As the industry moves into 2026 and eyes squint towards the next hardware generation, developers in the here-and-now are doubling down on their established worlds to push design and technology forwards. From ambitious RPG follow-ups, to hotly-anticipated RTS revivals and genre-defining racers, 2026 is shaping up to be a stacked year for sequels. Whether you’re into prestige storytelling or arcade explosiveness, this rundown is packed with 15 of the biggest heavy-hitting follow-ups that are set to land in the new year.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Numerous leaks and delays – plus a sprinkling of studio controversy – has made the thirteen-year gap between GTA V’s eternal sunset and Rockstar’s return to Vice City feel more agonising than it arguably should. Bottom line: Grand Theft Auto VI is coming, and while the November 26 window doesn’t feel airtight, one thing you can be sure of is GTA VI’s release will be a seismic cultural event, matched only by the developer’s determination to unleash the most ambitious open world game ever.
Resident Evil: Requiem
The latest instalment in the survival horror series plucks you out of Village’s folkloric nightmare and into the ruinous Raccoon City as strange deaths linked to the original outbreak begin surfacing. Eschewing the action of recent entries for shuffling dread, you’ll command FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, using brainpower to counteract her vulnerability and stay out the clutches of a terrifying, wall-scrambling stalker. Accompanying her investigation is everybody’s favourite rookie cop Leon Kennedy, further suggesting RE: Requiem will honour its roots as much as lean into modern sensibilities.
Nioh 3
Shaking up the dark fantasy action-RPG series in meaningful ways, Nioh 3 is much more than a continuation of its predecessor’s success. Dual Samurai and Ninja playstyles headline the threequel’s innovations, but expansive build identity, open-ended exploration, and a suite of new weapons and abilities ensure player choice is firmly the focus. Balancing surgical combat precision with Ki management and an overstuffed inventory still prevail, yet this time there’re opportunities for self-expression unlike anything the series has seen before.
Forza Horizon 6
The Horizon community’s most-requested locale is finally happening – Forza Horizon 6 is primed to burn rubber in the land of the rising sun. From twisting metropolises of Tokyo, to cherry blossom serenity of coastal and mountain passes, Horizon 6 might well end up as the most visually arresting entry in the open-world racing series to date. Chuck in authentic JDM car culture, multi-timbral sound design, and Playground’s knack for mixing realistic car handling with arcade-style accessibility, and the horizon’s bright for Forza fans.
Pathologic 3
Dr Daniil Dankovsky returns in the conclusion to Ice-Pick Lodge’s surreal, disturbing trilogy, where sickness, superstition, and moral compromise permeates the fog of a plague-ridden town. If you’re not yet a fan, Pathologic 3’s blend of survival, medical simulation, time travel, and mayoral management might be too dense to parse, but for veterans: this is the appeal. The series’ dream logic is its signature, with Pathologic 3 set to lean harder into oppression, atmosphere, and philosophical identity than ever before.
Control Resonant
Remedy’s Control Resonant expands the Federal Bureau of Control’s strange universe with more mind-warping, paranormal, architecture-shifting action. Compared to 2019’s original, Resonant promises larger-scale encounters, deeper powers, and a more labyrinthine narrative to showcase Remedy’s story-telling prowess in the wake of, uh, Alan Wake 2. Expectations here are huge. If Control laid the foundation, Resonant looks ready to build an entire supernatural mythology on top of it.
Subnautica 2
Prepare to plunge back into the depths of an alien ocean world in Subnautica 2, where open-world survival, subaquatic base-building, and creature discovery return alongside expanded co-op features. Still, the slow, bubbling dread of an unexplored, oceanic expanse is the main draw, where risk burdens every expedition. However, while slated for 2026 this sequel has been surrounded by controversy, with messy legal drama between publisher and original developers clouding what is undeniably a solid vision.
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4
Dawn of War 4 marks the long-awaited return of one of RTS gaming’s biggest names. Expect strategic depth to be reinstated, with renewed focus on base building, resource control, and the same brutal, large-scale warfare on which DoW 1 and 2 were renowned. The challenge for King Art Games will be to balance Dawn of War’s classic identity with modern, strategy-sim expectations. If Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4 can recapture the series’ intensity whilst usurping 3’s experiments, then this could end up a flagship RTS title for years to come.
RIDE 6
RIDE 6 continues Milestone’s push towards authentic superbike racing, yet this time the two-wheel arcade-sim speeds beyond asphalt to take in off-road riding. With an expanded roster of real-world machines, improved handling models, and a focus on mechanical accuracy bordering on obsessiveness, RIDE 6 is well-placed to continue the series’ recent trend of meaningful iteration.
Code Vein II
Code Vein II revives Bandai Namco’s anime-infused Soulslike, with newfound combat fluidity and opportunity for self-expression layering over the original’s deep character customisation and build flexibility. The sequel’s big change is the switch to AI companions in place of real-life co-op partners, but the developers have been careful to ensure this deviation lands with impact – picking your AI partner is set to be as critical for success as choosing your favourite blade.
Outward 2
Outward 2 is shaping up to build on the “no easy mode” challenge that made its predecessor a cult favourite. You’ll once again juggle hunger, fatigue, inclement weather, and gear condition in a harsh world that refuses to bend. And, for this sequel, you should expect a smoother, more fluid combat system with expanded arsenal of weaponry, more deliberate animations and combat manoeuvres, and a higher production value story. Through exploration without map markers, RPG-like character backgrounds, and refreshed lore, Outward 2 promises immersion far beyond the achievements of its forebearer too.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve brings the long-running aerial combat series back to the skies, with cinematic storytelling, high-octane dogfights, and a new geopolitical drama set in the Strangereal universe to unpack. Be prepared for realistic cloudscapes and missile-dodging acrobatics, all fed through a seamless mix of arcade-style accessibility and flight-sim-like nuance. Elsewhere, narrative has always been a major appeal in the Ace Combat series; here, flying as a symbol of hope – the eponymous “Wings of Theve” – means that, in 8, the stakes will be higher than ever.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
The next entry in Falcom’s legendary RPG series serves up a climactic finale for the Zemurian continent arc, bringing together a large cast of characters from the Trails universe to prove once again the series has the most inter-connected universe in all of gaming. Long-time devotees can expect deep turn-based battling, multi-layered character development, and dense world-building, while soaking in new regions and political intrigue. Newcomers could feel overwhelmed, but for veterans this is unmissable.
Styx: Blades of Greed
The stealth-action series is returning, once again putting you in command of sarcastic goblin thief Styx as he navigates dark fantasy kingdoms designed with newfound verticality, wields new mind control and time-shifting powers, and builds a crew ready to infiltrate a range of strongholds. The goal here is creativity; with an expanded toolkit of gadgets, traps, and manoeuvres, Blades of Greed pushes you to improvise on your path to evasion.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf
Planet of Lana II follows the picturesque puzzle-platformer with another hand-painted odyssey through alien-infested verdance. The original’s gentle pacing, serene environments, and companion-based puzzling struck a chord with players which the sequel is set to expand upon, all while retaining the emotional, cinematic tone. With artistry at the forefront of the experience, Planet of Lana II’s more diverse biomes, more impactful narrative, and evolved abilities for your cute companion Mui ensure Children of the Leaf will be a hit.