Looking to capitalize on the release of the next generation of consoles released in the last year, the gaming industry held it’s breath as it waited to see what was in store from the leading brands on Day 1 of E3 2014. As always, fans and industry experts alike were not disappointed. For once, each company had a solid performance during their exhibits and presentations, and in the first day many were given a glimpse into the future of gaming. Here were some of the standouts from Day 1.

1) Sunset Overdrive: From Insomniac Games, the creators of Ratchet and Clank, comes a brand new whacky game filled with the same level of humor, action, and destruction we’ve all come to know and love. During Microsoft’s presentation, we were all given a look into the spectacular world of Sunset Overdrive. Filled with insane new weapons, a city torn by warring factions and monstrous mutants, and a foul-mouthed yet loveable hero who specializes in kicking ass and having a boastful personality, this game looks like a breakout hit for Insomniac Games, and is something fans should watch out for in the near future.

2) Assassins Creed Unity was one of Ubisoft’s biggest hits at E3. Showcasing multiplayer, Co-Op, and Single player gameplay along with a new trailer, the game focused on the new setting, the French Revolution. The bloody war in France was depicted perfectly in the trailer, and the updated engine, gameplay mechanics and stunning visuals made it one of our top games of E3 on day 1.

3) Batman: Arkham Knight: Although delayed until 2015, Batman made his presence known at E3 this year, showcasing some amazing gameplay footage that revealed the destruction of Gotham, a hint at some of the powerful forces of the mysterious Arkham Knight and his army, the return of villains such as Penguin and Scarecrow, and the most amazing part of the presentation, the new Batmobile gameplay, where you can drive along the streets of Gotham, use the vehicle as a car or a tank, and then can instantly eject Batman out of the car, sending him flying over the Gotham skies. The footage was amazing, and with the extra time given to the release of the game, one can only imagine the powerful mechanics yet to be shown in this game.

4) Avenged Sevenfold Developing an indie game titled Hail to the King: Deathbat. The game will feature artwork, songs, and more from the band itself. The game is funded by the band, and is an indie game in every sense of the word. Exploring a world where you must fight for control of your land, the game seems to show that a band can make a bad ass game just as well as any big developer.

5) The Order: 1866 showcased some amazing gameplay footage, in which you traversed some sort of asylum or hospital, and came across a hellish creature you had to fight off, or just survive. While the trailer was only a few minutes, viewers were given a glimpse into the non-stop action, with no big stops between the cinematic experience and the actual gameplay, each woven seamlessly into the game into complete cohesion.

6) Dead Island 2: A new trailer showcased the return of the bloody and haunting world of Dead Island. Showcasing a widespread infection that may or may not have reached mainland, the game showed a beach town of sorts, sort of like Santa Monica CA, and the chaos that ensued from a zombie plague hitting the beach and it’s residents. Bringing to mind the sudden chaos of films such as 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead, this sequel looks to continue the exciting zombie adventure from the previous games.