Note: This article is written for web publishing in standard American English and synthesizes real E3 2019 announcements, previews, award coverage, and industry reporting without inserting source links.
Introduction: E3 2019 Was Weird, Loud, and Surprisingly Memorable
E3 2019 arrived at an unusual moment for the video game industry. Sony skipped the show, the next generation of consoles was already rumbling in the distance, and plenty of publishers were clearly saving their biggest fireworks for the future. Yet somehow, the event still produced a greatest-hits reel of unforgettable reveals, big trailers, ambitious sequels, nostalgic remakes, and at least one celebrity cameo that instantly became gaming folklore.
Yes, we are talking about Keanu Reeves walking onto Microsoft’s stage for Cyberpunk 2077. The internet did not simply react; it levitated.
But E3 2019 was more than one breathtaking moment. It gave players a deeper look at Final Fantasy VII Remake, Doom Eternal, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Watch Dogs: Legion, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Halo Infinite, Marvel’s Avengers, The Outer Worlds, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and the mysterious collaboration between FromSoftware and George R. R. Martin called Elden Ring. In hindsight, that lineup feels almost unfairly stacked, like someone accidentally spilled an entire decade of hype into one convention center.
Below is a carefully curated look at the best new video games at E3 2019, judged by reveal impact, gameplay promise, creativity, audience excitement, and long-term cultural footprint. Some games were playable. Some were trailers. Some were vague enough to make fans analyze six seconds of fog like detective evidence. But all of them helped define one of the last major E3 shows before the event itself began fading from the center of gaming culture.
Why E3 2019 Still Matters
E3 2019 mattered because it captured the industry in transition. The PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch were established platforms, but Microsoft was already talking about Project Scarlett, the machine that would eventually become Xbox Series X. Cloud gaming was being pushed as the next big frontier. Subscription services were expanding. Publishers were experimenting with live-service models, cinematic storytelling, remakes, and open-world systems that promised players more freedom than ever.
Most importantly, E3 2019 reminded fans that spectacle still works when the games are strong. A good trailer can sell a fantasy. A good gameplay demo can quiet skeptics. A surprise sequel can make an entire fan base lose its collective mind before lunch. That mix of marketing theater and genuine excitement is exactly why E3 became famous in the first place.
The Best New Video Games at E3 2019
1. Cyberpunk 2077: The Show-Stealing Neon Giant
If E3 2019 had a main character, it was Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red’s futuristic RPG had already built enormous anticipation thanks to its sprawling Night City setting, first-person role-playing systems, and the studio’s reputation after The Witcher 3. Then came the Xbox stage presentation, a new cinematic trailer, and the reveal that Keanu Reeves would appear as Johnny Silverhand.
It was the kind of marketing moment every publisher dreams about but rarely earns. The crowd exploded, social media followed, and suddenly Cyberpunk 2077 felt less like a game preview and more like a pop-culture event. The trailer emphasized danger, body modification, betrayal, and the game’s grimy cyber-noir attitude. It promised a dense open world where players could shape their character, make choices, and wander through a city that looked as if every alley had a secret and every vending machine had seen a crime.
At E3 2019, Cyberpunk 2077 represented the dream version of next-level RPG design: stylish, violent, adult, ambitious, and massive. Whether someone loved science fiction, open-world exploration, character customization, or simply Keanu Reeves being effortlessly cool, the game had a hook for them.
2. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Nostalgia With a Buster Sword
Final Fantasy VII Remake was another giant of E3 2019, and unlike some mystery-heavy reveals, Square Enix brought substantial footage. Fans saw Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Midgar, real-time combat, cinematic boss battles, and a modernized take on one of the most beloved RPGs ever made.
The brilliance of the E3 showing was that it did not treat nostalgia like a museum exhibit. Instead, it turned the original game’s iconic moments into something energetic and contemporary. Combat blended action with tactical commands. Midgar looked enormous, grim, and alive. Characters who once existed as blocky polygon heroes now had expressive faces, dramatic voice acting, and the kind of hair physics that could probably qualify for its own engineering award.
The remake also had something rare: emotional pressure. It needed to satisfy longtime fans while welcoming newer players who knew Cloud mostly as “that huge sword guy.” At E3 2019, Square Enix made a persuasive case that the project could be both respectful and fresh. The result was one of the most talked-about games of the show and a clear highlight for RPG fans.
3. Doom Eternal: Heavy Metal With a Shotgun
Doom Eternal did not arrive at E3 2019 asking politely for attention. It kicked the door open, set the door on fire, and then used the door as a weapon. id Software’s sequel to 2016’s excellent Doom leaned into everything that made the reboot work: speed, aggression, brutal combat, monstrous enemies, and a rhythm that turns survival into a violent dance.
