Thinking Out Loud: 2026 Another Banger Year For Games
Table of Contents
Overview
Hey it's Tarrmu and welcome to Thinking Out Loud and in today's video we'll be talking about the future, more specifically gaming in 2026, and the games that have been slated to release in the next year. It is honestly quite crazy how at this point I feel like I'm making a video like this once a year, and the year that follows doesn't disappoint.
2026, is no different in that regard with games that are looking to be absolutely incredible, and some pleasant surprises that are sure to wow us this year, like many of the heavy hitters and previous games of year prior had. I am still trying to clear my backlog of incredible games released in recent years, and this new year is shaping up to expand that library. So without delay here are 10 games I've picked and some special mentions that I am excited for in 2026.
Anticipated Releases
10. Crimson Desert
The first game that I want to mention is Crimson Desert, it is shaping up to be an absolutely wild ride, a jack of all trades with it being an Open-World that has been labelled a "seamless open world", cities that look dense, with tons of unique quests, flyable mounts, a world that feels heavily interactable, It follows a protagonist named Cliff and you'll observe his journey and one that looks cinematic and full of choice, along with other playable characters as well, and a lot of side skill sets and activities like mining. All the different characters have unique play styles and this looks absolutely insane, the different regions, the biome diversity and everything looks like this one will absolutely be exceptional if it delivers. It would be higher on my list, but I do hold a level of skepticism based on how much this game is looking to tackle. Crimson Desert releases March 20th 2026.
9. Saros
The next game that we'll get on March 20th is Saros, the next game from Housemarque the team behind Returnal. Here in Saros it looks to be building on Returnal and in the same universe, and has the same third-person shooter roguelike elements that made Returnal so engaging, and brutal. There is also the return of the bullet-hell shooting and enemy pattern memorization that was a factor in the difficulty and challenge of Returnal. It appears that with Saros they're looking to make the game a bit more forgiving and approachable than Returnal, which is interesting, but I'm all for seeing how Saros plays out especially due to the level of challenge that a game like Returnal offered, Saros may serve as a good entry point it getting people into both games.
8. The Duskbloods
Then there is From Soft's new game The Duskbloods. There hasn't been too much revealed about this, but it is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive and it'll be coming in 2026. This is a Miyazaki directed joint, and it is going to be another swing at co-op, being a pvp pve co-op experience supporting up to 8 players. This game's art direction is looking phenomenal, and it'll be interesting to see how this one plays out. But after experiencing Elden Ring Nightreign, and seeing the potential that these games have, I'm curious to see what direction The Duskblood's takes, because overall Nightreign was a great game, that was fun to play with, but feels like a solid blueprint and foundation for more that can be built on-top, so it'll be interesting to see what The Duskbloods is when we eventually see it release.
7. Beast of Reincarnation
This next one made it on my list with the recent reveal at the Xbox showcase and that is Beast of Reincarnation, which is a new IP from Game Freak the creators of Pokemon, and this game looks like something completely different for them. It has a lot of different elements and does look familiar to many games in this genre we've seen before, but there is something about the art-style, the mood and some of the abilities shown that I do believe that this game could be something special, and wow us. There is action, there is platforming, and what looks like somewhat of an open-world with skills and abilities that impact traversal and bond with your pet buddy. It is releasing later in the year with no firm release date, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this game plays out.
6. The Blood of the Dawnwalker
Another game that will be releasing next year is The Blood of the Dawnwalker, from Konrad Tomaszkiewicz the director of The Witcher 3, Blood of the Dawnwalker is a bold new RPG set in a gothic 14th-century kingdom called Vale Sangora and centers around a protagonist named Coen who is struggling with a vampiric curse called the Silver poisoning and is thrown into a conflict of moral dilemmas, political intrigue and a race to save his family. The Blood of the Dawnwalker looks to be leaning into many different areas of the RPG genre with day and night cycle that influences the events and actions of the game, and a timeframe and deadline to complete events before there is a negative repercussion that will shape and shift the story. I'm interested to see how this game clicks together, and a gothic fantasy game with a vampire theme does sound like a winning match, and I am excited to see how Blood of the Dawnwalker plays out when it releases this year.
5. Grand Theft Auto 6
The easiest and most obvious game on this list to get out of the way is Grand Theft Auto 6, now this does have a firm release date for November 19th and for all we know it could get delayed again into 2027, but I feel it is a similar approach here to how we felt with Silksong, we'll believe it is happening only when it is out. This is easily people's most anticipated game, and it is crazy how long it has been since Grand Theft Auto 5 and even crazy to consider how much time has passed since Red Dead Redemption 2. I am just happy to be returning to Vice City, and this version of Vice City looks huge, and way more expansive in a way that feel to be mirroring San Andreas in terms of size and scale. I am curious to see how many features make it into the game, how the story unfolds, and how this game lives up to the hype that has been built around it for over a decade now.
