Persephone, as the remnants of humanity have chosen to name it, exists quite close to the Earth, but its landmasses could not be more different. There’s not a lot of greenery on its surfaces, and there seems to be something sinister lurking under all of the ice and snow that covers the ground you’re going to be treading as Ariane and Thomas.

The new trailer also shows off a little more about the need to try and make Persephone a new home for humanity, and the hope that fuels Ariane and Thomas’ efforts to discover more about the mysterious planet against all odds. If the game’s visuals are anything like the trailer, this one could be quite the immersive experience, and we can’t wait to see what it has to offer on April 28. It’s also going to be on Game Pass, and console players can avail a 10 percent discount on their pre-orders.

If you were hoping to pick up a physical copy, the Pioneer Edition launches on July 2. The three-month wait could be worth it if it’s a sleeper hit, so keep an eye out for when it launches.

It is worth noting that the trailer features quite a few visual flaws, like Ariane floating in the air for a second before sliding down a collapsing passage. However, DON’T NOD also seems well aware of this, since the studio has prominently noted that the game is still a work in progress.

With the plot of Aphelion revolving around Ariane and Thomas exploring a new planet in the Solar System—Persephone—and the two getting separated in the process, the trailer also showed us how the two were trying to reunite. While Ariane was trying to get to the last place she could track down for Thomas, he found his way into a base that was seemingly created by a prior team that had also somehow reached the planet.

As the two continue exploring in the hunt for answers, they also come across a strange creature that seems to be a corruption of electromagnetic waves. A prior trailer had referred to this creature as the Nemesis, and it may have had a hand in the disappearance of the previous team that built the base. Incidentally, while Thomas was busy exploring the base and finding new mysteries that needed uncovering, we got to see quite a bit of platforming gameplay for Ariane. As she made her way around the surface of planet Persephone, we got to see her swinging around using a grappling hook, making her way into caves, and even climbing up ledges in an attempt to get stronger footholds.

Aphelion was unveiled back in June 2025, which gave us our first look at both protagonists and the planet of Persephone. The trailer also introduced the core premise of the game, and started introducing questions about the European Space Agency’s Hope 01 scientific mission.

A second trailer, focusing more on the threat posed by the Nemsis, was released in October. We also got to see more of Thomas’ personality, and his overall response to the crisis that he and Ariane have found themselves in. Along with treacherous environments, we also got our first glimpse at how sneaking around would work in the presence of the Nemesis.

DON’T NOD has also confirmed that both characters will have unique gameplay styles, with Ariane focusing on more physical activity while Thomas, due to his injuries, being forced to rely largely on his deductive capabilities.

Despite its Spring release window, DON’T NOD hasn’t yet revealed a precise release date for Aphelion. However, the studio has confirmed that it is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Well, that’s exactly what we’re setting out to do. Here are a few recently announced titles that are sure to make 2026 and the next few years all the more exciting with their presence. Let’s get started!

1. Sons of Sparta

This one was quite a pleasant surprise, being made available right after its reveal at State of Play. If you love hard-hitting action, big set-piece battles, and a setting that goes all-in on spectacle and emotion, this one’s an absolute no-brainer.

It’s a 2D platformer that rewinds the clock, diving into a protagonist’s past as he fights alongside his brother and begins carving out his place on the battlefield. It leans heavily into tight platforming challenges, while its spear-and-shield combat proves surprisingly addictive, rewarding precision, smart parries, and well-timed evasions.

2. The Trilogy Remake

It was a welcome surprise to see the announcement land at the show, especially with a full remake project on the table for players. We’re eager to see how the updated versions modernize the classic gameplay loops, sharpen the pacing, and refine the combat feel while keeping the general flow and feel intact.

Either way, we’ll be jumping in the moment it’s playable, though it sounds like it may be a while, with development still in the early stages.

3. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

It’s always great to join one of the Belmont’s on a monster hunting adventure, and this one’s setting in Paris has us fascinated by its gothic vibe and buttery smooth combat animations. Of course, the Vampire Killer is making its return to your side along with new weapon types that let you take the fight to whatever monstrosities the game throws at you.

While details about its story are a tad scarce at this time, we’re sure that Konami and the Dead Cells team are up to the task of making it one worthy of the long-standing franchise.

