As much as the industry tries to take a crack at live-service and free-to-play titles, it’s always going to be about the single-player games. Those focused on storytelling above all else while pushing the boundaries of presentation and gameplay innovation. Fortunately, 2026 offers an array of such titles to get excited about, so let’s delve into 35 – yes, 35 – of them here.
Mouse: PI for Hire
If you ever played Cuphead and ever wanted a rubberhose animation-style first-person shooter, Mouse: PI for Hire may very well be it. Set in Mouseburg (naturally), you control PI Jack Pepper as he exposes a deep-rooted conspiracy. With a wide variety of weapons, including chainsaws and freeze, it’s looking to be a real swell time when it launches on March 19th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.
007 First Light
Few 007 titles and media have ever explored the origins of the superspy, but IO Interactive is going about it the right way. With a mix of classic gadgets, gorgeous sandboxes that encourage creative solutions, and a more impulsive James Bond, 007 First Light has all the tools to provide a fantastic action-adventure. It’s out on March 27th for current-gen consoles and PC.
No Law
From isometric cyberpunk twin-stick shooting to, well, first-person cyberpunk shooting, Neon Giant’s next game is certainly unexpected. Set in Port Desire, a more condensed open world, it’s a non-linear story about Grey Harker and his past mistakes returning to haunt him. How you solve those dilemmas is completely up to you, which is music to my Dishonored-loving ears. Here’s hoping the execution in No Law is as brilliant.
Phantom Blade Zero
Of course, you can’t have just one John Wick-esque journey. Cue S-Game’s Phantom Blade Zero, whose protagonist faces off against numerous assassins while clinging to life. While focusing more on fast-paced combat with multiple weapon types and brutal enemies, the world is littered with secrets, to the extent that you might not see everything on the first playthrough. Style and substance should be a winning formula indeed when it launches on September 9th for PS5 and PC.
Control Resonant
Remedy kind of spoiled us on the sequel, venturing beyond the confines of The Oldest House into something much bigger, but none of us expected a sequel like this. Battling through the streets and skies of Manhattan as Dylan, Jesse’s brother, wielding dual blades and heavy weapons alongside telekinesis and other powers – it feels almost like a dark fantasy, albeit through a paranatural lens. Control Resonant will hopefully channel that into something more, and we can’t wait to see the studio’s creativity truly unleashed.
The Sinking City 2
Frogwares’ return to the flooded city of Arkham, tackling eldritch horrors and attempting to survive with our sanity intact, is one that we’ve been waiting a long time for. The original showed promise, but The Sinking City 2 looks to expand on that, both graphically and in terms of far-reaching consequences. And let’s be honest – with Cthulhu, who doesn’t want to see how badly things can go? With a release sometime in the first half of 2026, it’s not long now.
Nioh 3
Be Tokugawa Takechiyo. Be next in line to become shogun, until your power-hungry sibling can’t take it, embroiling Japan in a massive Crucible. Venture back in time to various eras, even the Bakumatsu, for the first time in the series, and attempt to set things right. All in a day’s work for those who stand against the Yokai and with a massive scale, new weapons, revamped exploration, and more, Nioh 3 could be Team Ninja’s best yet (at least it seems to think so). Launching on February 6th for PS5 and PC, we’ll find out for ourselves soon enough.
Order of the Sinking Star
Braid Anniversary Edition may have underwhelmed commercially, but Jonathan Blow is back at it again, this time venturing back to the puzzling well. Much like The Witness, you’ll solve numerous puzzles, but spread across four worlds with various characters that intertwine in intriguing ways. With over 1000 in total, the Order of the Sinking Star is beyond ambitious and could serve as another instant classic.
Gears of War: E-Day
After what feels like years of being left on the hook, Gears of War returns with a familiar duo – Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. No, we haven’t fallen into an alternative universe – instead, it’s a prequel, set during the Emergence War right as it began. If you’ve ever sought a return to a more linear campaign, then E-Day may very well fuel that desire and even cater to those who enjoyed the first game’s horror. We’re certainly ready to learn more.
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Master Chief is back in yet another revisitation of the first-person shooter that started it all. Skepticism aside, there’s plenty of reason to be excited, from the inclusion of later-game weapons to the addition of four-player co-op. And if sprint isn’t your cup of tea, just switch it off. Combine all this with the new prologue missions and cross-play, and Campaign Evolved could be the clean slate that the series needs.
