New year, new games. 2026 brings a veritable smorgasbord to our screens — games set to excite, fright, and delight us in ways no other media can, bringing us to tears one minute, then leaving us on the edge of our seats the next.
This year, we SHOULD see the release of the biggest game in a decade, Grand Theft Auto VI. But what else is on the horizon? What’s games do you need to call your boss and book time off work for?
We’ve compiled a list of the games we’re most looking forward to, and that you should be excited for too!
Be sure to check out part two of our list here: Video Games 2026 | Ones to Watch – Part 2
Mina the Hollower
After a disappointing (but understandable) delay last year, Mina The Hollower is set to release early on in 2026! The 2D platformer has you playing as Mina, an adorable little mouse on a mission to save a cursed island. You take on enemies and bosses with a variety of weapons and gadgets, while helping out a variety of colourful characters on the island. The retro-inspired adventure brings a heavy hit of nostalgia, its 8-bit graphics reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening on the Game Boy Color.
While Mina the Hollower doesn’t technically have a release date, it was described as “so close to being done” by developers Yacht Club Games (Shovel Knight), when it was delayed from its October 31st 2025 release date late last year. Adding that the delay was for “polish and balancing“, and wasn’t expected to be a major postponement. So it really could hit consoles and PC any day now!
Cairn
Conquer the mountain in this atmospheric survival adventure. Cairn pits you against Mother Nature herself as you battle the elements, and your own body, to be the first person to ever summit Mount Kami.
With the ability to climb anywhere, it’s up to you to forge your own path upward, decisions that could see you standing atop lofty peaks… Or falling to your doom. There’s a strong emphasis on realism; you won’t just be holding forwards to climb like in 99% of games. You’ll have to manage your stamina, posture, and balance — as well as limited resources like climbing pitons, chalk, and finger tape.
Cairn climbs onto PlayStation 5 and PC on January 30th.
READ MORE: Preview | Cairn: ‘A Mountain Worth Climbing?’ (PC/Steam Deck)
CODE VEIN II
The Souls-like genre has grown significantly in recent years as new developers turn their sights on hard-hitting combat with punishing difficulty levels. While Elden Ring still holds the top spot in my eyes, newcomers (and those returning) need to do something different to stand out from the crowd.
Cue the epic anime music, Latin choirs, and gothic monstrosities! Code Vein II is skulking closer to release, and this deeply stylised stab at ‘Souls-like but with anime vampires’ is stacking up to look pretty great. From a preview I played, combat is fast and flashy, while big bad bosses provide the real tactical meat you’d expect from the genre. Oh, and it has a cool time travel mechanic that gives the story that little extra zest.
CODE VEIN II slips out of the shadows on January 30th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
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Nioh 3
The next instalment in the long running franchise, Nioh 3 is shaping up to be a brutally agile time. Again trekking through feudal Japan, except this time with an “open field” system to help “reduce player stress”.
You’ll take on the role of ‘Tokugawa Takechiyo’ as he transcends time to battle fearsome Yokai. As you cut your bloody path, you’ll have the ability to seamlessly switch between two distinct combat styles, ‘Samurai’ and ‘Ninja’. Guardian Spirits will, of course, return, assisting in exploration and combat with powerful abilities and ‘Living Weapon’ fusions. You’ll need all the help you can get to tackle Nioh 3’s dark, festering Crucibles, the game’s proving ground for your Samurai honour and Ninja cunning.
Nioh 3 spawns onto PlayStation 5 and PC on February 6th.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined
A classic JRPG gets a new coat of paint this year when DRAGON QUEST VII gets… Reimagined. The older style pixel-art game has been fully remade in an eye-catching diorama style that’s reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake. The game follows a young fisherman’s son and his friend the Prince, as they get caught up in a wild island-hopping, time-travelling adventure.
There’s also new quality of life features that bring gameplay up to more modern standards and reduce the level grind these old JRPGs were notorious for. There’s an auto-battle feature, the ability to speed up battle, and you can also defeat weaker enemies with a quick strike without getting into a turn-based battle in the first place. A demo is available now that lets you play through the first few hours of the game, and your progress will carry over should you choose to continue your journey!
Travel to the world of DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined on February 6th, via consoles and PC.
