The 12 best games to play in 2026

Welcome to 2026 in gaming – a year when Grand Theft Auto 6 finally drops. But there are so many great titles coming your way this year, from a long-awaited return of Bond, James Bond, to a terrifying new entry into the Resident Evil canon, and Marvel’s most brutal mutant sinking his claws into your free time.

Whether you have a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, you’re a PC gamer or you have a console from a previous generation, you’ll find something you’ll love in our round-up of the greatest video games of 2026.

Don’t forget, if you want to download any of these games directly to your console or computer, with a Virgin Media Broadband package for gamers, you’ll be set up to dominate the competition with a fast, stable connection.

Let’s get into the 12 best games to play in 2026

Available from Wednesday 27 May on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2

It is a truth universally acknowledged that anytime someone mentions a new James Bond game, they must immediately compare it to GoldenEye 007 – the seminal first-person shooter game and one of the greatest games of all time. Signs are good for this origin story of Ian Fleming’s super spy. It’s from developers of the successful Hitman franchise, and it has plenty of similarities to those titles while adding the quips, gadgets and big set pieces you’d expect from a Bond game.

Release date TBC. Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Before the first wildly fun Forza Horizon arrived on the scene in 2012, car games were pretty serious affairs, more concerned with realism and showing off graphically how far each generation of consoles had come. This latest effort brings all the madcap racing events, car culture and free roam driving to a Japan-inspired location, with a stylised version of Tokyo as the game world’s main city. Other locations will include Mount Fuji and Hokkaido, and it will feature a dynamic weather system.

Available from Thursday 19 November on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Oh. Yeah. This one. The biggest video game release since, well, 2013’s Grand Theft Auto 5. It’s going to dominate conversation, even outside of the world of gaming, and feels like it’s going to be this year’s cultural epicentre. The hype for GTA 6 feels that it has raised expectation levels to an impossible level, but the same was said for GTA 5 – and look at how well that did. Featuring a return to Vice City and two Bonnie And Clyde-inspired leads, November really can’t come soon enough, can it?

Release date TBC. Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

In a world where first-person shooters are ruled by Call Of Duty and Battlefield, is there still space for Halo, once seen as the more sophisticated, tactical FPS? This promises to be a “faithful yet modernised remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign”, which is intriguing as that 2001 title – the second best-selling game on the original Xbox – has been released and remastered a few times. We hope the magic of the original remains, while adding some next-gen bells and whistles.

Available from Friday 29 May on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Nintendo Switch 2 release tbc

A fourth LEGO Batman game might warrant a bit of a shoulder shrug. Except, this looks so damn good. The thing that everyone has spotted about this story-led adventure inspired by the films and other Batman appearances: it looks like the Arkham games built in LEGO. It also feels like the Arkham games with its stealth takedowns, tight combat and an open world – a first for the series. Throw in the references and humour you’d expect from LEGO games, this could be epic.

Available from Thursday 12 February on Nintendo Switch 2

Tennis – literally just called Tennis on the NES – has been etched in video game history from the start. While Mario was just an umpire in that 1984 OG game, he’s long been the series star, and now Switch 2 gets its own Mario Tennis title. Intriguingly, this one has 30 different “Fever Rackets”, each with its own special abilities, plus 38 playable characters – the most in the series history. There’s also an Adventure mode, where everyone’s transformed into babies. Sold and sold.

Release date TBC. Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The release date for this one keeps slipping, so we add this here more in hope than expectation. Worlds collide as Captain America and Azzuri, the Black Panther of the 1940s, form an uneasy alliance to confront their common enemy, Hydra. It’s coming from Amy Hennig, one of the instrumental forces behind the Uncharted series, so the delays may simply be a result of the high bar typified by that franchise. If 1943 can do for these characters what Insomniac Games did for Spider-Man, we’re excited.

Autumn release date TBC. Available on PS5

Insomniac Games, the studio behind Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, Sunset Overdrive and Marvel’s Spider-Man, is evidently a hit factory. So when they announced they would be producing a Wolverine game, everyone was très excited. And then, immediately cautious, wondering whether the team could deliver a story-led Wolverine game as brutal as the character. The fact that we can’t show the trailer probably tells you all you need to know. It’s a PlayStation 5 exclusive, and looks bloody amazing.

Available from Thursday 19 March on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch

In a world where you’ll see 2026 littered with sequels and continued franchises, how about a first-person shooter that looks like Steamboat Willie but Die Hard? It’s quite something seeing the black and white charm of hand-drawn 1930s “rubber hose” animation with fast-paced FPS combat. It also promises a deep detective noir storyline with cases to solve, plus a big band jazz soundtrack. Truly original games like this one are rare these days, but from the looks of it, the risk has paid off.

Available from Thursday 5 March on Nintendo Switch 2

The lazy writer would say that this is Pokémon meets Animal Crossing. However, it’s very hard to look at this game and shift away from that viewpoint. Also, why would that be a bad thing? You’ll play as a Ditto – a glutinous pink blob – to shape an empty land into a beautiful habitat for a variety of Pokémon. You’ll collect resources, build furniture and create homes for the little friends you meet. It looks adorable, and the portability of the Switch 2 means you’ll struggle to put this one down.

