2026 is shaping as much as be one other large yr for video video games. The subsequent 12 months are set to carry large sequels like Forza Horizon 6, Resident Evil Requiem, and Gears of Warfare: E-Day. There are additionally some smaller video games we’re excited to get our arms on, like Bubsy 4D, Mouse: P.I. for Rent, and Slay The Spire 2. And naturally, there’s Grand Theft Auto 6, which, assuming it doesn’t get delayed once more, will shut out 2026 with an enormous, industry-shaking bang.
There are such a lot of video games to be enthusiastic about in 2026 that you simply might need forgotten about a few of them. So we right here at Kotaku have created this helpful checklist of 31 video games we’re excited to play within the new yr. Now, place your bets for what number of will really launch in 2026 and what number of will as a substitute be delayed to 2027 or past.
Resident Evil Requiem – Feb. 27
I used to be already excited for a brand new mainline Resident Evil recreation arriving in early 2026; you didn’t want so as to add Leon Kennedy. However I’m very grateful. -Zack Zwiezen
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Darkish Knight – 2026
We ain’t getting a brand new Arkham recreation anytime quickly, so this Lego spin on the method should do. Fortunately, it appears to be like rad as heck. – Zack Zwiezen
Forza Horizon 6 – 2026
The follow-up to among the finest Xbox video games ever made, and it’s set in a gorgeously dense open-world recreation of Japan. Yup. That’s going to be goooood. – Zack Zwiezen
Management Resonant – 2026
Treatment’s 2019 Management was an exquisite and creepy paranormal shooter. I’ve desperately wished a sequel, and that’s lastly arriving subsequent yr. – Zack Zwiezen
Mouse: P.I. for Rent – March 19
Mixing a boomer shooter with basic black-and-white cartoons is an odd selection, however the closing product appears superior, and we don’t have to attend lengthy to play. – Zack Zwiezen
007 First Mild – March 26
IOI, the individuals behind Hitman, look like the proper studio to make a James Bond recreation. Hopefully, all of it comes collectively within the spring. – Zack Zwiezen
Bubsy 4D – 2026
I didn’t have “Excited for a brand new Bubsy recreation” on my bingo card for 2026, however right here we’re. What can I say? Bubsy 4D appears to be like good. – Zack Zwiezen
The Duskbloods – 2026
FromSoftware’s upcoming eight-player on-line motion RPG seems like a fantastic thought now, after Nightreign proved to be an enormous hit and a fantastic recreation. Hopefully, the Swap 2 is ready to deal with it. – Zack Zwiezen
Gears of Warfare: E-Day – 2026
I’m unhappy that Gears 5’s story isn’t transferring ahead. Nonetheless, it ought to be enjoyable seeing Marcus and Dom again collectively on this upcoming prequel to the OG Xbox 360 trilogy. – Zack Zwiezen
Star Wars: Galactic Racer – 2026
So many Star Wars video games are RPGs, shooters, or action-adventure experiences. That’s positive, however I’m completely happy to see somebody making a racing recreation set in my favourite sci-fi universe. – Zack Zwiezen
Marathon – March 2026
The it’s over/we’re so again graph has been everywhere on this one, however with a collection of post-alpha take a look at tweaks, together with the addition of proximity chat, I’m as soon as once more wanting ahead to seeing Bungie’s tackle the extraction shooter, particularly if they will weave as a lot of the background sci-fi lore right into a Future-style aspirational end-game as I’m hoping they will. – Ethan Gach
Grand Theft Auto 6 – November 19
At this level, I really feel like I’ve written so many phrases concerning the upcoming GTA 6 that I’m undecided what else to say. You understand what this recreation is. You’re most likely excited for it. Let’s hope Rockstar lands this sucker. – Zack Zwiezen
Marvel’s Wolverine – 2026
Insomniac’s Spider-Man video games have been joyous open-world treats that really feel nice to play. So persons are understandably excited for the studio’s upcoming Wolverine recreation that appears enjoyable and really, very bloody. – Zack Zwiezen
Saros – April 30
Returnal will at all times have a particular place in my coronary heart, however I’m wanting ahead to seeing Housemarque department off right into a extra forgiving roguelike arcade shooter construction with a strong metagame development that offers extra gamers extra footholds, which is able to hopefully see extra of them hold on and stick it out for the entire journey. – Ethan Gach
Mina the Hollower – 2026