Resident Evil Requiem
The 9th entry in the Resident Evil series is coming next month, and I couldn’t be more excited. Grace Ashcroft has been front and centre in early marketing for the game, but I feel like we’re all so much more excited to step back into the shoes of resident hero Leon S. Kennedy. This time around, Leon has had enough of Umbrella Corp’s bull**** and is taking no prisoners.
A couple of months back I jumped into a demo of the game and it has me so pumped to play more. Capcom recently shared a tonne of new info in their latest Resident Evil Showcase, featuring new gameplay, enemy details and locations. Grace’s gameplay sequences are said to be more in line with Resident Evil 2 and 7, focusing heavily on stealth and horror, while Leon is taking a more familiar approach with how he played in RE 4 — lots of fast-paced combat.
Resident Evil Requiem creeps onto PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC on February 27th.
READ MORE: Preview | MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice: ‘Cool, Flashy, Explosive’
Pokémon Pokopia
Pokémon Pokopia is set to show Pokéfans a cosier side of the franchise, its premise delightfully odd in the best way. You play as a Ditto who, after stumbling across an old Pokédex, transforms into a human, complete with adorable wiggly arms that never quite let you forget your squishy roots. After meeting the endearingly lonely Professor Tangrowth, you’re tasked with building a town where Pokémon and people can live in perfect harmony.
You will meet and befriend Pokémon, borrowing their unique moves to shape the world around you. Bulbasaur’s Leafage helps wild grass flourish, Squirtle’s water moves nurture crops, and Lapras’s Surf opens up waterways for exploration. It’s Pokémon teamwork at its most wholesome — and you can join a friend in multiplayer too.
With real-time day and night cycles, changing weather, and plenty of ways to customise your cosy new life, Pokémon Pokopia feels like a dream come true for fans who prefer their adventures low stress and high charm.
You can begin your Pokémon Pokopia journey on March 5th exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2.
REPLACED
It’s been a long wait for REPLACED. Announced back in 2021, its dark and gritty cyberpunk world captured the hearts of many gamers. But the 2.5D action platformer has had a somewhat rocky development, due in no small amount to the war in Ukraine, which caused developer Sad Cat Studios to move from Belarus to Cyprus,
Set in a dystopian version of America in the 80s, you play as an AI trapped inside a human body, investigating the shady Phoenix Corporation and the circumstances of your creation. Brought to life with an inspired combination of hand-crafted pixel-art, phenomenal lighting, masterful use of focus, and a cinematic camera… Pixels have never looked so good!
Jack into REPLACED on March 13th for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Crimson Desert
I’ve been eagerly awaiting Crimson Desert for years now. The medieval fantasy setting, huge open world, intense monster combat, and the seemingly endless number of activities to take part in all tick so many boxes for me. Combat is an eclectic mix of swords, sorcery, wrestling, and more — pitting you against everything from armoured knights and stealthy assassins to hulking trolls and monstrous mech-dragons. Not to mention the skirmishes and large-scale fortress assaults against the various factions of the world.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to getting around the vast world. You can explore in style on the back of horses, wolves, bears, and raptors. Take to the skies in a hot-air balloon, on the back of a dragon, or glide around with a cloak of floating. You can even grapple-swing like Spider-Man or pilot a dwarven-made steampunk mech suit!
There’s so many other features that’ve been hinted at, like bounties, fishing, horse taming, environmental puzzles, a Zelda-like ultrahand, and more. It still remains to be seen how deeply implemented each mechanic will be, and whether developers Pearl Abyss have packed TOO much into the game. But if it can strike the right balance, and has a solid story, Crimson Desert might just be one of the best games this year… And scratch that Witcher itch so many of us have.
Crimson Desert soars onto PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on March 20th.
READ MORE: Mystery Solved! The Truth Behind That Game Awards Statue
007 First Light
It’s strange to be so excited for a James Bond game, when I’m a pretty fair-weather fan of the Bond franchise. But my love of the Hitman franchise means I’m all in on whatever IO Interactive wants to make next.
007 First Light puts players in the role of a very young James Bond embarking on the early days of his career before he’s been granted 00 status. While some of Hitman’s freedom of exploration seems to be swapped for a more cinematic style, I can’t wait to see how the team handles a different kind of secret-agent gameplay, and such an iconic character.
