"Video games are meant to be just one thing: Fun! Fun for everyone." That's a quote from the late Satoru Iwata, former president of Nintendo. Even though that company is embroiled in years of lawsuits trying to "defend" their IPs, most notably from Pokemon cloner Palworld, it's still something I think about every time the start of the new year rolls around. Because, for all the discourse about who's got the better visuals, what game has the worst monetization, and which games are just plain bad, the best years in gaming are the ones that just deliver experiences worth remembering.
2026 has the potential to be one of those years, and I can sum it up in two words: GTA 6. Yes! Rockstar is finally releasing GTA 6 after over a decade. But that's not all. There are a lot of games to look forward to this year so here's the list of the top 10 most anticipated games for this year.
#10 Star Wars Zero Company
Turn-based strategy and Star Wars have never really crossed paths in a meaningful way except for some mobile games here and there but nothing in the vein and level of XCOM. Star Wars Zero Company is here to change that.
Bit Reactor, a studio made up of vets from the legendary XCOM series, is developing this one with support from Respawn Entertainment, the creative minds behind the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor series. In this game, you play as Hawk, a disgraced Republic officer leading a ragtag team called Zero Company during the Clone Wars. Your squad will include everyone from Astromechs, Clone Troopers, Mandalorians, and even Jedi, all with their own unique abilities and deep customization options a la XCOM.
Star Wars Zero Company is scheduled to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
#9 Fable
It's been 17 years since Fable III. This beloved RPG series that defined a generation of Xbox gamers has been dormant for over a decade but Playground Games is bringing it back with a full reboot.
A cinematic trailer was first released starring Richard Ayoade (The I.T Crowd) back in 2023 and another a year after, this time starring Matt "Super Hans" King (Peep Show), and a supposed 2025 release, but was then delayed and is now scheduled for release this year.
Personally, I think that Fable will have its share of challenges going against a sea of RPGs releasing this year, and the recent absence from the Game Awards is a bit of an indication that it's still teetering on the edge. The truth is that this game is releasing on a generation that knows nothing of the series. However, if anything that I'm certain of is that Fable is Fable, and stepping once again into the world of Albion will always be breathtaking.
Fable will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
#8 The Blood of Dawnwalker
Rebel Wolves is a studio made up of former CD Projekt Red devs, and you can see the Witcher DNA all over the Blood of Dawnwalker. With Witcher 4 still a ways off, and Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 not meeting expectations, this vampire RPG is looking like a good contender with a great story to boot to sink our fangs into.
The Blood of Dawnwalker will launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
#7 Forza Horizon 6
Australia. Britain. Mexico. The Forza Horizon series has taken us to some incredible locations, but the next destination might be my favorite one out of all of them: Japan.
A country known for cherry blossoms, Initial D, and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. In Forza Horizon 6, you'll be able to tear through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo or rally through the snowy regions around Mount Fuji. Japan offers a different kind of landscape, driving experience, and vibes that are unlike anything we've seen before.
Forza Horizon 6 will launch first on PC, and Xbox Series X|S, with a late release for PS5.
#6 Phantom Blade Zero
The soulslike genre has dominated action RPGs for quite some time now, and while they're great, not everyone wants to play a game where you'd need the patience of a saint. Sometimes, you just want to go in, go fast, and look the coolest while playing.
If you're looking for a game that plays more like Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden, then this game might be just what you need. In Phantom Blade Zero, you'll play as Soul, an assassin that's been framed for the murder of the organization's leader. It's cliché as clichés go, but you have only 66 days left to live, so every moment counts. It's fast, flashy, and unapologetically aggressive. Phantom Blade Zero launches on September 9, 2026, as a PS5 exclusive.
#5 Marvel's Wolverine
Insomniac Games has already proven they know how to make superhero games. The Spider-Man series set a new standard for what comic book adaptations should be, and now they're taking on one of the most beloved Marvel characters of all time.
Marvel's Wolverine is a brand-new interpretation of Logan, featuring other well-known X-Men characters like Mystique and Omega Red. It's a grittier, bloodier, and more violent edge that fits Wolverine's character.
Marvel's Wolverine is slated for a Q3 2026 release as a PS5 exclusive.
#4 Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Tomb Raider, and Crystal Dynamics is treating us all to a remake of the game that started it all. Legacy of Atlantis is a full reimagining of the 1996 original, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.
This game is co-developed with Flying Wild Hog and published by Amazon Game Studios. It follows Lara Croft as she hunts for the scattered pieces of Scion, an artifact of immeasurable power tied to the lost civilization of Atlantis. You'll explore iconic locations from the original game, including the jungles of Peru, the ancient ruins of Greece, and all the way to the deserts of Egypt. One other major change is the voice actress, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will feature Alix Wilton Regan, known for her works as Calista in The Last Story and as Aya in Assassin's Creed Origins. She replaces Camilla Luddington, who played Lara for Tomb Raider (2014), Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018).
Legacy of Atlantis launches this year for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
#3 007 First Light
James Bond video games, like the movies, have a complicated history. GoldenEye 007 on the N64 set an impossibly high bar back in 1997, and almost every Bond game since then has failed to recapture that magic. This year, IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman, is taking a shot at 007 First Light.
You'll step into the shoes of a younger Bond, as he works to earn his 00 status alongside his mentor, Greenway. Now, as you'd expect from Hitman devs, stealth plays a major role but it's blended with the high-octane spectacle you'd want from a Bond adventure. Gadgets, iconic vehicles, and your choice of approach to go on missions quietly or guns blazing are all on the table.
007 First Light is scheduled to release on May 27, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
#2 Resident Evil Requiem
This year, Capcom will take us back to Raccoon City and the 9th Resident Evil entry will feature two protagonists: newcomer Grace Ashcroft, daughter of RE Outbreak's Alyssa Ashcroft, and fan-favorite Leon Kennedy.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Requiem is its dual camera perspective. You can play the game in either first or third-person depending on how you want to be immersed in all the blood-soaked terror. And make no mistake, Capcom is doubling down on horror this time, so it should satisfy players who might've felt that some entries in the series had drifted a bit too far into "action" territory.
Resident Evil Requiem launches on February 27, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
#1 Grand Theft Auto VI
Over a decade. That's how long we've been waiting for the next Grand Theft Auto. GTA 6 isn't jsut the most anticipated game of the year, it might be the most anticipated game in all of gaming history.
In GTA 6, Rockstar will once again take us back to Vice City, their fictional take on Miami, this time with two protagonists: Jason and Lucia, as the center of the story. It's the most ambitious GTA entry to date, coupled with a trailer that broke records as the most-viewed game trailer of all time.
Rockstar's greatest enemy for GTA 6 is expectations, and for a generational game with an audience that expects nothing but perfection, it is indeed a very steep mountain to climb. The game has already been delayed a lot of times, with the recent announcement of release slated for November 19 this year, and at this point, we've all waited so long that a few extra months barely register. What matters now is that Rockstar sticks the landing.
GTA 6 will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC release expected to follow not long after.
And there it is! The most anticipated games of the year. 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for gaming. Whether you're into open worlds, horror, or high-speed action, there's something on this list worth getting excited about. Whatever you're playing this year (maybe before GTA 6), have fun with it.