Introduction: The 2026 release calendar is already shaping up to be one of the most diverse in recent memory. Major studios and beloved indie creators alike are preparing sequels, remakes and bold new experiments. Below is a comprehensive look at the projects that have generated the most buzz so far — their creators, platforms, release windows and the gameplay and narrative directions each title promises.
Code Vein II — Genre: Action. Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment. Publisher: Bandai Namco Studios. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release date: 30 January 2026. Although the name suggests a direct sequel, Code Vein II positions itself more as a spiritual successor — some even call it a soft reboot. The game abandons the strictly soulslike formula of the original and leans into faster, more arcade‑oriented action. Storywise the setting is new and the cast has changed: the protagonist teams up with Lu, a young woman who can manipulate time. Together they travel into the past and back to the present to remove obstacles by erasing or altering events a century earlier. The sequel also amplifies scope — players will explore a vast city where traversal on a motorcycle is practical, and the two distinct eras promise contrasts in both gameplay and visuals that developers hope will make this entry memorable in its own right.
Control Resonant — Genre: Action. Developer / Publisher: Remedy Entertainment. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release date: 2026. In the original game players followed Jesse Faden, Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, searching for her missing brother. In Control Resonant the roles are reversed: Dylan becomes the playable lead while Manhattan once again faces a paranormally driven threat. Dylan’s signature weapon is the Aberrant, a close‑quarters armament capable of changing form on the fly — from a massive two‑handed hammer to a pair of blades for focused strikes. Remedy describes the title as an action RPG with upgradeable weapons, multiple combat styles and unlockable abilities, set in an open, living city divided into several zones that can be tackled in any order. The studio calls this its most ambitious project to date, yet says newcomers to the franchise will still be able to follow the story, while longtime fans will spot plenty of nods to the first game.
Crimson Desert — Genre: Action. Developer / Publisher: Pearl Abyss. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release date: 19 March 2026. Originally conceived as a narrative prequel to Black Desert Online, Crimson Desert evolved into a single‑player open‑world action RPG. The game takes place on the continent of Paivel, where an invasion by a faction known as the Black Bears has scattered the elite fighters of the Gray Manes — including the protagonist, Cliff. The world is high‑fantasy medieval in tone, with stone architecture, long swords, mysticism and magic. Environments range from bustling cities and tiny villages to plains and deserts, and traversal options include horses, wolves — and even dragons and vehicles — hinting at grand geographic scale. Early demos praise deep weapon systems, numerous attack moves tied to each weapon type and solid optimization even in combat with many enemies, though some testers note control polish could improve.
The Duskbloods — Genre: Role‑playing (PvPvE). Developer / Publisher: FromSoftware. Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive). Release window: 2026. FromSoftware’s next major project is an experiment in PvPvE, and it’s exclusive to the upcoming hybrid Nintendo hardware. The game is inspired by vampire mythologies: players take on the role of beings known as the Bloodbound, characters with supernatural abilities who hunt a rare kind of blood that triggers vampiric awakenings across different regions and eras. Rather than a single sprawling open world, the game uses distinct maps with varying aesthetic themes — Victorian, Gothic and others — reflecting its episodic or map‑based approach. The match structure mixes elements of a last‑man‑standing format with PvE objectives: up to eight players may face off in arenas filled with AI threats, and scoring rewards both final placements and intermediate accomplishments. The system encourages tactical cooperation — teaming up to tackle monsters that would be lethal for a lone hunter — while preserving competitive tension.
Forza Horizon 6 — Genre: Racing. Developer: Playground Games. Publisher: Xbox Game Studios. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release window: 2026. Forza Horizon returns with a fresh setting: Tokyo and its surrounding regions. Developers say recent advances in technology finally let them recreate Japan’s long urban thoroughfares with the fidelity they wanted, and experience gained while building previous expansion content informed their approach to dense city driving. The chapter’s map is still a composite of urban and rural locations — you can leave bustling Tokyo neighborhoods for foothills and quiet plains — and the team emphasizes Japanese automotive culture across eras, from cult microcars to the birthplace of organized drifting. Seasonal shifts remain an important feature: weather and seasonal transitions will visibly transform the environment and cultural flavor of locations, from summer temples to spring cherry blossom displays.
