Top 10 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2026

Bethesda announced TES VI in 2018 with a 6-second teaser and has said almost nothing since. Eight years of silence have only intensified the hunger. Set in Hammerfell (according to leaks and geographical analysis of that teaser), TES VI will need to justify the longest gap between mainline entries in RPG history. After Starfield's mixed reception, Bethesda needs this to be a masterpiece — and fans are both terrified and thrilled.

Nintendo restarted development from scratch in 2019, bringing Retro Studios back to lead. After seven years of near-total secrecy, Metroid Prime 4 finally showed extended gameplay at Nintendo Direct 2025, revealing stunning environments and the return of Samus at her most isolated and atmospheric. This is the game that justifies Nintendo's next console.

Playground Games — the studio behind Forza Horizon — is building a new Fable from the ground up with Unreal Engine 5. The 2024 showcase revealed a gorgeous fairy-tale England dripping with British humor, real-time seasons, and a combat system that looks genuinely meaty. Microsoft needs a system-seller for Xbox, and Fable might be it.

Sucker Punch's follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima moves the action to 1603 Hokkaido, featuring a new female protagonist named Atsu. The reveal trailer showcased volcanic landscapes, snow-covered wilderness, and the same cinematic swordplay that made Tsushima a masterpiece. Early rumors suggest a more open structure with multiple story paths. PlayStation's biggest 2026 exclusive.

Firaxis is reinventing the 4X genre with Civ VII's "Ages" system, splitting each game into three distinct historical eras with different mechanics and civilizations. You can start as Rome and transition into the Mongol Empire. The change is controversial among series veterans but promises to solve the late-game slog that has plagued every Civ title. "One more turn" syndrome will claim millions of hours in 2026.

FromSoftware's follow-up to the greatest game of 2022 is a standalone co-op roguelike set in the Elden Ring universe. Three players face a world that compresses through day-night cycles, with a final boss at dawn. It is Elden Ring meets Hades meets Monster Hunter, and early playtests have been rapturously received. Hidetaka Miyazaki continues to be the most reliable creative in gaming.

Hideo Kojima's sequel looks even more bewildering and beautiful than the original. New trailers reveal a world being consumed by a tar-like substance, returning characters (Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux), and newcomers including Elle Fanning. Love it or hate it, nobody makes games like Kojima — and Death Stranding 2 will be the most debated game of the year.

Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise has grown from niche Japanese action-RPG to global phenomenon, and Wilds is the biggest entry yet. Seamless open environments, dynamic weather that affects monster behavior, and drop-in co-op for up to four players. The beta attracted over 8 million participants. This could be the best-selling Capcom game of all time.

Team Cherry's follow-up to the beloved 2017 Metroidvania was announced in 2019 and has been radio-silent for years. Every Nintendo Direct sends the internet into meltdown anticipating a release date. When Silksong finally drops, it will be the indie event of the decade. Hornet's speed-focused gameplay promises a very different feel from the original's contemplative exploration.

Bethesda announced TES VI in 2018 with a 6-second teaser and has said almost nothing since. Eight years of silence have only intensified the hunger. Set in Hammerfell (according to leaks and geographical analysis of that teaser), TES VI will need to justify the longest gap between mainline entries in RPG history. After Starfield's mixed reception, Bethesda needs this to be a masterpiece — and fans are both terrified and thrilled.

Nintendo restarted development from scratch in 2019, bringing Retro Studios back to lead. After seven years of near-total secrecy, Metroid Prime 4 finally showed extended gameplay at Nintendo Direct 2025, revealing stunning environments and the return of Samus at her most isolated and atmospheric. This is the game that justifies Nintendo's next console.

Playground Games — the studio behind Forza Horizon — is building a new Fable from the ground up with Unreal Engine 5. The 2024 showcase revealed a gorgeous fairy-tale England dripping with British humor, real-time seasons, and a combat system that looks genuinely meaty. Microsoft needs a system-seller for Xbox, and Fable might be it.

Sucker Punch's follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima moves the action to 1603 Hokkaido, featuring a new female protagonist named Atsu. The reveal trailer showcased volcanic landscapes, snow-covered wilderness, and the same cinematic swordplay that made Tsushima a masterpiece. Early rumors suggest a more open structure with multiple story paths. PlayStation's biggest 2026 exclusive.

Firaxis is reinventing the 4X genre with Civ VII's "Ages" system, splitting each game into three distinct historical eras with different mechanics and civilizations. You can start as Rome and transition into the Mongol Empire. The change is controversial among series veterans but promises to solve the late-game slog that has plagued every Civ title. "One more turn" syndrome will claim millions of hours in 2026.

FromSoftware's follow-up to the greatest game of 2022 is a standalone co-op roguelike set in the Elden Ring universe. Three players face a world that compresses through day-night cycles, with a final boss at dawn. It is Elden Ring meets Hades meets Monster Hunter, and early playtests have been rapturously received. Hidetaka Miyazaki continues to be the most reliable creative in gaming.

Hideo Kojima's sequel looks even more bewildering and beautiful than the original. New trailers reveal a world being consumed by a tar-like substance, returning characters (Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux), and newcomers including Elle Fanning. Love it or hate it, nobody makes games like Kojima — and Death Stranding 2 will be the most debated game of the year.

Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise has grown from niche Japanese action-RPG to global phenomenon, and Wilds is the biggest entry yet. Seamless open environments, dynamic weather that affects monster behavior, and drop-in co-op for up to four players. The beta attracted over 8 million participants. This could be the best-selling Capcom game of all time.

Team Cherry's follow-up to the beloved 2017 Metroidvania was announced in 2019 and has been radio-silent for years. Every Nintendo Direct sends the internet into meltdown anticipating a release date. When Silksong finally drops, it will be the indie event of the decade. Hornet's speed-focused gameplay promises a very different feel from the original's contemplative exploration.