It’s hard to believe that we’ve got so many great ones in just the first half of the year, but the current generation of gaming hardware has made developers push the envelope on graphical fidelity, making games that can blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite ones of the year, beginning with:

1. Resident Evil Requiem

The RE Engine has always been great at bringing whatever the developer dreams up to life, but this one’s great use of lighting, environmental detail, and excellent photorealistic graphics was the pinnacle of what the studio has achieved over the years. From Leon’s grizzly look to Grace’s raw fear and vulnerability, the character models were brilliant. Even better was how the franchise’s often moody and dark vibe was reflected in the very walls of the Rhodes Hill Care Facility or within the gloomy ruins of Raccoon City.

Of course, it wasn’t all about looks, as the gameplay was made all the more immersive thanks to how smooth the entire thing was, be it Grace running from The Child or taking control of Leon to beat down on zombies that came with superior numbers. All of the blood and gore on display served to underline the horrors of what the two protagonists were facing, while the addition of differing camera perspectives was a very welcome touch.

The developer really cooked with this one.

2. RIDE 6

We really liked how the world and the bikes themselves fed into the illusion that we were right there on the tracks, swinging a leg over those impossibly fast machines in the process. The details on each bike were nothing short of stunning, with Unreal Engine 5 working under the hood to ensure that their metal panels let the light gently glance off of them.

The tracks and the world in general were additional facets of the experience that added to the immersion, and the way things moved once you let your throttle loose is a feeling that only those among us who love riding can describe. This one’s definitely earned its place among the year’s finest on the graphical front, and with good reason.

3. Reanimal

An adventure that’s as emotionally layered as the harrowing one that The Boy and The Girl undertake in Reanimal was always going to rely on the grim and gritty world that acted as its stage. Tarsier Studios definitely had that in mind when crafting this one, and the sense of isolation and despair that the Island brought to the table was definitely a highlight of the experience.

The art direction, cinematic presentation, and the stunning level of detail on offer in this one did well to make the horror side of things stand out, while lending a layer of poignancy to the tale of two lost children looking for a way out of desperate circumstances. From the efficient use of limited light in specific situations to presenting the desolation of a world that’s designed to make you hesitate, this one definitely stands tall among the year’s finest titles.

4. Subnautica 2

While the long wait for this one might not feel as rewarding in terms of the narrative, which is going to take a bit of time to fully present its complexities, the world of Proteus is an entirely different story. It’s crafted to make you feel like a smaller part of a larger landscape, its flora and fauna designed so well that they’re almost calling to you to investigate further. That’s a crucial pillar of this one’s gameplay loop, and to see it implemented as well as it has been is a reason for Subnautica 2 to shine as bright as it does.

Exploring the world gives you a strong feeling of venturing into the unknown, and the graphics do a very good job of selling that sentiment as you try to make sense of what’s been unfolding on the planet before you got there. On the graphical front, Proteas does well to make itself a world that you can’t help but explore, the desire to see more of it stemming from how well it’s presented to you.

5. Pragmata

Hugh and Diana’s time in The Cradle wouldn’t have been as engaging if the darn thing hadn’t been as ethereally beautiful as it was. It’s almost as if the facility was designed to be the perfect backdrop to an adventure that had action and emotion woven in with a sublime balance. It wasn’t just the pristine walls and stunning environments but the way Diana’s hacking minigame was designed and presented, alongside enemy designs that we continue to grin about when we think about them.

This one’s design chops were a very memorable part of the experience it was offering, and it almost made us sad that there wasn’t more of it to go around. Well, there’s every chance a sequel comes along to dazzle us even more sometime in the future, so there’s that. But Pragmata definitely deserves a place on this list thanks to how well the world you’re a part of makes the entire journey even better without taking away from the rest of it.

6. Forza Horizon 6

Japan’s a popular place in modern gaming, and the Horizon Festival’s take on the land, its unique vibe, and, of course, the cars is a very impressive way to make its latest iteration engaging right off the bat. From the bustling streets of its cities to the serene beauty of its open roads and mountains, Japan almost feels like it’s where the Festival has always belonged, although we know that it’s going to move on in the franchise’s next offering.

Nevertheless, this one’s going to have you stopping to just take in the sights more often than not. We even gave up on a race to just admire the scenic beauty of a road high up on a mountain at one point, and that’s a testament to how the game’s weather system and excellent lighting make every inch of Japan a place worth looking into. The graphics are a solid part of why this one feels so special, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Playground tops them in whatever it’s planning next.

