Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

• Developer: Project Aces
• Publisher: Bandai Namco
• Release Date: TBA 2026

While many genres have been well represented this generation, one that has been glaringly absent is the aerial combat genre. While Microsoft Flight Simulator has done a great job of reminding us how incredible it is to fly a plane, It’s not quite the same as getting into dogfights and shooting off flairs while trying to dodge missile locks. Thankfully in 2026 that changes as Bandai Namco returns with their iconic Ace Combat series.

Ace Combat 8 continues the timeline of 2019’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. What we know so far is we play as Rex, known for being the best pilot out there. However, in the announce trailer we start by seeing Rex stranded in the water before being rescued and joining an aircraft carrier. 

While gameplay will always be king in aerial combat games, what the Ace Combat series has always done is pair it with an intriguing story. If developer Project Aces can build upon Ace Combat 7 and deliver with Wings of Theve, we might be looking at a darkhorse for game of the year. That alone makes it my most anticipated game of 2026. 

Dan Jackson

The Blood of Dawnwalker

• Developer: Rebel Wolves
• Publisher: Bandai Namco
• Release Date: TBA 2026

A vampire epic created by former developers who worked on games like The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077? You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention. It’s no secret that most of this game’s hype is based on the fact that their portfolio includes some of the best received titles in the industry, but my interest is much more broad than that. The original cinematic trailer released 11 months ago seems intent on selling the game on much more than just the names of those behind the project. 

The gameplay looks to be a creative mix of the sword combat of games like The Witcher 3 with the verticality and movement of Dishonored. Just thinking two games meshed together is enough to pique my interest and the story appears to be a twisted tale of how far you’re willing to go to save someone you love. The cinematic presents a brutal world that has long been in need of a reset and I can’t wait to dig my teeth into its bloody world.

Andrew Cooper

Bloodletter

• Developer: ALDAMAMI GAMES
• Publisher: ALDAMAMI GAMES
• Release Date: TBA 2026

I first played Bloodletter at London Games Fest’s “New Game Plus” event at the start of April 2025. There was a huge amount of great games featured, but as a huge deckbuilder fan Bloodletter immediately caught my eye.

Unlike your typical deckbuilding Roguelite, there are no enemies to defeat here. Instead you’ll be trying your best to heal the residents of a rural village set upon by an evil artifact. Get the collective health and purity metres of locals high enough and you’ll purge a cursed stone from the abomination terrorising the townsfolk. Excise them all to free the village from the curse.

Each night you can visit a townsperson to modify your deck or change the order of patients for the next day’s treatments. Sometimes you’ll need to make them sick to save them, and other times there’s no saving everyone. It’s a fantastic take on what is now a pretty saturated genre, and if you’re a fan of deckbuilding roguelites like me you owe it to yourself to check it out.

There is a demo for Bloodletter available on PC (Steam) and was highlighted in GSC Demo Disc #10: November Issue.

Vikki McGowan

Call of the Elder Gods

• Developer: Out of the Blue Games
• Publisher: Kwalee
• Release Date: TBA 2026

First shown off in June 2025, Call of the Elder Gods is the sequel to the amazing 2020 game Call of the Sea from Out of the Blue Games.

We’ve not heard too much about the sequel, with only two official trailers so far, but GamesRadar has reported it’s targeting a March 2026 release date across all platforms – including the Nintendo Switch 2. Going by those two trailers Call of the Elder Gods looks to have the same stunning environments, brain scratching puzzles and creeping cosmic horror as the first game – this time being spread across two protaganists and their interlinking stories.

As a big fan of the first game, the sequel was a very quick addition to my wishlist for 2026.

Vikki McGowan

Cassette Boy

• Developer: Wonderland Kazikiri Inc.
• Publisher: Pocketpair Publishing
• Release Date: January 14th, 2026

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” You’ve likely heard this philosophical thought experiment several times in your life, but have you stopped to think about what it would mean to live in a world where something only exists if it is being perceived? Cassette Boy is about just that: experiencing a world defined by the metaphysical quandaries raised by Quantum Mechanics’ ideas on perception and existence.

