Another year, another celebration of all things video games. Following a successful return last year, Thailand Game Show 2023 is back from 20 to 22 October with more big guns in tow. Bandai Namco and Square Enix, in continued tradition, have returned to grace the show floor, offering exclusive game demos for a host of titles.
Leading the charge for this year’s iteration are Tekken 8 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth respectively, each with their own themed space that turned heads and eyes everywhere. But the other releases also promise their fair share of fun and gaming thrills, so it wouldn’t hurt to try them out – who knows, an unexpected gem might just catch your attention.
Here’s the full list of showcases to check out at this year’s Thailand Game Show.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
In a first for the Dragon Quest Monsters series, The Dark Prince won’t be focusing on the good guys. Instead, the upcoming installment follows Psaro, the main antagonist of Dragon Quest IV, on his quest for revenge that involves wrangling monsters, combining them, and becoming the Master of Monsterkind. Expect to encounter more than 500 creatures, and experience the ever-changing seasons of Nadiria and its unique environments with each step of the way.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince arrives 1 December 2023 on the Nintendo Switch.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The highly-anticipated sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake promises a treat for fans – visually or otherwise. The gift that never stops giving, it continues to blend nostalgia with a sense of novelty, presenting a host of familiar and new features. Chocobo riding? Check. A synergy system that combines two characters’ attacks? Double check. Reimagined classic mini-games? Triple check. There’ll be plenty of thrills to go around for both longtime enthusiasts and curious first-timers, and then some.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth releases 29 February 2024 on the PS5.
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
There’s no better way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Naruto’s anime debut than combining two intertwined legacies. Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is set to feature the largest roster in the series, with more than 130 playable characters waiting to grace the battlefield. In addition to reliving iconic scenes from the anime through cut scenes and in-game battles, the game also brings an original story focusing on Boruto called Special Story Mode, and a Simple Control Mode that simplifies controls and automatically performs various actions.
The anime brawler lands 16 November 2023 on all major consoles and 17 November on PC.
Sand Land
The legendary world of Sand Land, hailing from Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, is the focus for this upcoming action RPG, which introduces a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage. Taking on the role of Beelzebub, players will have to lead their company of heroic misfits (Fiend Prince, Sheriff Rao, and Thief) on a quest to locate a hidden Legendary Spring.
Sand Land has no release date just yet, but is due to launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Star Ocean The Second Story R
The highly acclaimed second entry in the Star Ocean series gets a second lease of life in Star Ocean The Second Story R. Featuring a 2.5D aesthetic, new battle mechanics, full Japanese and English voice overs, original and re-arranged music, fast travel, and more, it charts both new and familiar territory while respecting its roots. Choose between Claude or Rena, play through their perspectives, recruit allies, and unlock various endings – the journey is yours.
The action RPG releases 2 November 2023 on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC.
Sword Art Online Last Recollection
The final adventure of the Sword Art Online game series, Last Recollection is based on the War of Underworld anime arc and features the largest roster of playable characters. Taking on the role of Kirito, players will have to unmask the Dark Knight and emerge victorious over the forces of the Dark Territory.
Sword Art Online Last Recollection is now out on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Synduality Echo of Ada
Set in the world of Amasia, where humans and artificial intelligence known as Magus co-exist together, Synduality Echo of Ada is a shooter-looter PvPvE that assigns players to the role of a Drifter, who makes a living by collecting rare AO Crystals. Accompanying them are Cradle Coffins, fully-customisable armed vehicles that bring free-roaming and mecha-focused capabilities for looting, fighting, and extracting resources.
The third-person shooter will release sometime in the future for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
Tekken 8
Packing punches is all in a day’s work for the Tekken franchise, and Tekken 8 is no exception to the rule. Incredibly smooth animation, photorealistic visuals, and a high level of detail – it promises that in spades, but that’s not even counting the return of fan favourites (especially a long-time absentee, Jun), new fighter Azucena, and other fresh elements like Special Style controls and Arcade Mode. One thing is clear: the anticipated title isn’t here to play around, offering something for everyone.
Tekken 8 is due for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on 26 January 2024.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
