There's something exciting about having a game to look forward to, especially when you've been waiting for it for years. Sometimes it's the next entry in a series you love, sometimes it's a completely new game that shows up with an incredible trailer, and sometimes it's a project that has been so quiet that you're still wondering what it'll actually be when it finally arrives.
The coming years have plenty of those games. A few are close enough that we can almost start counting the days, while others are still surrounded by question marks. Either way, here are the games that have caught our attention and are worth keeping an eye on.
2026 Is Going Out With a Bang
GTA VI
Regardless of personal preferences, everyone can agree that GTA VI is one of the most anticipated games ever made. After years of waiting, the game is finally coming on November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Set in the familiar world of Vice City, GTA VI follows Jason and Lucia, two criminals whose attempt to make money quickly pulls them into a much larger conspiracy across the state of Leonida. Rockstar has already shown enough of the game to make it clear that this is a significant step forward for the series, with a much larger and more detailed world than ever before.
But not everything has been sunshine and rainbows. From leaks that threaten to spoil the game for everyone to the exclusive 26-minute gameplay trailer that initially required a Netflix subscription, fans have not been particularly amused. Let's just hope the finished game can live up to the enormous expectations surrounding it.
More Action Is Coming
Fans of fast-paced action were already eating well this year, with titles like Mortal Shell 2, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Nioh 3, and many others. However, there are still more to come, with these two being the most notable.
First is Phantom Blade Zero, arriving on October 29, 2026. This new IP has been making waves in the soulslike community, despite not being considered a soulslike itself. Recent gameplay demonstrations have revealed incredibly fast-paced combat that mixes swordplay with a huge selection of weapons and techniques inspired by Chinese martial arts.
Then there is the newest FromSoftware title, The Duskbloods. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki is known for his ability to subvert expectations, but he really went above and beyond with this one, leaving confused fans everywhere. Between being a Switch 2 exclusive and its multiplayer-focused gameplay, fans are not sure exactly what to make of it. The game is currently scheduled for 2026, with no exact release date. A closed network test was held recently to build hype for the eventual release, though many players were left with more questions than answers.
Something a Little More Relaxed
Witchbrook Screenshot
Not every highly anticipated game needs to be about fighting monsters or saving the world. Witchbrook is a cosy life-sim from Chucklefish and Robotality, set in a magical seaside town where players attend Witchbrook College, learn spells, make friends, find romance, explore the surrounding world, and build their own life as a witch. It is also scheduled for 2026 on PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox.
Witchbrook has been in development for a long time, but that's part of why it's so appealing. There's a clear audience for games that let you slow down, build relationships, decorate your home, and simply exist in a charming world.
A Very Busy Year for Gaming
If 2026 has some huge releases still left in the tank, 2027 is already looking remarkable, with several major franchises returning within weeks of each other alongside a couple of long-awaited sequels.
Eleven Days, Four Major Releases
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for February 12, 2027, bringing Lara Croft back to the adventure that started everything. It is a full reimagining of the 1996 Tomb Raider, with Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog rebuilding its locations, puzzles, combat, and exploration using Unreal Engine 5.
The appeal here is obvious. The original Tomb Raider remains one of the most important games in the history of 3D action-adventure, but its age also makes it difficult for modern players to experience without accepting some very old-fashioned design. Legacy of Atlantis has the chance to preserve what made the original special while rethinking the parts that have not aged quite as well.
Just four days later, God of War: Laufey arrives on February 16, 2027. This time, Kratos is not the protagonist. The game follows Faye, Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother, after her death as she awakens in the afterlife and discovers that her plans to protect her family are in danger. The game introduces a new setting, new combat systems, and a completely different protagonist while remaining connected to the story players already know.
Then, on February 18, comes Persona 4 Revival. The remake of Persona 4 Golden is being rebuilt with updated graphics, combat, UI, cutscenes, quality-of-life improvements, and additional content. Persona 4 already has a huge reputation among fans of the series, particularly for its characters and story. When Persona 5 was released, it introduced millions of new players to the franchise, making this remake especially timely , particularly after the success of Persona 3 Reload in 2024.
Finally, on February 23, Fable returns. Playground Games' reboot is an open-world action RPG set in Albion, where choices affect the player's reputation, relationships, and the world around them. Fable has been absent for so long that this feels less like another sequel and more like a chance to see whether the series can find its identity again. The original games' main appeal was their humour, strange characters, morality systems, and fairytale setting , here's hoping the new one can keep that charm and bring it to the modern era.
