Rhianne's Most Anticipated Games of 2026!
Rhianne Ward
Editing Note: I wrote this about a month ago, but haven't gotten around to formatting it for a blog post until just now. Forgive my tardiness, but I hope you enjoy!
Another year has come and gone, and with it arrives my excitement for the games destined to be played. I'll get into the titles I'm most hyped for in 2026 in a moment, but first, I must confront a great embarrassment: my Most Anticipated list from the beginning of 2025!
I exaggerate. Last January's list was actually pretty accurate to the games which ended up defining my 2025, so much so that I'm a little worried I wasn't being open minded enough with other releases. That being said, there were some choice duds.
First, let's cover the delays. Cairn, Reanimal, Nivalis and Big Walk all got pushed to 2026. The former two have solid release dates, so that is reassuring, but the latter half of that bunch are still locked in the ever-vague “2026” window, so who knows if they'll see the light of day. I certainly hope so, but regardless, none of those four will appear on my list today, since there's no need to rehash my feelings there. Needless to say, I'm still excited to play them!
As for the rest, I managed to bag a surprising number of points. I can't say I actively disliked any of them. The most disappointing release for me was likely Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, mainly due to its lacklustre story, but its greater emphasis on combat, while fun and engaging, detracted from the original tone I loved so much in the original release. Avowed was, compared to its placement on my original list, technically a disappointment, but frankly, the further away I get from that game, the fonder I become of it. It's arguably the most 7/10 game ever made, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. I had a lot of fun with it, and it deserved better than what it got, in my opinion.
In the end, 7 games made my end of year list, and that's not a bad batting average at all. The only game I didn't play was Demonschool, mainly due to the wrath of Christmas spending hitting me with a vengeance this year, but I plan to pick it up in the coming months.
With all of that spring cleaning out the way, now's the time to run down my most anticipated games of 2026! I've organised it as a list like last time, but make no mistake, I'm very aware of how absurd it is to value rank games that currently do not yet exist. That being said, I don't care, it's fun! Anyway, let's get right to it!
15. Grave Seasons
I absolutely love the concept for this game. A Stardew Valley-like with relationship mechanics which ALSO doubles up as a murder mystery where the culprit is randomly selected at the beginning of each new run? It's an ambitious goal – perhaps too much so – but if this team can pull it off, I imagine it'll be a deeply memorable experience.
14. End of Abyss
I'm a sucker for an atmospheric adventure game, and with some of the leading minds behind the Little Nightmares games behind the wheel at developer Section 9, I think we can confidently assume that this game is going to nail its tone. Throw in some yucky gore and a compelling sci-fi mystery, and this might be a modern classic waiting to happen. I certainly hope so!
13. At Fate's End
Thunder Lotus are an interesting indie studio with a strong catalogue. Spiritfarer was very memorable, and 33 Immortals really landed for me last year. At Fate's End sees a return to the developer's narrative strengths. A game where fights are interrupted by dialogue choices which might turn the tide of battle? Sounds like a recipe for tragedy, which is exactly what I like to see. Oh, and it is beyond gorgeous, of course!
12. Control: Resonant
I'm not necessarily a die-hard fan of Remedy games, but I am quite fond of their existence in the modern games industry. It's reassuring to have a studio creating successful games that aren't afraid to get weird. I liked Control a lot, so a sequel naturally would appeal. I hope it lives up to what came before.
11. Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
2023 marked the year I finally caught the fighting game bug through Guilty Gear Strive and Street Fighter 6. Then, in 2025, I took the plunge into comic books, and a whole universe opened up to me. Marvel Tōkon could not come at a better time for me, and with Arc System Works at the helm, I am very confident that it's going to be an absolute blast. I just hope they add more female fighters to the roster!
10. Onimusha: Way of the Sword
I played the first Onimusha last year and I was shocked by how much I liked it. I wrote a little piece for it on this blog, but to summarise, I loved the tight design and the silly story, as well as the, at times, genuinely beautiful fixed camera cinematography. It played like an action-y Resident Evil, which made sense given that it was also developed by Capcom.
Twenty-five years after that original game's release, and the Onimusha franchise is still kicking with the new entry, Way of the Sword. It looks gory and gorgeous in equal regard, and the combat looks quite similar to Capcom’s 2024 title Kunitsu-Gami, which I loved. I'm excited to see what they have in store.
9. Ontos
I absolutely love a good sci-fi story. Soma, by developer Frictional Games, is definitively one of those; a deeply compelling dive into a handful of horrifying concepts, all organised around themes of free will and perception. It's a really good game, so naturally, anything new from them piques my interest.
Admittedly, the only possible roadblock here for me is that it ends up being too scary. I'm a coward on a good day, so if this one is too intense, I might struggle to get through it. That being said, I somehow muscled my way through Still Wakes The Deep, so I truly believe anything is possible. Ontos looks awesome, and I can't wait to try it!
8. Resident Evil Requiem
Another year, another Resi game to get excited for! I'm such a sucker for this series. None of them are ever my favourites, but they are consistently entertaining each time (note: I have not played most of the bad ones, on purpose). Requiem looks to be bringing the series to new horizons. For one, we've got a new protagonist in Grace, but also, for the first time since the new Resi era began, the almighty Leon Sex Kennedy is back!
The gameplay looks like a genuine evolution of both the action and horror formulae set up in the previous titles. In a sense, a fresh setting and series of mechanics is exactly what I wanted rather than a Resident Evil 4 remake, so I'm very excited. Hopefully the blending of genres here manages to pay off!
