The year has only just begun, but many outstanding video games are already confirmed for release in the coming months—and not just Grand Theft Auto VI. From the graphical prowess of PC titles to the convenient portability of Nintendo’s Switch and Switch 2 family, there’s a lot to look forward to between now and the end of the year. Eager to see what’s on the way? Peruse PCMag’s 2026 video game calendar, where I highlight each month’s most exceptional releases. It’s early in the year, so some months are notably sparse. However, they’ll be filled out in future story updates as new announcements happen. Get your wishlists ready.
2026 is shaping up to be a great year for video game releases, and it’s already delivered some amazing ones for us to get stuck into, from a return to Raccoon City to breeding cats for roguelike warfare.
So far, IGN has scored a total of 19 games 8/10 or higher this year, with a range of genres covered, from co-op horror adventures to open-world soulslike punishment. And if 2025 is anything to go by, which ended up with 89 high-scoring games, there’ll be plenty more added to this page as we progress through 2026. These are IGN’s best video games of 2026.
007 First Light
The most anticipated James Bond game since the Nintendo 64’s GoldenEye 007. Made by IO Interactive, famous for Hitman, it stars a younger, twentysomething Bond who has not yet earned his 007 status, and hopes to blend the expected car chases, shootouts and gadgets with some genuine spycraft, as Bond infiltrates parties and digs for information. Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; 27 May
Reanimal
From our review: Remember this, Reanimal says as it shows you something. All the pieces matter. It is a horror story, a journey through hell made up of the simple, elegant gameplay that Tarsier has honed to a feather’s edge over the last decade. There are occasional frustrations: a chase where the way forward is not obvious, a path that is easy to miss. What will keep you going is the story, the world, the characters, the sense that beyond all of this lies answers, the act of working together in a world where the scariest things are often not monsters, but other people, and what we are capable of inflicting on one another. What kept me going was playing it with another person, sharing that experience, and working together to discover what was at the bottom of that hole, and how that boy ended up in a boat, and his sister nearly drowned at sea. Going through hell together, wondering if it was something that happened to them, or the world they – we – had made. — Will Borger
Reanimal
A two-player animated horror game in the Tim Burton mode, minus all the whimsy. In a setup reminiscent of the famously discomfiting games Limbo and Inside, a brother and sister must escape a twisted mockery of their home town, finding their friends as they go. They are stalked by horrible spike-limbed monsters and grotesquely reanimated creatures. Genuinely frightening and artistically impressive. Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation5, Xbox; 13 February
Mewgenics
From our review: More than once, I’ve looked up from playing Mewgenics and realized that it’s 1:30AM. It’s that kind of tactical turn-based roguelike, where every new run with a new set of mutant feline adventurers is full of potential for something you didn’t know could happen, even after dozens of hours of runs. Maybe you’ll earn a new ability for a character class you’ve used many times, or see some new devious enemies that never appeared in a zone before, or you’ll get a new piece of gear that completely upends the rules and chaos will ensue. You’ll definitely see something hilariously gross. There will almost certainly be times you’ll be sent back to your house with your tail between your legs and have to breed a new batch of cats to avenge their mulched predecessors, but you’ll do it to the tune of some outstanding original songs. — Dan Stapleton
Resident Evil Requiem
Capcom’s horror series is very old, but it still comes up with new ways to make your skin crawl. In Requiem we play as bookish Grace, whom the game’s director calls “the biggest scaredy-cat in Resident Evil history”, and the confidently combat-proficient cop Leon S Kennedy, pursued by monsters through the iconic Raccoon City. Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; 27 February
Grand Theft Auto VI
It has been in development for more than a decade and, despite several delays (GTA VI was on this very list last year), expectations have never been higher for the biggest game in the world. It’s a crime story and a love story, featuring the series’ first female protagonist, Lucia, and her boyfriend, Jason, and set in Rockstar’s fictional Floridian state of Leonida. There has been so much to satirise about contemporary America since 2013’s GTA V that Rockstar’s writers will surely have been spoilt for choice. PlayStation 5, Xbox; 19 November
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake
From our review: On the surface, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is everything a fan like me could want. It’s artistically stunning, its world and character designs are remarkable, it is memorable and terrifying, it does not hold your hand, and many of its gameplay additions are welcome. But by making a version of Crimson Butterfly that offers you more choice and makes you more powerful – that bends to the modern need for More™ in general – Team Ninja has also made it feel more artificial, and less intimate in its horror. The end result is still a great game, but a slightly different one than I remember. Video game remakes are almost always an attempt to recapture a specific feeling, like a photo captures a single moment in time. They seek to replicate that moment, to turn a work of art from what it is to the way we remember it. That Crimson Butterfly Remake succeeds probably as well as it could have is nothing short of miraculous. But as any photographer will tell you, a flawless photograph is rare. If Mio and Mayu’s story has any lesson, it’s that sometimes you have to be unafraid, raise the camera again, and aim for the perfect shot, knowing it may be forever out of reach, but that the attempt matters all the same, and that a beautiful but imperfect picture is still worthwhile. — Will Borger
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition
Platforms: Switch 2
Release Date: January 15, 2026
If you skipped this adorable cozy game when it hit the original Nintendo Switch, or simply long to return to the cutesy world, the Nintendo Switch 2 version arrives this year. The enhanced Animal Crossing: New Horizons features 4K graphics, improved loading times, and mouse controls. If you own the original release, an upgrade pack will be available on launch day for $4.99.
Mio: Memories in Orbit
Platforms: PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S
Release Date: January 20, 2026
In this Metroid-style platformer, you play as an amnesiac android onboard a derelict spaceship. The mission? Restore the ship and revive your lost memories by exploring the vast, interconnected ark and mastering new abilities.
Scott Pilgrim EX
From our review: Scott Pilgrim EX is the latest in a long line of retro revivals from Tribute Games, and like all of its previous works, the developer has done an admirable job of producing a beat ‘em up that builds on its predecessor while adding much-appreciated gameplay depth and plenty of replayability. I love EX’s RPG systems (simple as they are), its world, and how there is always another interesting character to try when I get bored. But it’s also a game that grapples with the passage of time, even if it perhaps doesn’t mean to. The modern beat ‘em up exists because of the games that came before, but they were often far more limited. With the passage of time, we’ve returned to those ideas and refined them. Like Scott Pilgrim itself, those games have gone from something that was new to something that is now referenced. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, but a bittersweet one, and Scott Pilgrim EX understands that. You can go back in time, but you can’t go back to the way things were. All that’s left is to appreciate where you’ve been and enjoy what’s here now. And you know what? What’s here is pretty fun. — Will Borger
Cairn
From our review: Cairn would mean nothing without the journey, without the climb, without the moments where I faced everything Kami had to throw at me, from sheer cliffs to bad weather to climbing at night. Each time I was close to the top, I discovered the peak was farther off. And each time, I would tape up Aava’s hands, cook whatever I had, and keep going. I knew what she could handle, what she needed, how strong her grip would be, where I could take my chances. My reward was always something wondrous, and by the end I was as attuned to Aava’s body as my own. But what I’ll remember is the story of the mountain and the people on it. I’ll remember the climb. I’ll remember Aava. Kami asks Aava two questions: “Who are you? Why are you here?” Her answers are simple: “I’m a climber. I came here to live.” And through her, so could I. — Will Borger
Marvel’s Wolverine
Marvel’s Wolverine gets his claws into new foes. Photograph: Insomniac Games/ Marvel
The modern Spider-Man games have gone down a storm, so it’s no surprise that developer Insomniac is now turning its attention to a different Marvel hero. This new game features an ensemble X-Men cast and a whole lot of gratuitous comic-book violence, as Wolverine sticks those adamantium claws through a succession of foes trying to chase him down. PlayStation 5; date TBC
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
From our review: After its predecessor took a detour from advancing the Calvard saga in favor of a more interpersonal story, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon almost feels like an overcorrection as it weaves the plot-heavy stories of three different protagonists into a single adventure. However, splitting it into three distinct routes makes it all much easier to digest. While our main hero is overshadowed by the other protagonists early on, the story eventually finds a satisfying way to weave its paths together, and ultimately sticks the landing. The new mechanics in both the turn-based and real-time combat are welcome additions that continue to refine a battle system that was already a lot of fun. And while its cliffhanger ending will likely be divisive, Trails Beyond the Horizon has certainly built an exciting launchpad for what comes next. — George Yang
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Controversial take: first-person shooter campaigns have never got better than the original Halo, with its eerie extraterrestrial setting and intelligent, chattering alien enemies. (Let’s conveniently forget about The Library, where we battle through endless waves of the significantly less interesting zombie-like Flood.) This prettied-up remake of 2001’s space-opera classic will, for the first time, be available on PlayStation. PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; TBC