Available from Friday 13 February on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2

The creators of Little Nightmares and its sequel have a habit of looking at every other video game before saying, “Nah, we’re gonna do this instead.” Their other disposition seems concerned with ruining your sleep cycles with a sense of dread that truly gets under your skin. In Reanimal, they’ve doubled down on both. You play as a brother and sister who must go through hell to rescue their missing friends. The previews have this co-op horror adventure as an early game of the year contender.

Available from Friday 27 February on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2

There’s a thing about horror: familiarity leads to a dwindling fear factor. Yet, the 30th title in the Resident Evil franchise (including four remakes) is the exception to the rule. Taking things in a different direction than 2021’s acclaimed Village, it follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, who investigates the post-nuclear remains of Raccoon City. Helping her is none other than federal agent Leon Kennedy, first introduced in the series’ sophomore title. It feels like a proper classic Rezzy survival horror.

January

Fairy Tail: Dungeons (Nintendo Switch) – Wednesday 7 January

Pathologic 3 (PC and PS5) – Friday 9 January

Code Violet (PS5) – Saturday 10 January

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 15 January

The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 15 January

Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 22 January

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 22 January

SEGA Football Club Champions 2026 (PC, PS4 and PS5) – Thursday 22 January

Pathologic 3 (Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 23 January

Core Keeper – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Nintendo Switch 2) – Wednesday 28 January

Dispatch (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Wednesday 28 January

Cairn (PC and PS5) – Thursday 29 January

Code Vein II (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 30 January

Front Mission 3 Remake (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 30 January

February

Starsand Island (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Sunday 1 February

Aces Of Thunder (PC and PS5) – Tuesday 3 February

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 5 February

My Hero Academia: All’s Justice (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 6 February

Nioh 3 (PC and PS5) – Friday 6 February

PGA Tour 2K25 (Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 6 February

Mewgenics (PC) – Tuesday 10 February

Lost & Found Co. (PC) – Wednesday 11 February

Romeo Is A Dead Man (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Wednesday 11 February

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X (PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 12 February

Cash Cleaner Simulator (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 12 February

ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 12 February

Disciples: Domination (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 12 February

Hakuoki SSL: Sweet School Life (Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 12 February

Mario Tennis Fever (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 12 February

Ride 6 (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 12 February

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 12 February

High On Life 2 (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 13 February

Reanimal (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 13 February

Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 13 February

Avowed (PS5) – Tuesday 17 February

Calamity Angels: Special Delivery (PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch) – Tuesday 17 February

Star Trek: Voyager – Across The Unknown (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Wednesday 18 February

Death Howl (PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 19 February

Death Match Love Comedy! (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 19 February

Demon Tides (PC) – Thursday 19 February

Earnest Evans Collection (PS4 and PS5) – Thursday 19 February

Showgunners (PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 19 February

Styx: Blades Of Greed (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 19 February

Tides Of Tomorrow (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 24 February

City Hunter (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 26 February

Maid Cafe On Electric Street (Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 February

Path Of Mystery: A Brush With Death (Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 February

Raiden Fighters Remix Collection (PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 February

Tokyo Xtreme Racer (PS5) – Thursday 26 February

Towerborne (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 26 February

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition (Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 27 February

Resident Evil Requiem (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 27 February

Resident Evil Village Gold Edition (Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 27 February

Tales Of Berseria Remastered (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Friday 27 February

March

Coffee Talk Tokyo (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 5 March

Never Grave: The Witch And The Curse (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 5 March

Pokémon Pokopia (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 5 March

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 12 March

Replaced (PC and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 12 March

RoadOut (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 12 March

Toxic Commando (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 12 March

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 13 March

Crimson Desert (PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 19 March

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 19 March

Mouse: P.I. For Hire (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 19 March

Rushing Beat X: Return Of Brawl Brothers (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 19 March

Virtual Ties: Isekaijoucho Musoukyoku (PC, PS4 and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 19 March

Ghost Master: Resurrection (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Friday 20 March

Ariana And The Elder Codex (PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch) – Tuesday 24 March

Copa City (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 26 March

Curse Warrior (PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 March

Etrange Overlord (PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 March

Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 26 March

Neopets: Mega Mini Games Collection (PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 March

Nutmeg! (PC) – Thursday 26 March

Otome Daoshi: Fighting for Love (Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 March

Screamer (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 26 March

Taito Milestones 4 (Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 26 March

Winning Post 10 2026 (PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 26 March

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch) – Friday 27 March

April

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 16 April

Clockwork Ambrosia (PC) – Wednesday 22 April

Masters Of Albion (PC) – Wednesday 22 April

Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit And The Ancient Monster (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 23 April

Anemoi (PC) – Friday 24 April

Pragmata (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Friday 24 April

Diablo IV: Lord Of Hatred (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 28 April

Invincible VS (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 30 April

Perennial Dusk: Kinsenka (Nintendo Switch) – Thursday 30 April

Saros (PS5) – Thursday 30 April

May

Psyvariar 3 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 21 May

The Relic: First Guardian (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 26 May

007 First Light (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2) – Wednesday 27 May

Wandering Sword (PS5) – Thursday 28 May

LEGO Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Friday 29 May

June

June titles TBC

July

Hono Gurashi No Niwa (PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 30 July

August

August titles TBC

September

Halloween (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Tuesday 8 September

Phantom Blade Zero (PC and PS5) – Wednesday 9 September

Akiba Lost (PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2) – Thursday 17 September

October

October titles TBC

November

Grand Theft Auto VI (PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) – Thursday 19 November

December

December titles TBC

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