7. The Duskbloods
In From Software we trust, and thus The Duskbloods is obviously on my radar this year. The latest from the Elden Ring and Dark Souls developer is a PvPvE set in a brand new world. As usual, the level of mystery attached to this one is tantalising enough to justify excitement. Also, it's a nice excuse to justify saving up for a Switch 2.
My only worry is the multiplayer aspect. The Souls games are no stranger to online elements, but it makes me wonder whatever exactly this game is going to be. Nightreign was really enjoyable, but it takes a certain special something to justify my returning to multiplayer titles on the best of days. However, with Miyazaki at the helm, what comes out of this one will undoubtedly be weird and fascinating. I can't wait!
6. Pony Island 2: Panda Circus
Daniel Mullins is unmistakably one of the most exciting voices in the indie game scene right now. Pony Island released in 2016 as an insanely creative horror experience, and 2021’s Inscryption was one of my favourite games that year, due to its killer atmosphere and a surprisingly engaging roguelike deckbuilding system.
A pioneer of unique, bizarre titles, it's a little surprising that Mullins has returned to his roots with Pony Island. I'm not worried, though; it makes me think that there's more fuel in this particular engine worth burning. Whatever the case, I'm looking forward to being taken on yet another hellish metatextual journey.
5. The Witcher IV
Admittedly, this is a very tentative, mostly unlikely, release within this year, but I'm putting it on here, because I will always be present Day One for whatever CD Projekt Red cooks up next. Just like every other gamer circa 2015, I really liked The Witcher III, and then I absolutely adored Cyberpunk 2077, so a placement in the top five should come as no surprise.
Not to mention, this game will see Ciri take up the mantle as the main playable protagonist, and that's so exciting for me. I loved playing as her in the third game, and I'm curious what kind of approach the writers will take with her taking up Geralt’s role on a full-time basis. I trust that no matter what, this game will be an entertaining one.
4. Perfect Tides: Station to Station
I can't remember where I saw this game advertised for the first time. I believe it was an indie showcase attached to Summer Games Fest, maybe, and I was really captured by the vibes. A demo was available, so I gave it a shot, and all of a sudden, I had a brand new game to lose sleep over.
I found out it was a sequel, so I played its predecessor, and once again, I fell in love, more so than I expected. Perfect Tides is a beautifully written story about the agonising loneliness of growing up and being unable to be honest about your feelings to anyone, even yourself. Station to Station drags that feeling straight to the college years, and I for one could not be more excited to have my heart and soul shattered all over again.
3. Saros
There's a joke that goes around online sometimes, that the PlayStation 5 has no games. It's funny, but every time I see it, I can't help but scream internally, “you're wrong! You forgot about Returnal!!” It's a bullet-hell action roguelike from Swedish developer Housemarque, and it's also one of my favourite games ever made. An intoxicating cocktail of narrative and gameplay, there's nothing else quite like it.
So, of course, Saros excites me. Yay! More of a thing I like! And you get to play as Rahul Kohli? Are you kidding me?? I'm curious what a Returnal-like with actual NPCs and a more conventional storytelling approach even looks like, but I have faith that these brilliant Scandinavians have it locked down.
2. Virtue and a Sledgehammer
This is me putting all my eggs into one basket, because Deconstructeam is one of the coolest developers working today. Back in 2018, you could not get me to shut the fuck up about The Red Strings Club, a game that ended up battling for my affection alongside heavyweights like Celeste and Red Dead Redemption 2 that year. I'm currently working my way through The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood and I am being reminded again of how talented this team is.
Many Nights A Whisper was a very short project by Deconstructeam in collaboration with Selkie Harbour, and even though it only took me an hour, to say it blew me away is an understatement. I'm still reeling from it a whole day later, and I don't expect that to change soon. Virtue and a Sledgehammer is the latest from this dream duo, and if it even touches the brilliance of what has come before from these creatives, then I am confident that it'll be one of the year's best. I can't wait!
1. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is one of my favourite games. On certain days, it might take the number one spot. It was my introduction into the series, and as such, nothing could have prepared me for the ways in which it chose to obliterate me. It's a game that crafts a cosy, familiar home to navigate with familiar faces to befriend, then rips it away, all in the name of demonstrating the destructive impact of war. It is at times funny and endearing, and brutal in others. There's nothing else quite like it. I doubt there ever will be again.
However, if anything were to get close, it will surely be Fortune's Weave, the prequel/sequel/spiritual successor/cousin (we don't actually know yet) to Three Houses. We only have a single reveal trailer to go on right now, but by the looks of things, I expect we'll be back in the thick of battle, making alliances and reluctantly sacrificing those we may hold dear. The new characters each look distinct, and the setting is deeply intriguing. Where will this story whisk us off to next? Only time will tell. I'm confident, however, that it'll be another journey to remember.
Or, if all else fails, we can return to Edelgard discourse for another seven years. It hasn't failed us yet!
And that's my list! I hope something in the pile managed to pique your interest. I've compiled a YouTube playlist of every game I talked about here, if you'd like some more convincing. As a habitual trailer enjoyer myself, I trust they'll be to your tastes. Also, if you watch every trailer in order uninterrupted, it's kind of like a games showcase personalised entirely to me, so that's cute.
Anyway, that's me done. Let's see if my hunches pay off this year as well! We'll just have to wait and see…
The playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwihuW7PrjmhLKZ3vzDyMWPs4OVGhBcBW&si=n2IYTwtNPqGfJLHj