At the start of each year, our Editor sits down to work out the games that should be on everybody’s radar, but this time around, he is doing something different. This year, he is reducing his choices to three games for each genre. These might not be the most anticipated titles or the best releases, but they are games that have huge potential and a chance of doing something exciting or new within their genre. Welcome to “Games to Watch – 2026 Edition.” Just because a game is kid-friendly doesn’t mean it’s bad, so with that in mind, check out the best Family games coming in 2026.
Games to Watch in 2026 - Family
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
What if you took the amazing Arkham games and mixed them with Lego? That is the idea behind the latest Lego Batman title, and as a result, it looks amazing. The game features all the cool things from the Arkham games, like stealth sequences and counter-based combat, all sitting under the typical Lego game veneer of humour and bricks. It is a combo that is sure to win.
I love the idea of a Lego game with more depth. For all the fun I have had with the games over the years, they are all reasonably shallow, but with the Legacy of the Dark Knight, they are really adding some new things into the mix that should make it the perfect game for parents and kids alike. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight lands on the 30th of May on every system that you can think of.
Bradley the Badger
Bradley the Badger came out of nowhere to surprise everyone at The Game Awards with its slick reveal and gameplay trailer. A classic 3D adventure at first glimpse, there is clearly more going on that will be revealed when the game is released.
Bradley is apparently a lost Video Game mascot, making his way through a range of levels inspired by other games, simply looking for a way to get back to his home. But if you watched the trailer, you know it isn’t as simple as that. The gameplay looks like a perfect platformer, and frankly, it looks like the best game of its type outside the House of Mario. Bradley the Badger doesn’t have a release date yet, but I expect this one around June/July, if only to avoid the craziness at the end of the year.
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
What would a list of family-friendly games be without an entry from the Big N? Well, luckily, we have Yoshi’s latest adventure to include. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the game, and it looks to be a continuation of the gameplay style from previous Yoshi games.
There does, however, seem to be more of a focus on discovery and exploration this time around, at least that is the vibe I got from the trailer. But rest assured, there is still the 2D platforming that these games are well known for. The Yoshi titles have always been a little easier than traditional 2D Mario, so they make for the perfect game for players to go life-by-life with, regardless of age. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is coming sometime in Autumn and is a Switch 2 exclusive.