7. Crimson Desert

Oh, Pywel. What a place for a fan of fantasy titles to visit. From its well-designed cities to biomes that not just remain visually distinct from each other but constantly seem to be trying to be more impressive than the one you just left, this one’s definitely up there with some of the most visually impressive open worlds there are. And that’s not even factoring in the Abyss and whatever mysteries its sci-fi vibes are hiding.

Lush fields, dense forests, mechanical marvels, dark caves, bright palaces contrast well with desolate ruins, terrifying monsters, and a harsh desert, all of which serve to underline a land that’s as visually diverse as it is on a mechanical level. Yes, this one had a bit of a shaky start, but its problems are now just blips on a very promising horizon thanks to the developer’s efforts to make this a fantasy you can’t get enough of.

8. REPLACED

In our review of this one, we were quite impressed by how detailed its pixel art-style environments could be, and that continues to be a highlight of the experience on offer. It’s never easy to present great detailing and a unique style in a way that communicates desolation and a grim reality for the people exploring worlds like Phoenix City, and Sad Cat deserves credit for crafting environments that make you gape at their melancholic beauty even as the sadness of what’s created such spaces remains as an undercurrent to nudge your emotions a certain way.

The platforming puzzle sections deserve a special mention, and we’re still thinking about how well they’ve been presented in this one. On the graphical front, this one definitely deserves praise for the way in which it brings the world to life, dystopian hellscape vibes and all.

9. 007 First Light

IO Interactive’s take on James Bond’s early trysts with MI6 is as stylish as the man himself. If you’ve seen even a hint of this one, you probably already know why we’ve given it a spot on our list. Lights reflect off surfaces so naturally, while character models and environmental details help sell the story it’s trying to tell so well that it isn’t easy to remember that this one’s a video game and not an interactive film.

It also helps that everything is so polished that it enables the gameplay to better sell a version of Bond who’s brutal in a fight, while being quite the marksman if he’s at range. All in all, this one is a Bond game for the ages, and its visual fidelity is definitely a pillar that props up the experience it offers.

10. Saros

We weren’t really surprised at how visually resplendent Carcosa was after our time with Returnal, but Saros definitely earns its place on this list thanks to how Arjun’s harrowing time in a world that doesn’t make sense to him as often as he’d like is presented. From those almost spellbinding bullet patterns to some truly terrifying enemy designs, this one definitely belongs among the stronger visual feats this year has achieved.

Carcosa itself shouldn’t be discounted, with places like the Shattered Ruins, the Mysterious Depths, and, of course, the Ancient City all standing out as places that you want to learn more about while remaining imposing enough to make you hesitant about indulging that curiosity. This one’s as good as they come, and Housemarque deserves credit for a title that looks this good.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s been a pleasure to dive into the worlds these games have given us, and we’ve no doubt that the rest of the year has more of these visual marvels coming our way. Until then, it’s probably a good idea to give any of these titles a shot if you’re looking for something to cast a spell on you.

We sat back and thought about ones that have managed to make us grin to ourselves every time we think about them, and are happy to tell you about them. Without further ado, let’s get started!

10. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

With a gameplay loop that was straight out of Arkham, a version of Gotham that was absolutely enjoyable to explore, and a lot of wit, charm, and humor thrown in, this one was music to the pointy ears of Batman fans, who’ve been rather starved of a solid take on the Dark Knight ever since Rocksteady’s Arkham Knight.

Everything a Batman fan wanted was right there, from a close look at Bruce’s early days before he became an urban legend that struck fear in the hearts of Gotham’s wrongdoers, to solid takes on the rest of the cast, and a whole lot of references to the character’s long and often complex presence in DC’s stories over the years.

It’s rare to see humor work so well in Gotham, a place where there usually aren’t many laughs to be found unless they’re the maniacal cackle of The Joker, but this one had us chuckling to ourselves even as we were beating criminals to a pulp as the Dark Knight. It’s both Batman and LEGO done right, and balanced so well that it has more than earned a place on this list.

9. Mouse: P.I. For Hire

The next one we’re talking about is another charmer set in a dark and gritty world. Jack Pepper’s investigation into a magician’s disappearance, all set in a stylized version of 1930s America with a population made entirely of rodents and shrews, was a solid tale and a very entertaining shooter packed into one well-animated package.

Intelligent writing, great characters, and a lot of spilled ink were the highlights of our time with this one, and while it could have used a bit of balancing to be just perfect, what was on offer was still quite fun to engage with. We found ourselves making cheese-related puns for quite a while after we rolled the credits on this one, and that’s saying something when you consider that the game itself drops a significant number of those over the course of its runtime.

