After the stellar slate of games that 2025 brought us, 2026 looks poised to top it. The Duskbloods, GTA 6, a new Resident Evil—players will be feasting on games of all types and flavors before the year is done. Without further ado, here are our 26 most anticipated games of 2026, in no particular order:
**The Duskbloods**
Nintendo and FromSoftware shocked everyone when they announced that not only would FromSoftware be producing a new gothic steampunk action-adventure, but it would also be a Switch 2 exclusive. *The Duskbloods* promises to be huge for Nintendo’s new console if the developers can stick the landing. Either way, we appear to be in for some fantastic new FromSoftware gaming goodness this year.
**Code Vein 2**
Bandai Namco set 2019’s *Code Vein* apart from other soulslikes with a vampiric narrative and a combat system accentuated by that core foundation. It gave us a compelling journey where we would gain power and abilities by absorbing the blood and memories of allies and enemies. Now, we’re set to continue that journey in 2026 with its sequel. *Code Vein 2* is looking like much more of a good thing with an amazing character creator to boot. It would appear we’ve only scratched the surface on what kinds of abilities we’ll be absorbing and the nightmarish adversaries we’ll be pitting them against this time.
**007 First Light**
The promise of a James Bond action/stealth sandbox created by the masterminds of the *Hitman* video game series has had spy fans giddy for years, and it’s finally arriving in 2026. *007 First Light* looks like it will be a bit more action-heavy and theatrical than we usually get in *Hitman* games, but all the more to match the style of Bond. Besides, it still looks like we’ll be doing plenty of improvisation as we infiltrate enemy installations and get loud or keep it cool in our spy work. By all looks so far, we’re in for a heck of a ride as we learn how Bond earns the 007 number.
**Invincible VS**
Some of us were a little confused when the ambitious new developer Quarter Up showed up and slapped *Invincible VS* down on the table. A tag fighter with characters from the hit Amazon Prime Video series, *Invincible VS* was made by several folks who worked on *Killer Instinct*, and little by little, the devs have won us over with cool reveals and even cooler demos. This game looks and feels brutal and satisfying even in early appearances, and it’s left us excited to experience the whole thing as it readies for launch and graces EVO 2026’s fighting game lineup.
**Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve**
The last *Ace Combat* game, *Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown*, came out in 2019. It has been more than six years since we got the unrivaled aerial combat this in-depth aircraft combat series is known for. We were already excited when, in mid-2025, the brand’s director said “everything is in place” for *Ace Combat’s* next big thing, but we couldn’t have imagined it would be followed by an *Ace Combat 8* announcement for a 2026 release right after. Bandai Namco has rarely ever let us down, and it’s one of the only games that does what it does anymore, so we’re looking forward to cutting-edge dogfights and bombing runs whenever *Wings of Theve* arrives.
**Control Resonant**
The threats of the cosmos are at it again, and this time, we’re going to Manhattan to fight against them. Dylan Faden, the younger brother to Federal Bureau of Control director Jesse Faden (main protagonist of the first game), was held captive as a threat. Now he’ll use his supernatural powers to fight for humanity’s survival in *Control Resonant*, an action-RPG follow-up to one of our favorite games of 2019.
**Fable**
It’s really been a mystery what’s going on with Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios’ reboot of the *Fable* franchise. We were supposed to get the game in 2025, but delays pushed it back to this year. Even so, everything we’ve seen so far indicates that the new *Fable* will retain the original series’ classic fantasy setting and dark comedic humor. With Xbox having had a rocky 2025, we hope the *Fable* reboot is at least one success story to come out of the group this year.
**Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls**
Arc System Works and Marvel Games have been cooking up an amazing return of Marvel fighting games for a while, and *Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls* looks like it has the potential to blow the roof off the fighting scene in 2026. The game promises to retain Arc System Works’ high-octane combat and flashiness, applying it to a cast of our favorite Marvel heroes and villains. The release date is still to be confirmed, but if Arc does what it does best, fans are in for a treat.
**Slay the Spire 2**
*Slay the Spire 2* is very likely to be high on many players’ list as the indie game they’re eyeing hardest in 2026. The original rogue-like deckbuilder was such an absolute blast to play, and its sequel is expanding on just about everything good about it. New and returning characters, new cards, new weapons and relics, and new potions are in store for intrepid explorers as they climb a revamped labyrinth of fresh threats and challenges on their way up the mighty and daunting Spire. Can Mega Crit capture lightning in a bottle twice? We’ll find out when *Slay the Spire 2* arrives in March.
**Pragmata**
When we first saw Capcom’s upcoming sci-fi shooter *Pragmata*, we weren’t quite sure what to make of it. However, it has won us over bit by bit with an intense mix of active hacking and third-person shooter gunplay as you travel a high-tech facility fighting against a deadly AI and all of the machinery it controls. We were floored by what we saw in 2025 previews, so it will be exciting to see if *Pragmata* ends up being another winning original IP for Capcom this year.
**Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2**
*The Long Dark* launched into early access on Steam in late 2014 and went 1.0 in 2017. For the last 11 years it has maintained its status as the best pure survival game available, with frequent updates building a bigger lead each year. In March 2026, Hinterland will release the final episode of *The Long Dark’s* Wintermute story before turning its full attention to *Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2*.