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
After everything that happened in the first game, you would think that Lana and Mui are due for a break. For better or worse, the sequel sees the duo delving deeper into Novo, unearthing new abilities and secrets while contending with a mysterious new threat. As an evolution of the original’s environmental storytelling and platforming, Planet of Lana 2 feels like a significant leap in every way.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
When vampires take over Vale Sangora, enslaving the local population, Coen is left with 30 days to save his family. As a half-vampire, however, he’s afforded some unique advantages, harnessing magic as a human by day and incredible strength as a vampire by night. Which affords more advantages, depending on the situation? What route will you take to dismantle the vampire’s hierarchy? The choice is yours, though care is necessary when deciding when to advance time. The Blood of Dawnwalker still doesn’t have a release date, but it’s out in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake
At long last, Koei Tecmo is remaking perhaps the best game in the Fatal Frame series – Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly. Releasing on March 12th, it offers more than just revamped visuals. There are new areas, side stories, Camera Obscura features, and even the “Holding Hands with Mayu” mechanic, which surely won’t be required for a brand new ending. Surely.
Pragmata
Fighting killer robots is tough enough when your bullets won’t even penetrate their armor – try doing it while simultaneously hacking their defenses. As unwieldy as that sounds, Pragmata just feels right, as Hugh teams with the android Diana to navigate a hostile Lunar base. The developer has remained tight-lipped on many things, but thus far, its gameplay loop has proven compelling in its own right. With a launch finally set for April 30th, we’ll see if it can carry the entire gorgeous experience.
Resident Evil Requiem
A requiem for the dead. An examination of the truth behind the Racoon City Incident. Old faces and new, working together to survive a new nightmare. If previous Resident Evil games felt like a big deal, then Requiem seems like the end of an era. That said, with a choice between first and third perspectives, the intertwining of survival and action horror, and more, it’s going to be one that fans never forget upon launching on February 27th.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Meanwhile, another long-running IP gets a new lease on life. Onimusha: Way of the Sword is straightforward enough – traverse Kyoto, cut down the Genma, and don’t die. But it’s from the perspective of the legendary Miyamoto Musashi, who’s armed with an Oni Gauntlet and must contend with his rival Sasaki Ganryu. Based on gameplay thus far, it’s shaping up into an incredible action-adventure – now all we need is a release date.
Saros
Minor delays aside, Housemarque’s next title is shaping up to be a dark horse just like Returnal. I’ve always sought a deeper challenge in this third-person shooter/bullet hell framework, and by leaning more into rogue-lite mechanics and progression, Saros looks even more enticing. Not to discount the bosses and other challenges, of course – if the story ends with fighting an actual eclipse, then it’s worth the price of admission.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
The Wings of Theve will fly once more, as players return to the world of Strangereal to liberate the Federation of Usea. Promising the same epic campaign as its predecessors, Ace Combat 8 features stunning visuals and high-octane aerial combat when it releases later this year.
Styx Blades of Greed
The Green Plague returns, this time to pull off the heist – or heists – to end all heists. Working with the Black Hand in his own zeppelin, Styx utilizes the power of Quartz to manipulate space and time to his benefit. There are three massive environments to explore, each unlocking new areas as you gain more tools, and overall, it looks like a major step up from Shards of Darkness.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Speaking of returns, the legendary Lara Croft once again enters the action-adventure spotlight with Legacy of Atlantis, a Unreal Engine 5 reimagining of the original. Between all the familiar areas (and dinos), it also offers modernized gameplay and revamped controls, but Crystal Dynamics is keen on respecting the original’s legacy, which should be good news for purists.
Ontos
Count on Frictional Games to deliver a horror experience that’s completely unlike anything else out there. As a spiritual successor to the similarly mind-bending Soma, Ontos takes place in a moon hotel, where you partake in experiments as Aditi to find her father. Reality, for all intents and purposes, isn’t what it seems and who knows what secrets this labyrinth holds (which only makes it all the more enticing).
Fable
With the next Xbox Developer_Direct due in January, there’s no time like the fast-approaching present for Playground Games to showcase Fable. And not just a cute trailer with celebrities or a modern interpretation of a classic story – we’re talking raw gameplay. Considering the pedigree of those involved, Fable could live up to its lofty aspirations, but for now, we need to see more, especially when it’s out in 2026.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Say what you will about Gotham City, but the legend of Batman, as he fights crime and struggles with his morality, remains as timeless as ever. Of course, TT Games is going for a more lighthearted touch with its sequel, packing in humor galore while still paying homage to the Batman’s legacy. With multiple playable characters and a massive playground, Legacy of the Dark Knight is shaping up to be an incredible tribute when it launches on May 29th.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
A catastrophe in a fantastical world that somehow involves a Rathalos – where have we heard this before? Beyond the promise of an epic adventure, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is also venturing into new directions with raising monsties. You can now fight off invasive monsters, retrieve endangered eggs, hatch them and reintroduce them into the wild to restore a habitat. Which is a nice ecological message, but it also nets a sick fire-wielding Zinogre, among other mutations, and that’s what really matters.