4. Phantom Blade Zero
Another big one that is expected to release in 2026 is Phantom Blade Zero this one is looking to be a slick and stylish action RPG and is being developed by Chinese developer S-GAME and this is looking really stylish and based on what creators and journalists who got their hands on this so far have said, it sounds like the game is really fun to play as well. The movement the combat, and the overall artistic design really does have me interested, and it feels like an action-adventure game that many of us have been hungering for. The more that I see for this on, the more I am excited to play it, and the wait isn't too long with the game releasing September 9th 2026.
3. Resident Evil 9
Next up we have Resident Evil Requiem, the new Resident Evil game to celebrate the 30th anniversary series. The story will be following a new protagonist Grace Ashcroft, and it will from what we've seen have a stalker character Capcom call Big Mama, but resembles the terror that was Lisa Trevor. Capcom was really cagey with this game initially and I still believe that there are some huge reveals or cameos that they're pulling back and hiding from us. But the Leon reveal at the Game Awards and the dual protagonist gameplay that takes the third-person combat of Resident Evil 4 through 6 and more so the remakes and wraps this up in Leon's gameplay, whilst taking the first-person tensity of Resident Evil 7 and 8, and frames this form of gameplay through Grace's gameplay. I'm really excited to see how Resident Evil Requiem unfolds, and we don't have long to wait now until it is out.
2. Romeo Is a Deadman
At number 2, one of my most anticipated games for next year, and that is Romeo is A Deadman, the latest game from the eclectic auteur Suda 51 of Killer 7 and No More Heroes fame. This game is looking to be trippy and wild, I'm excited to see more about what it is and no doubt what bombastic types of escapades we'll be setting out on. This third-person action adventure looks to be an insane ride, and I'm hoping that the gameplay is as entertaining and eccentric as the the story looks to be. We don't have long to wait with Romeo is A Dead Man releasing February 11th 2026.
1. Pragmata
Now it's time for my most anticipated game for this year, which is Capcom's Pragmata a brand new game entirely that is a third-person shooter, but not purely in the conventional sense. There is an additional element as the girl on your back Dianna, has the ability to hack enemies which provides an added dimension to the gameplay loop, where the enemies will be tougher to kill, and you'll have to call upon Dianna's hacking to expose the enemies weak points, and there is this synergy between offensive and defensive, and hacking your foes that really does appeal to me. Plus the setting really does feel right up my alley, I feel like this one can go either way, but has a lot of potential to really be something special, and based on the games with hard release dates this year, Pragmata is the one that I am most excited to see play out, and with a demo now live to check this one out, we can all get a taste for what is to come when it releases April 24th.
Honorable Mentions
Gears of War E-Day
The next game that we can assume is releasing in 2026, though it isn't confirmed yet is Gears of War: E-day. This is a prequel and will see the return of Marcus Feinx and I am keen to play more Gears, but it is an odd pivot of a game to come after the cliffhanger ending of Gears of War 5, and I guess this is an opportunity to go back to the roots of the series. We'll see how this one plays out but it is more than likely coming next year.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Now we have another game that was originally going to release in 2025 and was pushed into 2026, and that is Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. Now this game does look like it'll be a ton of fun, and I've personally been wanting to see more from this release. But one of the things that I think has me excited about this game is the involvement of Amy Henning as a writer and producer. We'll see how this pans out as well.
007: First Light
We have a new James Bond game releasing early into the year with 007: First Light from IO interactive, the team behind the recent Hitman games, and this one I was on the fence about when I saw the first trailer, but now with some deep-dive gameplay, I am excited to see how they evolve on the immersive-sim and sandbox elements that underpinned Hitman and bring it across to the world of James Bond.
Fable
There is also the new Fable that is said to be releasing in 2026, it's Playground Games first time taking a swing at games of this nature, I mean going from open-world racing games to a fully fledged RPG. After the most recent Xbox showcase the general consensus around this game appears to have shifted and with what we've seen it does look like Playground Games is attempting to carry the mantle of what made Lionhead's Fable special.
Wolverine
Speaking of big reveals for the major consoles, on the Sony front we have the reveal of Insomniac's Marvel's Wolverine which is slated to release this year, we currently only have one trailer to go off, but this looks to be a lot more linear compared to it's Spider-Man counterpart and that is a good thing, I feel it works and fits well for Wolverine. On top of all of this, the combat looks to be a lot more brutal with dismemberment and gore which I feel fits the bill for what I would want in a Wolverine game, and I am excited to see this one, because Wolverine is a mad character, and Insomniac have more than proven that they get how these kinds of games tick.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
While on console exclusive the last game on the Nintendo front that I am looking forward to is the new Fire Emblem game that is releasing, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, which looks to be continuing and evolving on the formula of 2019's highly successful Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which as a more newcomer fan to the Fire Emblem series does excite me in many ways. I think the amount of different routes, storylines and character interaction in Three Houses was really something that kept me engaged and entertained throughout, and I'm interested to see the ways Fortune's Weave builds on both the social aspects, as well as the SRPG mechanics that underpin the series. There is no release date for this one yet, but it is slated to release in 2026.
