E3 2019 arrived with fewer platform-holder fireworks than usualSony skipped the show entirelybut the week still delivered enough game announcements, trailers, awkward stage banter, and “wait, did that really just happen?” moments to keep the internet fully caffeinated. For players, the best E3 2019 games were not just the loudest reveals. They were the titles that suggested where video games were headed: bigger open worlds, more ambitious remakes, stronger subscription strategies, cloud gaming experiments, and a growing appetite for single-player adventures that did not apologize for being single-player.
The show’s biggest story was obvious: Cyberpunk 2077 brought Keanu Reeves onto the Xbox stage and instantly turned a release-date reveal into pop culture confetti. But E3 2019 was not a one-game event. Final Fantasy VII Remake finally looked real enough to make longtime fans exhale. Halo Infinite positioned itself as the bridge to Microsoft’s next console. Animal Crossing: New Horizons looked like a tropical vacation designed by a raccoon with a mortgage calculator. Doom Eternal, Watch Dogs: Legion, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Elden Ring, Deathloop, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel also helped make the show feel surprisingly packed.
Below is a deep, SEO-friendly look at the best new video games at E3 2019, why they mattered, and how that particular show became a strange but memorable snapshot of the industry right before the next console generation.
Why E3 2019 Mattered for Video Games
E3 2019 stood at an interesting crossroads. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were not yet on store shelves, but the industry was already leaning forward. Microsoft teased Project Scarlett, its next-generation Xbox hardware, while also pushing Xbox Game Pass and PC gaming more aggressively. Google Stadia had recently been introduced as a cloud gaming platform, and publishers were experimenting with subscription services, live-service roadmaps, and cross-platform releases.
At the same time, the most exciting E3 2019 games were not all futuristic experiments. Many were comfort food with upgraded engines. Final Fantasy VII Remake reimagined a 1997 RPG classic. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening turned a Game Boy favorite into a toy-like Switch adventure. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition reminded PC players that sometimes the best new thing is an old thing wearing a sharper hat.
That mix made E3 2019 fascinating. It was about the future, yes, but also about nostalgia, preservation, and the industry’s ongoing obsession with making players say, “Fine, I’ll buy it again.”
Cyberpunk 2077: The Moment That Owned E3 2019
No E3 2019 games list can start anywhere else. Cyberpunk 2077 dominated the Xbox briefing with a cinematic trailer, a confirmed release date at the time, and the surprise appearance of Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand. It was one of those E3 moments engineered in a lab to break social media. The crowd cheered, the memes arrived instantly, and “You’re breathtaking!” became the unofficial slogan of the week.
The reason Cyberpunk 2077 mattered so much was not only celebrity sparkle. CD Projekt Red was coming off the enormous reputation of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and players expected a dense, choice-driven RPG with mature storytelling, branching quests, and a city that felt alive. The E3 2019 presentation sold Night City as a neon playground of body modification, corporate corruption, street gangs, and player freedom.
Even before launch, Cyberpunk 2077 represented the biggest promise of E3 2019: a role-playing game massive enough to feel like an entire vacation, except with more cybernetic arms and fewer hotel breakfast waffles.
Final Fantasy VII Remake: Nostalgia With a New Combat System
Final Fantasy VII Remake was another showstopper. For years, fans wondered whether Square Enix could actually pull off a modern remake of one of the most beloved RPGs ever made. At E3 2019, the answer looked much closer to “yes.” The presentation showed Cloud, Barret, Aerith, Tifa, Midgar, and the Scorpion Sentinel boss fight with flashy visuals and a hybrid combat system that mixed real-time action with tactical commands.
What made Final Fantasy VII Remake one of the best E3 2019 games was its confidence. It did not simply repaint the old game. It expanded Midgar, added cinematic detail, and turned the original’s turn-based structure into something more immediate while still keeping room for strategic pauses. That balance was important. Square Enix had to satisfy longtime fans who remembered every polygonal haircut while also attracting newer players who might ask, “Why is this guy’s sword the size of a refrigerator door?”
The remake also won major recognition from E3 critics, which confirmed that the playable demo was more than nostalgia bait. It was a legitimate contender for the show’s strongest game.