This noir adventure’s definitely worth undertaking if you’re looking for a fun game to play before the rest of the year’s releases begin to take up your free time.

8. Pragmata

As the latest addition in a long line of bangers this year, Pragmata is definitely a strong addition to a solid lineup of games this year. As a shooter that has you working a hacking minigame almost in parallel, there’s enough innovation to a tried-and-tested formula to make it an interesting proposition right off the bat.

But Pragmata’s true beauty lies in how it integrates that innovation into a heartwarming, wholesome story that sees protagonists Hugh and Diana surpass their innate differences as a human and an Android to form a friendship that delivers quite the emotional payoff. That bond was helped along by a story that explored complex themes without delving into too much philosophy, leaving just enough room for a more direct, robust pace that was very welcome indeed.

We’re quite sure we’ll be seeing more of Hugh and Diana in the years to come, and that’s something that makes us quite happy considering that their first outing ended on quite the cliffhanger.

7. Saros

Carcosa is a place no one in their right mind would want to go back to unless the person in question is a fan of Returnal’s take on bullet-hell shooters. But this one took things up a notch on all fronts, and the result was a title that was unsurprisingly awesome while remaining grounded enough to make the story it was trying to sell us not only believable, but quite emotionally resonant as well.

Arjun was a protagonist with layers and issues of his own, trying to work with the rest of the cast to uncover mysteries that tested his resolve and sanity. Getting to go along on such an adventure, and the challenges that we faced at his side along the way, were not just a pleasure, but a test of our own skill and determination to see it through.

The difficulty was always there, and perhaps even an expected part of the experience. But what we didn’t expect was for the entire thing to have us somberly reflecting on the themes it presented, even as we tried to dodge and block attacks that were ethereally beautiful whilst also being efficiently deadly. This one’s quite easy to recommend and a great one from Housemarque.

6. Forza Horizon 6

We’ve always loved to join the Horizon Festival wherever in the world it takes us. But this one’s more than just a great excuse for some arcade racing and a bevy of car-related activities to take on. It’s an authentic take on one of modern gaming’s most popular destinations, and one that takes a lot of effort to nail down in a way that has us constantly ignoring the need for sleep in order to chase the next band that will unlock more of it to enjoy.

This one’s visuals and the weather system were already strong reasons to dive in, but what’s made us stay is how it brings Japan’s many locales to life in ways that make driving around and soaking in the sights as attractive an option as engaging in some high-speed races that can really get the adrenaline flowing.

Forza Horizon 6 is the franchise’s best version of the Festival yet, and it’s going to be quite a challenge for Playground Games to top this one. However, if any studio can achieve that feat, the one behind this masterpiece certainly can.

5. Nioh 3

You were probably waiting for this one if you’ve dived into Team Ninja’s third instalment in a franchise that already had a lot going for it before this one came along. But with two distinct playstyles, the return of the stance-based combat system, a truckload of weapons and builds, and a whole wide world to test it all out in, it’s easy to see why this one has had us returning to it whenever there’s a good bit of downtime to make use of.

The open-worldish approach to its level design works very well with an exploration loop that’s designed around collecting loot, experience, and secrets in a world where even a minute advantage can mean the difference between life and death. Of course, the enemies and bosses you face down are a highlight of the experience, with familiar foes and fresh new ones bringing a level of challenge that would be daunting if not for the plethora of tools you’re given to deal with them.

If you’re looking to cut loose and enjoy a combat system that absolutely slaps, in a world that’s designed to have you in fights more than you’re out of them, Nioh 3 is the best one to pick out of all the titles that have come out so far in 2026.

4. 007 First Light

Well, IO Interactive finally managed to make a Bond game that could top GoldenEye, and we’re glad that it did. Its take on a young, more reckless, yet equally charming version of Bond has landed quite well. The gameplay loop on offer is equally captivating, making good use of the studio’s experience with great combat and stealth gameplay to deliver a title that could have you diving into a new playthrough just to satisfy your own curiosity about how different missions could play out if you were to make varying choices.

Open-ended level design, brutal combat, cool gadgets, and, of course, some very memorable set pieces help this one tell a story about Bond that hasn’t been told before. The gameplay lets you be the man himself in ways that are so darn satisfying they’re hard to describe to somebody who hasn’t joined in on the fun. And best of all is the fact that they work so well together that this one’s a title we can’t get enough of.

The Hitman DNA from IO’s previous work is in there, but it’s been used so well in First Light that it makes the game stand on its own well enough to be a strong addition to what the year has had to offer.