Cassette Boy takes place in a 3D world, which you see from a 2D isometric perspective. By turning the camera, and thus changing perspective, things pop in and out of existence according to whether you can see them or not. Can’t reach a door because there are some spikes in your path? Turn the camera so the spikes are obscured, and cross over them as if they weren’t there, because they aren’t! Learn the rules of this world and master the “Schrödinger system” to solve puzzles, fight monsters, and collect the fragments of the Moon.

Fans of the critically acclaimed Indie puzzle game FEZ will no doubt get a kick out of Cassette Boy’s perspective-based gameplay, but I believe that both puzzle fans and adventure fans should keep an eye on this one, in case they lose sight of it!

A demo for Cassette Boy is available on PC (Steam) and was highlighted in GSC Demo Disc #4: May Issue.

Harry Glynn Jones

CONTROL Resonant

• Developer: Remedy Entertainment
• Publisher: Remedy Entertainment & Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: 2026

Remedy Entertainment is one of the most respected studios in the video game industry right now, and for good reason. The team has undergone a lot since its debut with Death Rally in 1996 and its catapult into worldwide fame with Max Payne in 2001. Right up until Alan Wake 2’s release in 2023, Remedy has always struggled with funding and relationships with publishers, making Control: Resonant all the more exciting as its first self-published title (with some assistance from Annapurna).

Control: Resonant is also exciting because it is the direct sequel to 2019’s Control, the incredible action adventure game that blended supernatural liminal horror with excellent third-person action. Ever the wildcard however, Remedy has seemingly opted not to return to that style of action for its sequel, as Control: Resonant follows Jessie Faden’s brother, Dylan, who is sporting a shapeshifting sword for the game’s more character-action, Devil May Cry-like combat system this time around. If there’s one thing you can count on Remedy for, it’s to subvert expectations.

Given the storytelling heights of Alan Wake 2 and its full descent into fleshing out the “Remedy Connected Universe”, we can rest assured that even if it somehow doesn’t stick the landing, Control: Resonant will be one of the biggest creative swings of 2026 from a AAA studio.

Daire Behan

Clockwork Revolution

• Developer: inXile Entertainment
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: TBA

It’s been entirely too long since Bioshock: Infinite, and with no word on when the long-awaited Bioshock 4 from Cloud Chamber is coming, thank the steampunk gods for Clockwork Revolution. The game was first revealed back in 2023 (feels like forever ago), and we haven’t seen much of it since, save for a five minute look last summer. But everything that has been shown has me very excited.

A Bioshock-esque adventure first person shooter with time bending mechanics, a wonderful looking city of Avalon in an alternate steampunk reality?! Hell yeah, sign me up. Not only that, but the tone of the game looks to be a whole lot of fun. Lots of wry, cockney type humour. With characters like “The Knob” and “Pissed Off Doll”, there’s going to be a lot of smiles, as well as guts spilled.

Though there isn’t a release date / window as yet, I’m hoping we see something at the expected Xbox Developer Direct this month. With Xbox celebrating its 25th anniversary, and a lot of classic franchises releasing new titles this year, it’d be nice if Xbox can support the new IP too.

Adam Stewart

Code Vein II

• Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
• Release Date: January 29th 2026

Initially launching in September 2019, the original Code Vein game surprised a lot of fans of the souls-like genre. With its eclectic mix of style, grandiose boss fights and anime styled thematics throughout, players had a lot of positive to say about the game. After years of laying dormant the franchise makes a long awaited return in January 2026 with Code Vein 2.

I was a huge fan of the first game. It had a solid story throughout, fun yet challenging boss fights and a pretty fair “buddy system” in play. I hope that Bandai Namco can live up to the strengths of the first, whilst also adding a little bit of extra depth when it comes to the gameplay. Some extra challenge for the people who like their souls-likes a little more on the unforgiving side also wouldn’t go amiss.

Now feels like the perfect time for a game like Code Vein 2, as the souls like genre has recently slowed its pace greatly. With six and a half years since their first release passing, hopefully they will release an incredible sequel which builds on the first whilst keeping the games unique identity that made the original stand out in a time where souls-likes were king.

Blaize Champion

Danganronpa 2×2

• Developer: Gemdrops Inc.
• Publisher: Spike Chunsoft Co.
• Release Date: TBA 2026

In 2025, Danganronpa hit a few milestones. The series reached its 15th anniversary and the series as a whole sold 10 million units worldwide. This is a huge success for a franchise that at one point may have been relegated to cult classic status. Now in 2026, fans get to revisit the second entry in the franchise with a bit of a twist. 

