The Best Games of 2026 So Far
2026 is turning out to be one of the strongest years for gaming in recent memory. From long-awaited sequels finally delivering on their promise to surprise breakouts that nobody saw coming, the first half of the year has already given us a stacked lineup across every platform. Here are the best games of 2026 so far. Last updated September 25, 2026: four standout summer releases added below, followed by our original May top 10.
New Since May: The Best Games of Summer 2026
The back half of 2026 has been kinder to critics than the first. Four releases since our May update landed at or near the top of Metacritic’s 2026 chart, and all four earn a spot here. Scores below were checked on September 25, 2026.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter: The JRPG of the Year So Far
Falcom’s remake of the second Sky game picks up right where last year’s 1st Chapter remake ended, with Estelle chasing Joshua across Liberl, and it is the better game of the two. It sits at 91 on Metacritic and 92 on OpenCritic, and Game Informer called it the Trails series’ defining entry. The main gripes are some flat environments and a plain menu layout. The story and combat more than cover for that. If you skipped 1st Chapter, play that first. This one leans hard on its ending.
Released: September 17, 2026 | Platform: PS5, Switch 2, Switch, PC | Genre: JRPG
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave: Switch 2’s Best Exclusive
Intelligent Systems’ first Fire Emblem built for Switch 2 debuted at 89 on Metacritic, tying Three Houses as one of the best-reviewed entries in the series. It has a branching, multi-route story and some of the sharpest turn-based maps the series has had. Reviewers put a full run of every route at 70 to well over 100 hours. The one real knock is uneven pacing in the early chapters. If you own a Switch 2 and like strategy games at all, this is the one to buy.
Released: September 17, 2026 | Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 | Genre: Tactical RPG
Big Walk: The Best Game to Play With Friends
The Untitled Goose Game studio House House followed up with a co-op “walker-talker”: 2 to 12 players explore an open world modeled on Australia’s Wilsons Promontory, solving puzzles that only work if you talk to each other over proximity voice chat. The PC version holds a 91 on Metacritic. Two caveats: it cannot be played solo, and the Switch 2 port reviewed far worse (75) than PC and PS5, so pick your platform carefully.
Released: August 4, 2026 | Platform: PC, Mac, PS5, Switch 2 | Genre: Co-op Adventure
Mina the Hollower: A Game Boy Zelda Dream From the Shovel Knight Team
Yacht Club Games spent years on Mina the Hollower, and it shows. It is a top-down action-adventure styled after Game Boy-era Zelda, built around Mina’s ability to burrow underground, and it plays like a modern game rather than a nostalgia piece. It launched to a 90 on Metacritic and is on just about every platform. Fans of tough, tight action games should grab it.
Released: May 29, 2026 | Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch | Genre: Action-Adventure
Also Worth Your Time
Two early-2026 standouts we should have included in May: Resident Evil Requiem (February 27, 89 on Metacritic), Capcom’s strongest survival-horror entry in years, and Pokémon Pokopia (March 5, 89), the cozy Switch 2 life-sim that turned out much better than a spin-off had any right to be.
The Original Top 10 (May 2026)
1. Pragmata — Capcom’s Most Ambitious Game Yet
After years of delays and radio silence, Pragmata arrived in 2026 and immediately became one of the most talked-about releases of the year. Developed by Capcom, this original IP blends science fiction action with a deeply emotional narrative following a cosmonaut and a mysterious girl in a near-future world. The gameplay is tight, the world-building is exceptional, and the visual fidelity is jaw-dropping. Pragmata is the kind of bold, original bet that the industry needs more of — and it paid off.
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Genre: Action-Adventure
2. Forza Horizon 6 — Japan Opens Up
Playground Games delivered what fans have been requesting for years: a Forza Horizon set in Japan. Released in May 2026, Forza Horizon 6 takes the open-world racing formula to an absolutely stunning interpretation of Japan, with everything from mountain passes in the Japan Alps to neon-drenched city circuits. The car roster is enormous, the driving model is as polished as ever, and the Japan setting brings a fresh energy that reinvigorates the whole franchise. If you own an Xbox or a decent PC, this is essential.
Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PC, Game Pass | Genre: Racing / Open World
Keep Reading: Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games of 2026 · Best PS5 Games 2026: Must-Play Titles Right Now
3. Nioh 3 — Team Ninja Sharpens the Blade
Team Ninja returned in February 2026 with Nioh 3, and the action RPG sequel is the best entry in the series to date. The game expands the historical setting, introduces new weapon types, and refines the ki-pulse combat system that made Nioh 2 a cult classic. The boss encounters are spectacular and brutally demanding. If you loved the Dark Souls-adjacent but distinctly Japanese combat of the previous entries, Nioh 3 is a no-brainer.