4. Gothic Remake

This is another remake that we’re itching to get our hands on considering just how much work is going into making it a game that stays true to the classic RPG while modernizing it to make it appealing to a new generation of players.

With the most recent in a series of videos about its development showcasing how the team has crafted its NPC character models from the ground up, this one’s shaping up to be a very fine addition to a slew of remakes of classic titles. Even better is the fact that it’s currently scheduled for a 2026 release.

5. Samson

This one’s quite unique in that it features a man in a leather jacket literally taking on the world in order to pay off his debts and save his family. That’s easier said than done, however, as the city of Tyndalston is not an ideal place where one can earn their fair share without a little bit of violence involved.

Miss a day’s payment, and you’re even deeper in the debt trap with both the law and the lawless out to get you. This action brawler is going to keep the pressure on you, but of course, it gives you everything you need to come out on top. Just don’t expect it to give you cash or mercy.

6. Aphelion

While we’ve seen our fair share of sci-fi adventures where humanity needs to move out from the Earth thanks to hostile living conditions, we’re still excited for Aphelion as it does things a little differently. You see, it focuses on two explorers stranded on a potentially new home for their fellow humans, their ship having crashed, and one of them being injured in the process.

With two protagonists with their own abilities and skills, and a story that explores the burden of duty in a dire situation, this one could pull at your heartstrings more than you’d like to admit.

7. John Wick

It’s always going to be great to see Keanu Reeves play another video game badass after his work as Johnny Silverhand. And John Wick’s excellent take on the character’s signature gun-fu style is looking very promising in the reveal trailer at State of Play, February 2026.

Saber Interactive looks like it’s staying true to the character while bringing all of the action and chaos that seems to chase him around to the table in a title we’re excited to play, although that could take a while.

8. Knight’s Path

When life gives you lemons, you pick up a sword and wander the land in search of redemption. At least, that’s what Arlyk, the protagonist of this action-RPG set in ancient Rome, sets out to do in order to rebuild his life as a noble.

With combat that’s looking like you’re going to earn your reputation as a swordsman without comparison, this one is going to have us spending a lot of time with mechanics that are designed to make each swing or slash of your blade count. Add in an immersive world and a potentially memorable cast of characters, and you have yourself a winner.

9. Kena: Scars of Kosmora

Kena is now older, wiser, and more determined to bring her unique blend of empathy and compassion to Kosmora, a brand new location that’s opened its doors to her. She’s more confident in her role as a guide and is determined to help the living as well as the dead as she goes about her duties.

That’s good news for us as it gives us more opportunities to experience a story that hopefully retains the wit and charm of Bridge of Spirits with a combat system that seems fast, fluid, and, most importantly, fun.

10. Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2

We’re never going to say no to any opportunity to play more Metal Gear Solid, and the chance to replay MGS4 on a modern console without having to boot up our admittedly ancient PS3 is always a reason to celebrate.

And with Peace Walker retaining its online play components, this is a title we’re eager to get our hands on when August 2026 finally comes around. It’s time to round up your friends and take on a Metal Gear title that was built around cooperative play in this second addition to the Master Collection series from Konami.

11. GreedFall 2: The Dying World 1.0

The prequel to Greedfall has been in early access for a while now, but it’s finally ready to face the world this March. We’re stoked to return to Tree Fradee, a place where your choices carry wait and there’s always a bit of danger for those adventurers who care to go looking for it.

If this new title is anything like its predecessor, this one could have us spending more than a few hours finding out that our actions have consequences, and ones that we didn’t expect more often than not.

12. ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies

The spiritual successor to Disco Elysium is definitely up there with the more interesting concepts we’ve seen in recent years. You play as a former secret agent who harbors dark secrets and is now working as a PI after being forced out of the agency in disgrace.

The story is about rebuilding burned bridges as much as it is a mystery, where you need to think carefully about your actions while also paying attention to your crumbling mental state. That’s a lot to take in, but it’s going to be worth it from everything we’ve seen about this one.

13. Road to Vostok

Coming to early access in April 2026, this post-apocalyptic survival title takes you to Vostok, a harsh place in which even a silly error could mean the end of your adventure, with permadeath being a constant threat that hovers over you as you make your way through the story.

