2026's Most Anticipated Games - Stephen's Picks
2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years in video games of all time. No matter whether you play on PC, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One or Series X|S, or the Nintendo Switch 2, you’re going to have a lot to play in 2026. Given that, we couldn’t simply pool the team’s thoughts into one top 10 countdown of the most anticipated games, so we solicited 10 from each person to discuss. Today, hear what Stephen has to say about their 10 most anticipated games of 2026.
10. Mixtape
The premise and soundtrack, touting visual and tonal homage to the late John Hughes and his work in teen films during the 80’s combined with Smashing Pumpkins and more is something I’m keen to check out. It’s been a while since a narrative adventure game really hooked me, but I feel Mixtape has a definite shot in 2026.
9. Marvel’s Wolverine
I never got around to finishing Spider-Man 2, feeling that I played it and Miles Morales a little to close together. I’m hoping the shift in focus from traversal to combat in Wolverine might get me back on board. Insomniac do great work so I’m not worried about how this will shape up, and leaning into the higher rating means it can be a bit more truthful to the character in tone than some other adaptations.
8. Mouse: PI For Hire
Love the art style and noir tone, the Fleisher characters are something that drew me to Cuphead as well but the FPS systems instead of Run-and-gun are way more my speed. I don’t expect this to be incredibly long or in depth, but hopefully the sort of thing I can run through a few times while playing around with difficulty levels. Fingers crossed there’s some rewarding exploration and story beats on top of the solid looking action core.
7. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
I’ve slowly slipped away from the JRPG genre over the years, but my love for Dragon Quest remains firm. The overhead camera angle and stylised chibi characters are something I’m looking forward to, but it’s how well the overall runtime of VII is smoothed down that I’m most excited to get to grips with, given I failed to roll credits on both the PSX and 3DS versions of the game due to the sheer length of it. Plus, if all goes well perhaps we can see DQ VIII and IX get similar treatment…
6. Saros
I liked Returnal but didn’t love it, not quite feeling a sense of progression in my equipment that I like in roguelikes. Saros looks like Housemarque trying to win everybody over, especially people like myself for whom Returnal didn’t quite hit. Even better, being set on the planet of Carcosa hopefully signifies some Eldritch overtones in the storyline and explains all the yellow. Mind you, I could end up rage-quitting a few hours in, but I can’t help but be excited to get my hands on this one.
5. 007 First Light
What a combination of IP and developer! A hugely wise move to distance itself from the longrunning Bond canon, First Light has the freedom to do some very interesting things and the technical chops behind it to make it top tier. While I didn’t need too much more convincing, trailers have only increased my excitement to explore exotic locales, drive fast cars and explore the playground IO have put together.
4. Resident Evil Requiem
Capcom have been on fire with the Resident Evil series for the past few years – seriously, when was the last dud installment of this franchise? Grace and Leon offering two different playstyles as well as first and third person options is a great way to satisfy fans of every flavour of Resident Evil over the last decade. I can’t promise it won’t be brown trousers time, as the Grace sections especially look set to amp up the tension, but hopefully the contrast of Leon mowing down hordes of infected is a nice pressure valve release.
3. Grand Theft Auto VI
Forget GTA Online, I just want to see what the last 13 years means for the single player of the series and whether Rockstar still have it. No doubt this thing will dominate sales charts, but whether the series’ trademark mayhem and humour can hold up will remain to be seen – if it manages to hit its promised November date. Will Rockstar set a new benchmark for open world action games? While I hope so, it must be hard for any game to live up to the hype with such a legacy to uphold.
2. Stranger Than Heaven
An anthology piece across three different periods in modern Japan, Stranger Than Heaven shows a mix of both Yakuza and Judgment DNA as Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio step back in time once again. Each trailer drop has only made me more excited to see what’s in store, especially how the city of Osaka shifts over time. New protagonists and thin story details are a blessing, as I’m hoping there are more than a few surprises from a team that seem to be riding the line of delivering what fans want and saturating the market. There is always the risk this one slips to 2027 however, so whether my 2026 enthusiasm is misplaced will remain to be seen.
1. Control Resonant
Has it really been almost 7 years since Control released? What I would consider the mark of a studio ascending to a new height, Control was my Game of the Year for 2019 and I’m hoping Control: Resonant can take the gong in 2026. With their stellar work on Alan Wake II, Remedy have been firing on all cylinders of late and Resonant is expanding its scope to keep up, leaving the confines of the Bureau building to unleash Dylan Faden on the streets of Manhattan, while Jesse’s whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery. Of all the titles in 2026, Control Resonant is the one I’m most excited to pick up on launch day and dig in to. Here’s hoping I’m not waiting until December or beyond to get the opportunity.
So that concludes Stephen’s list of their most anticipated games of 2026. What are some of yours? Hit us up via social media to let us know what games you are keen on in 2026!