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Genre: Action RPG
4. Monster Hunter Stories 3 — The Best JRPG of Early 2026
Capcom returned in March 2026 with Monster Hunter Stories 3, the most ambitious entry in the turn-based spinoff series yet. The monster-bonding system is deeper than ever, the story is genuinely heartfelt, and the monster roster is massive. Stories 3 strikes the perfect balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for series veterans. It is a must-play for JRPG fans and anyone who loves the Monster Hunter universe but prefers a slower, more strategic pace.
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC | Genre: JRPG
5. Crimson Desert — The Open-World Epic That Delivered
After multiple delays, Pearl Abyss finally released Crimson Desert in March 2026 — and it was worth the wait. This brutal, story-driven open-world action RPG follows mercenary Maewol across a war-torn continent filled with massive bosses, dense political intrigue, and fluid, visually spectacular combat. The game wears its ambition on its sleeve and largely delivers. Crimson Desert fills a gap in the market for fans who want the scope of an open-world RPG with the visceral action of something like God of War.
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Genre: Open-World Action RPG
Keep Reading: Nintendo Switch 2 vs PS5: Which Should You Buy? · Best PS5 Games 2026: Must-Play Titles Right Now
6. Saros — Housemarque’s Next-Level Roguelite
Fresh off their critical darling Returnal, Housemarque returned with Saros — a bullet-hell roguelite that pushes PS5 hardware even harder. The premise drops players into a hostile alien ecosystem where death is meaningful and every run teaches you something new. The combat is relentless and precise, with weapon synergies that reward experimentation. Housemarque has once again proven they are masters of the genre. If you can handle the difficulty, Saros is one of the most satisfying games of the year.
Platform: PS5 | Genre: Roguelite / Bullet-Hell Action
7. 007 First Light — Bond Is Back and Better Than Ever
IO Interactive — the team behind the modern Hitman trilogy — put their stealth expertise to work on 007 First Light, released May 2026. The game is an origin story for a new James Bond, and it plays exactly like you would hope: tactical, stylish, and deeply replayable. Multiple approaches to each mission, gadgets, suits, and a globe-trotting narrative make this the definitive Bond game. IO Interactive has delivered the spy game that fans have been waiting decades for.
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Genre: Stealth Action
8. Mewgenics — Team Meat’s Chaotic Strategy Masterpiece
Team Meat finally released Mewgenics in February 2026 after over a decade of development, and the result is utterly bizarre in the best possible way. This cat-breeding strategy roguelike tasks you with managing a colony of genetically unpredictable cats, each with their own stats, traits, and absurd personalities. No two runs play out the same. It is part Dwarf Fortress, part Binding of Isaac, and entirely unlike anything else on the market. A cult classic in the making.
Platform: PC | Genre: Strategy Roguelike
9. Ghost of Yotei: Legends — Co-Op in Feudal Hokkaido
Sucker Punch expanded their Ghost universe with Ghost of Yotei: Legends in March 2026, bringing full cooperative multiplayer to the stunning Hokkaido setting. Up to four players can take on story missions, raid-style boss encounters, and survival challenges together — all in one of the most visually breathtaking open worlds ever built. If you loved the original Ghost of Tsushima multiplayer mode, Legends feels like that concept fully realized at scale.
Platform: PS5 | Genre: Co-Op Action
10. Big Hops — The 3D Platformer Revival Continues
The 3D platformer renaissance rolls on with Big Hops, one of the most purely joyful games of early 2026. Charming visuals, inventive level design, and a frog protagonist with a moveset that feels endlessly satisfying to master — it sits confidently alongside the best indie platformers of recent years and proves that the genre still has enormous creative headroom. If you grew up on Nintendo 64-era platformers and miss that sense of wonder, Big Hops scratches that itch perfectly.
Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch 2 | Genre: 3D Platformer
The Bottom Line
2026 has already delivered more standout titles in its first nine months than many full calendar years. Whether you are into action RPGs, open-world exploration, stealth games, or roguelites, there is something exceptional on this list for you. Pragmata and Forza Horizon 6 set the early pace, and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave have now joined the Game of the Year conversation, but the year is far from over — with more major releases still on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be legendary. Check back as we update this list throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best game of 2026 so far?
Pragmata, ranked #1 and called Capcom’s most ambitious game yet.
What is the best JRPG of 2026 so far?
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (September 17, 91 on Metacritic) has taken that title. Monster Hunter Stories 3, our #4 pick from May, is still the best JRPG from the first half of the year.
What are the best new games since May 2026?
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Big Walk and Mina the Hollower, all rated 89 or higher on Metacritic.
Is Crimson Desert a good open-world game?
Yes — it’s ranked #5 on the best games of 2026 list, called ‘the open-world epic that delivered.’
Is 007 First Light one of the best games of 2026?
Yes — it’s ranked #7, described as Bond being ‘back and better than ever.’
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