It’s hard to believe 2026 is already half over isn’t it? Time is flying and 2026 has been an incredible year for games. While the industry may be facing a ton of issues and layoffs which we hate to see, the games coming out are incredible. So incredible that creating our best of 2026 list has proven to be quite the long list!
As of this publication we have reviewed 137 games and expansions/DLC in 2026 alone. Of those 137 games 32 have managed to score at least a 9. Incredible stuff. Today to celebrate the first half of 2026 we are going to highlight these games. These aren’t necessarily our end of year Game of the Year contenders, though many will be. But they are a reflection of what our hard working reviewers have highlighted as the years best based on their score.
Also if a game isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean it isn’t good! There’s plenty of games rated below a 9 that are well worth your time. Our outlet has a big focus on indies though so there might even be a game or two on here you’ve missed out on. So without further ado lets get into Gamer Social Club’s best of 2026 so far!
*editor note* these aren’t ranked in any specific order beyond the games score it received. The 9 listed at #20 isn’t necessarily higher or lower than the 9 listed at 14 by example.
1. Cairn
Score: 10
Reviewer: Krystle Lim
Review Snippet: However, if there’s anything to take away from this review, it’s the deep emotion connection I felt during and after the climb. I felt frustration, happiness, sadness, despair, relief, and guilt. For a mostly solitary and quiet game about climbing a mountain, I learned much about myself. I may be exaggerating, I don’t know. But I loved this game! What a fantastic way to start 2026!
2. Wax Heads
Score: 10
Reviewer: Fraser Billington
Review Snippet: Wax Heads is one of the best games I have played this year. It’s full of cozy stories, amazing music, and wonderful characters. I think anyone who is craving meaningful human connection could learn something from Wax Heads.
3. Cassette Boy
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Harry Glynn Jones
Review Snippet: In much the same way FEZ once did, Cassette Boy reminded me that perspective is not just a mechanical trick, but a way of thinking. By asking the player to actively look at the world differently, to question what exists, what doesn’t, and why, it creates moments of quiet wonder that feel increasingly rare in modern games. Cassette Boy may present itself as small, nostalgic, and unassuming, but beneath that familiar surface lies a game deeply interested in curiosity, perception, and the joy of discovery. Cassette Boy isn’t just about how changing our perspective can be important; it can also be incredibly rewarding.
4. Resident Evil: Requim
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Andrew Cooper
Review Snippet: The next evolution of the Resident Evil series has officially arrived and it delivers on nearly every front. From the visceral, gory combat to the tense, compounding sense of dread that accompanies every darkened hallway, Requiem feels like a love letter to every Resident Evil fan. The dual-protagonist addition works to near perfection, with Grace thriving on tense, survival horror driven moments of terror, while Leon deploys the heavy firepower and one-liners to bring up the rear. Its environments and settings have a sense of familiarity to the horrors hiding just out of sight, while feeling like a brand new monster entirely. Though the story does falter towards the end, I feel confident in saying that Requiem is one of the strongest entries in the series as a whole. It does just enough to honor the past, while pushing full steam ahead towards the future.
5. Pokémon Pokopia
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Brett Briley
Review Snippet: Pokémon Pokopia is a smashing homerun. Whether you’re looking for a game with an emotional mystery story of what happened, a game to build your wildest creations, or even just a game to get to spend time with some of your favorite pocket monsters, there is a game here for everyone. The game just oozes sweetness, and I already know that this is one that I am going to drop over 100 hours into this year alone. Simply put, whether you’re already a fan of Pokémon, a newcomer to the series or just a fan of cozy games, Pokémon Pokopia is absolutely a worthwhile buy, and is everything that I wanted Animal Crossing New Horizons to be and more. It is an early game of the year contender for me and a reason to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2.
6. Gunboat God
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Adam Stewart
Review Snippet: Gunboat God is slick, chaotic and fun, much like Yeti’s titular vessel. The tight controls, striking visuals, and fun tone make it worth your time alone, but that itch in becoming truly godly is incredibly to satisfying scratch. I cannot recommend Gunboat God enough.
