5 Most-Anticipated Games of May You Need to Know About

May heats up with some big-name franchises getting new entries, with a veteran racer, a blocky superhero, and the world’s most famous secret agent getting some limelight. Here are the games to check out this May:

Directive 8020

Release date: 12 May 2026 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Supermassive Games have become known for their narrative-and-decision driven horror games, and Directive 8020 takes the action to a sci-fi space setting. It follows a spaceship that crash-lands on an alien planet, with the crew realising that they’re not alone, being hunted by an alien organism capable of mimicking its prey. It’s very The Thing-esque, and we can’t wait to check out more of what Directive 8020 has in store.

Forza Horizon 6

Release date: 19 May 2026 (Xbox Series X/S | PC)

Forza‘s festival-inspired Horizon series moves to Japan this time around. The game delivers over 550 real-world cars, a colourful and dynamic world to explore, and a banging soundtrack. On top of that, you can build a Valley Estate, acquire awe-inspiring homes, and display your prized car collection in fully Customisable Garages. Like any Forza Horizon game, multiplayer will obviously play a big role too, allowing you to meet up with your friends and design your own race events and festivals.

Hotel Architect

Release date: 14 May 2026 (PC)

Hotel Architect has been in Early Access for ages, but it’s finally seeing its full release this May. Set in multiple locations across the world, with each location featuring its own scenario and sandbox modes, the game requires you to design and build the perfect hotel, appeasing all types of guests with different needs and desires. Much like Prison Architect 2, the game features full 3D gameplay and allows players to construct hotels over multiple floors.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

Release date: 22 May 2026 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Don’t be fooled by the ‘Lego‘ in the title, as Rise as the Dark Knight is probably the closest thing we’ll get to a new Batman Arkham game, albeit with a colourful exterior. This new entry evolves the Lego game design and adds a full, open-world Gotham City, action-packed adventure and hard-hitting combat. It looks amazing and we can’t wait to see more of that trademark Lego humour being injected into a bigger, bolder Batman game.

007 First Light

Release date: 27 May 2026 (Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC)

Developer IO Interactive (famous for its work on the Hitman franchise) will release its long-in-development James Bond game, 007: First Light, this May. The game takes the form of a third-person action adventure, which sees gamers take the role of the iconic agent, in an origin story, of sorts. First Light obviously capitalises on some of the systems and gameplay elements from IO’s Hitman series, such as disguises, stealth, and the sandbox-type levels, but this release will feature a much heavier focus on action, driving, and gunplay.

Which releases are you most looking forward to? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.