It’s quite the list, and we’re sure that you share our excitement for a majority of them. Without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Getting to return to the Caribbean to join Edward Kenway on his epic journey from a callous pirate to a noble Assassin is definitely something we’re very excited about. A revamped combat system, some extra story cutscenes, and those delightful visuals are just icing on the cake. This one comes out on July 9, 2026, for the PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.

2. EA Sports College Football 27

The College Football franchise has been doing quite well for itself in recent years, and we don’t see why this year should be any different. We already know it’s bringing quite the roster for us to enjoy, with some very attractive goodies for those who pre-order any of its editions. Once again, it releases on July 9, 026, for the PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.

3. Palworld 1.0 Release

We were blown away by the cinematic trailer that this one dropped recently, and it showcases stunning new locations with fascinating creatures for us to collect over the course of our adventure. It’s touted to be the game’s biggest update yet, and is sure to bring a lot of exciting new additions to the table as it brings us to the story’s finale when it drops on July 10, 2026, for all available platforms.

4. Splatoon Raiders

Getting to join a pirate musician group that’s raiding the Spirhalite Islands for treasure? Sign us up! Yesterday’s Direct showcase gave us quite a good look at this one, and it only made us all the more excited to try out its paint-based weapons, great progression systems, and of course, the Exploration Bot. Talk about the efficient use of tech. It’s slated for a June 30 release on the Switch 2.

5. Halo: Campaign Evolved

We’re still not over that awesome trailer that showed off the new Covenant faction, some very interesting footage from the new prequel missions, and of course, the return of Master Chief. The new weapons are equally intriguing, and we can’t wait to dive in and get blasting when this one releases for the XBOX Series X|S, PC, and PS5 on July 28 this year.

6. Beast of Reincarnation

Any journey that gives you a furry friend for company is definitely worth undertaking, in our book. When you combine that with some parry-focused Soulslike action and a very cool set of powers for Emma, the game’s protagonist, you get the recipe for a game that’s sure to have us grinding our teeth in frustration but determined to end whatever the Hush throws at us. It’s slated to release on August 4 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

7. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls

With a starting roster that brings some of Marvel’s best to the table for an action-packed gameplay loop, this one is definitely going to keep us occupied for quite a while. We’re particularly interested in the Episode Mode, where you participate against the enigmatic Champion in a Tournament where you’re surely going to have to bring your best skills to the table. Look our for this one on August 6 on your PC or PS5.

8. Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honour

An expansion that doubles up on the nostalgia factor that put this one on the map in the first place is certainly welcome. It’s even better when it gives us a look at Don Salieri’s early days before his time in America that set the entire franchise in motion. The trailer was pretty interesting despite being a little to stingy with details, but it did tell us that this one’s releasing on August 14, 2026, on all available platforms.

9. The Sinking City 2

Lovecraftian adventures are always a great combination of thrills and chills, and the Slither is looking like a foe you don’t want to tangle with unless you’re Calvin Rafferty. Of course, the Deep Ones and Shadows are equally credible threats, and we’re quite curious to see how this one has us dealing with them when it comes out on August 18 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S. There’s even a playable demo on Steam if you want to try it before buying it.

10. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

We were pretty bummed about this one getting delayed to August 13 but do appreciate Team 17 taking player feedback and the results from its own playtests seriously enough to ask for more time to further polish this one before releasing it for all of us. We’re hoping it builds on everything that was good about its predecessor while adding interesting new twists to the table.

11. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2

If you’ve been with us for a while, you probably already guessed that this one is definitely something we’re eager to dive into. The chance to revisit two titles that cemented our love for the franchise is very welcome, and Solid Snake’s final chapter is the one that has us as excited as we are. Of course, Peace Walker is also something we’re eager to play again, and it’s going to be a difficult choice between them then this one drops on August 27 this year for the PS5, PC, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and the Switch 2.

12. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy

Sophie was among the more interesting characters in Requiem, and her role in Amicia and Hugo’s adventure in that one presented her as a complex and nuanced character. It’s only logical, then, that a look into her early days as a headstrong young smuggler exploring Minotaur Island has us itching to get started with it already. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait too long until this one drops on August 27, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series.

13. Star Wars Zero Company

A ragtag group of mercenaries that include a Jedi, a noble, a droid, and a former Separatist embarking on an adventure set during the Clone Wars is music to the ears of any Star Wars fan, and we’re no exception. The addition of Anakin Skywalker before his turn to the Dark Side is another interesting twist that makes this one a very compelling addition to this list. It’s out on August 27 this year for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S.

14. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition

The wait for this one has been a long one, but it’s finally coming out on August 28 this year on all available platforms and the Nintendo Switch 2. There’s new weapons, armor, and a very welcome option to customize Torrent being added to the base game and its DLC, and it’s as good a reason as any for us to begin a new playthrough in the run-up to its release. We’re pretty excited, even if that means taking on the Blade of Miquella yet again.

15. EA Sports Madden NFL 27

We were already looking forward to this one before EA highlighted how the Persona Engine is gearing up to make each athlete feel quite unique when they step onto the pitch, aside from the Superstar GOAT progression path giving us a reason to keep coming back to it for more. And that’s only the beginning of all the cool stuff this one’s bringing to the franchise when it releases on August 13, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S.

16. The Blood of Dawnwalker

We’ve been very eager to play this one ever since it was first announced, and the wait for its September 3 release has been tantalizing at best, and agonizing every time we’ve got a new glimpse of its gameplay. Of course, the latest trailer has only exacerbated those feelings as we got to see Coen and Brencis’s fight transcend the passage of time, just as vampires should, making this one a game we’re going to be diving head-first into as soon as we get the chance.

17. Valheim 1.0 Release

The Deep North update and the end of this one’s Early Access period as it makes its PS5 and Switch 2 debut has us very interested in learning what new additions it’s bringing to the table in a survival crafting gameplay loop that’s also a great take on norse mythology. The snowy weather isn’t the only thing to look forward to, as there are going to be new enemies, places, and faces to engage with when it drops on September 9, 2026.

18. Marvel’s Wolverine

Boy, oh boy, was that look that we got into this one at the recent State of Play a good one. Insomniac made a lot of good choices in its take on Logan, and the inclusion of Jean Grey and some very high stakes for the cast make this one a very engaging title indeed. Wolverine looks like a fresh take on a very familiar character, and the mechanics look like they weave his unique powers into the gameplay loop quite well. It’s out on September 15, 2026, and is exclusive to the PS5.

19.Trials In The Sky Second Chapter

We’ve known that this one is coming for a while, and although a concrete release date is yet to be announced, it’s probably going to be out in late September. Its predecessor ended on quite the cliffhanger and it’s quite a tempting title to consider even in the midst of a very crowded release calendar thanks to one of the big names on our list. We’re definitely keeping an eye out for this one.

20. Trine 6: Together in Time

This puzzle platformer brings a vibrant color palette to a world that’s full of mysteries waiting to be explored, and a charming cast aimed at being memorable by virtue of their unique abilities and the synergies they build based off of them.You get to play it with upto three of your buddies, with a bunch of common abilities and a combat system that lets you make the most of them all thrown in. It’s releasing for the PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2 and XBOX Series X|S on 17 September, 2026.

21. Control Resonant

How did Remedy choose to build on what made the predecessor to this one great? Well, it’s opened up the doors of the FBC and let its protagonist loose in a version of Manhattan that’s been warped beyond recognition. There are enemy designs that range from bizarre to surreal, while the combat takes a more hands-on approach this time around. This one’s out on September 24 for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S,

22. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush

Based on Mattel’s popular line of collectibles, this one is an open-world arcade racer that ditches photorealism in favor of a more amusing take on Hot Wheels, allowing it to bring its own version of the track sets we’ve always wanted to build to life. It also brings full cross-play compatibility to the table, allowing you to set up evenings of racing that could have you very entertained indeed. It’s coming to the PS5, PC, XBOX Series, and the Switch 2 on September 24, 2026.

23. Silent Hill: Townfall

Simon Ordell’s time in St. Amelia is vastly different from Hinako’s adventure in Silent Hill f, but that doesn’t make it any less unsettling in the limited glimpses we’ve got of this one. It has all the staples of the franchise, such as nasty monsters and an intense, moody setting, coupled with new additions that make this one a game to look forward to if you’ve got nerves of steel. It’s coming out for the PS5 and PC on September 24.

24. Valor Mortis

The chance to play as an undead soldier in a story set during the Napoleonic Wars is definitely something that made us sit up and pay attention, and everything we’ve seen of this one so far points to an experience that’s sure to test our skills and our patience in this first-person Soulslike. Once again, this one’s hitting the shelves on September 24 for the PC and PS5.

25. Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Miyamoto Musashi is back, and he’s bringing the Oni Gauntlet back in all its glory in a title that’s as brutal as they come on the gameplay front. The fight against Shuten-dōji in the recently released trailer was reason enough for us to be interested in this one, but the playable demo now has us itching to get into it in earnest. We’re going to have to wait until September 25 for that chance, though, and it’s coming to the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

26. Minecraft Dungeons II

A new evil, two new worlds, and the chance of a closer look at The Nether are all factors that contribute to our enthusiasm for this one. There’s also the new combat that was shown off in a recent trailer to look forward to, alongside the potential for some very cool DLC being added to it after its September 29 release for both iterations of the Switch, PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

27. Phantom Blade Zero

We’ve got high hopes for this one, and a lot of confidence that it isn’t going to disappoint when it comes out on October 29 after a delay that’s using the extra time for some polishing. It’s combat and traversal mechanics all point to a title that’s slick, fast, and challenging, all of which are very attractive features for any game to have. The premise is equally engaging, and we can’t wait to dive into this one when it comes out for the PS5 and PC.

28. Rayman Legends Retold

It’s always great to see Rayman again, and this time around, the classic character is coming back to the spotlight in style. There’s a fully-3D art style that brings a colorful world to life with aplomb, while the story might be familiar to those of you who’ve played through Rayman Legends. This platformer is definitely worth looking out for, and is coming out October 1, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

29. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Taking to the skies in fighter jets is always going to be an exhilarating experience, and the addition of superweapons and the ability to send enemy fighters crashing into one another are all facets that add to the allure of this game. It’s out on October 2 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S and there’s an attractive bunch of content for those of you who pre-order it.

30. Gears of War: E-Day

This one’s been a long time coming and we can’t wait to rejoin Marcus Fenix on an adventure that’s going to take us back to the beginning of the war between mankind and The Locusts. Despite the lack of a PS5 version on its October 6 launch date, you’re still going to get to play it on XBOX and PC. It’s also going to be on Game Pass from day one, so there’s that. It’s as action-packed as you’d expect, going by the trailer from the XBOX Games Showcase.

31. Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Pod racing in a galaxy far, far, away sounds like the perfect way to unwind after a long day, doesn’t it? We doubt we’re going to be doing a lot of relaxing after seeing this one in action at the 2026 edition of Summer Game Fest, though. It comes with a lot of tension both on and off the tracks as you race to become the new champion of the Galactic Racing League. This one’s ready to go on October 6 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

32. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

This 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania puts the Belmont family whip in the hands of a nimble new protagonist who must use it to take on Dracula’s forces in Paris, hitting them where it hurts while getting more powerful in the process. Trailers indicate that exploration is a crucial part of it, along with the potential integration of RPG mechanics into its progression loop. It’s coming to the PS5, PC, XBOX Series X|S, and Switch 2 on October 15, 2026.

33. Grand Theft Auto 6

This one’s certainly one that we’ve all been waiting for with patience (and a fair bit of impatience after last year’s delay), and is sure to take over the discourse around gaming when it arrives. It’s been imposing enough that other developers have done their best to give it a wide berth with some interesting effects on the year’s release calendar that you might have already noticed, even on this list. It’s out on November 19 for the PS5 and XBOX Series X|S, with no news of a PC release at the time of writing.

34. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake

One of the Zelda franchise’s heavy hitters getting a remake is obviously good news. However, Nintendo has been quite cryptic when it comes to details about its gameplay and potential improvements to the Ocarina of Time remake, and there’s no official release date at this time other than a rumored November-December release window. It’s exclusive to the Switch and Switch 2.

35. The Duskbloods

FromSoft has been rather quiet since Nightreign came out, and that’s because it has been hard at work on this PvEvP Switch 2 exclusive that lets you take control of the Bloodsworn, fierce warriors who are competing against each other for possession of the First Blood, although they might find themselves working together when the situation demands it. There are over 12 unique characters to engage with, although we’re yet to get an official release date on it.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s quite a crowded calendar for the second half of the year, but we’re sure a lot of you share our excitement for all the great titles that it’s set to bring. More games, more memories, and more fun is how we’re choosing to look at it.

The Switch 2 edition brings new content in the form of armor sets, weapons and even options for customizing Torrent, the Spectral Steed. This will be available to other platforms with the Tarnished Pack DLC, which is also out on the same day. It’s not free, but Genki on Twitter notes that it’s only 550 Yen in Japan, which is about $3.44 in the United States.