While Danganronpa 2×2 will ship with the original scenario enhanced with new graphics, there will also a be a new scenario for those who know all the twists and turns of this murder mystery. The cast of Danganronpa 2 return but one change in the narrative will have players dealing with new victims, killers, and new tricks to try and get away with it. This is exciting for those who have been looking to fill the void left by Monokuma and crew all those years ago. The Steam description indicates “The new scenario offers volume on par with the original, delivering a full and gripping experience.” So will this be an almost entirely new game? Time will tell but the excitement is building. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long into 2026 for this one. 

Stephanie Richards

Directive 8020

• Developer: Supermassive
• Publisher: Supermassive
• Release Date: TBA 2026

For all the games and genres I play, the one that I’ve never been overly fond with is horror. I’ll play the odd Resident Evil game and have enjoyed a few others, but for the most part I just don’t enjoy crapping myself while playing games. So it’s always been quite weird to me just how much i enjoy The Dark Pictures Anthology from Supermassive Games, yet they are routinely my most anticipated games. The next in the series, Directive 8020, is no different.

Perhaps it’s the fact that in general they are more suspensful than they are scary. Perhaps it’s because they are just interactive games with a ton of cutscenes and minimal gameplay. Whatever it is, Supermassive has me hooked. With Directive 8020 they’ve taken quite a bit in between titles. The one criticism many have of The Dark Pictures Anthology is that they all kind of feel and play the same. 

Will this layoff between titles mean we see them re-invent the wheel a bit more? One can can only hope, but honestly even if we just get more of the same, I’ll still be a happy gamer. Also the fact that they are going to space with this one will add a bit of extra intrigue and perhaps change the formula up some. 

Dan Jackson

Disciples: Domination

• Developer: Artefacts Studios
• Publisher: Kalypso Media
• Release Date: February 12th, 2026

I don’t often like going into a sequel of a game without having played the original. Sure, most games these days do a good job of telling the “story so far” and it’s easier than ever to get that type of content online. Still, I’d usually like to experience it for myself. Yet here i am with Disciples: Domination, eager to jump into the series for the first time. 

Everything we’ve seen from Artefacts Studio so far has me convinced that they can take the Disciples franchise to new heights. The turn-based strategy battle system looks quite interesting and fleshed out and the world and story they are trying to tell has me intrigued. 

While it may not have the look of a AAA blockbuster, I don’t think it’s intended to be and that is quite alright with me. I’ve always had a certain love for these more AA type RPG’s and everything about Disciples: Domination says it will be another one made for me. 

Dan Jackson

Fable

• Developer: Playground Games
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: TBA

It’s Fable!!! It’s finally back, well soon it will be anyway. What was an absolutely legendary game series back on the original Xbox and Xbox 360 is making its long awaited and anticipated return. Of course with Lionhead Studios no longer being a thing, trepidation was certainly afoot for who could take it on. And that comes in the unlikely form of Forza Horizon developer, Playground Games, and so far they look to be absolutely nailing it.

The return to the kingdom of Albion is looking fantastic from what we’ve seen so far. Chickens are being kicked, giants are being harassed, and bandits are being set on fire. We’ve even seen classic Fable enemies like Balverines too. It seems Fable is in good hands.

The trailers for it have been great so far, including a star-studded line up of characters too including Stephen Fry, Richard Ayoade, and Matt King. They’ve nailed the humour and vibe so far, can they stick the landing? Let’s hope so.

It’s expected to be releasing this year, hopefully we’ll learn more at the next Xbox Developer Direct, and can celebrate Xbox’s 25th anniversary in Albion!

Adam Stewart

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

• Developer: Intelligent Systems
• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Date: TBA 2026

If you haven’t bought a Switch 2 by the time this game comes out, for JRPG fans and Fire Emblem fans, this may be the one that makes you cave. There is a lot of fan speculation about whether this entry into the Fire Emblem series will be a prequel to Three Houses. With the development team at Intelligent Systems and Nintendo publishing team being pretty quiet, we can only assume they are busy at work on polishing and adding the finishing touches. 