3. Pokémon Pokopia

A life sim and builder that weaves Pokémon into the mix? That’s clearly a recipe for success, but things could always go wrong if the execution falls flat. That isn’t the case with Pokémon Pokopia, and it’s a delightful blend of Animal Crossing and the popular anime, one that’s enough to keep you spending hours in the rather desolate version of Kanto it presents you with.

Joining Ditto in an effort to build the land into one where trainers and Pokémon can live their lives to the fullest was so full of fun and charm that this one grew on us pretty quickly and hasn’t outstayed its welcome even though we’ve been playing it for nearly three months now. There’s always something to do here, and it’s often so endearing that you can’t help but smile as you go about your day in the game’s world.

Pokopia is a great game irrespective of whether the anime and manga were a part of your childhood, and might even get you started on an obsession that many of us have carried all our lives.

2. Crimson Desert

We’re sure you’ve already guessed that, and Crimson Desert definitely ranks high among 2026’s best. Pywel’s a world that we just can’t get enough, as this one’s an evolving experience that’s constantly bringing new ways to engage with everything it has to offer.

Kliff’s fight to unify the land and return the Greymanes to their former glory might not have been released in the best of states, but this one’s managed to go past all of those initial hiccups to become an open-world experience that’s walking the line between single-player and live-service in a way that’s kept us on our toes.

It doesn’t get better than this as far as open worlds are concerned, although GTA 6 could come along and force us to sing a different tune. Nevertheless, Pywel’s a place of many fond memories, and that isn’t going to change even if Rockstar manages to pull us away from it for a while.

1. Resident Evil Requiem

Two protagonists, two different playstyles, and a setting that brought the story right back to where it started were all factors that worked in this one’s favor, to be sure. But it’s in the way that all of that was handled that made this one genuinely feel like a celebration of the genre’s long-running history.

Leon’s amazing fighting style worked well as a contrast to Grace’s sincere vulnerability in a story that could have had better big bads but was nonetheless quite revelatory as far as the franchise’s meta narrative was concerned. It was also a way to set up a future in which its entire cast could, and perhaps should, work together to take on a world that’s been forever changed by the adventure on offer here.

Requiem is Resident Evil at its finest, and there’s no bigger compliment that we can give it than that.

And that’s a wrap on our picks for the first half of 2026. We’re sure that this one’s going to have you nodding at most of the ones we’ve liked even as you think others should have made the cut. Either way, it’s been an exciting year for video games, with a very heavy second half that’s sure to keep us all on our toes. Bring it on, we say!

This early period was marked with quite a few problems, however, including pitches and concepts that didn’t end up going anywhere. Eventually, we would get an official announcement trailer in 2020. Despite this, the developers were facing quite a bit of criticism for the test stages that they had developed, each one getting rejected.

According to the developers, they got internal feedback noting that they were “unable to make compelling puzzles” and “unable to make compelling action”, which meant that they were “incompetent at level design.” This feedback would then lead to the creation of Pragmata’s signature hacking system, which led to its own variety of problems.

Some of the negative reviews they got during testing included the game logic being “completely broken”. One review said that the developers should “Give me back the 2 months I lost working alongside the team. Is this what you’re trying to entertain your players with?” Another believed that the hacking system “has fundamentally worsened the game.” Yet another said that it “feels like you’re just aimlessly moving forward – so boring.”

Despite the harsh nature of this feedback, the development team would then rush to make a new build of Pragmata that could be presented to the company’s upper management, with the goal of the meeting being to decide whether the project is worth taking forward or if it should be cancelled. In a fortunate turn of events, Capcom decided to go ahead with it, giving the team the chance to restart development.

Interestingly, director Yonghee Cho has expressed some regret at having unveiled Pragmata so early. While the title was originally slated for a 2022 release, Capcom had to push it back several times before it finally came out earlier this year on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

“When we made that initial announcement trailer, we honestly did not expect user interest to be as high as it was,” said Cho. “Of course, the dev team wanted to make a good, fun game. But when we saw the player reaction and expectations, we realized making just a good game is now no longer enough. We have to make something that’s even better than we initially imagined.”

Thanks to its overall success, with more than 2 million copies being sold in just 16 days of release, Capcom has expressed some interest in a potential sequel to Pragmata. In its recent earnings report, the company said that the project worked out well thanks to its younger developers working alongside more experienced ones. “Based on this strong start, we will continue our analysis and consider the possibility of developing it into a series,” noted the company.

For more on Pragmata, take a look at our review.

