---
title: 'Best Games Of 2026 So Far'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xjm4G7s-ELI'
video_id: 'Xjm4G7s-ELI'
date: 2026-06-16
duration_sec: 0
---

# Best Games Of 2026 So Far

> Source: [Best Games Of 2026 So Far](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xjm4G7s-ELI)

## Summary

The video presents a curated list of the best games released in the first half of 2026, covering a wide range of genres from mountain climbing and RPGs to shooters and sports titles. Each game is briefly described, highlighting its unique features, strengths, and why it stands out as a contender for game of the year.

### Key Points

- **Can - Mountain Climbing Game** [0:18] — Can fuses a vivid sense of wonder with true peril, focusing on equilibrium and moments of quiet reflection.
- **Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred** [1:06] — Lord of Hatred brings quality-of-life improvements, two new classes (warlock and paladin), and a satisfying conclusion to the Hatred Saga.
- **Esoteric Eb - Fantasy RPG** [1:39] — Esoteric Eb combines tabletop D&D with Disco Elysium, featuring dice rolls and a charming, hilarious fantasy world.
- **Marathon - Extraction Shooter** [2:09] — Marathon is an extraction shooter with stunning art direction, punchy gunplay, and tactical depth in 20-minute sessions.
- **Mewgenics - Cat Breeding Roguelite** [2:50] — Mewgenics is a challenging roguelite about breeding cats, from the creators of The Binding of Isaac.
- **Mina the Hollower - Retro Souls-like** [3:25] — Mina the Hollower combines retro Game Boy-era Zelda aesthetics with Souls-like gameplay, offering a dense, charming experience.
- **Mixtape - Music-Driven Story** [4:07] — Mixtape is a heartfelt coming-of-age story with a standout soundtrack, from Australian developers Beethoven and Dinosaur.
- **Monster Hunter Stories 3** [4:28] — Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a charming threequel with a compelling story, colorful characters, and flashy combat.
- **Nioh 3 - Souls-like Refinement** [5:00] — Nioh 3 adds open field design, quality-of-life enhancements, and rock-solid combat, making it the best in the series.
- **Pokémon Picopia - Cozy Life Sim** [5:35] — Pokémon Picopia is a cozy life sim combining Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders mechanics, celebrating Pokémon's 30th anniversary.
- **Pragmata - Original IP** [6:03] — Pragmata is an original IP with evolving hacking mini-games, challenging gameplay, and a heartfelt story.
- **Saros - Roguelite Bullet Hell** [6:30] — Saros builds on Returnal's foundation with aggressive roguelite gameplay, offering an intoxicating rush of power.
- **007 First Light - James Bond** [7:04] — 007 First Light from IO Interactive features intricate world-building, top-tier stealth, and a confident reinvention of Bond.
- **Big Hops - 3D Platformer** [7:50] — Big Hops is a 3D platformer combining Super Mario with Breath of the Wild, offering simple, polished gameplay for all ages.
- **Forza Horizon 6 - Racing** [8:18] — Forza Horizon 6 tours Japan with stunning visuals, rewarding gameplay, and a celebration of car culture.
- **LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight** [8:56] — LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight plays like the Arkham sequel fans have waited for, with enjoyable gameplay and Easter eggs.
- **Mario Tennis Fever** [9:33] — Mario Tennis Fever introduces fever rackets that add unpredictability, alongside an enjoyable adventure mode.
- **Mouse PI for Hire** [10:05] — Mouse PI for Hire features rubber hose cartoon aesthetics with film noir, kinetic gunplay, and slapstick violence.
- **Planet of Lana 2** [10:33] — Planet of Lana 2 offers beautiful world design, strong art direction, and a fantastic soundtrack with engaging puzzles.
- **Re:Animal - Horror Co-op** [11:04] — Re:Animal is a spiritual successor to Little Nightmares, offering haunting imagery and enjoyable co-op exploration.
- **Resident Evil Requiem** [11:43] — Resident Evil Requiem is a highlight reel of the series' best horror and action, refined with thoughtful gameplay additions.
- **Vampire Crawlers - Deck Builder** [12:11] — Vampire Crawlers reimagines Vampire Survivors as an approachable deck builder with addictive 'just-one-more-turn' energy.
- **World of Warcraft: Midnight** [12:41] — World of Warcraft: Midnight is the 11th expansion, with challenging end-game activities, UI overhauls, and a robust housing system.
- **WWE 2K26** [13:09] — WWE 2K26 focuses on quality-of-life improvements, new match types, a CM Punk story mode, and an overhauled Island mode.
- **Zero Build for Dead Spies** [13:43] — Zero Build for Dead Spies is a spy thriller with razor-sharp writing, fascinating characters, and RPG systems that encourage failing upwards.