The Wolf Among Us 2
Telltale's continuation of the 2013 narrative adventure is now scheduled for 2027, returning to Fabletown five months after the events of the original. Bigby Wolf and Snow White are once again at the centre of a story about fairytale characters hiding in modern-day New York.
The original The Wolf Among Us developed a dedicated following because of its atmosphere, characters, and choice-driven storytelling. The original Telltale studio went bankrupt in 2018 but was revived and purchased by LCG Entertainment. This led to an unusually difficult development, including transitions from Unreal Engine 4 to 5 and a complete reset of the story and script. Even so, the fans never gave up, and they remain as hyped as ever for the chance to return to Fabletown.
ILL
ILL is a first-person action-horror game from Team Clout that promises grotesque creatures, detailed physics, visceral combat, and a huge isolated research facility at the centre of its story. The developers have put considerable attention into the environment and the feeling of being trapped inside a massive, unfamiliar structure. Its monsters are obviously part of the appeal, but the game seems just as interested in making the player uncomfortable through the world itself.
Kena: Scars of Kosmora
Kena: Scars of Kosmora Key Art
Ember Lab's sequel to Kena: Bridge of Spirits will take Kena to the mysterious island of Kosmora, where she will encounter new cultures, ancient temples, new elemental abilities, and a new spirit companion that can assist in both combat and traversal.
The first Kena was one of those games that immediately stood out because of its animation-inspired visuals and charming world. Scars of Kosmora looks like Ember Lab is trying to build on that foundation without losing the qualities that made the original so appealing.
Kingdom Hearts IV
Kingdom Hearts IV is finally arriving after years of waiting. Square Enix has confirmed that the game will release in late 2027, with Sora returning to the mysterious city of Quadratum alongside Donald and Goofy. The latest trailer also revealed a world inspired by Disney and Pixar's Coco.
Kingdom Hearts has always been difficult to explain to anyone who has not played it , part Disney, part Final Fantasy, part convoluted original fantasy story, all working together in a way that somehow clicks. Kingdom Hearts IV now has the unenviable job of following a saga that has been running for more than two decades, and the expectations are through the roof.
The Ones Still Shrouded in Mystery
Finally, there are the games we know are coming but have no specific release date. These are arguably the most intriguing of all , not only because they remain shrouded in mystery, but because some are sequels to genuinely beloved series.
The Witcher 4
The Witcher 4 is without a doubt the biggest example of this. CD Projekt RED has confirmed that the game won't release by the end of 2026, but there is still no precise release date or confirmed 2027 launch window. What we do know is that The Witcher 4 will begin a new chapter for the series, with Ciri taking the lead role.
The Witcher 3 set an incredibly high standard for open-world RPGs, and the idea of seeing what CD Projekt RED does with a new protagonist, a new story, and the technology of the current generation is hard to ignore.
Persona 6
Atlus officially announced Persona 6 in June 2026, confirming it is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, PC, PS5, and Steam , but the release date is still listed as TBD. There isn't much point speculating about the story when Atlus has barely shown anything yet.
The reason Persona 6 earns a spot here is simply the weight behind the name. Persona 5 became one of the most successful Japanese RPGs of its generation, and Persona 4 Revival is about to introduce yet another generation of players to one of its predecessors. Whatever Atlus eventually reveals about Persona 6, it is going to attract an enormous amount of attention.
Guild Wars 3
Guild Wars 3 is another fascinating entry because it has only just been properly announced. ArenaNet has confirmed that the game is in development and will take players back to Tyria, with Orr playing a major role. It will also be the first game in the series to launch on both PC and PlayStation 5.
For a series built around a living online world for so long, a full sequel is a huge deal. Guild Wars 2 has been running for well over a decade, so seeing ArenaNet finally move forward with a new game raises a lot of questions about what the next generation of the MMORPG will actually look like.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain
Very little is known about the sequel to the 2024 game Stellar Blade, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming one of the more intriguing games on this list. Shift Up first revealed the game in 2026, confirming it will continue the story of the original while introducing a new protagonist named Evie. There is currently no release date.
The Future Looks Bright
Waiting for games has become part of the experience itself. Trailers get picked apart, release dates get moved, developers go quiet for months, and every new detail starts another round of speculation. By the time a game finally arrives, we've often spent years imagining what it could be.
But that's the whole appeal. Now we just have to wait and see which of these games can live up to the expectations.
