2026 is set to be a huge year for gaming, and Xbox players have plenty to be excited for with a host of first-party titles landing on the platform as part of a Game Pass subscription, alongside major multi-platform releases.
The past year was a bit of a mixed bag for Xbox, with several major delays hitting the platform hard, and, overall, 2025 felt a lot like a transitional year for gaming as a whole. Still, it’s certainly laid down the groundwork for 2026 to be huge, with more releases to enjoy than you can count.
With so many big releases coming in 2026, Insider Gaming has selected the biggest games in the next 12 months that Xbox players can’t miss.
8 Biggest Xbox Games Coming in 2026
Forza Horizon 6
Though Forza Horizon 5 still stands as the best racing game available on the platform, the open-world adventure turns five in 2026, and a successor is overdue. Step forward Forza Horizon 6, with the setting of the game already announced to be in Japan, something that players have wanted for a long time.
Although the Horizon franchise is no longer Xbox exclusive, with the fifth game released on PlayStation 5 in 2025, Xbox remains the best place to play the title due to the Game Pass release. Additionally, a release on other platforms, including PlayStation, could come after an initial Xbox release.
Grand Theft Auto 6
The long, long wait for the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally coming next year, assuming there are no further delays from Rockstar, and, with anticipation for GTA 6 being so high and the wait being so long, the eventual release will spread further than the usual sphere of gaming and will make a significant impact in media as a whole.
There are still many unanswered questions surrounding GTA 6, and we should start to see more about the game revealed, edging closer to a release, but expect Fall 2026 to be dominated by GTA 6 entirely, with other developers frantically moving things about so their release doesn’t clash with the titan.
Fable
Initially slated for a release in 2025, Playground Games’ Fable relaunch was delayed until 2026 back in February 2025, and there are still some questions on whether that release window will be met. Regardless, the relaunch of the franchise is a big deal for Xbox in a period where its big in-house projects have fallen short of expectations on many cases.
It’s been an extremely long wait for Fable to emerge, and the stakes are high as the initial games have such a high amount of popularity, so reaching the high bars that have been set may be tricky. Either way, Fable will go down as one of the must-play games on Xbox in 2026, assuming it isn’t delayed again.
Subnautica 2
Another title that was initially due to release into early access in 2025, a delay pushed that period for Subnautica 2 back into 2026, and eyes are cast towards Krafton following a messy situation that has seen Unknown Worlds suing its former leadership and co-founders with claims of sabotage and abandonment.
While all that rumbles on in the background, excitement for the next entry in the Subnautica franchise continues to rise. Both the initial game and Below Zero made a big impression in the open-world survival action-adventure genre, setting high expectations for the third game in the franchise.
Gears of War: E-Day
Set 14 years before the events of the original Gears of War, which was re-released as Gears of War: Reloaded in August 2025, a move that brought the franchise onto PlayStation for the first time, E-Day is set on the events of Emergence Day when the Locust first reared their ugly heads.
It’s fair to say the more recent entries in the Gears of War franchise were not quick as impactful as the first three, but the prequel provides the opportunity to detail more background into the original trilogy, as well as bringing characters that were killed off in later games back into the fray.
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Similar to the Gears of War franchise, the last few Halo games released were not quite as big as hits as the initial games in the franchise, which is now going back to the beginning with Halo: Campaign Evolved. While another remake has attracted criticism in some corners, it does provide the platform to build the next generation of the franchise.
Focusing on the campaign only has been controversial, but the up-to-date tools used will bring the original Halo game to life once again in different ways from before, and will surely help development of future games. Even if you still play the Masterchief Collection regularly, Campaign Evolved is worth some effort.
High on Life 2
Squanch Games’ sequel to the original game of the same name, High on Life 2 is set for release on February 13, and will be available day one for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. With the early months of next year looking slightly barren in places, it’s a great opportunity for High on Life 2 to shine.
The comedic shooter is definitely a can’t-miss game of 2026 for Xbox players and, if you never played the first game, there’s still time to rectify that before the release date.
Call of Duty 2026
Another year, another Call of Duty title, surely it’s the same old thing? Perhaps not, as a big update was provided in December that confirmed back-to-back releases of titles in the franchise will be scrapped, after two years of Black Ops titles drew criticism and fatigue.
Not much is known about 2026 yet, and it remains to be seen whether it will bring a new Modern Warfare title or a new direction entirely, but the confirmation of a change in direction shows Activision is listening to the community, which should raise hopes for the 2026 Call of Duty title.
What Xbox title are you looking forward to the most in 2026? Share your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For your next read, check out the six biggest announcements at The Game Awards 2025, and take a look at the details of when Deadpool will release in Marvel Rivals.