What we do know is that Sothis makes an appearance but this isn’t quite the Sothis we’ve seen in Three Houses. Where is her lifespan is this? Why do these games look like something out of the Gladiator movie? Each character seems to have a reason for being there and for now, we can just impatiently await details such as character biographies and release date. 

Stephanie Richards

Gears of War: E-Day

• Developer: The Coalition
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: TBA 2026

The Gears of War series has always been a bit of an abusive relationship for me and my friend group. On one side of the spectrum we have always played it together and put hundreds of hours in as a group. It was honestly one of the things that brought us together during the Xbox 360 days (Besides the endless hours of Forge mode on Halo 3). On the other hand, the Gears of War series has never shied away from its difficulty. From the super competitive multiplayer, to the insane co-op runs where you die from being tickled, it’s always guaranteed to swing your emotions both ways. 

It’s also no secret that the Gears of War series is in a bit of a lull like most of Xbox’s flagship series. Sure the idea of getting to play as Dom and Marcus on Emergence Day sounds like a good enough sell to someone like me who has played it for nearly a decade and a half but on the same note do they still have what it takes to bring in new players? I’m personally pretty optimistic but time will tell. For now, all we can do is chase that August release date and hope we get some more information going into 2026.

Andrew Cooper

Grand Theft Auto VI

• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Publisher: Take-Two
• Release Date: November 19th, 2026

The most anticipated release from any entertainment medium ever is upon us in 2026. Pending no further delays, the first Grand Theft Auto since 2013, and the first in three generations of consoles will launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19 2026.

A return to Vice City for the first time since 2006’s Vice City Stories, sees the most ambitious videogame project of all time from industry masters, Rockstar Games. Rockstar have, incredibly, kept leaks on almost watertight during the whole development cycle, and aside from what can be spotted in two official trailers, very little is known about the game. We do know that GTA VI is a Bonnie and Clyde-like action adventure of lover protagonists Jason and former prison inmate, Lucia. Lucia is the first female playable character in a 3D Grand Theft Auto, bringing a whole new storytelling dynamic to the series.

Detail is everything in GTA. The gaming community has poured over every second of the two trailers and spotted some of Rockstar’s world-renowned incredible detail. Be it individual ingredients in cocktails, perfect creeses on rolled up sleeves, or some incredible nightclub firework lighting – these things may not sound like much, but to the developer and fans they matter. With over a decade in development, we can expect the most realised open world in the history of gaming.

The world of videogames is simply not prepared for what is to come when GTA VI launches. 

Mark Pell

Greta Sees Ghosts!

• Developer – I Knew It! – Games
• Release Date: TBA 2026

We had the lucky chance to take a sneak peek at Greta Sees Ghosts! this past summer. Greta, as you can guess, can see ghosts! She is also a lighthouse keeper in the North Sea Islands and must use her abilities, along with her magical oil lamp, to guide lost souls off of our mortal coil. These ghosts also have their own…quirks (many times tied directly to how they met their untimely ends).

The gameplay of Greta Sees Ghosts! focuses around shape-based puzzles that will drive the narrative of Greta’s exploration of the local islands. Now, why should you check out this game in the coming year? If you are a fan of the macabre merged with the silly, then this game will be right up your alley! What also sold me on this game was the art style, which I found very reminiscent of the old Where’s Waldo? puzzle books.

Greta Sees Ghosts! is slated for a 2026 release, possibly within the first quarter of the year (based on the information we received at the time of the preview).

Sean Richards

Halo: Campaign Evolved

• Developer: Halo Studios
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Release Date: TBA 2026

Remakes and remasters have defined this generation in gaming. Recycled releases of older titles have bloated the Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 era, keeping series warm whilst development time and costs for fresh entries have exploded. It’s rare that a game has the stature to be reimagined twice, but for its 25th birthday one of those is Halo: Combat Evolved.

The FPS icon Halo: CE released as a day one ‘killer app’ for the original Xbox. Would it not have been for Halo, Xbox may not have survived as long as it has. Whilst the series heyday is certainly in the rear view mirror, Combat Evolved is one of the greatest shooter campaigns of all time and bringing it back in 2025 makes sense as Microsoft turns their IP multiplatform. In what would have sounded like genuine lunacy in 2001, Halo will make its debut on PlayStation with Campaign Evolved.

