Upcoming Video Games That Will Blow You Away In 2026 And Beyond

2025 has already been a pretty great year for video games that have blown away players, having already given players such titles as Obsidian's "Avowed" and Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed Shadows." The year promises other releases as well (barring any delays), including "Ghost of Yotei," "Outer Worlds 2," and the much-longed-for sequel "Grand Theft Auto VI," but many gamers are already looking further to 2026 and beyond for games to get excited about. Video games are more prone to release delays than any other form of media or entertainment, what with an ever-increasing demand for incredible graphics, detailed stories, and smooth mechanics from software developers.

With more gaming platforms and avenues available now than ever before and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release, it's an exciting time for fans of video games and even more so for fans of AAA titles and action-adventure epics. From the long-awaited fourth installment of the "Fable" video game series to the prestige-cast "Squadron 42," we're looking forward to a lot of titles that will most likely be debuting in 2026. Thanks to developers becoming more ambitious and creative in game production, there will be something for everyone — fans of horror, action-adventure, RPG, soulslike games, and more — in 2026.

The first "Fable" game came out for Xbox consoles in 2001 and immediately revolutionized the concept of an RPG video game. It was funny, cheeky, and provided more flexibility and choice to its players than nearly every game that came before. The series was a tentpole for Xbox until the release of "Fable 3" in 2010, and then in 2017 the developer, Lionhead Studios, folded before it could continue its main series in the world of "Fable." 

In 2020, Xbox announced that "Forza Horizon" developer Playground Games would create a new installment in the "Fable" series. Fans were ecstatic at the prospect of revisiting the fictional world of Albion, though many were also understandably worried about a good game series potentially being ruined by a different developer.

While there have been some delays in production, "Fable IV" seems set to debut in 2026, and Playground Games has offered glimpses of gameplay and cinematic footage. "Fable IV" will be set in a fairly traditional fantasy setting and will play like an action-adventure RPG. As of now, there has been no discussion of a character creator element, so it looks like the player character will be the young woman featured in the game footage that's been released so far. Arriving almost 10 years after "Fable 3," "Fable IV" will look very different, but will hopefully still capture the spark that made the series so beloved in the first place.

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S (console exclusive), PC

Developer FromSoftware's "The Duskbloods" is one of the most anticipated releases of 2026 partially because it's something of a pioneer. The game will be made exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, despite the fact that its unlike any other Nintendo exclusive that's ever been released. It's a smart move on FromSoftware's part, especially considering the advantages that the Nintendo Switch has over other consoles. FromSoftware has never published an exclusive with Nintendo before, despite having been around for a while and creating such enormously popular titles as "Dark Souls" and "Bloodborne." 

There isn't much information to be found on game mechanics or difficulty level, but it's likely that "The Duskbloods" will be just as punishing for hardcore gamers as all of FromSoftware's other titles. "The Duskbloods" will mark the launch of an entirely new IP, but based on its trailer (as revealed in April's Switch 2 news livestream from Nintendo), it will most likely take on an aesthetic very similar to the dark, gothic setting of "Bloodborne." The trailer also made it clear that the new multiplayer game will focus on vampires and vampiric abilities and lore; players will compete with each other and game-built bosses to be the first to reach some kind of fancy in-game reward called the "First Blood."

Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive)

"Onimusha: Way of the Sword" will be the first game published in the "Onimusha" series in 20 years, with the last one, "Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams," released in 2006. The series follows various characters throughout Japan's history, with many real-life figures being depicted. The games feature supernatural elements in an action-adventure format with hack-and-slash combat, which seems to be what fans can expect from the upcoming installment in the series as well. 

"Way of the Sword" will take place in feudal Japan and allow its samurai player character to harvest souls for strength and game progression. Game director Satoru Nihei has said (via PC Games) that the team isn't trying to make an "an impossibly difficult game," so anyone who's worried that the "Onimusha" series might head in a soulslike direction can rest easier. The player character, a Kyoto-based samurai, will be fighting both supernatural corruption plaguing Japan and the demonic possession within themselves. 