Beast of Reincarnation
A triple-A game from Game Freak, known for the Pokémon series, sounds…odd, if nothing else. It involves a human named Emma and her dog Koo working together to save humanity in a post-apocalyptic future. Between majestic creatures, bizarre enemies, a beautiful depiction of Japan’s wilderness and extensive violence, you have to wonder whether this is the same developer. Regardless, it should be worth the wait.
Marvel’s Wolverine
When talking about violence – and lots of it – Insomniac speaks to us on a primal level with Marvel’s Wolverine. Every aspect of that berserker fantasy is preserved in this original story, as Logan seeks the key to his past, even if he might not like the answers. There’s more to learn, but really, we’re way past sold based on the dismemberment alone.
Grand Theft Auto 6
By now, we’ve covered the sheer agony of delays that Rockstar’s sequel has inspired, not to mention everything we’d like to see. The crazy thing is that despite the hype and every detail in its last trailer, it still feels we haven’t truly seen the core of Grand Theft Auto 6, much less its gameplay. With a release date of November 19th, which hopefully won’t change any time soon, there’s plenty of time to learn more. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.
Ikuma – The Frozen Compass
From Lost Ember developer Mooneye Studios comes a new adventure about survival in the Arctic. As Sam and his dog Ellie, you’ll traverse the harsh environment, climbing and foraging for resources to survive while seeking a way back home, even as something strange lurks beyond the ice and snow. Beyond the gorgeous aesthetic, Ikuma – The Frozen Compass could be a uniquely emotional journey.
Cairn
If you’re looking for a different but still harrowing survival narrative experience, look no further than Cairn. The Game Bakers’ latest focuses on Aava, who seeks to scale Mount Kami, perhaps becoming the first to ever do it. While the path is littered with good intentions, it’s also fraught with danger (and that’s before you decide to try and climb at night). Still, with the ability to climb anywhere and find your own path, Cairn isn’t messing around and could end up as the premier climbing title.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties
The Yakuza series is no stranger to deep side activities that will occupy you for hours. So how about managing an orphanage, participating in unique bonding events, and even raising your Daddy Rank (seriously)? If that sounds a little too cutesy, don’t worry – Yoshitaka Mine’s story, as told through Dark Ties, offers Kanda Damage Control, where you fulfil requests, complete challenges (including combat), and ascend past the ranks of trash. Between all this and their deeply involving narratives, there’s little reason not to delve into Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties when it launches on February 12th.
Code Vein 2
What’s the end of the world between blood-sucking, dungeon-crawling, and friends? Unlike the first game, Code Vein 2 is about hopping through time, meeting various important figures, and hopefully stopping the apocalypse. The lack of online co-op is a bummer, but at least the robust character creator is back, while build variety is freer than ever. With bigger foes, bosses, and stakes, Code Vein 2 should offer a more impactful experience when it launches on January 30th.
Gothic 1 Remake
The original “Explore a Eurojank world without any hand-holding and try to survive”, but this time with improved visuals. Everything about the original remains unchanged; however, as you navigate the Colony in whatever manner you wish. Choose a faction, become a hero, interact with NPCs – whatever you desire across a 50-hour journey when Gothic 1 Remake launches in Q1 2026.
Valor Mortis
“All men must die”, says Valar Morghulis, but not you. Instead, Ghostrunner developer One More Level wants you to show courage in the face of death, especially after you’ve been brought back to life and must battle against plague-ridden foes. As a first-person Souls-like with responsive melee combat, Valor Mortis is shaping up pretty well, and we can’t wait to see how far the horror-filled rabbit hole goes.
Decrepit
Of course, if you want something even darker, there’s Decrepit, which offers an even simpler goal: Escape a castle teeming with danger. There’s a rogue-lite loop where getting caught means starting over, but beyond the Souls-like combat, the emphasis is on learning more about the world, uncovering secrets like permanent upgrades, harnessing equipment to suit your playstyle, and so on. It’s intriguing, and complements Valor Mortis in several ways.
Forza Horizon 6
If the millions and millions of players throughout the years didn’t clue you in, this franchise is unstoppable, and Forza Horizon 6 could be the best yet. New cars and a bigger map, spreading from Tokyo to the area around Mt Fuji, is a given, but Playground cramming it with activities to make it the “most full” yet is intriguing. With rumors claiming a release in the first half of 2026, Xbox Series X/S and PC won’t have to wait long to go hands-on.