Menace (Early Access)
From our review: Menace is off to more than a running start already. The turn-based tactical action is some of the best I’ve played lately, and I love the distinct, voiced squad leaders, as well as both the variety of missions and enemy factions. The biggest missing piece is really story and context. It’s hard to get too invested in what’s going on in the Wayback when I’m not even really sure why we’re here yet. But for Early Access, this is a truly impressive effort, and there’s plenty of fun to be had already. — Leana Hafer
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park
From our review:Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park should be the blueprint moving forward for these enhanced rereleases. It sands off the rough edges of the original version while adding a fantastic lineup of boss battles, endgame challenges, and cooperative levels that each make use of Wonder’s excellent platforming in entirely different ways. The local and online competitive minigames are pretty bland, and I wish it’d gone just a bit further in getting the most out of its exciting new Dual Badge idea, but the rest of this expansion is so polished and inspired that it more than makes up for any shortcomings. Whether you’re planning to revisit Super Mario Bros. Wonder or pick it up for the first time, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is clearly the definitive way to play. — Logan Plant
Conclusion: A Blockbuster Year Ahead for Gaming in 2026
In conclusion, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in gaming, packed with highly anticipated releases across every genre and platform. From massive AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel’s Wolverine, and Fable to innovative new IPs and creative indie experiences, the lineup offers something for every type of player. With advancements in technology, storytelling, and gameplay design, these upcoming titles promise deeper immersion and more dynamic experiences than ever before. Whether you’re a fan of action, RPGs, shooters, or narrative-driven adventures, 2026 is set to deliver unforgettable gaming moments and redefine what players can expect from the industry.
Most anticipated video games of 2026
The year has only just begun, but many outstanding video games are already confirmed for release in the coming months—and not just Grand Theft Auto VI. From the graphical prowess of PC titles to the convenient portability of Nintendo’s Switch and Switch 2 family, there’s a lot to look forward to between now and the end of the year. Eager to see what’s on the way? Peruse PCMag’s 2026 video game calendar, where I highlight each month’s most exceptional releases. It’s early in the year, so some months are notably sparse. However, they’ll be filled out in future story updates as new announcements happen. Get your wishlists ready.
2026 is shaping up to be a great year for video game releases, and it’s already delivered some amazing ones for us to get stuck into, from a return to Raccoon City to breeding cats for roguelike warfare.
So far, IGN has scored a total of 19 games 8/10 or higher this year, with a range of genres covered, from co-op horror adventures to open-world soulslike punishment. And if 2025 is anything to go by, which ended up with 89 high-scoring games, there’ll be plenty more added to this page as we progress through 2026. These are IGN’s best video games of 2026.
007 First Light
The most anticipated James Bond game since the Nintendo 64’s GoldenEye 007. Made by IO Interactive, famous for Hitman, it stars a younger, twentysomething Bond who has not yet earned his 007 status, and hopes to blend the expected car chases, shootouts and gadgets with some genuine spycraft, as Bond infiltrates parties and digs for information.
Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; 27 May
Reanimal
From our review: Remember this, Reanimal says as it shows you something. All the pieces matter. It is a horror story, a journey through hell made up of the simple, elegant gameplay that Tarsier has honed to a feather’s edge over the last decade. There are occasional frustrations: a chase where the way forward is not obvious, a path that is easy to miss. What will keep you going is the story, the world, the characters, the sense that beyond all of this lies answers, the act of working together in a world where the scariest things are often not monsters, but other people, and what we are capable of inflicting on one another. What kept me going was playing it with another person, sharing that experience, and working together to discover what was at the bottom of that hole, and how that boy ended up in a boat, and his sister nearly drowned at sea. Going through hell together, wondering if it was something that happened to them, or the world they – we – had made. — Will Borger
Reanimal
A two-player animated horror game in the Tim Burton mode, minus all the whimsy. In a setup reminiscent of the famously discomfiting games Limbo and Inside, a brother and sister must escape a twisted mockery of their home town, finding their friends as they go. They are stalked by horrible spike-limbed monsters and grotesquely reanimated creatures. Genuinely frightening and artistically impressive.
Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation5, Xbox; 13 February
Mewgenics
From our review: More than once, I’ve looked up from playing Mewgenics and realized that it’s 1:30AM. It’s that kind of tactical turn-based roguelike, where every new run with a new set of mutant feline adventurers is full of potential for something you didn’t know could happen, even after dozens of hours of runs. Maybe you’ll earn a new ability for a character class you’ve used many times, or see some new devious enemies that never appeared in a zone before, or you’ll get a new piece of gear that completely upends the rules and chaos will ensue. You’ll definitely see something hilariously gross. There will almost certainly be times you’ll be sent back to your house with your tail between your legs and have to breed a new batch of cats to avenge their mulched predecessors, but you’ll do it to the tune of some outstanding original songs. — Dan Stapleton
Resident Evil Requiem
Capcom’s horror series is very old, but it still comes up with new ways to make your skin crawl. In Requiem we play as bookish Grace, whom the game’s director calls “the biggest scaredy-cat in Resident Evil history”, and the confidently combat-proficient cop Leon S Kennedy, pursued by monsters through the iconic Raccoon City.
Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; 27 February
Grand Theft Auto VI
It has been in development for more than a decade and, despite several delays (GTA VI was on this very list last year), expectations have never been higher for the biggest game in the world. It’s a crime story and a love story, featuring the series’ first female protagonist, Lucia, and her boyfriend, Jason, and set in Rockstar’s fictional Floridian state of Leonida. There has been so much to satirise about contemporary America since 2013’s GTA V that Rockstar’s writers will surely have been spoilt for choice.
PlayStation 5, Xbox; 19 November
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake
From our review: On the surface, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is everything a fan like me could want. It’s artistically stunning, its world and character designs are remarkable, it is memorable and terrifying, it does not hold your hand, and many of its gameplay additions are welcome. But by making a version of Crimson Butterfly that offers you more choice and makes you more powerful – that bends to the modern need for More™ in general – Team Ninja has also made it feel more artificial, and less intimate in its horror. The end result is still a great game, but a slightly different one than I remember. Video game remakes are almost always an attempt to recapture a specific feeling, like a photo captures a single moment in time. They seek to replicate that moment, to turn a work of art from what it is to the way we remember it. That Crimson Butterfly Remake succeeds probably as well as it could have is nothing short of miraculous. But as any photographer will tell you, a flawless photograph is rare. If Mio and Mayu’s story has any lesson, it’s that sometimes you have to be unafraid, raise the camera again, and aim for the perfect shot, knowing it may be forever out of reach, but that the attempt matters all the same, and that a beautiful but imperfect picture is still worthwhile. — Will Borger
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition
If you skipped this adorable cozy game when it hit the original Nintendo Switch, or simply long to return to the cutesy world, the Nintendo Switch 2 version arrives this year. The enhanced Animal Crossing: New Horizons features 4K graphics, improved loading times, and mouse controls. If you own the original release, an upgrade pack will be available on launch day for $4.99.
Mio: Memories in Orbit
In this Metroid-style platformer, you play as an amnesiac android onboard a derelict spaceship. The mission? Restore the ship and revive your lost memories by exploring the vast, interconnected ark and mastering new abilities.
