After 12 months in gaming that included some of the most hyped games of all time, 2025 is going to be a hard act to follow. We gamers were blessed with long-awaited sequels that have been in the works for years.

The likes of Hollow Knight: Silksong and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond both finally arrived, and we also got some fantastic new IPs like Game of the Year winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Needless to say, 2026 is going to have to be pretty special if it’s going to be anywhere near as good as 2025.

Thankfully, there are some major releases coming over the near year, including the return of several big-name franchises.

Of course, all eyes are on Grand Theft Auto 6, which despite being pushed back time and time again, seems almost certain to see the light of day before 2026 ends. The new Resident Evil game looks to bring the franchise back to its Racoon City origins, hopefully continuing a flurry of excellent entries in the long-running horror series.

So without further ado, here are ten of 2026’s most hotly-anticipated games – and why you should be excited about them.

GTA 6

Where else can you start discussing 2026’s most anticipated games? GTA 6 has won an award twice in a row for being just that, never mind the fact its long development time has become a meme.

Having been planned to come out in 2025, GTA 6 was pushed back by Rockstar Games to May 2026 before being delayed further to November. It means there will be a 13-year gap since GTA 5 was released back in 2013.

The latest entry in the series will bring players back to the fictional state of Leonida, a satirical take on Florida, and the iconic Vice City with it. The game’s story features two protagonists, Jason and Lucia, but currently we’re light on details as to what exactly the pair will get up to.

GTA 6 releases on November 19 (hopefully) on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

007 First Light

James Bond is heading back to our consoles and PC once again – although the upcoming shooter was also pushed back by devs. Initially planned for March 27, IO Interactive announced that it will now land on May 27.

Set during Bond’s early days, First Light will feature a healthy mix of action and stealth with missions taking place all over the world. It will also have a star-studded cast to aid the narrative, with Gemma Chan and Lenny Kravitz joining Patrick Gibson as the main man.

007 First Light releases on May 27 on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Marvel’s Wolverine

The best-known X-Men member might have been featured in a ton of games over the decades, but Insomniac’s crack at the adamantium-infused hero is a rare solo adventure for Logan. After the studio’s brilliant Spider-Man games, the hype for Wolverine is very, very real.

Unfortunately, the developer has been keeping cards very, very close to its chest on this one. We do know that it will feature a number of iconic Wolverine locations like Madripoor and Tokyo.

Marvel lovers will relish seeing the likes of Mystique and Omega Red in the game, too. But it remains to be seen if any of the same mechanics will carry over from Spider-Man, as Wolverine once again tackles his secret past.

Marvel’s Wolverine is due for release in Autumn 2026 exclusively on PS5

Pragmata

Capcom will launch a new IP in 2026 – and that alone is worth getting excited about. Pragmata is a sci-fi thriller set in the near future and will offer a dual-character perspective.

Players will control either spaceman Hugh Williams, who wakes up alone on a research station, or Diana, a secretive android. The pair battle a hostile AI controlling the station in a bid to return to Earth.

Pragmata releases on April 24 on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

The Duskbloods

The announcement that the minds behind Dark Souls, Bloodborne and Elden Ring were creating a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive was certainly one of the bigger surprises of 2025. Here’s hoping the end result is less of a surprise, at least in terms of quality.

Indeed, it seems unfathomable that The Duskbloods will be anything other than brilliant. An action RPG that will offer both PvP and PvE gameplay with a trademark dark fantasy setting sounds like another classic in the making by FromSoftware.

The Duskbloods will be released on a date TBC exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2

Resident Evil Requiem

Heading back to Raccoon City is a fitting decision in a year that marks Resident Evil‘s 30th anniversary. Requiem will see fan favourite character Leon Kennedy make his return to the series, as he and newcomer Grace Ashcroft embark on a horrifying adventure.

The ninth main Resident Evil instalment will blend survival horror and action much like recent titles in the series. FBI analyst Grace will be pursued by a monster throughout the story, not dissimilar to Resident Evil Village. This will lead to a more stealthy experience compared to Leon’s action-heavy gameplay.

Resident Evil Requiem will be released on February 27 on PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

High on Life 2

The follow-up to the viral 2022 game High on Life is coming straight to Xbox Game Pass on day one – as well as arriving on PS5 and PC. From the mind behind cult TV series Rick and Morty, the trademark absurdist humour will return even though creator Justin Roiland isn’t involved with the project.

Set five years after the original game, the bounty hunter protagonist is now tasked with taking down big pharma to save his sister. Expect more jokes, weapons, dialogue choices and mechanics like skateboarding instead of sprinting.

High on Life 2 will be released on February 13 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S and is an Xbox Game Pass Day One release.

Saros

As announced during The Game Awards earlier this month, Saros is coming to PS5 in Spring 2026. The action-based roguelike is the spiritual successor of Returnal, one of the best of the genre in recent years.

Trailers offer up a Dune-esque setting for main character Arjun Devraj, who seems to be stuck in a time loop while trying to complete his mission on the shape-shifting planet of Carcosa. Saros looks like it will be another atmospheric romp with plenty of mystery and should be on every PlayStation owner’s wishlist for 2026.

Saros will be released on April 30 exclusively on PS5

Control Resonant

Seen by developers Remedy Entertainment as more of a ‘sibling’ than sequel to the wildly popular 2019 shooter Control, Resonant places players in the shoes of Dylan Faden, as he explores an alternative version of Manhattan. Stepping away from the third-person shooter format of the original, Resonant is instead mooted as being more of an action RPG.

Gameplay revolves around using supernatural abilities and manipulating the environment during combat, as well as navigating a warped NYC to unravel the paranormal mysteries at the heart of the story. Expect more mind-bending experiences as Dylan searches for sister Jesse, the original protagonist of Control.

Control Resonant is expected to release during a date TBC in 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Gears of War: E-Day

Throwing it all the way back to the very beginning of the Gears saga, E-Day takes place at the start of the Locust War and puts players back in the shoes of younger Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. This prequel to one of the biggest shooter franchises in modern gaming is exciting not least because it could well be a rare Gears of War game to arrive on PS5 within months of its PC and Xbox release.

Coming 20 years after the first Gears game, E-Day is set in a new location for the series, Kalona, and focuses on the brotherhood between Marcus and Dom. Not only have developers promised an “intimate” story, but there will be a bigger focus on the horror aspects of fighting the Locust Horde.

Gears of War: E-Day is due to release on a date TBC in 2026, with confirmed launch on PC and Xbox Series X as well as an expected later release on PS5.