The E3 presentation showed new movement options, bigger arenas, and more ways to tear through demons. The Super Shotgun’s meat hook became an instant favorite because it transformed an already beloved weapon into a grappling tool of ridiculous joy. The game looked faster, meaner, and more strategic than its predecessor, rewarding players who stayed mobile and aggressive instead of hiding behind cover like a nervous office intern.
What made Doom Eternal one of the best games at E3 2019 was its clarity. Some games promised sprawling systems or mysterious worlds. Doom Eternal promised that you would fight demons at absurd speed while a soundtrack punched your speakers. Sometimes that is not just enough; it is perfect.
4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: A Single-Player Force Awakening
For many fans, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was refreshing simply because it was a story-driven, single-player Star Wars game. Respawn Entertainment introduced players to Cal Kestis, a young Jedi survivor hiding after Order 66. The E3 gameplay demo showed lightsaber combat, Force abilities, platforming, droid companionship, and cinematic action set during the dark years of the Empire.
The game stood out because it seemed focused. Instead of chasing every possible trend, it promised a crafted adventure with exploration, combat, character growth, and a clear narrative. That was a relief for players who wanted a Star Wars game that felt like an adventure rather than a storefront wearing a Jedi robe.
At E3 2019, Jedi: Fallen Order looked like a strong blend of Respawn’s action design and Lucasfilm’s galaxy-sized mythology. The lightsaber combat appeared deliberate rather than button-mashy, and the story had enough mystery to keep fans curious. It was not the flashiest reveal of the show, but it was one of the most promising.
5. Watch Dogs: Legion: Play as Anyone, Even Grandma
Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs: Legion had one of the clearest elevator pitches at E3 2019: recruit and play as anyone in a near-future London resistance. Not “anyone” in the marketing sense of “choose from three characters with different jackets,” but a city full of potential operatives, each with different traits, backgrounds, abilities, and voices.
The demo immediately became famous for showing an elderly character joining the fight against authoritarian surveillance. The idea was funny, bold, and mechanically fascinating. A stealthy spy, a construction worker with a cargo drone, a street fighter, or a retired assassin could all become part of the player’s DedSec network.
The London setting gave the game a sharp identity. Drones buzzed overhead, private security forces patrolled the streets, and the city felt like a satirical exaggeration of surveillance culture. Watch Dogs: Legion was not just another open-world sequel at E3 2019; it was a systems-driven experiment wrapped in a political techno-thriller.
6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons: The Cozy Escape Everyone Needed
Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons brought a different kind of excitement to E3 2019. There were no chainsaw demons, dystopian megacorporations, or galaxy-threatening villains. Instead, there was an island, a tent, crafting, fishing, neighbors, and Tom Nook calmly preparing to turn relaxation into a mortgage.
The E3 reveal showed players building a life on a deserted island, gathering resources, decorating spaces, crafting furniture, and shaping the environment over time. It looked charming, gentle, and dangerously easy to lose 300 hours inside. The delay to March 2020 disappointed fans, but the gameplay footage reassured them that Nintendo was expanding the series in meaningful ways.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons stood out because it offered a slower fantasy. E3 is usually full of explosions and dramatic trailer music, but Nintendo reminded everyone that planting flowers and arranging furniture can be just as powerful when the design is warm, polished, and deeply personal.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel: One Teaser, Maximum Chaos
Nintendo ended its E3 2019 Direct with a surprise teaser for a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The footage was brief, eerie, and instantly dissected by fans. Link and Zelda appeared to explore underground ruins, mysterious energy swirled around a corpse-like figure, and Hyrule Castle seemed to rise in ominous fashion.
There was no official title at the time, no release date, and very little detail. That did not matter. The original Breath of the Wild had redefined open-world adventure for many players, so confirmation of a direct sequel was enough to dominate conversation. Fans immediately began theorizing about Ganondorf, playable Zelda, darker themes, and whether Nintendo was about to give the series its own version of Majora’s Mask energy.
As an E3 moment, it was a masterclass in restraint. Nintendo showed just enough to ignite curiosity and then walked away while the internet built a conspiracy board.
8. Elden Ring: FromSoftware Meets George R. R. Martin
Elden Ring was one of the most intriguing announcements at E3 2019 because of the names attached to it. FromSoftware, the studio behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, revealed a dark fantasy action RPG created with worldbuilding contributions from George R. R. Martin.
The trailer was cryptic, poetic, and very FromSoftware. Someone hammered something. Someone else looked tragic. A ring was shattered. Fans immediately began decoding every line as if the trailer were an ancient prophecy found under a haunted cathedral.