## Transcript

Once again, the year in gaming has seen
no shortage of high-quality releases and
game of the year contenders. As we
approach the halfway point of 2026, here
are the best games of the year so far.
>> Brought to you by Xbox.
>> Can represents a new peak for mountain
climbing games as it fuses a vivid sense
of wonder with a feeling of true peril.
It's you against the world as you guide
the protagonist Ava up steep cliffs and
search for that one handhold that won't
spell certain doom when you shift your
weight. With equilibrium being a key
component of the experience, Can, also
knows exactly when to let players
breathe, offering moments of quiet
reflection as a counterbalance to when
you hit a metaphorical and literal wall
on your ascent.
>> [screaming]
>> Diablo expansions are a big deal as
these add-ons have given rise to some of
the best moments in the franchise. Lord
of Hatred can proudly stand shoulder to
shoulder with Lord of Destruction and
Reaper of Souls as it brings fantastic
quality of life improvements, two new
classes that make you feel like a
powerhouse, and a thrilling narrative to
the table. Diablo IV's hatred saga comes
to a satisfying conclusion while the new
warlock and paladin classes offer
explosive fun honed by major changes to
the core gameplay.
What happens when you combine a tabletop
Dungeons & Dragons session with Disco
Elysium? You get Esoteric Eb, a charming
fantasy game where sweat-inducing die
rolls govern your fate. Set in an
original fantasy world that's brimming
with personality, Esoteric Eb is
charming and surprisingly hilarious as
you don the chain mail of an idiot with
a talent for magic. All that and a
killer soundtrack.
Marathon is admittedly a lot to take in
the first time you boot it up, but stick
with it and you'll find an extraction
shooter that captures the highs and lows
of the genre. It's art direction is a
visual feast. The gunplay packs a punch
and there's a surprising amount of depth
in each 20-minute excursion to Tau Ceti
4. How Marathon will shape up over the
long term remains to be seen, but Bungie
has delivered an exciting game with
strong fundamentals, rich lore, and
tactical gameplay that could get even
better in time with post-launch DLC
drops.
>> Do not worry.
Peace is upon you.
>> All the joy of breeding an army of cats
with none of the real-life
responsibility of spending a fortune on
food and kitty litter. Mewgenics is a
challenging experience with unparalleled
depth. The Binding of Isaac and The End
Is Nigh developers Edmund McMillen and
Tyler Glaiel have delivered a complex
game balancing the joy of managing an
ever-growing collection of cats with the
nail-biting just one more run energy
you'd expect [music] from the best
roguelites.
>> Mewgenics.
>> Now that it's finally out of the gate,
Mina the Hollower is proving that it is
well worth the wait. A masterclass in
design that combines the retro
aesthetics of Game Boy era Zelda games
with Souls-like gameplay. Mina the
Hollower is a love letter to the past
that feels refreshingly modern.
Developer Yacht Club Games has come out
swinging with an ambitious game, one
that's densely packed with content and
charm, while demanding combat ensures
that your attention never drifts away
for a single second.
This year is going to go down as one of
the best for video games with a music
bend, thanks in part to standout titles
like Mixtape. A sincere look at the
horrors of growing up from Australian
developers Beethoven and Dinosaur,
Mixtape also features one of the best
soundtracks of the year so far. Music
and memories collide in grand fashion,
and the end result is a heartfelt coming
of age story.
Monster Hunter Stories 3 Twisted
Reflection proves just how good a
spin-off from a mainline series of games
can be, as this charming threequel
checks multiple boxes for a great gaming
experience. A compelling story, a
colorful cast of characters, and a
flashy combat system all add up to build
an all-time classic Monster Hunter game,
next to several of the best games in the
main Monster Hunter franchise.