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

First teased in a Sony PlayStation showcase, "Phantom Blade Zero" is an artistically ambitious hack-and-slash game coming to PS5 in 2026. While it certainly shares a color palette with games like "Bloodborne" and "Sekiro," "Phantom Blade Zero" will trend more toward RPG elements in story and tone. Most of the combat in this new original IP will be based in quick, flexible melee strategies and maneuvers, while the boss fights in the game will occupy a wide spectrum of tactical methods, much like "The Witcher 3." 

The main character of "Phantom Blade Zero" is a dark, enigmatic assassin named Soul who works for a mysterious organization called "The Order." Soul will take on deadly wounds from an unknown assailant at the beginning of the game and wake with the help of a healer, only to discover that he has a limited number of days to discover the identity of his would-be murderer. Because the game centers around so much mystery, many more story details are yet to be revealed. Gamers will just have to play to find the answers when the title arrives in 2026.

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC

ROAR Games is a relatively young, independent studio that has recently been endowed with $1.5 million from The Games Fund to produce its upcoming title, "Tenet of the Spark." The game sounds unlike anything else coming to consoles in the near future, as it moves the player back and forth across three different timelines: one in the modern day, one in the age of Vikings, and one that takes place at the height of the Aztec empire. The game utilizes an interesting, animated art style and focuses on brawler-style combat.

Will, the game's modern-day protagonist, is a boxer and backstreet vigilante who regularly stands up to gangs and violence in his neighborhood. He has an ability called the Spark, which allows his consciousness to travel back in time to the lives of his ancestors, where he gains unique skills and knowledge to help him in the present. Players will be able to thoroughly explore all three worlds, including landscapes, characters, and unique items.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Studio Camelia hopes to pay homage to classic, turn-based JRPGs with its upcoming game, "Alzara Radiant Echoes." The game raised nearly three times its €100,000 ($114,000) funding goal via Kickstarter, with many fans excited to see the results of their support. "Alzara Radiant Echoes" will be a top-down, turn-based JRPG set in a vibrant, colorful world inspired by Mediterranean visuals. Players will be able to control four different characters as they wield elemental, magical powers and attempt to protect Alzara from invading forces.

Alzara is home to mysterious beings known as Zals, who respond to human prayers from their peaceful world. Players will be able to solve puzzles and answer burning questions in addition to using their characters' abilities for combat, which will help the game feel like a truly well-rounded experience. Studio Camelia is a European-based developer, but they collaborated with several prominent Japanese game artists (visual and audio) to make sure "Alzara Radiant Echoes" feels true to its JRPG inspiration.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Sony PlayStation tends to feature incredible games with compelling stories, and "Tides of Annihilation" seems like it will continue the tradition and live up to expectations after being featured in Sony's 2025 State of Play. Developed by Eclipse Glow Games, "Tides of Annihilation" will follow a female protagonist, Gwendolyn, as she makes her way through a contemporary London under siege from magical forces. Similar to another PlayStation exclusive, "Horizon," this game will be a single-player action-adventure title, a large draw of which will be its strong, compelling storyline. 

The game combines its London setting with Arthurian lore, allowing Gwendolyn (humanity's sole survivor) to utilize spirits from the Round Table as she fights a lot of scary enemies, some of which are larger than buildings. Not too much is known about the exact mechanics of the game, but players can glean from the trailer that Gwendolyn will utilize both melee and magical weapons to fight the forces of evil. While players won't be able to design their own character from scratch, there will be many customizable elements for Gwendolyn, including skill tree decisions and stylistic alterations to her physical appearance. 

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

If you're looking for a gamer-friendly, cinematic experience, you should be excited for "Squadron 42" from Cloud Imperium Games. Technically, "Squadron 42" is meant to be a spin-off title from Cloud Imperium Games' Kickstarter-funded project "Star Citizen" — a multiplayer, futuristic space simulator that has been in development for over 20 years. While the studio has released individual aspects of "Star Citizen" for player trial, the full product has yet to be realized despite its record-breaking campaign for funds. "Squadron 42" is the single-player component of "Star Citizen," and while the full multiplayer experience is still far from being launched, "Squadron 42" should be ready in 2026.