It took its time to make it to our hands, but it left quite an impression since its arrival. Its director has already expressed interest in a sequel, and Capcom might just be mulling another entry if its recent financial results are anything to go by.

The studio has highlighted new ideas from its younger developers that blended well with the experience of its more seasoned ones as reasons for the game’s success and excellent sales numbers, which then makes the notion of a follow-up to the adventure a very strong possibility.

“Based on this strong start, we will continue our analysis and consider the possibility of developing it into a series.”

The story on offer has certainly left the door open for a sequel that has several potential routes to take if Hugh and Diana are to return to our screens, after all. It would definitely be a pleasure to join them again, if only to see the aftermath of the cliffhanger.

We’re going to wait for an official announcement, but we can’t help but feel a tad excited about more entries, especially considering just how much we enjoy the current game. For more details on Pragmata, check out our review.

These regrets largely come down to the fact that the title was originally slated for release in 2022, and ultimately saw several delays. The fact that player interest seemed high right from the debut of the announcement trailer certainly didn’t help matters.

The development team started feeling quite a bit of pressure from fans of that trailer, and eventually decided that just making a “good game” wouldn’t be enough anymore.

“When we made that initial announcement trailer, we honestly did not expect user interest to be as high as it was,” said Cho. “Of course, the dev team wanted to make a good, fun game. But when we saw the player reaction and expectations, we realized making just a good game is now no longer enough. We have to make something that’s even better than we initially imagined.”

In hindsight, Cho doesn’t regret having revealed the game in 2020 too much, noting that interest from players served as a great motivator for the team. Despite Pragmata getting delayed from its original release date, the fact that players were still interested led to the entire development team having their spirits boosted.

“It was very encouraging to see that, even after so much time had passed from the initial announcement, players were still so interested in the game,” he said. “That helped boost the spirits of the dev team.” Cho went on to note that the response to the early trailers was “a huge element that pulled Pragmata through its development.”

Ultimately, had we not released that trailer when we did, we wouldn’t have the Pragmata that we have now.”

Cho has also expressed interest in working on a sequel to Pragmata in the future. However, despite his own interests, he noted that the ultimate decision isn’t really his to make.

“Of course I’d love to see a sequel,” he said. “But I’m not the only one who decides, so unfortunately I can’t really comment beyond that.” He made a point of saying that this is “own personal opinion on the matter.”

Producer Naoto Oyama also expressed similar sentiments, while noting that neither he nor Cho are sure about whether or not a sequel to Pragmata might even be in the books for Capcom, at least for the time being. Rather than worrying about that, however, Oyama said that he has been busy trying to get Pragmata in front of as many players as he could.

“I honestly don’t know what the future holds. Like you said, it’s only been a month since Pragmata went on sale, so honestly, what I’m focused on is just trying to get as many people to experience Pragmata as I can,” he explained. “I’m focused on Pragmata itself.”

Pragmata is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. For more details, take a look at our review.

Noting that it has only been a month since Pragmata came out, Oyama said that he is still focused on getting the puzzle shooter hybrid in the hands of as many gamers as possible, and as such, hasn’t really had the time to think about a sequel.

“I honestly don’t know what the future holds. Like you said, it’s only been a month since Pragmata went on sale, so honestly, what I’m focused on is just trying to get as many people to experience Pragmata as I can,” he explained. “I’m focused on Pragmata itself.”

Cho, on the other hand, said that he would love to work on a sequel to Pragmata. However, the decision ultimately doesn’t come down to him, and it will be up to Capcom to decide.

“Of course I’d love to see a sequel,” he said. “But I’m not the only one who decides, so unfortunately I can’t really comment beyond that.” He went on to say that this is his “own personal opinion on the matter.”

Pragmata was released on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 17th. Earlier this month, Capcom confirmed that its success had come quite quickly, with a million copies being sold in just two days.

It would go on to see even more success, with 2 million copies being sold in 16 days. In a press release, the company attributed these sales figures to its efforts in getting Pragmata in front of as many players as possible through trailers and a playable demo.

Set on the moon, Pragmata tells the story of Hugh trying to find a way to get back home. Early on, he comes across an android with the appearance and personality of a young girl, named Diana, and the two team up to take on many of the challenges blocking their way. While much of the story revolves around the relationship between the two characters evolving, both of them also have to work together in gameplay terms.

Rather than just being a typical third-person shooter, Pragmata introduces a twist with its hacking mechanics. Most of the enemies on the lunar base have strong defences that Hugh’s weapons can’t pierce. Diana, however, is capable of hacking them to expose their weaknesses, giving Hugh the opportunity to take them down. In moment-to-moment gameplay, this is represented by players having to quickly solve small puzzles for each enemy, while also making sure that they are avoiding enemy attacks.

