10 Video Games We Can’t Wait to Play Next Year
2025 gave us some of the best games in recent memory — Monster Hunter Wilds, Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yōtei, and more than a few surprises that nobody saw coming.
But somehow, 2026 is threatening to blow it all out of the water. Developers are not holding back, and it's starting to look like next year could be the best year in gaming since 2017 — and we all know how legendary that year was. So take a deep breath, because we're about to see the next level of gaming.
Grand Theft Auto VI
If there's one game that has single-handedly rearranged the entire 2026 release calendar, it's GTA VI. Publishers have been scrambling to drop their games in September just to avoid sharing November with Rockstar's juggernaut — and honestly, can you blame them?
Set in a fictionalized version of Miami and surrounding areas, GTA VI introduces dual protagonists Lucia and Jason, an evolving open world, and the kind of next-gen realism that will probably make everything else feel slightly quaint by comparison. Launching November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, this is the one everyone will be talking about at Christmas dinner. Analysts are projecting day-one sales in the range of 25 million copies. Twenty. Five. Million. Copies.
We've been waiting over a decade. The wait is almost over.
Resident Evil Requiem
The ninth mainline Resident Evil game is returning to where it all began: Raccoon City. Set 30 years after the original outbreak, Requiem puts you in control of FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft as she's drawn back to the site of her darkest memories. Hands-on demos have confirmed that both first-person and third-person perspectives are available — so however you like your horror, Capcom has you covered.
What's most exciting is that Capcom appears to be threading the needle between the atmospheric dread of RE7 and Village and the high-stakes action of the more recent entries. This is Capcom at their most confident, and Requiem arrives on February 27 — perfect for keeping you terrified through the tail end of winter.
Marvel's Wolverine
Insomniac Games has basically become a quality guarantee after the Spider-Man series, and now they're turning their attention to everyone's favorite regenerating Canadian. Marvel's Wolverine lands September 15, 2026, as a PS5 exclusive, and the recent trailer was everything fans could have hoped for — brutal, visceral, and deeply personal, with appearances from Jean Grey, Sabretooth, and other classic X-Men.
Logan is arguably the most cinematic Marvel character outside of a movie, and Insomniac knows how to tell a character-driven superhero story. September is already absurdly stacked with big releases, but Wolverine might be the one that stands tallest.
Phantom Blade Zero
Here's the one you might not have on your radar yet — but you should. Developed by S-GAME, Phantom Blade Zero is a stunning action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology, blending martial arts, dark fantasy, and blistering fast combat into what's being called a “Kungfupunk” aesthetic. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5 and looks genuinely jaw-dropping.
Landing October 29 on PS5 and PC, it's a single-player, story-driven experience that's been compared to Sekiro in terms of its skill-based combat demands. The global gaming community has been buzzing about this one since its reveal, and for good reason — this could be the sleeper hit of the year.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
After nearly two decades away, one of Capcom's most beloved franchises is back. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is set in early Edo-period Kyoto, featuring fast, precise swordplay combat that early hands-on players have described as exhilarating. In a genuinely cool touch, the game's protagonist Musashi is modeled after legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune.
Arriving September 25 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, it's a franchise revival that looks like it has absolutely earned its return. A demo is already live on Steam if you want a taste before launch — and based on early reactions, you probably should.
Control Resonant
Remedy Entertainment's Control was one of the most stylish and inventive action games of its generation, and Control Resonant looks to build on that weird, wonderful foundation. The sequel drops September 24, 2026, and it's arriving in one of the most competitive release windows in gaming history, which tells you how confident Remedy must be in what they've built.
If you loved the Federal Bureau of Control, the shifting brutalist architecture of the Oldest House, and Jesse Faden's telekinetic brand of chaos, this is the sequel you've been waiting for.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
From Rebel Wolves — a studio founded by veterans of The Witcher 3 — comes The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark fantasy RPG that's immediately caught the attention of anyone who has ever spent 200 hours in a Witcher game. The pedigree here is undeniable, and the early footage suggests a world with the same kind of dense, morally complex storytelling that made Geralt of Rivia a household name.
It drops September 3, kicking off what might be the most wallet-destroying month in gaming history.
007: First Light
James Bond has been largely absent from gaming for over a decade, but IO Interactive — the studio behind the excellent Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy — is bringing 007 back in style. First Light is an origin story for Bond, drawing inspiration from several Ian Fleming novels, and it's already clear that IO's expertise in disguise, stealth, and environmental storytelling is a perfect match for the license.
Hitman was always Bond-coded. Now it literally is Bond.
Silent Hill: Townfall
Konami's horror franchise has had a turbulent relationship with fans over the years, but Silent Hill: Townfall looks like it could be the entry that restores the series to its former glory. Arriving September 24, 2026, it's taking a different creative direction from the recent Silent Hill 2 remake — and from what we've seen, the dread and psychological horror that defined the originals appears to be very much intact.
For anyone who grew up checking every dark corner for Pyramid Head, this one can't come fast enough.
Gears of War: E-Day
Microsoft's fall lineup is headlined by Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel that takes us back to Emergence Day — the moment the Locust first broke through the surface and changed humanity forever. It's a premise with enormous dramatic potential, and The Coalition looks to be delivering on it with stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals and the brutal, cover-based combat the series is known for.
For Xbox and Game Pass subscribers, this is the year's flagship exclusive. And for long-time Gears fans, getting to finally play the day that started it all is something special.
There you have it — ten reasons why 2026 is going to be absolutely devastating for your free time. Which one are you most excited for?