What made Elden Ring so exciting at E3 2019 was potential. FromSoftware had already mastered punishing combat, environmental storytelling, boss design, and atmospheric dread. Martin’s involvement suggested a larger mythological framework. Even without gameplay, the reveal promised a fantasy world built for players who enjoy mystery, challenge, and lore that refuses to explain itself in normal human sentences.
9. The Outer Worlds: Corporate Satire in Space
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds arrived at E3 2019 with personality to spare. The sci-fi RPG looked colorful, sarcastic, choice-driven, and deeply suspicious of corporate power. Players would travel through the Halcyon colony, meet strange factions, recruit companions, make morally complicated decisions, and probably point a weird space gun at something that deserved it.
The game appealed strongly to fans of classic role-playing design. Dialogue choices, branching quests, companion interactions, and player builds were all front and center. Its humor had bite, and its world looked like a retro-futurist advertisement that had been left in the sun too long.
At a show full of massive franchises, The Outer Worlds felt like a smart, punchy alternative. It was not trying to be the biggest game in the room. It was trying to be the one with the sharpest dialogue and the most entertaining consequences.
10. Halo Infinite: Master Chief and the Next Xbox Horizon
Halo Infinite was tied closely to Microsoft’s next-generation messaging at E3 2019. The trailer reintroduced Master Chief with a more classic visual style and positioned the game as a major launch-era title for Project Scarlett, Microsoft’s future console platform.
The demo was more emotional than explosive. It showed a stranded pilot discovering Master Chief and helped frame the game as a return to wonder, scale, and hope. For longtime Xbox fans, that mattered. Halo is not just another shooter series; it is part of the brand’s identity.
Although E3 2019 did not answer every gameplay question, Halo Infinite represented Microsoft’s bridge between generations. It was a promise that the next Xbox era would begin with the Chief back in armor, staring down impossible odds like it was just another Tuesday.
11. Marvel’s Avengers: Big Heroes, Big Questions
Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics finally showed Marvel’s Avengers at E3 2019, giving fans a look at a new story centered on Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, and Hulk. The game opened with a disaster known as A-Day, setting up a campaign about heroes blamed for catastrophe and forced to reunite.
The reveal generated excitement, but also questions. The character designs were not based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe actors, which made the first impression slightly strange for fans who had just lived through the emotional thunderstorm of Avengers: Endgame. Still, the idea of a co-op-friendly Avengers action game with an original campaign had huge appeal.
At E3 2019, Marvel’s Avengers was one of the most discussed titles because it carried enormous expectations. The concept was powerful: let players become Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The challenge was living up to that fantasy in gameplay, storytelling, and long-term support.
12. Luigi’s Mansion 3: Comedy, Ghosts, and Gooigi
Luigi’s Mansion 3 was one of Nintendo’s most delightful E3 2019 games. The demo placed Luigi inside a haunted hotel filled with themed floors, expressive ghosts, slapstick animation, and clever puzzle design. It looked polished, funny, and full of personality.
The addition of Gooigi, a green goo version of Luigi, gave the game new puzzle possibilities and co-op potential. Luigi could slam ghosts, use a plunger-like tool, and stumble through spooky environments with the heroic confidence of a man who would rather be literally anywhere else.
What made Luigi’s Mansion 3 special was its craft. Every animation sold Luigi’s nervous energy. Every room looked like a toy box of secrets. It was spooky without being scary, funny without being lazy, and inventive without needing a 90-minute lore explanation.
Other E3 2019 Games Worth Remembering
E3 2019 also featured several other promising titles. Gears 5 showed off Escape mode and continued Microsoft’s push for one of its biggest franchises. Deathloop, from Arkane Lyon, introduced a stylish time-loop assassination concept that sounded strange in exactly the right way. GhostWire: Tokyo stood out thanks to its eerie premise and memorable presentation. Borderlands 3 brought more loot, more chaos, and more jokes fired at high velocity. Link’s Awakening charmed Nintendo fans with its toy-like remake style. Baldur’s Gate 3 was announced with limited detail but huge RPG significance. Ori and the Will of the Wisps continued to look like an emotional platforming painting come to life.
Together, these games made E3 2019 feel broader than any one publisher. The show had shooters, RPGs, platformers, horror, cozy life simulation, superhero action, science fiction, fantasy, and remakes. It was a reminder that gaming’s strength comes from variety. One player could leave excited about demon-slaying. Another could leave excited about interior decorating on a tropical island. Both were correct.
What Made the Best E3 2019 Games Stand Out?
Strong Identity
The best new video games at E3 2019 had instantly understandable identities. Doom Eternal was speed and violence. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was comfort and creativity. Watch Dogs: Legion was systemic rebellion. Final Fantasy VII Remake was legendary nostalgia rebuilt with modern spectacle. A strong identity helps a game survive the noise of E3, where dozens of trailers compete for attention like caffeinated peacocks.