For more details about Pragmata, take a look at our review, where we gave it a score of 9 out of 10 thanks to its fun premise, interesting characters, and the dynamic between Hugh and Diana. Our only complaints were the fact that Hugh is quite bland, and that the game can sometimes be overly reliant on typical sci-fi tropes.

Following up Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is Capcom’s Pragmata at the number 2 spot. Third place is taken up by Crimson Desert, followed by MLB: The Show 26 in fourth place. Rounding up the top 5 is the indie pirate-themed survival crafting game Windrose. The only other new releases in the top 10 listing are Saros at ninth place, and the PS5 release of Bethesda’s sci-fi RPG Starfield.

When it comes to the entire year so far, the period from January 4th to May 2nd has seen Resident Evil Requiem taking up the top spot in terms of sales in the US. Interestingly, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream was the only recent release to make its way into the rankings at ninth place. The rest of the list is taken up by titles you’d expect, like Crimson Desert in second place, MLB The Show 26 in third place, Pokémon Pokopia in fourth place, and WWE 2K26 in fifth place.

April saw hardware sales rise, with spending going up by 34 percent year-on-year. Interestingly, much of this spending is attributed to the Nintendo Switch 2, since the original Switch, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 have all seen year-on-year spending declines of 69 percent, 43 percent, and 30 percent, respectively.

This has made the Nintendo Switch 2 the best-selling hardware platform in terms of both number of units sold, as well as dollars of revenue generated for both the month of April itself, as well as the entire year so far. The PS5 is in second place.

Interestingly, when taking US lifetime sales into account, the PS5 is tracking 2 percent ahead of the PS4 in the same 66-month time frame. Similarly, the Nintendo Switch 2 has already taken a lead over the original Switch in the pace of its hardware sales, overtaking the 2017 console by 11 percent for the same 11-month period since their respective launches.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream topping sales charts shouldn’t really come as a surprise since the title has been a hit across social media platforms thanks to its absurdist comedy and emphasis on player freedom. The title was released on the Nintendo Switch on April 16th, and since then, has seen quite a bit of critical and commercial acclaim. Leading up to its release, Nintendo had also released a free demo for it, giving players a taste of its core gameplay that largely revolves around managing a quiet island town and its crazy denizens.

The other new title to have topped the charts this month—Pragmata—was released on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 17th, and since then, has been praised for its unique combat gameplay that melds shooting, dodging, and puzzle solving.

April 2026 U.S. Projected Top 10 Best-Selling Games Ranked on Physical & Full Game Digital Dollar Sales (Excludes Mobile and Digital Add-On Content)

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-05-20T13:00:19.106Z

YTD 2026 U.S. Projected Top 10 Best-Selling Games Ranked on Physical & Full Game Digital Dollar Sales (Excludes Mobile and Digital Add-On Content)

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-05-20T13:00:19.107Z

Hardware – April hardware spending increased by 34% when compared to a year ago, to $261M. Spending on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware offset declines seen across Switch (-69% versus April 2025), Xbox Series (-43%) and PlayStation 5 (-30%).

— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-05-20T13:00:19.108Z

This has marked the third consecutive fiscal year for Capcom where PC has been making up for most of the company’s game sales. Along with this, the company also confirmed that 93 percent of its total sales were digital copies rather than physical.

Back in 2025, Capcom had announced that its PC user base was growing, leading to it accounting for a majority of its game sales. At the time, 60 percent of all digital game sales were attributed to the platforms.

“In the consumer sub segment, our main growth driver, we will bolster global expansion of catalog sales based on digital data analysis,” said the company during the previous year’s earnings report. “At the same time, we will consistently launch new titles and strengthen sales during their initial release period.”

“We have widened our sales regions in recent years thanks to greater adoption of digital sales on PC, which has enabled us to sell our games even in countries and regions where dedicated game consoles are not available.”

“Looking ahead, we’ll raise the level of sales volume in lower-performing countries and regions, specifically in emerging countries, by strengthening our brands globally through further enhancing the accuracy of our data analysis and marketing for each country and region.”

Moving forward, Capcom expects its core Digital Contents business to see steady growth over time, “driven by an increase in game content and expansion of the global gaming user base.” It noted that the business environment itself was also going through significant changes, giving Capcom more distribution platforms for its products. With this in mind, the company wants to continue to work its way towards 100 million sales over the course of a single fiscal year. To achieve this, Capcom also wants to make sure that it has appropriate pricing for its games in place.

