31 Upcoming Games We’re Excited to Experience in 2026

2026 is gearing up to be an exciting year for gamers. Over the next 12 months, we can expect to see major sequels like Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, and Gears of War: E-Day. There are also some intriguing indie titles on the horizon, such as Bubsy 4D, Mouse: P.I. for Hire, and Slay The Spire 2. And let’s not forget about Grand Theft Auto 6, which, if it avoids further delays, promises to end the year with a monumental impact.

With so many anticipated titles, it’s easy to overlook some gems. To help keep track, we’ve compiled a list of 31 games that have us buzzing with excitement for the upcoming year. Now, let’s see how many of these actually make it to launch in 2026 versus those that might slip into 2027 or later.

I was already hyped for a new mainline Resident Evil game set for early 2026; adding Leon Kennedy just sweetens the deal. – Zack Zwiezen

While we may not see a new Arkham game anytime soon, this Lego twist on the formula looks fantastic. – Zack Zwiezen

The sequel to one of the best Xbox titles ever is set in a beautifully crafted open-world version of Japan. Yes, please! – Zack Zwiezen

Remedy’s 2019 hit Control was a fantastic and eerie shooter, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting a sequel, which is finally on the way next year. – Zack Zwiezen

Combining a boomer shooter with classic black-and-white cartoons is a unique choice, but the end result looks awesome, and we won’t have to wait long to dive in. – Zack Zwiezen

IOI, the studio behind Hitman, seems like the perfect fit for a James Bond game. Here’s hoping it all comes together this spring. – Zack Zwiezen

I didn’t expect to be excited for a new Bubsy game in 2026, but here we are. Bubsy 4D looks promising. – Zack Zwiezen

FromSoftware’s upcoming eight-player online action RPG sounds like a fantastic idea, especially after Nightreign’s success. Let’s hope the Switch 2 can handle it. – Zack Zwiezen

While I’m bummed that Gears 5’s story isn’t progressing, it’ll be great to see Marcus and Dom reunite in this prequel to the original Xbox 360 trilogy. – Zack Zwiezen

Many Star Wars games lean towards RPGs, shooters, or action-adventure, which is fine, but I’m thrilled to see a racing game set in my favorite sci-fi universe. – Zack Zwiezen

The hype for this one has been a rollercoaster, but with recent tweaks post-alpha, including proximity chat, I’m looking forward to Bungie’s take on the extraction shooter, especially if they can weave in the rich sci-fi lore in a Destiny-style endgame. – Ethan Gach

At this point, I feel like I’ve written a ton about the upcoming GTA 6, and I’m not sure what else to add. You know what this game is, and you’re probably excited for it. Let’s hope Rockstar nails it. – Zack Zwiezen

Insomniac’s Spider-Man games have been delightful open-world experiences, so it’s no surprise that fans are eager for the studio’s upcoming Wolverine game, which looks fun and incredibly bloody. – Zack Zwiezen

Returnal will always hold a special place in my heart, but I’m excited to see Housemarque explore a more forgiving roguelike arcade shooter structure with a robust progression system that encourages players to stick around for the long haul. – Ethan Gach

After a brief delay, I can’t wait to see what the Shovel Knight team does with a Castlevania meets The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening homage. I’m looking forward to a retro tribute that elevates the genres it draws from. – Ethan Gach

This game looks stunning. Just watching it will be a treat, and playing it should feel even more special. – Ethan Gach

Forbidden Solitaire is about discovering and playing a spooky ‘90s CD-ROM solitaire game—think The 7th Guest, but with solitaire—and it promises to deliver more than you expect. I’m eager to see how that translates into gameplay. – Carolyn Petit

Ex-Witcher 3 developers are crafting a vampire immersive-sim RPG. That’s all I need to know. – Ethan Gach

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is getting a fancy remake along with a new “what if” scenario featuring different victims and killers in its murder mystery. Even if the new storyline isn’t stellar, we’ll get to revisit Danganronpa 2. – Kenneth Shepard

Pokémon Champions is set to be the new competitive platform for the series, integrating mechanics like Mega Evolution and Z-Moves into one cohesive experience, potentially transforming the competitive landscape and freeing the main games from rigid structures. – Kenneth Shepard

The gaming world needs more fun tennis titles. Thanks to Mario and friends for answering the call and delivering a game that looks like it’ll hit the mark early in 2026. – Zack Zwiezen

Sure, another remake of the original Tomb Raider might seem unnecessary, but it looks fantastic and will keep fans satisfied until 2027’s Tomb Raider: Catalyst. – Zack Zwiezen

Pokémon Pokopia seems to be Pikachu and pals’ take on an Animal Crossing-style life sim, but with a dark, post-apocalyptic twist that could set it apart from other games in the genre. Intriguing! – Kenneth Shepard

New AAA franchises are rare, making each one a special event, especially when they come from Japan. It may not be 3D Mega Man, but it could be the next best thing. – Ethan Gach

When it comes to anime fighters, betting against Arc System Works is a losing proposition. Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls is a 4v4 brawler featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and it looks pretty awesome. – Kenneth Shepard

It’s about time we got a new Scott Pilgrim beat ’em up, and this one comes with a brand new story by series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, set after the events of the Scott Pilgrim Takes Off anime. – Kenneth Shepard

Demon Tides is a modern-day PS2-style mascot platformer that strikes a perfect balance between precision and fast-paced action, something many in the genre struggle to achieve. – Kenneth Shepard

I had to include at least one rhythm game on this list, and Nocturne, a rhythm RPG inspired by ’90s science fantasy games, is essentially Guitar Hero meets Final Fantasy. – Kenneth Shepard

I missed the boat on the first Slay the Spire when it launched, but I won’t make that mistake again. With most sequels, I want more than just “bigger and better,” but with Slay the Spire 2, that will be more than enough. – Ethan Gach

Like Tomb Raider, it seems a bit silly to get yet another remake of the first Halo, but this one is coming to PlayStation 5, and I wish I could tell my 12-year-old self that fact. It would blow his mind. – Zack Zwiezen

This may not be the Nintendo platformer I was hoping for in 2026, but it looks adorable, and for fans of the Yoshi games, it’s another delightful addition. – Zack Zwiezen