Memorable Moments
E3 has always rewarded moments. Keanu Reeves appearing for Cyberpunk 2077, Nintendo teasing a Breath of the Wild sequel, and Square Enix showing Tifa in Final Fantasy VII Remake were all conversation starters. These moments mattered because they gave fans something to share, debate, and remember after the live streams ended.
Gameplay Promise
Trailers create excitement, but gameplay creates belief. Doom Eternal, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Watch Dogs: Legion benefited from showing how they actually played. Players could understand the loop, the pacing, and the appeal. That is especially important at E3, where hype can evaporate quickly if a game looks good but feels vague.
Future Impact
Some E3 2019 games became more important with time. Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a massive cultural phenomenon in 2020. Elden Ring eventually became one of the most celebrated action RPGs ever released. Final Fantasy VII Remake proved that a remake could be both reverent and surprising. Looking back, E3 2019 was not just showing upcoming games; it was previewing several titles that would shape gaming conversations for years.
500-Word Experience Section: Remembering the Feeling of E3 2019
Experiencing E3 2019 as a fan felt like sitting in front of a slot machine that paid out in trailers, memes, and release dates. You never knew when the next announcement would be a world premiere, a long-awaited sequel, or a developer saying “one more thing” with suspicious dramatic timing. Even if you were watching from home instead of walking the Los Angeles Convention Center floor, the energy was easy to feel. Every livestream chat moved too fast to read. Every reveal created instant arguments. Every rumor either became prophecy or fell into the giant pit where fake leaks go to become Reddit cautionary tales.
The most memorable experience was the whiplash. One minute, you were watching a gritty sci-fi trailer for Cyberpunk 2077. The next, Keanu Reeves appeared, and the entire internet briefly turned into a standing ovation. Then Nintendo would show something charming like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and suddenly everyone was discussing island layouts, crafting, and whether Tom Nook was a businessman, a villain, or simply a raccoon with excellent financing instincts.
That contrast is what made E3 2019 fun. It was not one flavor of excitement. It was a buffet. Fans of RPGs had Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Outer Worlds, and Elden Ring. Shooter fans had Doom Eternal, Gears 5, and Halo Infinite. Nintendo players had Luigi’s Mansion 3, Animal Crossing, Link’s Awakening, and a new Zelda teaser to overanalyze until their corkboards ran out of string. Star Wars fans had a single-player Jedi adventure that looked like it actually understood why people love lightsabers.
For many players, E3 2019 also felt like the end of an era. The show still had huge announcements, but the industry was already changing. Companies were learning they could host their own digital presentations. Fans were becoming just as comfortable watching reveals on YouTube, Twitch, and social media as they were following traditional press conferences. E3 still felt big, but it no longer felt untouchable.
Looking back, the best part of E3 2019 was the shared anticipation. Before reviews, patches, controversies, delays, and final release versions, every game existed in its most exciting form: possibility. Cyberpunk 2077 was a neon dream. Elden Ring was a mystery. Animal Crossing was a peaceful island waiting on the horizon. Final Fantasy VII Remake was a childhood memory rebuilt at blockbuster scale. That moment before reality arrives is powerful. It is why fans watch E3-style showcases in the first place. They are not just looking for products; they are looking for the next world they can imagine living in.
E3 2019 delivered that feeling again and again. It was messy, commercial, overproduced, and occasionally awkward, but it was also genuinely exciting. Like a good boss fight, it had phases. Like a great RPG town, it had surprises around every corner. And like any memorable gaming event, it gave players plenty to argue about long after the trailers ended.
Conclusion: The Best Games of E3 2019 Proved Hype Still Works
The best new video games at E3 2019 showed that even in a changing industry, a great reveal still has power. Cyberpunk 2077 owned the conversation with style and celebrity spectacle. Final Fantasy VII Remake proved nostalgia can feel new when handled with ambition. Doom Eternal delivered pure adrenaline. Animal Crossing: New Horizons offered calm in a noisy show. Elden Ring teased a dark fantasy future that would eventually become enormous. Nintendo, Microsoft, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Square Enix, EA, and other publishers all contributed to a show that was uneven but unforgettable.
In the end, E3 2019 was not just about which game “won.” It was about how many different kinds of players found something to love. Whether you wanted to rip through demons, rebuild Midgar, recruit a grandmother hacker, explore a haunted hotel, become a Jedi, or decorate an island paradise, E3 2019 had a game ready to hijack your calendar and threaten your sleep schedule.
That is the magic of a great gaming showcase. It turns trailers into plans, release dates into countdowns, and short teasers into years of speculation. E3 2019 may now belong to gaming history, but its best games still remind us why the event mattered: it made the future of play feel close enough to hold.
