THQ Nordic Is Cooking Up Some Big Surprises - Will It Be Enough To Captivate Audiences?

From to , there's a lot in the works from THQ Nordic right now, and the publisher has just provided some updates on what to expect from the upcoming roster. Originally formed in 2011 as Nordic Games, THQ Nordic later grabbed the trademark of defunct game company THQ and plenty of licenses alongside it. It's been publishing a mix of new titles and continuing IPs in the years since, with some of the most popular releases being remakes and remasters of memorable games.

The newest updates from THQ Nordic come courtesy of an August 2 digital showcase, held several weeks in advance of the publisher's presence at Gamescom 2024. The showcase offers a look at some works in progress and a couple of key announcements, and attended a pre-briefing that covered details about what to expect from the upcoming slate, including gameplay reveals and feature updates.

The biggest new announcement from THQ Nordic is the official reveal of , a sequel to a 2018 "" racing title developed by creator Bugbear Games that picked up a lot of fans. Like before, focuses on destruction physics, striking a balance between the somewhat arcade-y nature of most destruction racers and a dash of more realistic simulation. THQ Nordic is also emphasizing a robust sound system in to make for a more immersive experience.

THQ Nordic's other entirely new reveal is a platformer called , which tosses an apparently un-heroic protagonist into a journey inspired by adventure serials. The big selling point here is the hand-painted artwork and frame-by-frame animation, which looks great both in still frames and in fluid motion. Goldman can use his cane as a pogo stick in a manner very reminiscent of and the overall structure, which promises exploration with minimal backtracking, also sounds like its sticking more to a classic platforming vein than the popular Metroidvania format.

One of THQ Nordic's long-gestating projects is a remake of the 2001 game, an RPG known for its harsh, interesting world and a smattering