Halo Infinite: Microsoft’s Next-Generation Flag Bearer
Halo Infinite did not show much gameplay at E3 2019, but it carried enormous strategic weight. Microsoft positioned the game as a launch companion for its next-generation console, then known as Project Scarlett. That made Halo Infinite less of a simple sequel and more of a statement: Master Chief was going to help lead Xbox into its next era.
The trailer focused on atmosphere, mystery, and the return of Chief as a central heroic figure. For fans who felt the series had become complicated by expanded lore and uneven reception, Halo Infinite seemed to promise a reset in tone. It wanted to feel grand, lonely, and iconic again. In other words, Microsoft was not just selling a shooter. It was selling the memory of looking up at a mysterious ringworld and thinking, “Well, this seems unsafe, but in a fun way.”
Elden Ring: A Fantasy Mystery From FromSoftware and George R. R. Martin
Elden Ring was revealed at E3 2019 with a cryptic trailer that gave players more questions than answers. Still, the names attached were enough to make the announcement thunderous. FromSoftware, the studio behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro, was working with fantasy author George R. R. Martin on a new action RPG world.
The reveal did not explain much about mechanics, structure, or exploration. It did not need to. The appeal was in the promise: FromSoftware’s challenging design philosophy combined with a broader mythological backdrop. At the time, Elden Ring felt like a sealed treasure chest. Nobody knew exactly what was inside, but everyone was already emotionally preparing to be defeated by it.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: A Single-Player Comeback
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order had one of the most important gameplay showings of E3 2019 because it answered a simple question: could EA still deliver a focused, single-player Star Wars adventure? Respawn Entertainment showed Cal Kestis using Force powers, platforming, and lightsaber combat in a story set after Revenge of the Sith.
The game stood out because it was not pitched as a multiplayer service, a loot machine, or a galaxy-sized storefront. It was a narrative-driven action-adventure game with exploration, cinematic set pieces, and a cute droid companion. In an era when many big publishers were chasing live-service models, Fallen Order felt almost rebellious by being traditional. Sometimes players do not want twelve seasonal currencies. Sometimes they just want to swing a lightsaber, climb a wall, and avoid being emotionally destroyed by a robot with tiny legs.
Watch Dogs: Legion: Play as Anyone, Even Grandma
Ubisoft’s biggest E3 2019 game was Watch Dogs: Legion, an open-world hacker adventure set in a near-future London under surveillance and authoritarian pressure. Its headline feature was bold: players could recruit and control almost anyone in the city. Not just one hero. Not just a small squad. Anyone.
The gameplay demo made the concept easy to understand by showing different recruits with different abilities, including an older character who instantly became one of the show’s favorite surprises. The idea gave Watch Dogs: Legion a strong identity. It was not merely “Watch Dogs, but British.” It was a systemic sandbox about building a resistance from ordinary people.
That design pitch made Legion one of the most discussed E3 2019 games. Whether the final game could fully deliver on the promise was a separate question, but at the show, the concept was fresh enough to cut through the noise.
Doom Eternal: Louder, Faster, Angrier
Doom Eternal brought exactly what people expected from id Software’s modern Doom formula: speed, heavy metal energy, aggressive movement, and demon-smashing chaos. E3 2019 showed more of the game’s expanded mobility, new enemies, and Battlemode multiplayer concept.
The genius of Doom Eternal’s E3 presentation was that it did not pretend to be something else. It did not arrive in a blazer and explain quarterly growth projections. It kicked the door open and reminded everyone that sometimes excellent game design means moving fast, reacting quickly, and never letting the player feel passive.
As one of the best new video games at E3 2019, Doom Eternal represented pure mechanical confidence. It knew its audience, knew its rhythm, and looked ready to turn every combat arena into a gym membership for your reflexes.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons: The Calmest Big Deal at E3
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was delayed to March 2020, but Nintendo softened the news with a charming gameplay reveal. Instead of moving into an existing town, players would travel to a deserted island through Tom Nook’s getaway package. The demo showed crafting, resource gathering, tent placement, fishing, decorating, and the cozy routine that makes Animal Crossing feel like a warm blanket with item management.
New Horizons stood out at E3 2019 because it offered the opposite of the show’s loudest games. No collapsing cyber-cities. No demonic invasions. No sword-swinging panic. Just a beach, a tent, some fruit, and the quiet suspicion that Tom Nook had once again built an empire out of adorable debt.