Following a quick delay, I can’t wait to see the Shovel Knight staff’s tackle Castlevania meets The Legend of Zelda: Hyperlink’s Awakening. I’m wanting ahead to a retro homage that pushes the genres it’s taking part in with to new heights. – Ethan Gach
Changed – March 12
This recreation appears to be like unbelievable. Taking a look at will probably be sufficient. Enjoying it’s going to hopefully really feel further particular. – Ethan Gach
Forbidden Solitaire – Q1 2026
Forbidden Solitaire is ostensibly about you discovering and taking part in a spooky ‘90s CD-ROM solitaire recreation—assume The seventh Visitor however, y’know, solitaire—and getting far more than you bargained for. I don’t know what meaning in gameplay phrases, however I can’t wait to search out out. – Carolyn Petit
The Blood of Dawnwalker – 2026
Ex-Witcher 3 devs make a vampire immersive-sim RPG. Sufficient stated. – Ethan Gach
Danganronpa 2×2 – 2026
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is getting a flowery remake, but it surely’s additionally getting a brand new “what if” state of affairs by which totally different victims and killers manifest in its homicide thriller. So hey, even when the brand new storyline isn’t nice, we’ll get to play Danganronpa 2 once more. – Kenneth Shepard
Pokémon Champions – 2026
Pokémon Champions is the brand new aggressive platform for the collection transferring ahead, and it’s going to combine a number of mechanics, reminiscent of Mega Evolution and Z-Strikes, into one place, which means it has the potential to fully rework the aggressive house, and unencumber the principle video games to not be beholden to a selected approach of doing issues. – Kenneth Shepard
Mario Tennis Fever – February 12
The world wants extra enjoyable tennis video games. Thanks, Mario and firm, for listening to these calls and displaying up so early in 2026 to ship a recreation that appears prefer it’ll be precisely what people need. – Zack Zwiezen
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis – 2026
Positive, one other remake of the primary Tomb Raider recreation appears a bit foolish. However, hey, it appears to be like nice and can maintain followers over till 2027’s Tomb Raider: Catalyst. – Zack Zwiezen
Pokémon Pokopia – March 5
Pokémon Pokopia seems to be Pikachu and associates’ tackle an Animal Crossing-style life sim, but it surely additionally appears to have a darkish, post-apocalyptic setting which may preserve it from being as cozy as different video games within the style. Intriguing! – Kenneth Shepard
Pragmata – April 24
New AAA franchises are so few and much between, it’s a particular deal with each time we get one, particularly out of Japan. It’s not 3D Mega Man but it surely may be the following neatest thing. – Ethan Gach
Marvel Tokon Combating Souls – 2026
Relating to anime fighters, you don’t guess in opposition to Arc System Works. Marvel Tokon Combating Souls is a 4v4 combating recreation with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the roster, and it appears to be like fairly rad. – Kenneth Shepard
Scott Pilgrim EX – 2026
It’s about time we acquired a brand new Scott Pilgrim beat em up, and this time, it’s coming with a model new story by collection’ creator Bryan Lee O’Malley set after the occasions of the Scott Pilgrim Takes Off anime. – Kenneth Shepard
Demon Tides – February 19
Demon Tides is a modern-day PS2-style mascot platformer that manages to nail the center floor between pinpoint precision and free-flowing, fast-paced motion that so many others within the style can’t fairly inhabit. – Kenneth Shepard
Nocturne – June 30
I needed to get no less than one rhythm recreation on this checklist, and Nocturne, a rhythm RPG impressed by science fantasy video games of the ’90s, is mainly Guitar Hero meets Closing Fantasy. – Kenneth Shepard
Slay the Spire 2– March 2026
I slept on the primary Slay the Spire when it initially launched. I can’t make that mistake once more. With most sequels I would like just a little bit extra than simply “larger and higher,” however with Slay the Spire 2 that can be greater than sufficient. – Ethan Gach
Halo: Marketing campaign Advanced – 2026
Like Tomb Raider, it’s a bit foolish that we’re getting one more remake of the primary Halo, however this one is coming to PlayStation 5, and I want I might return in time and inform 12-year-old Zack that truth. It might blow his dumb pre-teen thoughts. – Zack Zwiezen
Yoshi and the Mysterious E-book – 2026
This ain’t the Nintendo platformer I hoped for in 2026, but it surely appears to be like cute, and for people who love the Yoshi video games, effectively, right here’s one other one for you. – Zack Zwiezen