7. OPUS: Prism Peak
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Stephanie Richards
Review Snippet: I find myself with a knot in my throat just writing about this game. OPUS Prism Peak feels at times a lot less like a game and more like a work of art. That is if you can handle the joy, the loss, the pain, or in other words, life. It is cathartic, it is real, it is beautiful, and it is sad. The jadedness of adulthood, the naivete of youth, joy of life, and the journey we take to get to our endings. But also that there is hope, there is a future, sometimes we just need to take a photo, pause, and reflect.
Stephanie’s Editors Note: At the time of review, Opus Prism Peak was a 9.5. With the additional improvements this game is even more of a must play. The second playthrough enhancements for those who are looking to hundred percent the game and view all possible endings make this an unofficial 10/10 in my book. And those don’t come easy!
8. WILL: Follow The Light
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Sean Richards
Review Snippet: WILL: Follow the Light, without the few negative hiccups I noted, is a 10 out of 10 game. But as it stands right now, the few nits that exist within the game pull away from that score slightly – but only slightly. That being said though, if these updates and needed fixes are made, I can easily see this being a can’t-miss game. The beautiful, yet heart-wrenching story, coupled with the intriguing puzzles and environment of the game itself make for an unforgettable digital experience.
9. Forza Horizon 6
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Mark Pell
Review Snippet: One of the most content-rich games this generation, Forza Horizon 6 adds more to everything that has made the series one of gaming’s most beloved and gives you a playground to have endless fun your way. The love and attention that Playground have poured into creating their vision of a Japanese road trip is apparent throughout every mile. Quite how the team continue to find new exciting things to do that never bloats the player experience should be an example to the entire industry.
10. Schrodinger’s Call
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Stephanie Richards
Review Snippet: Schrodinger’s Call is a beautiful yet haunting visual novel touching upon the human condition. We explore love, grief, human connection, and the memories that haunt, harm, and heals us. Be it the little white lies we tell ourselves or the the strength we find to face the truth. It is at its core a visual novel which means the game play will feel minimal for many. It’s strength is in the story. It is how it causes us to reflect upon our selves. Schrodinger’s Call will call out to players, wanting them to connect with those important to them. It reminds you that you are not alone, you are loved, you are important, and you matter. There is someone out there waiting to hear your voice. Call them before it’s too late.
11. 007 First Light
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Andrew Cooper
Review Snippet: 007 First Light isn’t just a great Bond game – it’s one of the best action-adventure games released this decade. Witnessing the birth of the 007 legend through Bond’s eyes from the beginning is a tale that was long overdue for a video game adaptation, and IO Interactive has pulled it off flawlessly. Tie this origin story in with gameplay systems that prioritize the precision and creativity that 007 is known for, and you have what amounts to one of the best iterations of James Bond that we have seen in recent memory.
12. Crushed In Time
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Harry Glynn Jones
Review Snippet: Looking at all of the evidence, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Crushed In Time is one of the best point-and-click adventure games, ever. I was blown away by the level of writing and humour, thrilled with how well implemented and thought out the pinch and stretch mechanic was, and left with a feeling that I had just finished the first entry in a beloved future franchise. Marvellously meta, wildly imaginative, and incredibly polished, Crushed In Time is a game that will stand the Beta test of time.
13. Mina The Hollower
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Daire Behan
Review Snippet: Over a decade on from Shovel Knight, Yacht Club Games has returned in full form. Mina the Hollower is a joyously ambitious modern take on classic action-adventure games, blending carefully executed mechanics with a world that isn’t afraid to bite back, making for an experience that continuously empowers the player and rewards curiosity at every turn.
14. Nioh 3
Score: 9
Reviewer: Fraser Billington
Review Snippet: Team Ninja has done a fantastic job of bringing a demon-ravaged world to life. It’s grim, but not too grim. The Yokai are such an interesting enemy, and I find myself pausing and trying to find which enemy I’m fighting. The Onry? They’re terrifying, and I’m more than ok sneaking around them.
