My 4 under-the-radar gems from Summer Game Fest — from Zelda-likes to murder gardening
Summer Game Fest 2026’s Play Days event served as a platform for smaller game studios to present their upcoming projects alongside major industry releases. VGC’s coverage highlights hands-on experiences with several titles including Control Resonant, Alien Isolation 2, Stranger Than Heaven, and Final Fantasy 7: Revelation. The publication also conducted an interview with Fumito Ueda, the legendary director known for creating Shadow of the Colossus and Ico, to discuss his new game Gen Atlas. The article emphasizes discovering hidden gems and compelling experiences from smaller developers during quieter exhibition moments, positioning independent studios’ work as standout attractions at an event traditionally dominated by AAA announcements and major publisher releases.