Seven Games to Look Out for in 2026
With 2025 quickly coming to a close, it's time to take a look at some of the games to keep an eye out for next year!
The games featured on this list are purely the opinion of the author - and shouldn't be taken as any sort of academic or objective review!
There's already a significant number of titles scheduled for release in 2026 that are promising to be memorable ones. As we farewell 2025, we thought we'd spend some time taking a look at a few of the most exciting releases.
Forza Horizon 6
With the Forza Motorsport series officially sunset, Forza Horizon is now the undisputed king of the Microsoft racing games.
So far the open-world racing sim has been to a variety of locations, with the USA, Western Europe, Australia, Great Britain and Mexico serving as its home across the first five games of the series. Forza Horizon 6 takes the series to Asia for the first time, with the game set in Japan.
At this stage little information is available on the game aside from its location and a likely release window of H1 2026. The game will be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S on day one, with a future port to PS5 at some point in the future.
Transport Fever 3
Urban Games have done a pretty decent job over the last 11 years bringing both incremental and major changes to their transport simulation series, from the original Train Fever all the way to Transport Fever 2, and I've enjoyed my time playing each one.
Transport Fever 3 has been announced for 2026, and Urban Games are going hard with the promises. The most recent "First Look" video, released just before Christmas, features a detailed look at some of the build tools available for players to construct networks. Given the relative weakness of Transport Fever 2's network tools, especially when constructing roads, the new tools look promising, with the video showcasing a trumpet interchange being created with relative ease.
I'm hoping in particular that the optimisation of the game is greatly improved - 2's weakest point was the extremely poor frame rates experienced when saves grow to even moderate complexity - if 3 can get optimisation right it will a long way to the game living up to its potential.
Transport Fever 3 has an unspecified 2026 release date as of writing.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Announced just before Christmas, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a modern re-imagining of Lara's very first adventure spruced up with Unreal Engine 5 goodness.
As I mentioned in my article covering the announcement, the original Tomb Raider game doesn't have a great track record with remakes - Crystal Dynamics also isn't fully handling the remake, with at least part of the work being handled by Flying Wild Hogs. Still, the recent entries to the franchise have been solid - and it appears there's been some serious consideration put into the whole "unified" timeline thing that's been in the works over the last few years.
The original Tomb Raider ranks up there with my favourite games - the mixture of history-inspired tomb exploration and the more supernatural and otherworldly final levels were amazing to experience the first time, and I still enjoy revisiting the game every now and then.
So it's safe to say I'll be watching how this one goes with great interest - especially the possible narrative changes necessitated by the changes to Lara's character introduced through the course of the Netflix animated series.
No solid release date as of yet, but Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is set to land in 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The Duskbloods
FromSoftware have built a reputation of producing quality dark fantasy with a smattering of cosmic horror, and with The Duskbloods, they're bringing their trademark gameplay to Nintendo Switch 2, but with a definite twist on the formula they've established in the fifteen years since the breakout Demon's Souls for PS3.
In The Duskbloods, players take on the role of one of 12 different Bloodsworn, essentially vampires, who are pulled together as different timelines and realities merge together as the end of humanity approaches.
Up to eight players can join together in either PvP or jolly cooperation across different maps, using the rewards from matches to customise their characters and unlock new abilities.
The Duskbloods looks like a really interesting twist on the classic FromSoftware formula. It's set to release in 2026 as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
Resident Evil Requiem
After a bit of detour around Europe, Africa and rural Louisiana, the Resident Evil franchise looks to be finally returning to its home in Raccoon City.
It's looking like Requiem will have two playable characters - the first revealed being Grace Ashcroft, FBI analyst and daughter of playable character Alyssa Ashcroft of the Resident Evil Outbreak side stories. The second is none other than Leon S. Kennedy - series regular across many of the first six games of the franchise as well as plenty of spinoffs.
Tasked to investigate the latest in a series of unusual murders, Grace must return to the Wrenwood Hotel, the location of her mother Alyssa's murder. When a law enforcement office is reported missing at the hotel, Leon's expertise is required and he is sent in to investigate. From there, events take the two closer and closer to the epicentre of the franchise in Raccoon City.
Resident Evil Requiem will release on 27 February 2026 for PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
007 First Light
Hitman studio IO Interactive are taking on James Bond's 007 origin story with 007 First Light, and if the early footage and hype are to be believed, it could be a doozy.
On paper - the well oiled machinery IO have designed across the Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy is probably well placed as a framework to build a Bond game around. Of course, there's some tinkering to be done - the main of 007's missions generally isn't to assassinate a number of people, but the stealth mechanics are pretty damn impressive on their own - so I'm sure 007 First Light will look to take full advantage of them.
IO Interactive were key benefactors of Grand Theft Auto VI's delay, allowing them to in turn push back 007 First Light's release date, hopefully allowing for a little extra polish for the product.
007 First Light is set to release on 27 May 2026 for PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Such is the ubiquitous demand for Grand Theft Auto's sixth mainline game that numerous games have actively sought to plan their release dates around when it's due to release.
It's been 12 long years since Grand Theft Auto V, which released across three different console generations, leading to it becoming a meme of almost Half Life 3-levels of social relevance.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to continue its predecessor's multi-protagonist approach, with players taking on the roles of two lovers in the world of organised crime in Vice City. Rockstar as usual are staying tight-lipped on the details of the plot, but suffice to say players can expect the same bombastic set pieces as they've come to expect since V, with the Florida-inspired locale allowing the game to go all in with the "Florida Man"-type humour.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to release on 19 November 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. No other platforms are currently confirmed, however it seems likely it will head to Switch 2, with a PC release likely 6-12 months following the initial release.
What games are you most looking forward to in 2026? Join the conversation over on Mastodon and let us know!