Campaign Evolved is an Unreal Engine 5 ground-up remake of the original campaign with modern quality of life features – including the very divisive introduction of sprinting, and the ability to hijack vehicles – alongside new weapons and three new missions which are currently under wraps. For the first time, the campaign can be played in 4-player crossplay co-op. There will be no multiplayer here, but one of the most replayable shooter campaigns ever created will keep players jumping back in Warthogs until the next full Halo releases.

Mark Pell

Invincible VS

• Developer: Quarter Up
• Publisher: Skybound Games
• Release Date: April 30th 2026

Being helmed by the killer instinct developers, the game that made my career as a competitor, I can’t help but be excited for Invincible Vs. on top of being based on an IP I love, the game is essentially blending elements of my two favorite fighting games of all time. And from what I got to play in the alpha test, it might be my primary fighting game for the future.

Demandre Pressley

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

• Developer: Saber Interactive
• Publisher: Focus Entertainment
• Release Date: 12 March 2026

John Carpenter is one of my favourite horror directors, bringing us gems like Halloween and The Thing, so when he puts his name to Toxic Commando, you know we are in for something special.

Toxic Commando, at its core, is a first-person, co-op zombie shooter, but by the looks of things, we are going to be getting so much more than running and shooting. Saber Interactive is not only the team behind World War Z, but they are also involved in another one of my favourite series, Snowrunner. Why would I be mentioning that? Well, Toxic Commando has vehicles, and in the Release date trailer, these vehicles can get stuck in mud and gore, and your Snowrunner winching skills will need to come into play, getting your vehicle unstuck while fending off hordes of zombies.

There are so many things happening in John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando that I can’t help but get excited to get together with my friends and go zombie slaying!

Fraser Billington

Kejora

• Developer: Berangin Creative
• Release Date: January 14th, 2026

The great part about Kejora is that we’re not going to have to wait too long for it, as the game is slated for a January 14th release! I had the chance to check out this point-and-click puzzle game at this year’s PAX East. I actually named it as one of my Top 5 at the convention itself. Berangin Creative and Soft Source Publishing, in my opinion, are going to be bringing us something truly special. What grabbed me about this game was the hand-drawn landscapes that you traverse, along with a seamless animation that just…works (to quote Todd Howard).

In Kejora, you’ll play as the titular Kejora as she tries to unravel the mystery of the time-loops that are plaguing her village. Using your wits, along with two friends with their own unique skills, will you be able to return everything to normalcy? You’ll have to check it out early on in the new year!

A demo for Kejora is available on PC (Steam) and was highlighted in GSC Demo Disc #5: June Issue.

Sean Richards

Marvel’s Wolverine

• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Publisher: PlayStation Studios
• Release Date: TBA

I’ll be the first to admit – the idea of a new Wolverine game coming out scared me a bit. To be blunt it seemed like an impossible task. Sure, we had a gore-filled Wolverine game back in 2009 loosely based on the (awful) movie, but there was never really a time that I imagined we would get another one. Add the fact that there has been a slew of leaks over the past few years and you have what amounts to a somewhat shaky development cycle. Yet to everyone’s surprise it looks pretty amazing?

The official gameplay trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine was released at the State of Play in September of this year, and let’s just say it put most of my concerns to rest. Combining the brutality of the PS2 game with the modern graphical power of the PS5 was more than enough for me, but it looks like we’re going to be getting a world-spanning adventure more than worthy of the Wolverine name. Here’s to hoping we get more information in the coming months up to release to give us a bigger glance into what kind of tones the story is going to follow.

Andrew Cooper

Mixtape

• Developer: Beethoven & Dinosaur
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Release Date: TBA 2026

Teen music-infused adventure, Mixtape was one of most anticipated games of 2025 until it received a delay late in the year. Now planned for 2026, the adventure of three high schoolers who set out to spend their last night together with big tunes and an array of juvenile antics has me incredibly excited.

Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur who brought us the excellent guitar riffing indie, The Artful Escape, Mixtape brings music from the likes of Iggy Pop, Smashing Pumpkins and Joy Division to its playlist. A coming of age tale will include skateboarding, partying and having an absolute adolescent romp. If, like me, you cannot wait for Mixtape, be sure to check out Five Teen Adventures with Great Soundtracks to Play Whilst We Wait for Mixtape. 