“In order to achieve the long-term milestone of 100 units in annual sales in its core Digital Contents business, the company will strengthen long-term pricing measures and global sales, working to enhance its sales network that extends into over 240 countries and regions while improving localized marketing and its understanding of user needs,” it said in its forecast.

The company managed to see immense success with the release of Resident Evil Requiem this year, which Capcom said led to a boost in “net sales, operating profit, ordinary profit and net profit”, leading it to “outperform our previously announced forecast.”

During its earnings report, the company also made a note of wanting to “nurture” some of its older IPs, including Mega Man, Devil May Cry, and Ace Attorney, with “sequels, remakes, ports, etc.” An example of this nurturing was provided in the form of the Netflix adaptation of Devil May Cry, as well as other properties getting their own new amusement equipment and arcade operations.

Who would’ve thought that exploring a growing bond between a world-weary human and an AI-controlled droid could have turned out the way it did? Well, two million clearly think that there’s something to it, and the game’s sales have showcased a strong reception to its unique premise and innovative combat.

While a chunk of the first million of its sales, made two days after its release, might be attributed to excitement and hype around the release of a new IP from Capcom, the next million is definitely a noteworthy achievement, especially since it doesn’t require hours upon hours of your time. It’s going to be exciting to see where the franchise goes from here.

Short, sweet, and full of personality, Pragmata certainly takes after one of its protagonists, and the gaming world is happy to give it the recognition it deserves. For more details, check out our review, where we gave it a nine out of ten. It’s available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Was she a mere machine, created to serve a single purpose with no emotions whatsoever? Or did her autonomy allow her to function as a sentient being, capable of choosing a path for herself? Of course, it’s Hugh who helps her explore her own desires, encouraging her to discover her humanity when anybody else might have assumed there wasn’t anything to find in the first place.

And while the bittersweet conclusion to their story might seem absolute if you didn’t complete all the Unknown Signal challenges, you might be under the impression that Diana made it to Earth with the Dead Filament contained, while Hugh succumbed to his infection. But if you’ve been diligent and unlocked the secret ending, you already know that the developer has left the door open for a reunion, and a potential sequel in the process.

How, you ask? Well, that’s why we’re here. Let’s dive right in!

World-Weary Choices

If you’re worried about spoilers, you might want to come back to this one after you’ve rolled the credits on Pragmata. But if you already got there, you know that Hugh and Diana manage to stop Eight’s misguided effort to bring the Dead Filament to Earth, and even defeat the organism that arose from it. Hugh’s decision to power Diana’s escape pod with the port from his own suit was an emotional sledgehammer, but we’re sure that many of you saw it coming.

He was of the opinion that he didn’t have long anyway thanks to his infection from contact with the Dead Filament, an impression that Diana herself gave him over the course of the story. The same story set up how much he came to care for Diana, making his decision to give her the life she dreamed of all the more logical, while giving the game’s narrative a rather melancholic twist.

But before we get into the “true ending”, and why we think it sets up a sequel very well, we’d like to nudge things away from our protagonists toward Eight, and why she’s an antagonist that matters. Her actions weren’t born out of malice, but rather from a misguided interpretation of Dr. Higgin’s intentions for the Pragmatas. His ill-fated efforts to cure Daisy, his daughter, were the reason for Diana and Eight’s existence.

The two Pragmatas were polar opposites of each other as far as their functions were concerned, with Diana purging the Dead Filament from her system while Eight was designed to collect it from other ones. And with Daisy’s death, Dr. Higgin’s grief and his wish for the world to know his tragic tale became a weight that Eight had to carry while Diana remained none the wiser. Of course, Delphi’s involvement in the whole thing, and its push towards human trials, was the catalyst for the tragedy. The developer certainly likes shady corporations in its stories, doesn’t it?

All of this makes Eight a nuanced villain, with no actual evil intent, but actions that were literally the worst way to achieve a noble goal. She lacked the moral core or the maturity to process grief the way a human would do, making her an interesting contrast to Diana whose time with Hugh awakened her to perspectives and a sort of free will that might otherwise have escaped her grasp.

Of course, Hugh’s sacrifice is the perfect end to his arc, and his gradual shift from a jaded survivor to a caring companion to Diana was among the major draws of the narrative. But it also serves the purpose of giving Diana several routes to take if the story was to continue, as she is now a being who is left to discover her purpose outside of the one that Dr. Higgins intended for her. Hugh never saw her as a replacement to his daughter, but as a being who deserved a chance to find her own way.