15. REANIMAL
Score: 9
Reviewer: Harry Glynn Jones
REANIMAL feels like the work of a studio unshackled. While based on the foundations originally designed and created by Tarsier Studios, the team has built on them with confidence and creative conviction. This is a game that understands what made the studio’s earlier work resonate, while refusing to be defined by it. Through its confident mechanical evolution, grounded and oppressive world design, and a thematic focus that’s as unsettling as it is confrontational, REANIMAL establishes its own identity; one that’s harsher, more ambitious, and more emotionally affecting than anything Tarsier has made before.
16. Planet Of Lana II
Score: 9
Reviewer: Vikki McGowan
Review Snippet: I’ve only touched lightly on the story of the game in this review, and that’s intentional. One, as per the devs, it’s open to each player’s own interpretation, and two, it should be experienced in the context of the vivid world constructed by Wishfully rather than read in black and white via my own meagre prose. What I will say is that I thoroughly enjoyed slowly learning more about Novo, Mui and the events of the past that led up to the first and now this game and what this might mean for Lana and her people.
17. Screamer
Score: 9
Reviewer: Dan Jackson
Review Snippet: With one of the best campaigns you will ever see in a racing game and a great arcade style of racing, Screamer is one the best racing games we’ve seen this generation. Its flashy artstyle is great to look at and while there is a lot going on with it’s gameplay, once you get a grasp of it, you will wonder why more don’t do dual stick racing.
18. Marathon
Score: 9
Reviewer: Adam Stewart
Review Snippet: Bungie have succeeded in creating a world that is begging to be explored and experienced even if the lore and storytelling feels slightly secondary. It may feel overwhelming at first, but a little perserverance, and not much at that, will open up a game that is incredibly well made and demonstrates a lot of love and work.
19. Tides Of Tomorrow
Score: 9
Reviewer: Dan Jackson
Review Snippet: Developer DigixArt went bold and unique with Tides of Tomorrow and it has paid off. With characters you can get heavily invested in, a surprisingly deep story and a gorgeous world, there is a lot to like here. How they’ve integrated the asynchronous multiplayer is a mechanic that many developers should look at for future titles and opens many doors for storytelling. If you are looking for a ton of action, Tides Of Tomorrow likely won’t be for you. But for narrative driven single player fans like myself, it’s a must play.
20. Motorslice
Score: 9
Reviewer: Harry Glynn Jones
Review Snippet: With level design that begs to be explored, a world that is vast and inviting, and an ambience that is unfiltered or obstructed, Regular Studio have tuned every element of Motorslice, from its art direction to its sound design, to keep the player focused and driven, especially through approachable and cleverly interwoven design and controls. By never wandering from its simple and enthralling premise and backing it up with fun, satisfying gameplay, Motorslice is proof that sometimes all you need a game to do is make you feel cool while doing cool stuff.
21. Elementallis
Score: 9
Reviewer: Krystle Lim
Review Snippet: Elementallis is a game that pays homage and draws inspiration from an iconic series many gamers love – Zelda. They do this by successfully applying the gameplay mechanics that made us love this top-down, action adventure genre. Elementallis is a game about redemption; a story of taking a link of the past, accepting all that it has to offer, and using it to make a fantastic game to call their own. Apart from some questionable quality of life designs, Elementallis was truly a joy to play. An homage to the past that everyone should experience.
22. Mixtape
Score: 9
Reviewer: Adam Stewart
Review Snippet: Mixtape is fun, fantastical and heartfelt. It may be fleeting, but I expect it will stick with you for a long while. Especially when you’re inevitably playing one of the game’s songs in one of your playlists and someone asks you “where this song is from?”.
23. Saros
Score: 9
Reviewer: Andrew Cooper
Review Snippet: Saros is a triumph for Housemarque and a reminder that some of the most exciting games being made today don’t need to rely on cinematic spectacle to leave a lasting impression. It takes everything that made Returnal special and builds upon it in meaningful ways, from its improved progression systems to its breathtaking world design and its roster of unforgettable boss encounters. The story is heavy, the gameplay is addictive, and the world of Carcosa will stick with you long after the credits roll. If Returnal was Housemarque announcing themselves to the world, Saros is them planting their flag. Don’t sleep on it.