Scott Pilgrim EX
From our review: Scott Pilgrim EX is the latest in a long line of retro revivals from Tribute Games, and like all of its previous works, the developer has done an admirable job of producing a beat ‘em up that builds on its predecessor while adding much-appreciated gameplay depth and plenty of replayability. I love EX’s RPG systems (simple as they are), its world, and how there is always another interesting character to try when I get bored. But it’s also a game that grapples with the passage of time, even if it perhaps doesn’t mean to. The modern beat ‘em up exists because of the games that came before, but they were often far more limited. With the passage of time, we’ve returned to those ideas and refined them. Like Scott Pilgrim itself, those games have gone from something that was new to something that is now referenced. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, but a bittersweet one, and Scott Pilgrim EX understands that. You can go back in time, but you can’t go back to the way things were. All that’s left is to appreciate where you’ve been and enjoy what’s here now. And you know what? What’s here is pretty fun. — Will Borger
Cairn
From our review: Cairn would mean nothing without the journey, without the climb, without the moments where I faced everything Kami had to throw at me, from sheer cliffs to bad weather to climbing at night. Each time I was close to the top, I discovered the peak was farther off. And each time, I would tape up Aava’s hands, cook whatever I had, and keep going. I knew what she could handle, what she needed, how strong her grip would be, where I could take my chances. My reward was always something wondrous, and by the end I was as attuned to Aava’s body as my own. But what I’ll remember is the story of the mountain and the people on it. I’ll remember the climb. I’ll remember Aava. Kami asks Aava two questions: “Who are you? Why are you here?” Her answers are simple: “I’m a climber. I came here to live.” And through her, so could I. — Will Borger
Marvel’s Wolverine
Marvel’s Wolverine gets his claws into new foes. Photograph: Insomniac Games/ Marvel
The modern Spider-Man games have gone down a storm, so it’s no surprise that developer Insomniac is now turning its attention to a different Marvel hero. This new game features an ensemble X-Men cast and a whole lot of gratuitous comic-book violence, as Wolverine sticks those adamantium claws through a succession of foes trying to chase him down.
PlayStation 5; date TBC
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
From our review: After its predecessor took a detour from advancing the Calvard saga in favor of a more interpersonal story, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon almost feels like an overcorrection as it weaves the plot-heavy stories of three different protagonists into a single adventure. However, splitting it into three distinct routes makes it all much easier to digest. While our main hero is overshadowed by the other protagonists early on, the story eventually finds a satisfying way to weave its paths together, and ultimately sticks the landing. The new mechanics in both the turn-based and real-time combat are welcome additions that continue to refine a battle system that was already a lot of fun. And while its cliffhanger ending will likely be divisive, Trails Beyond the Horizon has certainly built an exciting launchpad for what comes next. — George Yang
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Controversial take: first-person shooter campaigns have never got better than the original Halo, with its eerie extraterrestrial setting and intelligent, chattering alien enemies. (Let’s conveniently forget about The Library, where we battle through endless waves of the significantly less interesting zombie-like Flood.) This prettied-up remake of 2001’s space-opera classic will, for the first time, be available on PlayStation.
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox; TBC
Menace (Early Access)
From our review: Menace is off to more than a running start already. The turn-based tactical action is some of the best I’ve played lately, and I love the distinct, voiced squad leaders, as well as both the variety of missions and enemy factions. The biggest missing piece is really story and context. It’s hard to get too invested in what’s going on in the Wayback when I’m not even really sure why we’re here yet. But for Early Access, this is a truly impressive effort, and there’s plenty of fun to be had already. — Leana Hafer
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park
From our review: Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park should be the blueprint moving forward for these enhanced rereleases. It sands off the rough edges of the original version while adding a fantastic lineup of boss battles, endgame challenges, and cooperative levels that each make use of Wonder’s excellent platforming in entirely different ways. The local and online competitive minigames are pretty bland, and I wish it’d gone just a bit further in getting the most out of its exciting new Dual Badge idea, but the rest of this expansion is so polished and inspired that it more than makes up for any shortcomings. Whether you’re planning to revisit Super Mario Bros. Wonder or pick it up for the first time, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is clearly the definitive way to play. — Logan Plant
Conclusion: A Blockbuster Year Ahead for Gaming in 2026
In conclusion, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in gaming, packed with highly anticipated releases across every genre and platform. From massive AAA titles like Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel’s Wolverine, and Fable to innovative new IPs and creative indie experiences, the lineup offers something for every type of player. With advancements in technology, storytelling, and gameplay design, these upcoming titles promise deeper immersion and more dynamic experiences than ever before. Whether you’re a fan of action, RPGs, shooters, or narrative-driven adventures, 2026 is set to deliver unforgettable gaming moments and redefine what players can expect from the industry.
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