Mark Pell

ONIMUSHA: WAY OF THE SWORD

• Developer: Capcom Co.
• Publisher: Capcom Co.
• Release Date: TBA 2026

The year was 2000. Capcom had broken my heart by releasing the next entry of my favorite series, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, on the Sega Dreamcast and I knew I could never save up enough lunch money to buy another console, not while I was still waiting on the famously hard to find PlayStation 2. I was left hopelessly perusing the magazine aisle at the local grocery store looking for some sort of news on a Resident Evil-like title to boot up on my hypothetical new system.

Suddenly, within a publication I was certainly not going to buy, I noticed something shiny and new on the glossy pages. Is that a samurai? Zombie looking demon ronin? Fixed camera angles? Capcom?! The announcement of what was essentially a Feudal Japan Resident Evil sent my heart a-flutter. Onimusha: Warlords was set to release on the PlayStation 2 in early 2001.

Fast forward to right now and I’m faced with the first mainline Onimusha title in 20 years, Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Utilizing the RE Engine, Capcom is bringing back the katana swinging, soul-sucking, demon slaying series that had my own knock-off Japanese style swords shaking on their plastic display and the golden dragons on my button-up shirt sweating in anticipation.

Say goodbye to the fixed camera angles of yesteryear and get ready to take control of the legendary Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi as he slips on the Oni gauntlet and takes on a dark-fantasy version of Kyoto with all the glorious, dismember-able demon baddies you can ask for being thrown at you in this upcoming action-adventure game that serves as a soft reboot of the early 2000s series. You’ll need to switch stances, block, parry, and ruthlessly slash through all sorts of squishy bad guys in this not quite souls-like coming in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. My lunch money is ready.

Garry Rominger

Paralives

• Developer: Paralives Studio
• Publisher: Paralives Studio
• Release Date: May 25th 2026

Set to redefine the life simulation genre, highly anticipated Paralives is set to arrive May 2026. With emphasis on players’ choices, Paralives offers an open-world sandbox where you can design, create and live your most detailed pixel life.

Featuring realistic character creation, where you can fine tune the smallest of details. From height to facial features, outfits and personalities. Crafting your perfect home has never been more exciting! With no grid to limit your creativity, you can build a multistory home or a house with unconventional shapes! Plus a vast catalog filled with furniture, decor to style your space with ease!

Paralives did delay their original December 2025 release day to fix bugs in its live mode, and add some more gameplay options to ensure players have a great first time experience. Although it will be released in Early Access, developers are taking community feedback into consideration to truly improve the user experience.

I have personally been watching the development of Paralives since 2021, and to say I’m excited about its release is an understatement.

Bright Mylar

Phantom Blade Zero

• Developer: S-GAME Studio
• Publisher: S-GAME Publishing
• Release Date: Sept 9th 2026

Gamer Social Club got to attend it’s first Gamescom in 2025, and as part of that I was lucky enough to a full 1 hour and 30mins with one of my most anticipated titles of 2026 – Phantom Blade Zero. With the game getting a confirmed release date of September at the Game Awards I now know exactly when I need to ask my boss for some dedicated time off so I can sit down and play this absolute banger.

You can read my full hands on preview from Gamescom here if you want to know all of the reasons I’m excited for the wuxia inspired action RPG, but as a quick summary – the studio director is quoted saying the game should feel “like being in a Kung Fu movie” and I can confirm that is exactly what the team over at S-GAME Studio has achieved.

Vikki McGowan

PVKK: Planetenverteidigungskanonenkommandant

• Developer: Bippinbits
• Release Date: Q3 2026

Who doesn’t love the idea of manning an interplanetary laser cannon? If this is something that you have desperately wanted to fulfill, but will never see in your lifetime (maybe), then might I recommend Planetenverteidigungskanonenkommandant, or more simply, PVKK. We were able to get our first view of PVKK at this past year’s Gamescom and it is coming to us from Germany-based team Bippinbits. Yes, the same developer that brought us Dome Keeper. Coupled with this is publishing from Kepler Interactive, known for their recent work in the release of the (many) award-winning title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

But what do we have in store with PVKK? Well…from what the first look trailer has shown is, we’ll be taking the perspective of a soldier/military personnel manning a planetary defense cannon. Dripping with propaganda, not all is as it seems in our world. Will you blindly follow the orders of the autocratic regime that you serve under, or will you question what you have been fed in your bunker for who knows how long? PVKK is slated for a Q3 2026 release, so I expect that we’ll see it this coming summer (maybe with a release in conjunction with the 2026 Gamescom).