It’s possible that FromSoftware and Bandai Namco price it for about $5 or the equivalent worldwide. Not the worst, overall – just don’t compare it to, say, The Forsaken Hollows for Elden Ring Nightreign, which costs $15 and adds a new map, Day Three bosses and playable Nightfarers alongside much more.

Regardless, those picking up Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2 are in for a treat, since it includes the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, both critically acclaimed. While the digital version’s price is unknown, you can pre-order the physical version from Amazon for $79.99 (though it’s a Game-Key card release).

The date (December 31st, 2026) is clearly a placeholder, but the box art appears legitimate. It indicates that the release is on a Game-Key Card, which might be a dealbreaker for physical collectors. Then again, given the sheer size of the title alongside its expansion, a proper cartridge with everything on it would have been far out of reach for Bandai Namco. At least the full game download is only 75 GB, so there’s some silver lining.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was originally slated for 2026. However, after reports emerged of performance troubles, it was delayed. Alongside previous updates, the port includes new weapons, armor sets and mount customization options, which will be available to all platforms in a separate paid DLC. Check out our reviews for more details on the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree.

Besides bringing The Lands Between and The Land of Shadow to Switch 2 players, FromSoftware is also working on The Duskbloods, a PvEvP multiplayer title. It’s allegedly launching in late 2026.

The demo, offering 15 minutes of gameplay, revolved around the early parts of Elden Ring. Polygon noted that it was enough time to at least get to Margit. However, according to GameSpot’s video preview (which you can check out below), direct capture wasn’t available, leading to footage being captured with an over-the-shoulder camera.

Most importantly, however, the previews noted that, while still not quite as smooth as 60 FPS, the frame rate for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition in handheld mode is quite a bit better than the previously-reported dips down to 15 FPS. While FromSoftware itself is yet to reveal any details about its performance targets, the smoother frame rates in its more recent builds might indicate that the company is aiming for 30 FPS, or maybe even 40 FPS.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was announced all the way back in April 2025. While few details were released at the time, the name indicated that FromSoftware was looking at the release as a “definitive edition” of sorts.

However, a few months later, reports started coming up that performance of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was quite poor, especially in handheld mode. In one video from August 2025, Nintendo Life’s Felix Sanchez noted that the game was capped to 30 FPS, but intense moments had the tendency to bring it down to 20, and sometimes even 15 FPS. He compared it to playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64, which famously ran at low frame rates.

“It’s really bad, and I understand why they don’t want you to see this,” said Sanchez in the video. “It was like playing Ocarina of Time. 20 frames-per-second, sometimes it was like 15 frames-per-second.”

While the previous console releases of Elden Ring had been praised for running quite well, the PC version was well-known for suffering from micro-stutters. The problem was discovered to largely revolve around how the game handles compilation. Linux-based platforms, like the lower-powered Steam Deck, saw a notable performance boost in Elden Ring thanks to the fact that shaders are compiled on the operating system before the game even launches, thanks to how the Proton translation layer works between the game and Linux’s graphics APIs.

Leading up to its originally-planned October 2025 release, FormSoftware announced that Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was being pushed back to 2026 so that the studio could work on “performance adjustments”. The company hasn’t yet revealed any new release date.

Originally released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S back in 2022, Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s latest single-player Soulslike. It puts players in the shoes of a Tarnished, who has been cursed with living despite already having died, and revolves around exploring The Lands Between. Along the way, players will discover what happened to what used to be a great kingdom, and will get to meet (and fight) many of the key figures throughout this world’s history. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion dug further into the backstory of the world, giving us hints about some of the less-explored aspects of the lore, like the nature of Frenzy, and the backstory of Marika.

Answering various questions during the release, Kadokawa clarified that it’s still to announce a specific release date and that it doesn’t “disclose forecasts regarding number of copies shipped for individual titles.” All that said, it remains a Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive with the company selling it on a “joint basis” with Nintendo Co., Ltd., based on the region.

As for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, which was also missing from the Partner: Direct Showcase, Kadokawa reiterated that there’s no specific release date, and as a result, it isn’t included in its forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31st. One could take this as the title won’t launch by then, but it can really go either way.