Team Ninja's Souls-like Nioh games have
established themselves as fast-paced and
punishing adventures. Nioh 3 doesn't
stray from that established formula, but
it does add compelling new additions and
refinements that sharpen the experience.
With the introduction of open field
design that adds more exploration and
discovery to the mix, quality of life
enhancements, and rock-solid combat,
Nioh 3 is the best game in the series to
date and Team Ninja at its best.
The idea of a Pokémon-themed cozy life
sim sounds like an interesting idea for
a spin-off, and it's one that has been
expertly realized in Pokémon Picopia. A
well-executed combination of the design
sensibilities of Animal Crossing and
Dragon Quest Builders with some Viva
Piñata inspiration for good measure,
Pokémon Pocopia is an elegant
celebration of the Pokémon franchise's
30th anniversary.
One of 2026 contenders for game of the
year, Pragmata is a refreshingly
original IP in an ocean of sequels and
remakes. It's no one-trick pony as the
constantly evolving hacking mini-games,
challenging gameplay that only escalates
the more you play, and the heartfelt
story make for a standout experience on
PC and console.
Housemarque knows a thing or two about
roguelite bullet hell adventures that
keep you glued to the screen, and Saros
builds on Returnal's foundation to
deliver a roller coaster of fun and
challenge. While it's not as unforgiving
as Returnal, prepare to die and try, try
again as you master the exquisitely
aggressive gameplay of Saros. The game
successfully flips Housemarque's
roguelite formula on its head, and the
result is an intoxicating rush of power
when the stars align.
With Hitman developer IO Interactive at
the helm, 007 First Light is a showcase
of the studio's greatest strengths. From
intricate world building to top-tier
stealth, the first James Bond adventure
in many years shares a lot of DNA with
Agent 47, but it also breaks free from
those comparisons by excelling in other
gameplay areas. A game that's
laser-focused on delivering a tightly
constructed story complemented by
rough-and-tumble action, precision
shooting, and an arsenal of one-liners,
007 First Light is a successful and
confident reinvention of Bond for the
modern era.
>> Issues with authority?
>> I believe it's more a case of authority
having issues with me.
>> What happens when Super Mario meets The
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? You
get Big Hops, one of the first great
games of 2026. A 3D platformer with
plenty of charm and heart, Big Hops
keeps things simple and polished as it
confidently hops into vibrant worlds.
That makes it an approachable game for
all ages, and with well-executed
gameplay, it's a constantly satisfying
adventure.
>> How am I going to get home?
>> Forza Horizon 6 doesn't stray from the
formula it has been fine-tuning since
2012, but it didn't need to, either.
Instead, Forza Horizon's tour of Japan
is a celebration of car culture that is
constantly rewarding and looks as good
as a million-dollar supercar. Forza
Motorsport's open-world spin-off has
become Microsoft's champion racing game
franchise, and this new entry in the
series is firing on all cylinders. With
its mix of fast cars, wild showdown
races, and intelligently designed
systems that complement the racing
experience.
Batman is no stranger to the world of
LEGO, having headlined several games in
the past. But this new entry featuring
the Dark Knight is more than just a toy
box of destructible environments and
cheeky humor. It's a celebration of the
Caped Crusader's rich legacy, and it
plays like the Arkham sequel fans have
been waiting over a full decade for.
Full of heart and charm, LEGO Batman:
Legacy of the Dark Knight keeps your
eyes glued to the bat screen with
enjoyable gameplay, Easter eggs, and a
playful take on the beloved Gotham
vigilante.
>> You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses on,
would you?
>> Mario has developed into quite the
sportsman over the years, and Mario
Tennis Fever might just be his best
athletic adventure yet. While the core
