It could solely be January, nevertheless it’s by no means too early to look to the long run and predict what the most effective video games of 2026 will appear like. I haven’t got a crystal ball or undiagnosed psychic powers, however I do have an extended checklist of all of the video games popping out within the subsequent 12 months and a few sense of steering.
In fact, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was a reasonably convincing win on the finish of 2025 awards, however who truthfully anticipated it to occur earlier than its April launch date? So what is going to shock us this 12 months? And does a left-field venture have what it takes to grab this 12 months’s videogameaddicted Recreation of the Yr award from a really apparent contender you may see coming from a mile away? Let’s look forward and predict what the sport of the 12 months can be in 2026. Please bear in mind that all the pieces right here is prone to be confirmed utterly fallacious, and you can also come again right here in December and inform me what an fool I’m.
GTA6
The very giant elephant within the room is clearly Grand Theft Auto 6. However no GTA sport, or for that matter a Rockstar sport, has ever received videogameaddicted’s total Recreation of the Yr award. This consists of all PS2 classics from Vice Metropolis to San Andreas. It additionally consists of newer titles like 2013’s GTA 5, which misplaced to The Final of Us, and Purple Useless Redemption 2 (my favourite sport of all time), which misplaced to God of Struggle in 2018. Sadly, voting does not all come all the way down to my opinion, so I assume I will simply should recover from it. at some point.
So, does GTA 6 have an opportunity of taking residence the most important prize?Clearly it does. It is arguably essentially the most anticipated sport of all time, a feat completed by Rockstar’s latest penchant for receiving evaluation scores of 10 out of 10, and we hope (or not less than hope) that the studio builds on these successes with what it releases this November. If Rockstar can keep away from implementing one other delay, we cannot have to attend too lengthy after its launch date to see if videogameaddicted workers (and different awards present voters) determine it is the most effective sport of 2026.
Likelihood: I would be capable of lock it, I would even get a star award.
Resident Evil Requiem
Equally, Resident Evil is a collection that has by no means received videogameaddicted’s Recreation of the Yr award. Nonetheless, the Resident Evil 2 remake got here very near profitable the award in 2019, when it got here in runner-up to Treatment’s Management. Resident Evil Requiem, the earliest to be launched on this shortlist, might win this 12 months if it delivers on the promise of its quite a few teaser trailers. Combining the magic of traditional third-person motion horror like Resident Evil 4 with extra fashionable first-person horror like The Village might be the right cocktail to go well with everybody’s tastes. We’ll learn how good it’s when it launches on February twenty seventh, however then we’ll have to attend 10 months to see if something tops it throughout the remainder of 2026.
Likelihood: One thing even scarier has occurred.
management resonance
Talking of 2019 awards, will Management win back-to-back Recreation of the Yr awards if its sequel, Management Resonant, arrives this 12 months? We’re at all times wanting ahead to one thing fascinating from Finnish developer Treatment Leisure, however the sequel to Jesse Faden’s supernaturally powered action-adventure messes issues up fairly a bit by immersing us in its world. management About her brother in spacious Manhattan. As Treatment continues to construct a linked world, the swap to melee-focused fight definitely excites us, as does the story that appears to be deeply rooted within the occasions of Alan Wake 2, however will it’s sufficient to safe one other Recreation of the Yr win?
Probability: FBC: Might be the one treatment wanted after Firebreak.
marvel wolverine
Insomniac has persistently delivered nice video games, however the studio has by no means fairly received one of many sport of the 12 months awards. Each Marvel’s Spider-Man video games made the shortlist of their respective years, and Ratchet and Clank Rift Aside additionally made impression in 2021, however does the angriest of the X-Males stand an opportunity? Sure, there is not any launch date set but, however Marvel’s Wolverine is a Sony Studios venture for 2026, and from what we have seen up to now, it is wanting fairly spectacular. It is really been a full eight years for the reason that PlayStation unique received the videogameaddicted Recreation of the Yr award, however can Wolverine reclaim that document?
Possibly we cannot lose sleep if Insomniac comes out on high.
Saros
Nonetheless, Sony can have a number of alternatives this 12 months with Saros taking up in April. A sequel to Housemarque’s acclaimed looper shooter Returnal, expectations are undoubtedly excessive for this PS5 unique. Returnal made the shortlist in 2021, however in the end misplaced out to Xbox (then unique) Forza Horizon 5. If Housemarque can exhibit the beautiful shooter design expertise they’ve honed through the years with Tremendous Stardust, Resogun, and extra, together with an exciting story and interesting world, it has probability of taking the primary spot in 2026.
