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.” We hope you have a few hundred hours spare, because now it is time to look at what this year brings in terms of JRPGS that are doing things a bit differently.
Games to Watch in 2026 - JRPGs
Threads Of Time
While Square-Enix continues to not give its adoring fans a Chrono Trigger sequel, or even a modern re-release with all the expected accoutrements, independent developers are continuing to step up to the plate to deliver experiences that look to hit the same highs that Square’s 1995 acclaimed hit once reached. Threads Of Time is the latest contender to the Chrono crown.
Threads of Time, coming from Riyo Games and publisher Humble Games, is delivering for fans all of the narrative consequence and timeline hopping drama from Chrono Trigger, with gorgeous modern 2D artwork, and gripping turn-based combat. This is one of the most notable upcoming independent games in any genre, and JRPG fans should be placing it highly on their watch lists for 2026.
The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Square-Enix’s HD-2D machine continued to roll on in 2025 with the late releases of Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, and Octopath Traveler 0. Time after time, after time, any game that is developed in that machine comes out and impresses, but I’m incredibly interested to see what will be spun up at Square-Enix with the release of The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.
The Adventures Of Elliot isn’t your typical Square-Enix HD-2D title in that it doesn’t have a lot of traditional JRPG elements. This is an action RPG in the HD-2D style, and the early buzz from the many players who’ve tried the *currently* Switch 2 exclusive demo, is that it works really well. Hopes should be high, given the early impressions, and the track record, that this game can be another home-run for Square-Enix.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Look, Monster Hunter Wilds didn’t really set the world on fire as we all expected that it would. It’s a fantastic game, but was simultaneously my most disappointing title of the year, but Capcom have been on a tear for the last few years, and while Wilds didn’t dominate as many had hoped, we can all feel, quite reasonably, that Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection will return the franchise to top-tier form.
Twisted Reflection is promising big things with deeper combat than ever before, more expansive and elaborate worlds to explore, and a more mature narrative. The reachable audience is bigger than ever before with the game coming to all platforms day-and-date, so hopefully this is a breakout moment for what is hopefully a brilliant game this March.