24. Replaced
Score: 9
Reviewer: Adam Stewart
Review Snippet: Replaced’s strong narrative, excellent world building and well realised audio and visual style make it a must play. Exploring the question of humanity via cinematic storytelling and visceral combat makes this 80s cyberpunk thriller worthy of your time. Say goodbye to the current game you’re playing, because it is getting Replaced!
25. ShantyTown
Score: 9
Reviewer: Sean Richards
Review Snippet: Is ShantyTown going to win Game of the Year at The Game Awards? No. But is it worthy of your time, and worthy of consideration of those numerous smaller indie awards out there? 100% it is! The beautiful designing aesthetics and relaxed vibes, coupled with a near limitless replayability, ShantyTown has definitely won over a fan of this genre of design game.
26. Deer & Boy
Score: 9
Reviewer: Harry Glynn Jones
Review Snippet: With beautiful visuals, engaging gameplay that evolves throughout, and excellent sound design and music, Deer & Boy is a fantastic and polished cinematic platformer with a huge heart, but what impressed me most was how much it surprised me. What starts with the gentle, almost peaceful energy of a timid fawn grows to a crescendo as powerful and majestic as a fully grown stag, carrying its message of companionship and healing proudly upon its back.
27. Star Fox
Score: 9
Reviewer: DeMandre Pressley
Review Snippet: Star Fox overall is a fantastic remake of one of the best games of all time. Its gameplay loop remains highly replayable, it’s a great entry for those who’ve never played while the additional challenge modes are sure to keep veterans busy as well. While it could use a bit more on its multiplayer and revisiting aquas may not be fun, those are small complaints to say the least.
Best Expansions & DLC
We also wanted to quickly highlight some of the best expansions and DLC that games received. These aren’t eligible for our best games, but they deserve some love regardless.
1. PowerWash Simulator 2: Adventure Time DLC
Score: 9.5
Reviewer: Fraser Billington
Review Snippet: If you enjoyed PowerWash Simulator 2, then you will absolutely enjoy The Adventure Time DLC. It plays the same as the base game. Just more things to clean, with the added joy of the Adventure Time art style and characters.
2. Dave The Diver: In The Jungle
Score: 9
Reviewer: Vikki McGowan
Review Snippet: Mintrocket have advertised the In the Jungle DLC as the largest and most ambitious DLC for Dave the Diver yet; a huge celebration of the title’s third birthday. It’s safe to say that the team have absolutely delivered on a spectacular birthday blow out for Dave and the gang, with tonnes of new content, a fun mystery to solve and a host of delicious new dishes to salivate over.
3. Diablo IV: Lord Of Hatred
Score: 9
Reviewer: Fraser Billington
Review Snippet: Lord of Hatred brings with it so much content and changes its going to keep me busy for a very long time. Exploring the mechanics of new classes while slaying hell itself will never get old. With endless loot and endgame loops, Lord of Hatred will be loved by any fan of Diablo.
4. Cult Of The Lamb: Woolhaven
Score: 9
Reviewer: Fraser Billington
Review Snippet: Woolhaven is everything you would want in a DLC. It only adds to what makes Cult of the Lamb special, with the visuals and characters all being as charming as ever. All the hard work you put into raising your cult is put at risk if you cannot calm the storm. A little piece of me died whenever a follower perished. You are forced to adapt to the new climate; it’s hard but not punishing.
5. Monster Train 2: Destiny of the Railforged
Score: 9
Reviewer: Stephanie Richards
Review Snippet: Easy to learn, hard to master, perhaps even more difficult to complete. It is a roguelite so even if you complete one run, you probably haven’t fully seen everything there is to see. The positive with this DLC is that while it is more of the same Monster Train 2 you’ve come to love, there’s more than enough to rejuvenate the game. Especially for those who love the challenge. The addition of a separate logbook and the ability to make sure that no one can get the story out of order would probably make this a perfect DLC. Perhaps in time these small tidbits will be added. Even without this, the DLC is well worth your time. If you’re a Monster Train 2 fan who has stepped away for a bit, now is the time to return.
