecting that. I'm drawing from a much smaller knowledge pool and so without further time wasting, Boobisoft announces as their 5th pick:

The Eternal Life of Goldman

Did that surprise you? (You said we get one swap before a game's release, correct?) The release date looks set to be announced on August 7th at THQ direct, and if it is Jan 1st I will be needing to make a little swap here 😅 but hey, i'm living dangerously now, and picking games i've only just discovered that nobody will expect of me. It looks absolutely awesome, by the way, and apparently it is all hand-drawn, so hopefully it gets the favour of the reviewers in an anti-ai campaign mindspace 🧐 (that Ravix is showing signs of brain activity, most unusual)

Also, after we have all made picks, I will share my Draftboad. It is a mess, but when we have all picked it'd be cool to have a roundtable discussion about the games, how well we think we all did etc 😄 (or bad, if we need to frame it with banter and competition in mind)

And if you don't mind the extra work a collection of trailers for all our picks in the thread would be cool. Especially if anyone is being nosey due to our amazing advanced SEO (mentioning the names of games and publishers lots of times on a popular website) it gives the games a bit of visibility. But, in all honesty, just having them for us all to look through and see what everyone has lined up for the competition will be cool, as i'm already finding games I will buy because of this thread and maybe some other push square members will too 😄

Still no one has taken a certain game, and at some point maybe I will take it if this carries on in 4 picks time, but maybe it does have a kind of 'will it won't it release' feel. There must be a reason why we all haven't taken it yet 🤔 and with that said, on to @werehog

...and there we have it. Now everybody's stolen something from my shortlist. I really do hope Gears of War: E-Day performs well for @Ravix and his fictional developer but I swear, if it ends up deciding the tournament alongside Castlevania and Rayman then you'll have to excuse me for a couple days while I go track down whoever invented this "snake order" nonsense!

Here's hoping I don't hit any branded geese along the way.

All jokes aside, yes, once everybody's drafts have been locked in, I'd love to discuss the methods behind our collective madness! I don't have anything fancy to share with regards my decision-making process, though. I just looked at a list of upcoming releases on Wikipedia and wrote down a handful of names that stood out to me, and I'm now prioritising them based on a bunch of hunches (while also reacting to the rampant thievery of my fellow competitors, of course). I'd be real interested to see how y'all are calculating your picks, not least because I'm now worried that poor iDoss Interactive's slate is gonna be full of delays!

Right, well then, before anybody else nabs it, I'm gonna stake a claim for my last big gun...

Silent Hill: Townfall

Time for another @Th3solution double feature! Have at it, buddy!

First of all… @GirlVersusGame That rocks! Love it! 🎉
If we don’t win this thing then we definitely should get the prize for marketing. And if so, you’re up for a raise!

And sorry folks…. Running a multibillion dollar corporation is very time intensive and I have been unable to log in all day. I’ll get these picks done asap

Alright gang, just so you know, I’ve had one beast of a day and my brain is oatmeal. I haven’t much wit left, and even less corporate strategic wisdom. I’m going to grab a low hanging fruit with my next pick. I think it’s probably the one Rav is referring to that everyone seems to be scared to touch.

With the next selection in the draft, Pretendo selects:
Phantom Blade Zero

I fear I’ll regret that one.

And now for the double play. Next one I’m debating to do another market heavy game or something a little less known. Ugh… I dunno. Sometimes gut reactions are the best reactions and we shouldn’t overthink.
For the next pick, Pretendo selects:
Valor Mortis

Just typing that give me heart palpitations. What am I thinking? Two new IP action games?

@Werehog ooops… forgot to tag you for next up.
I promise I’m not under the influence of any mind altering substances.

@Th3solution don't worry about it, Sol. Hopefully you can relax for the weekend a little. And if not, the next week. And if not, the next month. And if not, well you get the idea with that. Key point is: I hope some day in the future is far less oatmealy for ya.

And yes, Phantom Blade Ø was the game, and I probably should have taken it, and would have if people still didn't realise by now. It's getting its own showcase at some point for pete's sake! But part of me just thought... 'are Sony going to want to market that in late October whilst also building up marketing GTA 6 for the entirety of November and the holidays? Or might they both come to the realisation that a cheeky delay could help. But the answer is 'probably, yes'. I was mystified that no one was picking it, though, and I think that made me assume we all doubted it for some reason (after thendraft we may find out why others didn't too).

Anyway, I applaud you. For a 6th pick it is incredibly valuable and I hear it already has a chip on its shoulder and has promised to prove all those that passed on it wrong ala 'every player who slipped down the draft ever, but most recently Chris Cenac Jr' 😄

@Th3solution Two excellent picks there, buddy. Nothing to apologise for there, that's for sure! Here's hoping that you're able to de-oatmeal your brain this weekend.

I'll be honest, I never even heard of Phantom Blade Ø until today. Shows what I know!

Next game for iDoss Interactive will be...

Planet Zoo 2

...please and thank you, and a question for @Tjuz before my last couple picks. Can we opt for games that are currently available via early access on Steam? That aren't playable on any other platforms, and that have their full multi-platform launch dates coming up?

And with that, it's back to @Ravix once again. Maybe even for the final time, depending on how we're gonna handle our sleeper / counter picks! And then this snake can hiss right off.

@Werehog oof, I wasn't expecting such a fiery finish. I love it 😁 The WereHog is running wild.

@Tjuz I did have a few in mind for my next pick, but i'm not sure what was said about remakes/remasters etc and if it was specifically for the sleeper picks.

I was going to pick one and ask you to let me know, but instead I will take a risk and use it as an excuse to pick somrthing else which I have on my board and I can't use as a sleeper as it was featured at a show.

But if you do clarify any rules regarding these other things before my last pick it'd be appreciated.

With that said... with pick 6 of the game draft, Boobisoft will take:

Big Walk

There were earlier mentions of a Goose being blitzed by a jet engine and I was almost expecting that to be a hint on Tjuz's future pick, but it is mine now. From House House, developer of the wonderful Untitled Goose Game. And honestly, it seems like a really unique game experience, and unique can go one of two ways 😬😁 but I loved that silly Goose, and so I trust them to make another fun experience that reviewers at least like a bit more than something more normal.

@Ravix @Werehog Cheers, guys. I just needed a little sleep and nutrition. Brain is coming back online. I just need some escapism now via visitation of a virtual world, and preferably one in which I can blow stuff up while feeling super-powered. If I can’t blow up my real world challenges, I might as well fantasize in a video game.

I did make my picks last night after an extended work shift and was in a half stupor and so I didn’t fully remember my thought processes. I did flip back and forth between three games for my second pick and fear I may have been too heavily influenced by a last second preview I scanned through for Valor Mortis that used the term “potential GOTY” and made me go back and change what I had entered earlier. We’ll see. Now the day after with a clear head, I’m worried that was such a niche reviewer that I’m pretty sure it’s an inflated opinion. Ah well.

And as I look over the Pretendo portfolio, it’s really lopsided with third person action games. 😂 I have a couple up my sleeve to diversify, if they’re left on the board by my turn. The sleeper pick is going to be the hard one for me. You all have done great job of uncovering some lesser known properties, I’m impressed.