Games

7 Most-Anticipated Games of 2026 You Need to Play

Here are the hottest games to check out in 2026!

Published

2 months ago

January 16, 2026

2026 is lining up to be another blockbuster year for gamers — with everything from long-awaited franchise sequels and new IPs on the cards, let alone one of the biggest games of the decade finally seeing the light of day. Here are our most-anticipated games of 2026:

Resident Evil: Requiem

Release date: 27 February 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | Switch 2 | PC)

The ninth mainline entry into the Resident Evil series aims to appease fans of pure horror and survival-action with two playable protagonists, fan-favourite Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft as they hunt for answers in a post-nuclear Raccoon City. It looks stunning, there are some grotesque enemies to gawk at, and we’re sure there’ll be some surprises in store too.

007: First Light

Release date: 27 May 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | Switch 2 | PC)

Developer IO Interactive (famous for its work on the Hitman franchise) will release its long-in-development James Bond game, 007: First Light, in 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.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Release date: 2026 (PS5)

Insomniac, the studio behind Marvel’s Spider-Man, have been hard at work on an upcoming Wolverine game, putting the beloved feral X-Men member front and centre for his own adventure. The game itself looks to utilise a lot of the mechanics and visuals behind the Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 entries, but brings a more linear, visceral and violent take on combat.

Crimson Desert

Release date: 19 March 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | PC)

Crimson Desert is a massive open-world action-RPG, with fast combat and stellar visuals. You play as Kliff who has to rebuild after his clan was wiped out, as you travel across sprawling landscapes, discover quests and missions, and take on some truly eye-popping enemies, both big and small.

Grand Theft Auto 6

Release date: 19 November 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S)

Undoubtedly the biggest game on the horizon, GTA 6 is set to be a landmark moment for gamers. The next big release in the open-world crime saga heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet. Expect a Hollywood-level story, an insane amount of detail in the game world, and some slick combat, driving, and a variety of other gameplay mechanics.

Phantom Blade Zero

Release date: 8 September 2026 (PS5 | PC)

If Ghost of Tsushima and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon had a baby, it would be Phantom Blade Zero. It’s a fast-paced action game from S-Game Studio, featuring a deep and dark art style, frenetic combat, and a fictitious world blending Chinese martial arts and mechanical steampunk aesthetics. We can’t wait to see more of Phantom Blade Zero when it arrives in September.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

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

It’s been a long time since we’ve had an Onimusha game, but Capcom’s slick new reboot-sequel, Way of the Sword, will arrive sometime in 2026. From the gameplay we’ve seen, it’s an incredibly stylish and action-heavy revamp of the classic samurai-vs-demons world created by the previous Onimusha games, with some technical combat, parrys, and dodging needed to be mastered to eliminate the demons plaguing Kyoto, Japan.