Probability: Homes (manufacturers) at all times win, however will they win right here too?
fable
It could have received this award in 2021, however Playground Video games is not resting on its laurels on the subject of Fable. A reboot of the long-dormant RPG collection initially developed by Lionhead Studios, the builders of Forza Horizon tackle a totally totally different kind of open world on this fairy tale-fused world. However might this be the most effective sport of 2026? Now, fantasy RPGs have historically executed very nicely on the subject of sport of the 12 months. Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Elden Ring, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and naturally most lately, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have all obtained videogameaddicted votes since 2014. This observe document bodes nicely for Playground, and we will not wait to see its tackle Fable on the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct.
Maybe the event of the fable can have a fairy-tale ending.
007 First Mild
There is no doubt that IO Interactive is aware of easy methods to make a terrific assassination sport, however what about spies? Properly, it will not be till 2026 that Hitman Studios turns its consideration to James Bond with First Mild. Will this stealth action-adventure mix the most effective of Agent 47 with the spectacle worthy of Uncharted? If it does, it’s going to in all probability be within the operating for sport of the 12 months.
Possibilities: 007 to 1 odds.
Nintendo
The massive query mark for 2026 is what sort of video games Nintendo has in retailer for the Change 2 because it enters its second 12 months of existence. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza obtained off to begin on consoles, however neither was adequate to win Recreation of the Yr. So what are the alternatives? fireplace emblem fortune wealth is the 18th entry within the tactical RPG collection, and whereas little is thought about it but, FE has historically set the marker for high quality. Some are unique to Change 2. Nightfall Bloods, If there’s one factor Hidetaka Miyazaki and the workforce at FromSoftware know, it is profitable Recreation of the Yr awards. Let’s examine if we will do one thing related on this upcoming PvPvE motion RPG.
It is perhaps fanciful to anticipate a brand new mainline Zelda any time quickly, nevertheless it’s been years (approach too lengthy, when you ask me) since a brand new Zelda sport was launched. new 3d mario sport. There may be nothing to recommend that 2026 will arrive, however we dare to dream. As a result of as historical past passes, as soon as that plumber begins leaping, he is at all times going to be within the Recreation of the Yr dialog.
Possibilities: A shock Nintendo hit might flip issues round.
half life 3
Haha, that may occur, proper? The rumors have not actually died down, however in latest months, whispers in regards to the arrival of a brand new Half-Life sport have began to get louder and louder. The brand new Steam Machine is scheduled to be launched in early 2026, and because it seems, it will be the right launch sport. Nonetheless, till we really get our arms on Half-Life 3, I will not significantly suppose that Half-Life 3 might be the sport of the 12 months, however who is aware of if that can occur? If Valve decides that now could be the time, it can undoubtedly be a powerful contender, having given Portal 2 its largest award in 2011 and Half-Life 2 its largest award in 2004.
Likelihood: Hahahaha
Potential for a breakout hit
As I stated at first, the sport you anticipated at first of the 12 months does not at all times win the Recreation of the Yr award. So let’s check out some which can be rather less apparent than those listed above. changed is a a lot talked about 2.5D motion platformer from Ukrainian developer Coatsink. Its stunning pixel artwork depicting a sci-fi metropolis with a distinctly Blade Runner-like look might shock some folks unfamiliar with the movie when it opens on March twelfth.
after that, mixtapeis a brand new coming-of-age retro journey from Australian studio Beethoven & Dinosaur, which earned a number of Recreation of the Yr finalists in 2021 for its psychedelic The Clever Escape. The nostalgic story, backed by a soundtrack of in style 80s songs, might simply be a success if all of it comes collectively because the trailer suggests. And at last, muugenics The upcoming roguelike tactical RPG from the creators of Tremendous Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac has been in growth for years. Evidently the discharge date is lastly scheduled for February tenth, and the subject is rising. Will cats be capable of get cream in December?
Maybe all of us love an underdog story. However what in regards to the undercat?
verdict
So who do you suppose will really win? Properly, it is unattainable to disregard the behemoth that’s GTA 6, however I nonetheless do not 100% I’m assured that it’ll seem once more this 12 months. I am going to decide on Saros. I believe Housemarque’s popularity will solely develop over time. Since its launch in 2021, increasingly more folks have began enjoying Returnal, and if Saros proves to have the ability to fulfill its potential, we hope to present the studio its blessing in 2026.
What do you suppose can be videogameaddicted’s Recreation of the Yr in 2026? Will it’s a sport that hasn’t been revealed but? Tell us within the feedback!
Simon Cardy is a senior editor at videogameaddicted, the place he largely spends his time wandering round open-world video games, indulging in Korean motion pictures, and despairing over the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Observe him on Bluesky. @cardy.bsky.social.