007 First Light explodes onto PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 28th.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight pulls from just about every corner of the Caped Crusader’s legacy. We’re talking Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Tim Burton’s Batman, Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the Arkham games, classic comics, and more. Yes, even Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin makes the cut, meaning we’re once again face to face with Mr. Freeze.
The game will feature local co-op gameplay, with a selection of Bat-family to choose from, like Robin, Batgirl and Catwoman. I’m a sucker for a good LEGO co-op experience (LEGO Harry Potter was the GOAT), and it looks like TT Games isn’t holding back when it comes to Batman’s gadget-filled arsenal.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight swoops onto PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on May 30th.
PRAGMATA
With a little girl perched on the shoulder of a hulking astronaut, Pragmata made an immediate impression as one of the more intriguing sci-fi adventures on the horizon. It looks like a bold new spin on the action-adventure genre, blending high-concept science fiction with a unique style of single-player cooperative gameplay.
The story follows spacefarer Hugh and his android companion Diana, stranded on a hostile Moon and searching for a way back to Earth. Survival means working together, exploring abandoned lunar facilities, solving environmental puzzles, and fighting through an AI-controlled world that clearly does not want them there.
Pragmata offers a novel twist on combat. Diana rides on Hugh’s shoulders as she hacks into enemy systems, breaking down defences and exposing weak points, while Hugh delivers the physical firepower. It looks like a partnership built on trust, timing, and smart thinking; teamwork really does make the dream work, even in zero gravity.
Boost jump into Pragmata on April 24th for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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SAROS
While technically a brand new IP, SAROS walks a similar path to its predecessor Returnal. The sci-fi third-person shooter is set on a hostile alien planet, packed with bullet-hell monster battles, and features the roguelike elements that elevated Returnal from a regular shooter. This time around there’ll be permanent resources and progression, as well as a revival feature that will give you a second chance after death, which should help make the game more accessible to more people. There’s also a new parry ability, allowing you to knock enemy fire right back at them.
The story follows Arjun Devraj, played by the fantastic Rahul Kohli, on his mission to uncover the secrets of the planet and break his time loop prison. Your runs shape the world around you, opening new paths for future attempts. Between runs, you can interact with your crewmates in a hub area, giving SAROS more opportunity for story and character moments than Selene had on her own in Returnal. When it released in 2021, Returnal went underappreciated by many, but it was easily my favourite game of that year. So of course this pseudo-sequel is sky high on my most anticipated list.
SAROS lands on April 30th, exclusively for PlayStation 5.
Phantom Blade Zero
With jaw-dropping Kungfu action, wicked enemy design and a dark fantasy Chinese setting, Phantom Blade Zero has strong potential to be a ‘game-of-the-year’ contender.
You play as Soul, an elite assassin framed for the murder of the elder of the ‘The Order’, the organisation you served. After being gravely wounded, a healer brings you back from the brink of death but the cure is temporary. You only have 66 days to get answers… And revenge.
Combat looks lightning-fast and frenzied, with flashy fight choreography drawing from real life martial arts. The action RPG pits you against a host of cool enemies and bosses, from a drunken master to a gang of mad puppeteers, an assassin on sword-stilts to a fire-breathing lion dancer! After defeating a boss, you can grab their weapon to wield for yourself! There’ll be over thirty weapons in the game, with their own signature techniques and animations.
Phantom Blade Zero slices on PlayStation 5 and PC on September 9th.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Set in a modern day Vice City, Grand Theft Auto VI is said to be the biggest GTA ever. There’s two playable characters: Jason Duval, a former drug runner, and Lucia Caminos, fresh out of prison. These two look to have fantastic chemistry, how their story unfolds is the big question. Swamps, beaches, city streets and national parks — from what’s been shown so far, the game environments have never looked better. Paired with an abundance of new and interesting characters, it’s no wonder they’re taking their time to finish it.
It’s been dangled in front of us for so long now that it’s shine is starting to rust. My anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI is still there but I’m practically dying to know more. Is it really going to come out this year? A number of rumours swirling the internet don’t really offer any certainty; some say it’s in the final stages of polish, others say they’re still working on huge chunks of the story. But Rockstar themselves have stated that Grand Theft Auto VI is still coming on November 19th this year, for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
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Be sure to read Part 2 of our list of games to be excited for in 2026!