Sean Richards

Replaced

• Developer: Sad Cat Studios
• Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
• Release Date: March 12th 2026

Single player 2.5D cinematic action platformer, Replaced has seen an incredibly turbulent development journey. Relocating from Belarus to Cyprus as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine no less, the hotly anticipated indie from Sad Cat Studios will finally see the light in early 2026.

The post-nuclear 1980s America setting of the game is what has captured much of the attention of the game with its stunning hand-drawn pixel art. Though, to me the action platforming gameplay shows equal promise. With gruelling hand-to-hand and melee combat, alongside a diverse world to traverse, Replaced has its own identity in the crowded platforming genre. Playing as AI, R.E.A.C.H., we will uncover the dark secrets of the Phoenix Corporation in a deep cyberpunk story. As a big fan of 2012’s Deadlight from Tequila Works, which Replaced shares many similarities, this is very high on my list in an already crowded 2026.

Mark Pell

Resident Evil: Requiem

• Developer: Capcom Co.
• Publisher: Capcom Co.
• Release Date: February 27th 2026

The Resident Evil series has seen a shift in the last decade since its initial rise to fame in the early 2000’s. Capcom pioneered the genre as a whole, and introduced an entire generation to the horrors of the Umbrella Corporation. Yet everything was not sunshine and daisies as the series reached its teenage years. The survival horror juggernaut that we all knew and loved went through a bit of an identity crisis in the 2010’s. Whether it was too much action or not enough scares, many fans of the originals felt like the future was uncertain.

This isn’t to say Capcom hasn’t been on a tear in recent memory –they’ve released the critically acclaimed RE7 which told a standalone story from a first person perspective, and both the RE2 and RE4 remakes which fans adored for how it paid homage to the originals instead of feeling like cheap imitations. But we know these stories. They are the ones that have been told to us for decades now at this point. But there’s some hope –a new biohazard has appeared from the depths…..

Enter Resident Evil Requiem, the next entry in the series stated to release in early 2026. As someone who has been a fan of the Resident Evil games since the PS2 days, I am ecstatic about finally getting a new entry in the series that is connected to the original saga. With Capcom already confirming that we are getting the return of staple characters like Leon Kennedy, we as fans can only hope that the story continues in a way that feels natural without revisiting the same set pieces and tropes we’ve seen a dozen times. Either way, I can’t wait to see what madness Umbrella has for us this time around. Here’s to hoping we get some more trailers released in the upcoming weeks to further stoke the fire of hype around this next entry. 

Andrew Cooper

Romeo Is A Dead Man

• Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture Inc.
• Publisher: Grasshopper Manufacture Inc.
• Release Date: February 11th 2026

For decades, Grasshopper Manufacture has been pushing the limits of art and interactivity with its unique punk game design philosophy. While the studio has had a rough time maintaining its old IP such as Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer is Dead, Romeo is a Dead Man represents somewhat of a new beginning as the studio’s first self-published title.

Romeo is a Dead Man is an intergalactic love story, buddy-cop, gorefest action game that seemingly represents everything fans love from director Suda51’s previous brainchildren. So far we can easily tell it has the spectacle, so hopefully it brings the fun in combat and game design to match it.

Daire Behan

Saros

• Developer: Housemarque
• Publisher: PlayStation Studios
• Release Date: April 30th 2026

Even after almost 5 years, Housemarque’s Returnal is still one of the strongest console exclusives that the PS5 has to offer. Blending cinematic storytelling and roguelite structure with third-person bullet-hell shooting, the game was one hell of a AAA debut for the previously arcade focused studio. Now that we’re much deeper into the PS5 generation, Housemarque is back with the game’s spiritual follow-up, Saros.