Its importance was obvious: Nintendo had a major Switch title that appealed to casual players, longtime fans, families, and anyone who wanted a game about peaceful progress rather than adrenaline.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel: Nintendo’s Final Surprise
Nintendo ended its E3 2019 Direct with a major shock: a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was in development for Nintendo Switch. The teaser was eerie, mysterious, and darker than many expected. Link and Zelda explored beneath Hyrule Castle, strange energy appeared, and the internet immediately began frame-by-frame analysis like it had been assigned homework by a very intense history teacher.
The announcement mattered because Breath of the Wild had redefined open-world design for Nintendo. A direct sequel suggested that the company wanted to build on that foundation rather than abandon it. Even with minimal details, it became one of the biggest E3 2019 games simply because players trusted the world, the physics, and the sense of discovery established by the previous title.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Link’s Awakening: Nintendo’s Strong Switch Year
Nintendo’s E3 2019 lineup was not only about future mysteries. Luigi’s Mansion 3 showed off hotel-based ghost hunting, co-op with Gooigi, and multiplayer features. It looked playful, expressive, and full of slapstick charm. Luigi remained gaming’s most relatable hero: terrified, underqualified, and somehow still doing the job.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening also made a strong impression with its miniature diorama art style. The remake preserved the dreamlike structure of the original while making Koholint Island feel like a living toy box. Together, these games showed Nintendo’s strength at E3 2019: it could serve massive franchises, nostalgic remakes, family-friendly adventures, and quirky mechanics all in the same presentation.
Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo: Bethesda’s New IP Energy
Bethesda’s E3 2019 showcase had updates for existing franchises, but two new reveals stood out: Deathloop from Arkane Lyon and Ghostwire: Tokyo from Tango Gameworks. Deathloop teased a stylish time-loop conflict between assassins trapped on an island. Ghostwire: Tokyo introduced a supernatural mystery where people vanish and strange forces take over the city.
Both games were important because they represented something E3 always needs: new ideas. Sequels and remakes are exciting, but new IP gives a show its sense of possibility. Deathloop had Arkane’s reputation for systems-driven design behind it, while Ghostwire: Tokyo became a breakout moment partly because of its unusual premise and memorable stage presentation.
Marvel’s Avengers: A Big License With Big Expectations
Marvel’s Avengers finally received a full reveal from Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics at E3 2019. The game promised a cinematic story, playable heroes, online co-op, and ongoing content. It was one of the most anticipated licensed games at the show because the Marvel brand was at a cultural peak after years of blockbuster films.
The E3 reveal generated curiosity and debate. Fans wanted to know how the heroes would play, how the story would evolve, and why the character designs looked familiar but not exactly like the movie actors. Still, the ambition was clear. Square Enix was not making a small superhero side project. It was aiming for a major action-adventure platform built around one of entertainment’s biggest brands.
Borderlands 3, The Outer Worlds, and the RPG-Shooter Crowd
Borderlands 3 brought its familiar mix of loot, co-op, loud jokes, and cel-shaded mayhem to E3 2019. It was not the most surprising game at the show, but it was one of the most reliable crowd-pleasers. Fans knew the formula: collect absurd weapons, chase bigger numbers, and listen to characters behave like they have never been introduced to indoor voices.
The Outer Worlds also gained attention as a sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. Its E3 presence emphasized player choice, corporate satire, companion characters, and branching outcomes. For players who missed sharp, dialogue-heavy RPGs, The Outer Worlds looked like a smart alternative to the year’s louder action showcases.
PC Gaming at E3 2019: Baldur’s Gate 3, Bloodlines 2, and More
The PC Gaming Show highlighted a different side of E3 2019. Baldur’s Gate 3 generated major excitement because Larian Studios, known for Divinity: Original Sin 2, was taking on one of the most respected RPG names in PC gaming. Even without a huge gameplay blowout, the announcement carried serious weight.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 also drew attention with its dark urban RPG setting and emphasis on player choice. Chivalry 2 promised large-scale medieval multiplayer chaos. Planet Zoo, Shenmue III, Zombie Army 4, Griftlands, and Terraria: Journey’s End gave the PC showcase a broad range of genres.
