The list of the most anticipated 2026 games has a Grand Theft Auto VI-sized shadow looming over them.
I understand it; it’s been over a decade since GTA V, and I’d be shocked if Rockstar Games fails to deliver. However, don’t you dare think for a second that’s the only game we’re excited about for this year.
If 2025 showed us anything, it’s that the industry is more than capable of delivering a steady stream of hits from AAA studios and indie developers. It’s also capable of out-of-nowhere sleeper hits that win our hearts. Just think of the games that blew us away last year. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ball X Pit, and ARC Raiders took the world by storm in ways no one expected. That’s not to say that we thought these games would bomb; Instead, we just didn’t think they’d be as successful as they were.
So with that being said, we wanted to take a peek at the current list of games coming out this year and give a rundown of the most anticipated 2026 games that we’re really, really excited about. Resident Evil Requiem is right around the corner, but there’s plenty more to look forward to this year. If these games aren’t on your wishlist yet, what are you waiting for?
Slay the Spire 2
Release Date: March 5th (Early Access)
One of the biggest surprises of the year thus far has been the announcement that Slay the Spire 2 is coming to Early Access in March.
We knew that we were getting a sequel to the addictive roguelike deckbuilder at some point this year. The fact that it’s so soon is music to our ears.
The sequel will introduce new characters, cooperative play, new cards, and more. Developer Mega Crit says that they expect to be in Early Access for 1-2 years, but that won’t stop us from enjoying Slay the Spire 2 as much as possible before its full release.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
Release Date: April 16th
There are those who said this day would never come. What have they to say now?
Tomodachi Life is obviously not as big as Halo 2 was, but to its loyal and devoted fanbase, they’ve been waiting a long time for this.
A sequel to the cult-classic 2014 Nintendo 3DS game (released a year prior in Japan), Tomodachi Life is a life-simulator game that’s less Sims or Animal Crossing and more about setting up your characters as you see fit. Imagine, if you will, a life simulator where you constantly pick people up and drop them off the path in Roller Coaster Tycoon and watch them get frustrated when they can’t leave the park.
It’s also far more zany and absurd than other similar could ever dream of being.
Pragmata
Release Date: April 24th
During the intro of our list of the most anticipated 2026 games, I hinted at Resident Evil Requiem, which is most likely already out by the time you’re reading this. That’s not all Capcom has up its sleeve, though.
Pragmata was first announced during the PlayStation 5’s reveal stream back in 2020; to say it’s been a long time coming is a massive understatement. At first, we were hooked by its unique premise: a young girl accompanying an armored shoulder. Now that we know more about the game, we’re even more intrigued.
The young girl is an Android named Diana, who accompanies the main protagonist, Hugh, and helps him hack into enemy AI robots so he can pierce their armor.
I’m sure the story will go full Capcom (as in off the rails), but the combat has us super excited to check it out this Spring.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred
Release Date: April 28th
Surely by now they’ve “fixed” Diablo IV, right?
Well, if you ask me, the game never really needed fixing; I very much enjoyed my time with it on release. In typical Diablo fashion, though, the overall sentiment on the game was divisive, slowly turning into favorable. We all like Diablo III now, so you can’t look me in the eye and tell me this doesn’t track.
Lord of Hatred is introducing two new classes to the game. First is the Paladin, who’s actually already available now for those who pre-order the game. Spoiler alert: it plays like a dream come true. The second is the Warlock (who is also coming to Diablo II), and looks to be just as much fun.
I’m fully aware that there will be a large group of people who will never be won over by Diablo IV, but you can’t deny that they’ve done a great job of improving the game over the years.
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Forza Horizon 6
Release Date: May 19th
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly five years since the release of Forza Horizon 5, one of the best racing games of all time.
Forza Horizon 6 finally takes us to the highly requested country of Japan, delivering an open world that brings all of the best features throughout the franchise’s history. Changing seasons, sweeping vistas, iconic locales, and plenty of cars to collect.
Over the years, the Forza Horizon franchise has become one of the very best for Xbox, and I fully expect more of the same with Forza Horizon 6. These have always been among the best open-world games on the market, packed with so much to see and do that it’ll keep everyone busy for months on end.