Grand Theft Auto VI — Genre: Action. Developer / Publisher: Rockstar Games. Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release date: 19 November 2026. After a long hiatus since the previous numbered entry, GTA VI is one of the most eagerly awaited releases of the year. Rockstar is again pushing the series forward with experimentation: for the first time since the original 1997 game one of the lead protagonists is female, and the story centers on a duo of playable characters of different genders. Expect classic GTA elements — heists, vehicle mayhem and social satire — combined with an even more detailed open world that offers non‑driving activities ranging from sports to leisurely pursuits, all embedded within Rockstar’s trademark commentary on contemporary culture.
Halo: Campaign Evolved — Genre: Shooter. Developer: Halo Studios. Publisher: Xbox Game Studios. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release window: 2026. This project is a ground‑up remake of the first Halo campaign, rebuilt on Unreal Engine 5. The goal is not only to modernize visuals and audio but also to integrate mechanics and narrative elements introduced in later series entries. Expect upgraded cinematics, reworked dialogue and level adjustments; new gameplay features like sprinting and the ability to hijack enemy Covenant vehicles have been announced, as have co‑op enhancements such as additional passenger slots on the classic Warthog. The remake will include the original ten campaign missions plus three new prologue missions that expand the story. The competitive multiplayer component will not be present in this release; instead the focus is on four‑player online co‑op and a two‑player split‑screen mode. Notably, this Halo edition will be available on PlayStation hardware for the first time.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight — Genre: Action‑Adventure. Developer: Traveller’s Tales. Publisher: Warner Bros. Games. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2. Release date: 29 May 2026. Traveller’s Tales is bringing a large, open‑world Lego Batman title back to consoles and PC. Gotham is rebuilt from bricks and offers freeform traversal — on foot, in the Batmobile or Batcycle, or by gliding with Batman’s cape. Unlike previous Lego titles that offered dozens if not hundreds of playable characters, this entry focuses on seven distinct heroes, each with unique gadgets and skillsets: Catwoman uses a whip, Batgirl specializes in hacking and remote control, and so on, while Batman remains the central figure and is joined by allies tailored to mission needs. Combat mechanics borrow heavily from the Arkham series’ feel, and the game includes an expansive wardrobe and a Batcave hub where trophies and collectibles are stored and displayed.
Mewgenics — Genre: Roguelike. Developer / Publisher: Edmund McMillen. Platforms: PC. Release date: 10 February 2026. From the creator of Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac comes a roguelike focused on breeding and sending out small households of cats on procedurally generated expeditions. Players equip collars that alter a cat’s class (mage, fighter, tank and more), send the animals on turn‑based forays, and then accept that a successful outing means that particular cat retires from adventuring. A central design pillar is heredity and mutation: traits and quirks discovered in an outing are passed to offspring born in the player’s home, producing hundreds or thousands of possible abilities and interactions. Edmund McMillen promises over a thousand unique features and a large variety of items, with depth designed to keep players experimenting for weeks or months.
ONTOS — Genre: Horror / Sci‑fi. Developer / Publisher: Frictional Games. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release window: 2026. The studio known for Amnesia and SOMA returns with a science‑fiction horror centered on Aditi Amani, who receives a letter from her estranged father promising to reveal secrets about her past and childhood phenomena. The journey takes her to the lunar base Samsara, built on the ruins of an old hotel: casinos have become labs, drained pools are now experimental sites. Developers have upgraded their HPL engine to create a sprawling, fully traversable lunar complex where nearly every door opens and distant rooms are reachable if the player decides to go there. The team emphasizes atmosphere and moral ambiguity over constant monster pursuit; the game focuses on exploration, questions of consequence and a slowly mounting sense of unease rather than relentless chase mechanics.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake — Genre: Action. Developer: Ubisoft Montreal. Publisher: Ubisoft. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release window: 2026. The long‑troubled remake appears to be finally approaching release after a development reset that moved the project to Ubisoft Montreal. While core parkour mechanics like wall running will be preserved, many systems are being modernized: combat is being enriched, difficulty differences made more meaningful, and world spaces expanded thanks to the Anvil engine. Narrative changes include upgrading Princess Farah to a true companion with a fuller backstory and active combat and support roles — she will fight with a bow and perform paired attacks with the Prince.