With a dynamic world that features a comprehensive weather system, multiple hostile factions all determined to give your character a premature death, and of course, a ton of loot to be gathered, Road to Vostok has us quite enthusiastic for all of it.

14. IKUMA – The Frozen Compass

Any adventure where you’re accompanied by a NPC is one that’s worth it in our book, and this one definitely caught our eye with its unique visuals and art style. You play as Sam, a boy who finds himself alone and stranded on an island in the Arctic with his loyal furry friend Ellie at his side.

Together, they must find a way home, braving all of the challenges in their way in a coming-of-age story that forces Sam to confront his past in order to ensure he has a future.

15. Project Windless

If you liked The Bird That Drinks Tears series of novels, this is a game that’s going to be a treat for you. It’s an open-world RPG set in the same universe as the books, placing you in the shoes (metaphorically, of course) of a giant humanoid bird who is armed with a pretty cool pair of dual blades and out on a mission that has you taking on several enemies who are quite skilled at coming at you from all directions based off what we’ve seen in the trailer.

This is a game that we’re eager to play thanks to its focused, single-player experience.

And that’s a wrap on our most anticipated titles for the rest of this year and perhaps a few that are going into 2027 and beyond. Of course, you can be sure you’re going to hear from us the moment new information on any one of them becomes available.

Dubbed Hide to Survive, the trailer also gives us a look at the personality of Thomas Cross, and how he tends to deal with the strange crises befalling the crew of the Hope-01 shuttle. The trailer also indicates that quite a bit of the plot of Aphelion will revolve around Ariane and Thomas trying to find each other after getting separated as a result of the Hope-01 shuttle crashing on to the planet Persephone.

With Aphelion, DON’T NOD seemingly wants to provide a unique take on the “stranded-on-an-alien-planet” narrative by giving us the perspectives of both characters that happen to be looking for each other. As we can see in the trailer, however, this quest is filled with its own perils, as both Ariane and Thomas will have to navigate through treacherous environments while also avoiding the attention of a strange alien lifeform, known only as The Nemesis.

Along with exploration and stealth, it looks like Aphelion will also feature some platforming elements as its two protagonists will have to scale the sides of cliffs and run through a frozen lake that seems to be collapsing right under their feet. The trailer caps things off by showing us a face-to-face encounter between Ariane and The Nemesis.

According to DON’T NOD, both characters will have their own unique gameplay styles. Ariane has been described as being more physical, which will come through in how she gets to traverse through the environments of Persephone. Thomas, however, is injured at the start of the story, and his gameplay will revolve more around his deductive capabilities.

Interestingly, the title will also feature a nod to the European Space Agency in the form of a specially designed patch worn by both Ariane and Thomas. The patch was designed by the game’s artistic director, Arnaud Barbier, in collaboration with ESA to represent the Hope-01 mission to observe and explore planet Persephone.

Aphelion was first unveiled back in June during Xbox Games Showcase 2025 with a trailer. At the time, only Ariane had been confirmed as the protagonist of the title. DON’T NOD had also revealed that the story would revolve around the discovery of a ninth planet in the Solar System – Persephone – and the Hope-01 mission to survey and explore the planet, which ultimately goes wrong.

Aphelion is being developed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While it doesn’t yet have a solid release date, DON’T NOD has stated that it will be coming out on 2026. PC and Xbox Series X/S players will also be able to play the title on day one through Game Pass. In the meantime, also check out details about the deal that the developer signed with Netflix to make a new game.

The gameplay in Aphelion seems to largely revolve around exploring an alien planet, complete with mountains that have to be scaled, and ravines that have to be swung over. The title has a focus on its narrative, but there are also seemingly going to be plenty of tense gameplay moments as well, despite the seeming lack of any enemies that players will have to take on.

The story in Aphelion revolves around the discovery of a ninth planet in the Solar System – Persephone. Dispatched by the European Space Agency, the Hope 01 scientific mission – which includes astronauts Ariane and Thomas – must survey the planet and ultimately decide whether it can serve as humanity’s new home.

Things get out of hand, however, as Hope 01 crash lands into the planet. Separate from each other, Ariane and Thomas must brave the harsh environments to find each other. Players take on the role of Ariane through this journey.

Aphelion is coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S in 2026. The game will also be coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one.