mechanics of Mario Tennis remain largely
unchanged, it's the fun and flexible
fever rackets that serve up some great
content and add a layer of
unpredictability to every match.
Alongside the enjoyable adventure mode,
challenges, and special game types,
Mario Tennis Fever is a grand slam
winner for Switch 2 owners.
>> Yeah.
>> With a game like Mouse PI for Hire,
looks do matter, and those looks are an
exquisite throwback to the rubber hose
design of classic cartoons ramped up in
a film noir aesthetic. Not just a
visually engaging adventure, Mouse PI
for Hire also flexes some beefy gameplay
muscles with kinetic gunplay and weapons
that deliver some gloriously slick
slapstick violence.
>> It burns. It burns.
>> Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
sticks to the winning formula of the
first game, giving players a beautiful
world to explore and savor thanks to its
strong art direction and fantastic
soundtrack. While it takes a while for
the story to truly get going, the second
half of this adventure is a bold and
stunning collection of fascinating
puzzles and platforming, all built
around a central [music] mystery that
keeps you hooked to your screen.
Critics of the Little Nightmares co-op
horror game series say that the terror
of the original game has been somewhat
muted in its sequels. And if you feel
the same way, then you will want to
check out Re:Animal. It more than lives
up to the legacy of Little Nightmares as
this spiritual successor surpasses it
with a game design that makes exploring
a haunting and unsettling world quite
enjoyable, especially with a co-op
partner in tow. While its puzzles aren't
too challenging, it's the unsettling
imagery that leaves a lasting impression
as you guide siblings through a
nightmarish world and toward freedom.
Imagine Resident Evil's greatest hits
bundled into one delightfully macabre
package and you've got Resident Evil
Requiem, a highlight reel of the
heart-pounding horror and action that
has defined the series for 30 years.
Requiem refines the formula behind the
games and polishes it with small but
thoughtful gameplay additions to create
a gorgeously gruesome experience.
>> [screaming]
>> Rogue-like deck builders feel like an
oversaturated genre these days, but
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle puts
a fresh spin on the genre with a
spin-off game that's hard to put down.
Capturing all the magic of its breakout
hit bullet-heaven game and reimagining
it as an approachable deck builder that
gets better with each run, don't be too
surprised if the just-one-more-turn
energy of Vampire Crawlers keeps you
awake way past your bedtime.
Midnight is the 11th expansion for World
of Warcraft and it continues to make
major foundational changes to Blizzard's
legendary MMO. With enough content to
cater to both veteran players and
newcomers, Midnight builds on that
momentum with challenging end-game
activities, welcome overhauls to the
user interface and a robust housing
system that gives you the opportunity to
turn a slice of Zereth into a dream
home.
WWE 2K26 doesn't offer many changes to
the bread-and-butter gameplay of
previous releases, but this year's entry
in the sports entertainment series does
address a long list of issues. The focus
on quality-of-life improvements make
each match feel more fun than ever
before thanks to the added layer of
polish while new match types, a story
mode focused on CM Punk, and an
overhauled Island mode put WWE 2K26 in
the main event spotlight.
Any spiritual successor to Disco Elysium
certainly has its work cut out for it.
And while Zero Build for Dead Spies
doesn't quite reach that benchmark, it's
still a powerhouse spy thriller full of
interesting ideas. Featuring razor-sharp
writing and fascinating characters, Zero
Build is a clandestine tale of espionage
with rich RPG systems that encourage you
to fail upwards. And those are
GameSpot's best games of 2026 so far.
What did we miss? Let us know in the
comments. And for coverage around the
rest of the games yet to release [music]
in 2026, stay right here on GameSpot.