That variety mattered. E3’s biggest stages often focus on cinematic blockbusters, but PC gaming reminded everyone that strategy, simulation, role-playing, indie experiments, and wonderfully strange niche ideas are just as important to the medium.
What the Best E3 2019 Games Had in Common
The best new video games at E3 2019 shared several patterns. First, many leaned heavily on player freedom. Cyberpunk 2077 promised role-playing choices. Watch Dogs: Legion built its identity around recruitable citizens. The Outer Worlds emphasized branching dialogue. Animal Crossing: New Horizons let players shape an island from scratch.
Second, nostalgia was everywhere, but it was not lazy nostalgia. Final Fantasy VII Remake rebuilt a classic with modern combat. Link’s Awakening transformed a handheld favorite into a Switch showpiece. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and other returning names proved that old games can still feel relevant when treated with care.
Third, publishers were clearly preparing for a platform shift. Xbox discussed new hardware and Game Pass. Ubisoft promoted Uplay+. Google Stadia hovered over the conversation. E3 2019 was not only about games coming soon; it was about how players would access games in the next decade.
Conclusion: E3 2019 Was Messy, Memorable, and Surprisingly Strong
E3 2019 may not have been the cleanest or most explosive show in the event’s history, but it gave players a rich list of upcoming games to discuss. Cyberpunk 2077 owned the cultural moment. Final Fantasy VII Remake proved that a risky remake could look spectacular. Nintendo delivered charm, surprises, and Switch momentum. Microsoft laid out a next-generation strategy. Bethesda and Ubisoft showed new ideas alongside established franchises.
Looking back, the best E3 2019 games capture a strange transition point. The industry was moving toward new consoles, subscriptions, cloud gaming, and larger live-service ecosystems, yet the most exciting moments still came from simple emotional hooks: a beloved hero returning, a long-awaited remake finally playable, a mysterious new fantasy world, a cozy island escape, or Keanu Reeves walking onstage and making thousands of gamers briefly forget how chairs work.
Experience Section: What It Felt Like Following E3 2019 Games
Following E3 2019 as a gaming fan felt like sitting in front of a buffet where half the dishes were comfort food and the other half were labeled “experimental future sauce.” Every publisher seemed to be selling not only games, but a different vision of how gaming should work. Microsoft wanted players thinking about ecosystems, Game Pass, PC support, and the next Xbox. Nintendo focused on the Switch as a home for joyful, polished, instantly understandable games. Ubisoft talked about open worlds, subscriptions, and long-term engagement. Square Enix leaned into cinematic nostalgia and huge licenses. Bethesda tried to balance familiar franchises with new concepts.
The fun of that week was not just watching trailers. It was comparing expectations with reality in real time. Cyberpunk 2077 became the loudest conversation because it had the perfect E3 recipe: anticipation, spectacle, celebrity, and a release date. But Final Fantasy VII Remake arguably delivered the most satisfying game-focused showcase because players could finally see how combat worked. The difference mattered. One reveal made people cheer; the other made people analyze menus, boss phases, character switching, and whether Cloud’s hair had achieved its final form.
Nintendo’s presentation offered a completely different emotional rhythm. After the noise of shooters, RPGs, and cinematic trailers, Animal Crossing: New Horizons felt like a deep breath. The delay disappointed fans, but the island concept was immediately understandable. It made people imagine routines: collecting shells, crafting furniture, placing a tent, inviting villagers, and slowly turning an empty space into home. That is a special kind of E3 magic. Not every great reveal needs explosions. Sometimes the most powerful fantasy is having a quiet island and enough storage space.
Another memorable part of E3 2019 was the way new IP still managed to cut through. Deathloop and Ghostwire: Tokyo did not have the enormous brand recognition of Halo or Zelda, but they sparked curiosity because they looked different. That matters because gaming can become predictable when every major announcement has a number, subtitle, or remake label attached. New worlds give players permission to wonder again.
For anyone writing about E3 2019 games today, the show is a reminder that hype is complicated. Some games looked incredible because they were polished and playable. Others looked exciting because their ideas were huge. Some became better understood only years later. But as an event, E3 2019 captured the joy of gaming anticipation: the group chats, the reaction videos, the wish lists, the skepticism, the overreactions, and the annual tradition of promising yourself you will not buy too many games before immediately adding six more to the backlog.