Reanimal — Genre: Platformer / Horror. Developer: Tarsier Studios. Publisher: THQ Nordic. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2. Release date: 13 February 2026. After other teams handled the third Little Nightmares, Tarsier Studios returned to create Reanimal, a darker, more mature horror platformer that evokes the studio’s recognizable style. Players control two unnamed orphans, a Boy and a Girl, as they navigate grotesque and unsettling environments to find three missing friends. Many showings indicate the game captures Tarsier’s creepiest strengths: slow‑burn tension, uncanny enemy design and a willingness to be provocative. Opponents are often twisted animals rather than purely fantastical monsters, which makes encounters feel more viscerally disturbing. The title supports both local and online co‑op, and solo players receive an AI partner for the second character.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy — Genre: Action‑Adventure. Developer: Asobo Studio. Publisher: Focus Entertainment. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release window: 2026. Asobo continues to expand the A Plague Tale universe with a prequel focused on the outlaw Sophia, a character tied to the events surrounding the series’ core protagonists. Unlike Amicia, Sophia is more comfortable in close combat; the game shifts toward a more action‑oriented experience with counters, dodges and execution moves while retaining puzzle and stealth elements. The plot takes place on the mysterious island of the Minotaur and introduces a stronger layer of mythology and mysticism tied to an ancient affliction known as the Macula, which helps explain the tragic origins that will later affect the series’ existing cast.
Saros — Genre: Action. Developer: Housemarque. Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment. Platforms: PlayStation 5 (exclusive). Release date: 30 January 2026. Housemarque builds on lessons from their previous 3D roguelike shooter work by telling a new story about Arjun Devradja, a watchman stranded on the inhospitable planet Karkosa tasked with shaping a new future. Saros promises visually spectacular combat paired with procedural world transformations that keep repeat runs fresh. New systems introduce permanent progression between runs — weapon and suit upgrades that carry forward — and a “Second Chance” mechanic that can revive a character after an early death. The game retains strong DualSense support, including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, a technical highlight for those who enjoyed the tactile feel of the studio’s earlier titles.
Slay the Spire 2 — Genre: Roguelike / Deckbuilder. Developer / Publisher: Mega Crit. Platforms: PC. Release window: March 2026 (planned early access). Mega Crit returns to the card‑based roguelike that defined a modern subgenre. Slay the Spire 2 is positioned as an enhanced, more challenging version of the Spire with new encounters, hazards and systems to keep runs unpredictable. The developers are expanding the pool of cards, potions and relics and will introduce both old favorites and brand new characters with distinct decks. As with the original, Mega Crit plans to launch the sequel in early access to iterate on balance and grow the title with player feedback.
Star Wars: Zero Company — Genre: Turn‑based Tactics. Developer: Bit Reactor. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S. Release window: 2026. Founded by a former XCOM lead, Bit Reactor assembles a team of experienced tactics designers for a Star Wars story centered on Hawks, an ex‑Republic officer who forms the so‑called Zero Company — a ragtag squad of mercenaries from across the galaxy. The roster can include scripted characters with rich backstories (a Jedi padawan completing a fallen master’s mission, an Umbaran militia soldier whose home was invaded) as well as player‑created recruits with custom appearance, loadouts and classes. Tactical gameplay leans on cover, positioning and synergies; relationships forged between mercenaries yield combat bonuses, and optional permadeath adds a classic tactical tension.
Conclusion: 2026 looks to deliver a mix of bold remakes, ambitious new worlds and focused indie visions. From blockbuster reinventions of historic franchises to tightly designed single‑player adventures and inventive roguelikes, the slate reflects a wide array of tastes and playstyles. Whether you follow large studios or small teams, there is plenty to anticipate — and for many players, these titles will define gaming conversations throughout the year.