Through Hugh, Diana didn’t just gain sentience, but was also given a sort of moral and emotional structure that she could use to exercise it responsibly. And that’s where the true magic of Pragmata’s narrative begins from the standpoint of continuing the story. It’s now time to look at the game’s true ending.

Going Beyond The Credits

Let’s begin with the post-credits scene, and what it could mean if we were looking to future titles. We see Diana finally getting to see a beach, before she looks up at the Moon and says that she’s ready? Ready for what, though? Well, it could mean that she’s ready to start living her own life, free of her duties at The Cradle and her role in it, and potentially free to see what she’s like outside of her bond with Hugh.

It could also mean that she’s ready to carry on Eight’s goals, telling the world about Delphi’s role in events at The Cradle, exposing the existence of the Dead Filament and alerting the world to the threat it carries. It could also mean that she’s ready to return to the Moon to find Hugh, refusing to accept his loss especially if you assume she knows what the Black Box does.

What is the Black Box, though? If you completed the story, all Unknown Signal challenges, got to a 100% across all sectors, did the pod missions in the Hidden Room to get your hands on it, and fought Eight with it equipped, you might already know what’s coming. But if you missed reading the Black Box’s item description, that audio log you unlock after going through all of the hoops we’ve listed might not seem as significant as it is.

That’s because it’s described as a potential way to purge the Dead Filament from organic life forms, similar to what Diana can do. How does that matter to the audio log we spoke of? We know that somebody entered The Shelter, and that friendly bot Cabin confirms that whoever it is entered alone. Cabin knew only Hugh and Diana, which implies that Hugh got to The Shelter with the Black Box in his possession.

And that’s the “true ending”, bringing the implication that Hugh survived, but has no way of returning to the Earth unless an effort to rescue him from The Cradle is underway. That’s an interesting setup for the next Pragmata title, don’t you think? We certainly do, and think that there are several narrative routes for the sequel to take that would stay true to the first game’s emotional core while giving it interesting ways to further explore its nuanced examination of sentience and free will.

Different Roads, Different Destinations

Let’s begin with Diana. She’s now an android-human hybrid, and is on Earth where her existence might have been a secret to most of its populace other than the folks at Delphi. And they may not be too happy with her existence, the knowledge that proof of their actions exists being a catalyst for a game where Delphi tries to capture her for further experimentation or perhaps use her in other ways.

Hugh’s survival could become an emotional core that drives her to return to The Cradle to bring him back to Earth, which becomes the sequel’s new battleground, a stage for an epic confrontation with Delphi where Diana takes the lead with potentially new powers making themselves available to her. It’s equally likely that their story continues on The Cradle, with the Dark Filament perhaps surviving just as Hugh managed to. That would be interesting as Diana’s time on Earth could change the dynamic she has with Hugh. She’d obviously know about his survival in such a scenario, with Cabin being the one to pass on the news to her in some way.

It’s now time to take a look at Hugh. He may still be alive, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely safe. What if the Black Box saved him by using Lunafilament to make him a sort of android himself? That would certainly hold up a mirror to the first game, reversing his equation with Diana. She may be the one to help him find a balance between his human and er, pragmatic sides, and perhaps discover more about the kind of person she would like to be along the way. That would be a great way to carry both their arcs forward while keeping their bond at the very center of a new story.

And then there’s Delphi. The corporation is sure to take measures against the revelation of its involvement in The Cradle’s fiasco, and make it a much larger threat than the Dead Filament. It isn’t too much of a stretch to imagine that it has a sample of it sealed away on Earth, somehow, or that it could discover a way to circumvent Diana’s own defences in an interesting twist on her own ability to hack her way past enemy shields. The Dead Filament’s destruction may have stopped the immediate threat, but we think that the real fight is yet to unfold as far as Pragmata is concerned.

We love that Pragmata’s ending has left so many avenues open for a potential return to the stage. Diana now has what she always wanted, but remains separated from the person who gave her freedom meaning. Her search for her identity is far from over, and while Hugh might think that his part in her story is finished, he might still have a role to play in her journey of self-discovery. Whether he does that as a human or as something else is up in the air, and in a very exciting way.

Pragmata might have ended with Diana looking out at the sea, but if her journey is to continue, it could very well take her back to the Moon, and to the one who made it all possible in the first place. And with the game doing as well as it has, the developer could very well be considering what the next game could bring to the table as we speak.

Perhaps that’s wishful thinking at this point, but we’re might eager to tell you that a sequel has been greenlit sometime in the near future. Until then, Hugh and Diana get some well-deserved rest unless you’ve chosen to dive back in for another playthrough.