10 biggest games of 2026: New IPs and sequels 

A new year in video games means more stories to be told through imaginative adventures and trends to get accustomed to. Already, the 2026 games on display are set to be action-packed across all genres, with more announcements yet to come.

The best games of 2025 showcased indie studios taking the spotlight, with some memorable AAA entries also emerging. However, there are some heavy-hitters in the works when it comes to games coming out in 2026.

Most anticipated games of 2026

We’ve ranked the 2026 game releases you should have on your radar for 2026, which have the potential to outshine those from the class of 2025. Please note that the launch windows are subject to change if delays are reported by their respective developers.

10. Pathologic 3 (January 2026)

Kicking off the year and our most highly anticipated 2026 video games list is Pathologic 3, a psychological horror where you are a doctor who has only 12 days to save a town from a mysterious plague. Apart from examining patients and saving lives, you’ll have to take control of the town by enforcing quarantines, imposing curfews, vaccinating the town, handling riots, and so much more. 

The choices you make in this narrative, containing moral dilemmas and branching paths, lead to different outcomes, and so will your mental state, which directly impacts your actions and how you interpret events on the quest to discover the truth about the infectious outbreak that’s swarming the town. As a sequel to Pathologic 2, the third entry in the series is expected to expand on the story of its predecessor, while introducing new mechanics such as the ability to rewind time.

9. Pragmata (2026)

We can’t explore upcoming video games of 2026 without mentioning Capcom getting ready to unleash a brand new IP with Pragmata, a futuristic action-adventure game set on a lunar research station. The protagonists are Hugh and his android companion Diana, who possess their own skills: hack enemies with Diana and make your way through hacking nodes to activate various effects, and take down foes with Hugh’s arsenal of weapons. 

The result is fast-paced gameplay, but both characters must work together outside of combat to progress, too. The Shelter will act as your base where you can make upgrades, use materials collected while exploring, and recover health, for example. As you traverse a captivating story, your goal will be to escape the lunar facility alive. 

8. Marvel’s Wolverine (Fall 2026)

From Insomniac Games, the creators of Marvel’s Spider-Man, comes one of the most highly anticipated 2026 PS5 game releases, Marvel’s Wolverine. The game will explore Logan’s signature spin on heroism, which takes on a much darker and brutal tone, as he searches for answers to the secrets of a dark past that continue to pursue him. 

His hunt will take you to diverse locations, including the island nation of Madripoor, a frosted wilderness in Canada, and the city streets of Tokyo. Expect to encounter familiar faces from the Marvel franchise, such as Mystique and Omega Red. Some of those characters will fight alongside Logan, while others will attack in fierce yet thrilling combat.

7. Forza Horizon 6 (2026)

Forza Horizon 6 is the next instalment in the long-running franchise, making it one of the most highly anticipated 2026 Xbox game releases. The open-world driving game will take players to Japan, where you will take in the scenery as you build your racing status to become a Legend at the Horizon Festival. 

Although details on how this game will evolve from its predecessor are scarce, it has been confirmed that Forza Horizon 6 will launch first on Xbox Series X|S and PC, also be included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one. After Forza Horizon 5 sped onto PS5 for the first time in the franchise’s history in April 2025, Forza Horizon 6 will follow suit, but it will be available on Sony’s console post-launch.

6. Nioh 3 (February 2026)

The dark samurai action RPG continues in this 2026 video game, where you will encounter yokai, villages engulfed with tension and darkness, and fight back against the presence of the Crucible. The story is set in Kyoto in 1864, long after the Edo period, when Takechiyo was attacked by Kunimatsu, and loyalists defend the Spirit Trees that hold back the spread of the Crucible from the shogunate. 

Nioh 3 features switchable combat styles that combine samurai and ninja capabilities, offering an arsenal of both modern and traditional weapons. The environment around you can go through huge changes as the story progresses, so there’s a wealth of discoveries to be made through exploration alone.

5. 007 First Light (March 2026)

As an espionage action-adventure, 007 First Light will see you become a young James Bond in an MI6 training program. The narrative centers on a mission to stop a rogue agent that ended in tragedy, and Bond must join forces with his mentor, Greenway, to expose a deep conspiracy and prevent a brewing coup at the heart of the State. 

In this cinematic story, you’ll complete missions, use all kinds of spy gadgets, sit behind the wheel of iconic vehicles, and choose a loud or stealthy combat style. Due to the popularity of James Bond and how 007 First Light will reimagine the classic franchise makes this one of the most sought-after new games coming out in 2026.

4. Subnautica 2 (2026)

As a sequel to the award-winning Subnautica, it’s no wonder that Subnautica 2 is one of the most anticipated 2026 video games. The immersive open seas transport you to a distant world, delivering a brand-new story and bringing you face-to-face with a diverse array of aquatic creatures. 

Survival in Subnautica 2 doesn’t have to be done alone, as up to three friends can join you in online multiplayer co-op, allowing you to explore biomes, use an overhauled building system, and unlock secrets in an unknown world that is full of danger together. When Subnautica 2 is released, it will be in Early Access, but additional biomes, creatures, craftable items, and narrative elements will be added throughout this period.

3. Fable (2026)

Fable will take players back to Albion to explore what it means to be a hero, placing it among the most highly anticipated games releasing in 2026. Not many details have been shared about this new beginning for the franchise. It has been confirmed that the game will be developed by Playground Games, and a 2023 trailer depicts Richard Ayoade as a vegetable-loving giant. 

A third teaser was shown in 2024, where the retired hero of Albion, Humphrey, looks back at the trials and tribulations of being a hero. However, he will be forced out of retirement when a figure from his past returns to threaten Albion. The playful humor and presence of magic that Fable fans have grown accustomed to will all be featured in a seamless open-world format that can be fully explored.

2. Resident Evil Requiem (February 2026)

2026 video games will mark the return to Raccoon City in Resident Evil Requiem, set 30 years after a biological disaster. FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak survivor Alyssa Ashcroft, is the playable character. She investigates deaths at the Raccoon City’s Wrenwood Hotel, a place connected to her mother’s murder, leading her to uncover more secrets about the Raccoon City outbreak. 

Expect the same gritty horror survival that the Resident Evil series is known for, from combat, puzzles to solve, and scarce resources to manage along the way. Being able to switch between first-person and third-person perspectives will allow you to confront the chilling fears within the story-rich gameplay in your own way.

1. Grand Theft Auto 6 (November 2026)

The most highly anticipated game of next year or of the past decade? GTA 6 is on everybody’s lips when it comes to 2026 game releases. The story revolves around dual protagonists Jason and Lucia, who are a law-breaking couple wanting to turn their lives around, but they end up at the heart of a criminal conspiracy. The game takes players back to Vice City and introduces the state of Leonida, a fictional version of Florida. 

So far, the game has only been announced for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles at launch, with no mention yet of when PC players will be able to get in on the action. It hasn’t even been confirmed if a new iteration of GTA Online will release alongside GTA 6, but hopefully Rockstar Games will share more details on the countdown to release (that’s if there are no further delays).