Forgoing a direct sequel to Returnal, Saros has a lot of potential not only as a successor but also an entirely new title. While it’s seemingly pushing Returnal’s bullet-hell combat even further with more imaginative powers and weapons, the story also seems like it’s getting a stronger emphasis this time around, especially with the casting of its leading man Rahul Kohli (Midnight Mass) as protagonist Arjun. It seems like Housemarque is keen to not rest on its laurels and push beyond what it achieved with Returnal to care a new, unique path for Saros, which makes it all the more exciting.

Daire Behan

Slay The Spire 2 (Early Access)

• Developer: Mega Crit
• Punisher: Mega Crit
• Release Date: March 2026

March 2026 can’t come quickly enough for deck building rogue like fans. The original Slay the Spire offered players hundreds if not thousands of hours of game play in different varieties of challenges. Whether it was the daily challenge, working your way up to ascension level 20, or just casual game play, Slay the Spire is a fantastic game. So of course the excitement is there for Slay the Spire 2 introducing new playable characters such as The Necrobinder, alternate acts to vary up your runs, and even more cards to choose from. 

While Slay the Spire comes out March 2026 it will be early access as the team has shared that feedback from the player base is quite helpful. The development team over at Mega Crit hasn’t given a final date, but they did share it will be a Thursday in March in one of the Steam blogs. Let’s hope this doesn’t get pushed to the last Thursday in March! 

Stephanie Richards

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Release Date: Autumn 2026

After almost 13 years, Nintendo’s wonderfully weird life-sim series Tomodachi Life is finally making its comeback after a complete absence from the Nintendo Switch generation so far. This time, players will be maintaining their collections of Miis across an entire island as opposed to the cramped apartment complex from the 3DS game. Given this change in setting, the opportunities for random events and relationship dynamics seem endless, especially with the huge hardware leap from 3DS to Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo has also revealed that Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will feature more dense customization over Miis relationships and personalities. While this is exciting, there’s some concern that this will add too much complexity to the randomized events, but only time will tell. Either way, it’s great to see Nintendo return to more cult titles in its back catalogue as the Nintendo Switch generation comes to a close.

Daire Behan

TRAILS IN THE SKY 2ND CHAPTER

• Developer: Nihon Falcom Corporation
• Publisher: GungHo Online Entertainment
• Release Date: TBA 2026

I somehow missed the Trails train when it left the station with the original The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC back in 2004 (the English version didn’t release until 2011 on the PSP). By the time chatter of it had reached me I was woefully behind and couldn’t imagine a scenario where I could catch up on a continuous series that spanned a dozen games. Then the fateful day came where I saw a demo of Trails in the Sky 1^st Chapter available on my PlayStation 5 and decided to give this remake a shot. Falcom and GungHo earned my money, my time, and my dedication to the series after I finished the demo and certainly after rolling credits on the 1^st Chapter remake.

Imagine my excitement when not long ago an announcement was made that a remake of Trails in the Sky 2^nd Chapter would release in the Fall of 2026! Fans of the series have told me that the original is perhaps the best entry in the long running series and if the remake version continues with the incredibly charming characters and world as well as the addictive hybrid action/turn-based battle system, I have my early prediction for my personal Game of the Year for 2026. It’s my next step in quite the long Trail (heh) to the end of this ambitious JRPG series and it’s easily my most anticipated game of this new year. Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is set to release in the Fall on PlayStation 5, Switch, Switch 2 and PC (via Steam).

Garry Rominger

Tropico 7

• Developer: Gaming Minds Studio
• Publisher: Kalypso Media
• Release Date: TBA 2026

While there are many city buiilding franchises in gaming that I love, there has always been something about the Tropico franchise thats captivated me. I started with the series with Tropico 3 and have been there day 1 with every release since, including the re-releases in between generations. Tropico 7 will continue that tradition.

Building up a city on a tropical island as El Presidente always feels fresh in a genre that can at times become stagnant. The element of strategy required as you build up from a poor island thats fending off the communist USSR and under the ruling thumb of the British, all the way up to a buzzing tropical paradise for the rich makes me lose track of time.

What I’m most curious to see is how they evolve the series. The mix of politics, economics and keeping your citizens happy alongside Penultimo has always been a staple of the series. Where can it go from here? From what we’ve seen so far, I am liking the direction, but we will have to wait and see. In El Presidente we trust!

Dan Jackson