Article Extras
Valor Mortis
Valor Mortis is an interesting new title taking place during the French Revolution with a grim-dark spin on it. Developed by Lyrical Games the minds behind the Ghostrunner series, Valor Mortis is looking to be a completely different pace by comparison, bring the Souls-like genre to a first-person perspective, and I'm all for seeing how this game works. If this game lands I think it could open up a whole new world of different types of souls-likes, a genre that many may argue is already oversaturated. There have been so many claiming to reach the peaks and few have sored, some have failed and others have faded into obscurity. But Valor Mortis at least looks to be taking interesting swings, with an interesting setting to match, so I am optimistic this one will be something memorable when it does arrive.
Tides of Annihilation
Now Tides of Annihilation may not actually release in 2026, but on the chance that it does I feel it is one worth mentioning and observing as this game looks to be an exciting and engaging action adventure title, with tons of spectacle that in some ways feels to be treading the same turf that was explored with the recent Final Fantasy XVI. Developed by Eclipse Glow Games, Tides of Annihilation has a lot of promise in how amazing it looks, and the casting talent it has behind it with Jennifer English known for her roles as Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3, and the recent standout performance as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, performing as the lead character Gwendolyn, this game looks to be something that is worth keeping an eye on for whichever year it releases.
Marathon
One worth mentioning is Bungie's revival of one of their earlier IP's, albeit in a completely different context, Marathon. This new rendition of Marathon will be an Extraction Shooter, a market that feels quite competitive for people's time with games like Escape from Tarkov, Dark and Darker (somewhat) and even Emark's Arc Raiders which launched a couple of months back. Marathon has an incredible sense of art direction which makes this game look distinct to its competitors, but that unique art style has also embroiled Bungie in plagiarism controversies that garnered a lot of deserved negative press, and along with mixed playtest reception the game was pushed out of 2025, and into 2026. Now it has been re-revealed, with plagiarism issues addressed, and some level of excitement from the community. But the big question will be how does Marathon stack up to an already competitive market, and if it does, do Bungie have the capacity and chops to deliver content at a consistent cadence that can satisfy the fanbase they seek to build, especially with another massive demanding game that they're also maintaining with Destiny 2, which is a good second point as Destiny 2, as much I love that game has had quite an up and down life-cycle, both building and squandering the good will of fans. I hope Bungie can find there footing amongst the turbulence in recent years and have a strong release with Marathon.
Control Resonant
The long rumoured "Control 2" was revealed at the game awards officially titled Control Resonant, following Jesse Faden's brother Dylan Faden, and the gameplay switch up is actually quite interesting with this one looking action hack-and-slash type of game that is more akin to some like Devil May Cry compared to its predecessor which served as more a third-person shooter with super natural abilities and all the wacky twists and turns that Remedy is known for. It is crazy Remedy is constantly taking swings at new ideas, and never resting on their laurels, and although this has had mixed success with games like FBC Firebreak, I do think the fact they're trying something new, is something commendable and I do believe that Control Resonant is something that appeals to my tastes more personally than even the first Control game did, so excited to see how it all comes together, later in the year when we get a release date, if we get a release this year.
Ontos
The next game is Ontos from Frictional Games the minds behind the critically acclaimed Soma, this was revealed at The 2025 Game Awards, and is a Sc-Fi mystery game, set on a repurposed moon hotel. Ontos is a Sc-Fi Thriller that looks to have horror elements that this series is known for. If you're looking for a mind bending narrative, puzzles and horror elements this one is one to look out for when it releases sometime in 2026.
Out of Words
The last game on this list is Out of Words, an absolutely beautiful looking game that marries stop-motion and puppeteering to make a sense of art direction that is distinct and gorgeous to look at. Developed by Kong Orange and Weird Fly, Out of Words is a co-op platformer adventure that looks to be tapping into the same magic that Hazelight have been putting out with their games. The story follows Kurt and Karla and looks to have emotional storytelling about a couple who have lost their voices and have to work together. Industry legend, and auteur Hideo Kojima has openly praised the game calling it "simple, gentle, and beautiful". No release date on this one but links to it below.
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But these are just a few games that have come to mind, there are so many games that are releasing this year, too many to list. Let me know which games you're looking forward too.
As always I am Tarrmu, and this has been Thinking out Loud, thank you for reading.r
