Must-Play PC Games Coming in 2026: From Blockbusters to Underrated Treasures
With the 2025 Game of the Year Awards wrapped up, it’s time to look ahead and start planning for the exciting lineup of games set to drop in 2026. At first glance, the year might not seem packed, but we all know how quickly things can change. Before you know it, December will be here, and I’ll be scrambling to catch up on a mountain of new releases.
As we dive into the 2026 gaming calendar, it’s still early days, and many release dates are yet to be confirmed. However, two iconic cities from gaming history are making a comeback, and I can’t contain my excitement. Buckle up, because we’re heading back to Raccoon City and then off to Vice City. Applause is appreciated, and I’ll be around all year to keep the hype alive.
Even though the holiday season isn’t over yet, we already have a glimpse of what early 2026 has in store for major game releases. January is looking a bit sparse, but February is gearing up to be a blockbuster month with titles like Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem. March will see the long-awaited Crimson Desert finally launch, closely followed by 007 First Light.
It’s a safe bet that many new releases will avoid the days surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6’s console launch on November 19. While we’re still waiting for a PC release date, it’s hard to imagine anything else breaking through the buzz of Vice City’s return.
**Resident Evil Requiem | February 27**
Capcom is bringing us back to Raccoon City with Resident Evil Requiem, featuring a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, as confirmed by director Koshi Nakanishi. I’m all for another leading lady, but I can’t help but wonder: when will we see Leon again?
**Crimson Desert | March 19**
After its first delay back in 2021, Crimson Desert is finally set for a March 2026 release. This marks the studio’s first single-player game since Black Desert Online, and my colleague has described it as “an absolute riot” in his preview.
**007 First Light | March 27**
007 First Light takes us back to the early days of Bond’s career, before he became the suave icon we know. Developed by the team at IO Interactive, known for their expertise in espionage action games, this title promises to deliver a thrilling experience.
**Grand Theft Auto 6 (Consoles) | November 19**
While we’re still in the dark about a PC launch for GTA 6, Rockstar is already hyping up its return to Vice City, claiming it will be “the largest game launch in history” in a recent job posting.
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January 6 |
StarRupture (early access) (Steam) |
Extraterrestrial base-building and survival in early access |
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January 9 |
Pathologic 3 (Steam) |
Latest narrative horror |
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January 12 |
Big Hops (Steam) |
Amphibian platformer with clever frog powers |
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January 12 |
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Steam) |
The Last Check – Protect humanity from biological threats |
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January 15 |
Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (Steam) |
The Trails Through Daybreak 2 sequel |
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January 16 |
BrokenLore: Unfollow (Steam) |
Scarier social media |
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January 20 |
Mio: Memories in Orbit (Steam) |
Metroidvania inside a giant spaceship |
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January 22 |
Nova Roma (Steam) |
City-building to appease the gods |
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January 22 |
Arknights: Endfield (Epic) |
A free-to-play gacha action RPG with base building |
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January 28 |
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Steam) |
Open world RPG gacha based on the manga series |
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January 28 |
The Midnight Walkers (early access) (Steam) |
You vs. the living vs. the undead extraction shooter |
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January 29 |
Cairn (Steam) |
Survival mountain climbing |
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January 29 |
Don’t Stop, Girlypop! (Steam) |
Fast-paced frilly arena shooter |
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January 30 |
Code Vein 2 (Steam) |
Anime soulslike sequel |
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January ?? |
Lost Isle (early access) (Steam) |
Procgen fantasy survival |
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January ?? |
Echoes of Elysium (early access) (Steam) |
Airship-based survival crafting for up to 6 friends |
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February 3 |
Norse: Oath of Blood (Steam) |
Viking settlement sim with turn-based combat |
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February 3 |
Unemployment Simulator 2018 (Steam) |
Painfully realistic adulthood survival sim |
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February 5 |
Dragon Quest 7: Reimagined (Steam) |
A second DQ7 remake |
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February 5 |
Nioh 3 (Steam) |
Samurai action RPG sequel |
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February 5 |
Menace (Steam) |
XCOM-like RPG from the Battle Brothers studio |
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February 10 |
Mewgenics (Steam) |
Cat-breeding RPG from the Super Meat Boy creator |
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February 11 |
Romeo is a Dead Man (Steam) |
Third person action ultraviolence |
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February 11 |
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties (Steam) |
Yakuza 3 remade and paired with a new adventure |
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February 13 |
High on Life 2 (Steam) |
Psychedelic FPS sequel |
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February 13 |
Reanimal (Steam) |
Co-op horror adventure as tormented siblings |
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February 19 |
Styx: Blades of Greed (Steam) |
Stealthy goblin murder gets a sequel |
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February 20 |
Ys X: Proud Nordics (Steam) |
QoL and graphical enhancements for the original Nordics |
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February 24 |
Tides of Tomorrow (Steam) |
Ocean survival with asynchronous multiplayer |
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February 26 |
Tales of Berseria Remastered (Steam) |
Velvet’s journey with graphical updates and a DLC collection |
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February 27 |
Back to Raccoon City |
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March 2 |
World of Warcraft: MIdnight (Site) |
The Worldsoul Saga continues in WoW’s next expansion |
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March 3 |
Windstorm (early access) (Steam) |
Ride horses through 13th century Mongolia |
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March 5 |
Coffee Talk Tokyo (Steam) |
A chatty spin-off with new customers and coffee |
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March 12 |
Monster Hunter Stories 3 (Steam) |
Turn-based tale with monsties |
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March 12 |
Fatal Frame 2 Remake (Steam) |
Survival horror remake with a camera |
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March 12 |
Replaced (Steam) |
Sci-fi action platformer |
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March 12 |
Solasta 2 (early access) (Steam) |
Turn-Based D&D-like RPG |
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March 12 |
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando (Steam) |
4-player co-op FPS horde shooter |
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March 19 |
Singleplayer ARPG from Black Desert devs |
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March 19 |
Mouse (Steam) |
Classic cartoon style FPS |
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March 26 |
Copa City (Steam) |
Manage and organize major football events |
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March 27 |
Baby bond’s first spy action missions |
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March ?? |
Slay the Spire 2 (Steam) |
Roguelike card sequel |
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March ?? |
Mistfall Hunter (Steam) |
PvPvE extraction RPG |
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April 16 |
Invincible VS (Steam) |
3v3 tag fighter based on the world of the show |
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April 24 |
Pragmata (Steam) |
Outerspace action adventure |
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April 28 |
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatered (Steam) |
DLC with new campaign, classes, and more |
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April ?? |
Inkonbini (Steam) |
Small-town convenience store sim |
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April ?? |
Fishbowl (Steam) |
Coming of age puzzle narrative |
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May 25 |
Paralives (early access) (Steam) |
Small-scale life sim |
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May 29 |
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Steam) |
Batman gets the Lego treatment again |
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September 8 |
Halloween: The Game (Steam) |
Asymmetrical horror with Mikey |
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September 9 |
Phantom Blade Zero (Steam) |
Xuxia action in between a soulslike and a hack and slash |
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November 19 |
Crime returns to Vice City, but not on PC |
While many 2026 games are still awaiting solid release dates, we know they’re on the horizon. Here’s a look at everything we’re keeping an eye on for the year ahead.
There are plenty of new game announcements without confirmed release dates, but they’re still worth tracking. Some of these could surprise us in 2026, while others may push into next year’s lineup.