Revealed at The Game Awards in 2024 with a single trailer, *Blackfrost* is confirmed for 2026 and hints at exciting new features, including co-op and new mechanics like horseback riding and chopping wood. The game’s art style, often described as a watercolor painting, looks stunning and could contend for best art style awards industry-wide. Set to launch into early access in 2026, you can wishlist *Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2* on Steam right now.
**GTA 6**
It’s not an understatement to say that *Grand Theft Auto 6* might be the biggest release in the history of entertainment when it arrives this fall. A game that fans have been anticipating for well over a decade, it marks the return to Rockstar Games’ Vice City and the state of Leonida, with sky-high expectations. It’s a video game that could end up defining an entire generation of the medium. Bring it on.
**Resident Evil Requiem**
Since *Resident Evil 7*, RE fans have wondered when Capcom will tie the newer games (*RE7*, *Village*, and now *Requiem*, aka *RE9*) with the classic titles. Wait no longer. In addition to new character Grace Ashford, series veteran Leon Kennedy returns to the fray. You’ll switch between Leon and Grace—the former’s chapters focusing more on action, while the latter will emphasize classic survival horror. *Resident Evil Requiem* isn’t far away as of this writing. Get ready for more thrills and chills when the game launches this February.
**Nioh 3**
The *Nioh* games are pure action RPG goodness, and the third installment is sure to deliver more exciting encounters, challenging bosses, and rich customization. Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo haven’t missed with this series yet, and we don’t expect *Nioh 3* to start now.
**LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight**
The LEGO Batman games are some of the best that TT Games has produced, combining clever puzzle design with funny riffs on iconic Batman stories and characters. *LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight* feels like the definitive, all-encompassing LEGO Batman experience that’ll please fans of the classics while giving newcomers plenty to chew on.
**The Blood of Dawnwalker**
*The Blood of Dawnwalker* is the debut title from Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by folks who worked on *The Witcher 3* and *Cyberpunk 2077*. That alone is enough to get us excited for this upcoming RPG.
**Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave**
Nintendo told us exactly how they felt about *Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave* by making it their “one more thing” at the end of the September 2025 Direct. It’s going to be one of the company’s flagship games for 2026, and we can’t wait to see what adventures await in the fantasy RPG.
**Forza Horizon 6**
*Forza Horizon 6* will finally take the racing series to the country fans have spent years begging for: Japan. The country’s stunning scenery and iconic city streets should make a perfect setting for one of the best ongoing racing franchises.
**Marvel’s Wolverine**
Insomniac’s *Spider-Man* games helped usher the superhero genre into another golden era after the conclusion of the Batman Arkham games. The studio’s knack for combat and locomotion design should pair excellently with the nimble shredder that is Marvel’s Wolverine.
**Pokemon Pokopia**
It’s kind of wild that it took this long for us to get a Pokémon lifestyle sim, but better late than never. Look no further than the smash success of games like *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* and *Stardew Valley* to understand why *Pokémon Pokopia* could be one of the biggest games of 2026.
**Saros**
*Returnal* was one of the early PS5 games that truly felt “next gen.” Five years later, Housemarque is back with another high-concept sci-fi roguelike. In a spring release window that no longer has GTA, *Saros* could easily become one of the year’s early favorites.
**Mixtape**
When your studio debuts with a game like *The Artful Escape*, your sophomore effort is automatically a must-play experience. Everything we’ve seen from *Mixtape* oozes style and nostalgia, giving it the vibe of a classic 80s coming-of-age film.
**Star Wars: Zero Company**
*Star Wars: Zero Company* takes the Star Wars IP and fuses it with X-COM style, strategic, turn-based combat. The game takes place shortly after the Clone Wars—a turbulent time in the galaxy. As part of an elite squad, you’ll need to take down a new threat that’s filling the power vacuum. Star Wars fans are eating well in 2026.
**Star Wars: Galactic Racer**
If you were gaming in the mid-90s, there’s a very good chance you played *Star Wars Episode 1: Racer* on the Nintendo 64. It brought the high-octane gameplay of podracing to home consoles, and now, in 2026, we’re being blessed with *Star Wars: Galactic Racer*. An entirely new generation of gamers is about to hear, “Now this is podracing!” over and over again.
**Onimusha: Way of the Sword**
Who would have thought that *Onimusha* would be returning to our consoles and PCs in 2026? Fans haven’t had a brand-new game since the noughties, but that’s about to change after *Onimusha: Way of the Sword* was revealed at The Game Awards 2024. As a third-person action-adventure game, *Onimusha* is bound to test the skills of even the most seasoned samurai.
**Mina the Hollower**
Rounding out our list is *Mina the Hollower*, an upcoming game that’s generating buzz for its unique style and engaging gameplay. While details are still emerging, it promises to be an exciting addition to 2026’s lineup.
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2026 is shaping up to be an incredible year for gaming with a diverse range of titles across genres and platforms. Whether you’re into action, RPGs, survival, racing, or fighting games, there’s something to look forward to. Get ready for an unforgettable year ahead!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/147334/most-anticipated-games-2026
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