007 First Light
Release Date: May 27th
Hitman developer IO Interactive is taking a break from the iconic franchise and giving us their take on a James Bond game.
While the Bond franchise has seen plenty of highs in the world of video games (GoldenEye 007), it’s also seen plenty of lows, too (nearly everything else). 007 First Light looks to change that.
The DNA of what makes the Hitman franchise so great is alive and well in First Light, but the gameplay feels faster paced, more proactive, and has a little twist of that James Bond charm. To be honest, even if this were a reskinned version of Hitman, we’d be all-in. To see IOI instead of tweaking things to better suit the characters and setting, though, is the icing on the cake.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
Release Date: August 6th
I’ve come to terms with the fact that we’re never going to get another Marvel vs. Capcom game again. It is what it is, I suppose. However, we are going to be getting a Marvel fighting game from Arc System Works, best known for their work on the Guilty Gear franchise. I’ll take that trade-off, I suppose.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls combines the iconic Marvel lineup with the incredible gameplay we’ve come to expect from Arc System Works. Add in a dash of 4v4 tag-team action (3v3 is so yesterday, folks), and this is easily one of the most anticipated fighting games in quite some time.
In fact, the fighting game genre has been doing quite well over the past couple of years. If Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls delivers, we could be looking at an all-time classic.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Release Date: November 19th
If you haven’t noticed, this list is in order of release date; it’s the only reason why Grand Theft Auto VI is “ranked” so low.
Let’s not beat around the bush. This isn’t just one of the most anticipated 2026 games; it’s arguably the most anticipated game of all time.
GTA V is a massive accomplishment in the world of video games. There’s a reason why it’s been re-released several times over the years. The game still holds up well today. Of course, since then, Rockstar arguably improved on the formula with Red Dead Redemption II. Now they’re back with the franchise that made them one of the best developers in the industry. There’s no way this game will be a disappointment.
Fable
Release Date: Second half of 2026
We’re in the endgame now. What was originally one of the most anticipated 2025 games is now one of the most anticipated 2026 games.
Fable, coming from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games, has been in the oven for quite some time. It’s looking to recapture the magic and glory of the iconic action RPG franchise that made its mark on the original Xbox and Xbox 360.
I doubt we’ll ever see the original vision come true for Fable, but seeing how the entire world will react to every one of your actions has me excited. The fact that this includes decisions made from main quests or your actions as, say, a landlord, feels in line with what makes these games great.
Marvel’s Wolverine
Release Date: Second half of 2026
Insomniac Games knocked it out of the park with both of their Marvel Spider-Man games. Their upcoming Wolverine game looks even better.
As iconic and popular as Spider-Man is, dare I say that Wolverine is even more popular and iconic? It’s tough to say, to be honest, but I do know this. Marvel’s Wolverine is going all-in on brutal, visceral action.
Of course, the character is far more than slicing and dicing his enemies. Logan is one of the more complex characters in the Marvel roster. Thankfully, I trust Insomniac to deliver on this front. The glimpses we’ve seen from the trailer, they’re going to deliver on this front.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
Release Date: TBD 2026
There’s a reason I haven’t mentioned Nintendo yet: their release calendar is, for the most part, pretty barren.
Mario Tennis Fever was a good start to the year, and they have several other games coming up, but none are as anticipated as Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave.
It’s been a few years since we saw the Fire Emblem franchise; Three Houses is one of the best games for Nintendo Switch. Fire Emblem Engage, whose gameplay is some of the best in the series, missed the mark with its story and characters. Based on the first trailer, Fortune’s Weave looks to be following in the footsteps of Three Houses.
Gears of War: E-Day
Release Date: TBD 2026
It’s unfortunate that the Gears of War franchise isn’t as popular today as it was on the Xbox 360. The past two mainline games were pretty good, even if Gears 5 ended on a cliffhanger that continues to leave us, well, hanging.
Gears of War: E-Day isn’t a follow-up to that story. Instead, it’s a prequel that takes us back to where it all began: Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago during Emergence Day, 14 years before the events of the original game.
Last year’s Gears of War: Reloaded, the remaster of the original game, proves that the gameplay holds up today. Now they’re making the prequel from the ground up? You better believe this is one of my most anticipated 2026 games.
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