This year has been an incredible year for gaming. From highly anticipated sequels like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong to surprising hits like Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, 2025 proved to be one of the better years for games at every level in recent memory. But if 2025 was great, a quick look at upcoming games suggests that next year might be even better. These are the most anticipated games for 2026.
With this list, only games that are first release and available on multiple platforms are eligible. That means games currently in early access, but planned to launch in 2026, don’t count. Also, if you’re looking for the most anticipated exclusives for consoles like the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Nintendo Switch 2, those will be posted separately.
As of now, all of these games below are currently scheduled for a release next year.
What Are The Most Anticipated Games Of 2026?
Resident Evil Requiem
Capcom’s next big entry in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil Requiem was first revealed at Summer Game Fest 2025 and brings a brand-new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, into the mix. She’s an FBI analyst investigating a death at the Wrenwood Hotel. Like past titles, the game is built in the RE Engine and is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the Switch 2 on February 27, 2026, just weeks before the franchise’s 30th Anniversary.
Gears of War: E-Day
Gears of War: E-Day takes fans back to where it all began, literally. Set 14 years before the original game, Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago are fighting during Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde first emerged from beneath the planet Sera. The Coalition is leading development (with help from People Can Fly), and it’ll launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC. It’ll also be available day one for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers.
Forza Horizon 6
Announced at Tokyo Game Show 2025, the next installment of the highly acclaimed Forza Horizon series makes its way to Japan for Forza Horizon 6. While details of the game aren’t currently known, more information is planned for reveal in early 2026. The game is scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC next year, with a port to PlayStation 5 planned “post-launch”. Like Gears of War: E-Day, Forza Horizon 6 will be available via Xbox Game Pass.
Halloween
Halloween is an upcoming game that lets you play as the legendary Michael Myers or one of the heroes tasked with saving the residents of Haddonfield. The game also features a single-player story that has you experience the events of the original movie through the eyes of Michael Myers. Speaking of the original movie, director John Carpenter is serving as executive producer of the game.
Halloween is scheduled to release on September 8, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Phantom Blade Zero
First announced in 2023, Phantom Blade Zero is one of the most anticipated action RPG titles in some time. The game follows Soul, an “elite assassin serving an elusive but powerful organization known simply as ‘The Order’.” Soul was framed for the murder of the patriarch of The Order and was hurt while trying to escape. He’s managed to get a cure for his injuries, but it only lasts 66 days. In that time, Soul needs to find out who actually killed the head of The Order.
While an official release date hasn’t been announced, many are assuming that it will launch on PS5 and PC in 2026. A final date is expected to be announced by the end of this year.
007: First Light
IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman, is rebooting James Bond for a new generation. 007: First Light tells an original story that focuses on Bond’s origin as the agent he grew to be. The game follows a 26-year-old Bond who is currently an MI6 agent, but is on a mission that, should he complete it, will give him his 00 agent status.
Though the game follows an original narrative, it will take inspiration from both the books and movies to help it fit in the Bond universe.
Characters appearing in the game include a mix of old and new, such as M, Miss Moneypenny, Q, Dr. Selina Tan, and DGSE agent Miss Roth. The game launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2 on March 27, 2026.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
TT Games is back with another LEGO superhero adventure, and this time it’s celebrating every era of Batman. Revealed at Gamescom 2025, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight lets players explore an open-world Gotham packed with characters and references from 80+ years of Batman history. The game will feature seven playable characters and has an open world that’s larger than 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight. It’s due out in 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2.
Fable
It’s been over five years since it was officially announced, but 2026 should be the year that Fable finally sees the light of day for players. Another launch game coming to Xbox Series and PC, Fable will be the first game in the franchise since 2012’s Fable: The Journey.
Developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground Games, Fable first saw a full trailer in 2023 with an original release planned for 2025. In early 2025, however, it was announced that the game’s release was moved to 2026. Microsoft plans to launch it on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
From Skydance New Media and Marvel Games comes Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, an action-adventure set in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. Players will switch between Captain America and Azzuri, the Black Panther of that era, as they take on the rise of Hydra. The game will also feature two other playable characters in Gabriel Jones and Nanali. Amy Hennig — best known for the Uncharted series — is leading the project. The game was originally set for a 2025 release, but was pushed to 2026 to allow the developers to “add more polish”. It was then pushed, again, to a late 2026 release.
Grand Theft Auto 6
After 13 years, the next entry in the long-running Grand Theft Auto series is finally set to arrive. Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA) heads back to the state of Leonida (Florida) and features the franchise’s first female protagonist, Lucia Caminos, alongside Jason Duval. Regions of the state include Vice City (Miami), Grassrivers (Everglades), and the Leonida Keys (Florida Keys), along with other areas to explore.
Aside from Duval and Caminos, other chracters in the game include Jason’s friend Cal Hampton, bank robber Raul Bautista, “Vice City legend” Boobie Ike, and more.
After a delay was announced on November 6, GTA 6 is now scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
What games are your most anticipated heading into 2026? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with news of Marvel 1943 and GTA 6’s delay.
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
More from Mike Straw
No Wolverine on this list is crazy.
That’s a PS5 exclusive. This list solely focused on games coming to at least two platforms