At the end of the day, we’re back to square one for The Duskbloods, a PvEvP title where up to eight players control the Bloodsworn during the Twilight of Humanity. There are more than twelve playable characters, each with unique abilities and origins, but more intriguing is being able to mark others as companions or rivals. Depending on the objective, you can net specific rewards or even witness “unique interactions.”

Which makes sense considering reports emerged from Gamescom about the frame rate allegedly dropping as low as 15 FPS in Handheld Mode. As for when fans can expect the next update, FromSoftware confirmed that there will be “further announcements” after it determines a specific release date.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition collects the base game and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, into one definitive package. It also features the Tarnished Pack, which includes new armor sets, weapons, customization options, and two new starting classes. While launching on other platforms as paid DLC, the developer confirmed it’s also been delayed to next year in a separate press release.

On the bright side, Elden Ring Nightreign is available and set to receive paid DLC later this year. A release date has yet to be announced, however.

Sanchez also noted that, at its booth on the Gamescom show floor, publisher Bandai Namco was not allowing players to record gameplay footage of Elden Ring running on a Nintendo Switch 2. He also brought up comparisons to Nintendo 64 classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is famous for running at low frame rates when it first came out. He also noted that the frame rate of Elden Ring would drop down to 20 FPS, and some times even 15 FPS.

“It’s really bad, and I understand why they don’t want you to see this,” said Sanchez in the video. “It was like playing Ocarina of Time. 20 frames-per-second, sometimes it was like 15 frames-per-second.”

It is worth noting that Elden Ring, since its release, has run quite smoothly on consoles. However, the PC version of the title was plagued with issues like microstuttering, which was credited to the way the action RPG handles shader compilation. Curiously, despite the PC version facing these technical hiccups, the game ran quite well on the relatively lower-powered Steam Deck.

These problems didn’t stop Elden Ring from being incredibly successful for FromSoftware and Bandai Namco, however. The publisher confirmed back in July that the expansion for Elden Ring – Shadow of the Erdtree – had shipped more than 10 million copies worldwide since its June 2024 release. As for the base game, FromSoftware had confirmed back in April that more than 30 million copies had been sold.

Elden Ring has been available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S since release. A release for the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced back in April, with a general 2025 release window. The Switch 2 release is slated to include the base game as well as Shadow of the Erdtree.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on the Switch 2 is also set to get two new classes that players can start out with – Knight of Ides and Heavy Knight. Along with this, the release will also bring with it new armour sets, weapons, combat skill sets, and cosmetic customisation options for Torrent. Other versions of Elden Ring can also get their hands on this content through a DLC dubbed Tarnished Pack.

For more details about Elden Ring, check out our review. Also check out our review of Shadow of the Erdtree. While you’re at it, take a look at Elden Ring Nightreign through our review as well.

But that’s not all. Nintendo DE also confirmed on Twitter that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Hades 2, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, Borderlands 4, EA Sports FC 26, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and more will also be playable. Considering many of the above either lack release dates or launch later this year, it’s a good opportunity to go hands-on early.

Before Gamescom kicks off, Opening Night Live will return on August 19th with two hours of announcements and updates. Nintendo isn’t confirmed to be showcasing anything, but it could drop a surprise or two out of nowhere. Stay tuned for more details and live coverage of the event later this month.

Metroid Prime 4

The Metroid Prime games have been one of the biggest games in recent years, and funnily enough at one point, Metroid Prime 4 was supposed to be an early release title for the original Switch. It’s finally coming out for the Switch 2 (and even the original Switch) after undergoing plenty of delays, and it looks absolutely fantastic. Samus looks quite resourceful, decked with so many powers and weapons, and it’s going to be an absolute blast. It’s scheduled to come out sometime this year.

Dubbed Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, the game is slated to launch for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025. There have currently been no details about whether or not the Switch 2 release will also include the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Considering the Tarnished Edition moniker, it is likely that this will be a sort of Definitive Edition release of Elden Ring that might also end up coming to other platforms.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was announced alongside a host of other things during the Switch 2 Direct. One of the key announcements during the event has been the fact that the Switch 2 will be hitting stores on June 5. For more details on the console, check out our coverage here.

Nintendo also revealed that the new C button on one of the Switch 2’s JoyCons will allow players to make use of the new GameChat feature to communicate with their online friends. The feature can also be used to livestream gameplay, and even get on video chat. Check out more details here.

For more details about Elden Ring, check out our review of the original, as well as our review of Shadow of the Erdtree.