The studio has released the first hour of the game's story and it features motion-captured performances from such actors as Gary Oldman, Henry Cavill, Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, Mark Strong, Andy Serkis, and many more recognizable names. All the actors performed their scenes about a decade ago, but the game itself was still working through bugs in its 2025 presentation at CitizenCon. The game will feature space flight and battle, as well as FPS combat, in a military sci-fi setting, but there aren't too many more gameplay details that have been released as of yet.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

There are plenty of video games that deserve live-action TV or movie adaptations thanks to their compelling narratives and exciting settings, and it looks like "Saros" could join those ranks. Developer Housemarque has created a new IP in "Saros," which follows a powerful bounty hunter-type named Arjun Devraj (played in motion capture by Rahul Kohli). Players control Arjun as he searches a lost colony called Carcosa for his quarry. "Saros" will utilize and enhance a mechanic that Housemarque has used before, where the world state will be altered every time the player-character (PC) dies.

"Saros" is a roguelike game that will demand the same kind of endurance and patience from its players as Housemarque's 2021 game "Returnal," a title regarded by many fans as one of the greatest horror games of all time. Arjun is stuck in a time loop, as is the case in other roguelikes, but this game will be different from "Returnal" in that Arjun's weapon loadout will continue to evolve through PC deaths. It looks like players will have some monstrous enemies and abysmal deaths on their hands, but the words of main character Arjun offer an intriguing caveat (via PlayStation Blog): "Every time the sun dies, madness reigns. Then everything begins again. But after every death, I always come back stronger."

Platforms: PlayStation 5 (exclusive)

Among the many frightening titles coming to consoles is "Dark Mass" from Path Games, an independent, Spain-based developer. "Dark Mass" promises to be a game unlike anything that came before. It's a first-person exploration game, the entirety of which takes place deep underwater in ancient, sunken ruins that are dark and crawling with a supernatural presence. The player character, Alice (whose perspective players experience in first-person), is a deep-sea explorer who works with her brother Reed via walkie talkie. Alice's job is to solve scary puzzles (based on actual historical torture tactics) and find the heart of the submerged mansion.

The game is a visual masterpiece, managing to balance the utter darkness of ocean depths with meticulous detail and chilling design elements. In true horror-game fashion, players will determine Alice's fate through their decisions, meaning it's very possible for Alice to find a cold, watery end in "Dark Mass." Gamers with sharp phobias should probably be careful before they pick up "Dark Mass." 

When asked about the unique horror opportunities provided by the game's setting, "Dark Mass" creators Virginia Calvo and Gonzalo Luna told Game Rant, "By introducing verticality, we pushed claustrophobia to a new level. The world isn't just wide — it's deep, filled with narrow passages and vertical spaces that heighten the tension." It sounds like "Dark Mass" could give players a terrifying and haunting video game ending.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

"Exodus" is another epic sci-fi game that follows in the footsteps of titles like "Mass Effect" and "Starfield" and is coming to consoles no sooner than 2026. "Exodus" stars Matthew McConaughey and comes from Archetype Entertainment, a studio founded in 2019 as a division of Wizards of the Coast by many former Bioware developers. "Exodus" isn't out yet, but Archetype has already provided a long explanation of lore leading up to the period of time in which the game takes place. It'll be an action-adventure game with space elements,  advanced weapons and abilities, plus RPG elements, with a story that will take players far and wide.

Within the lore of the game, humans are forced to evacuate a no-longer-livable Earth around the year 2200. Multiple fleets filled with evacuees made their way to the Centauri galaxy, where they settle habitable planets. Thanks to genetic engineering and other incredible scientific advancements, humanity evolves quickly into various species known collectively as Celestials. The actual game takes place thousands of years after multiple Celestial empires have risen and fallen and follows a character named Jun, whose job is to look out for a small, undeveloped human colony called Lidon as the genetic descendant of its original founder.

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

The first "State of Decay" game was released in 2013 as an Xbox/PC exclusive. The franchise is a zombie survival game, much like "The Last of Us," but it also makes use of an open-world setting and RPG elements that are not often found in horror games. The first game was met with positive reviews, but the second in the series was released with a lot of bugs and a narrative that felt subpar in comparison to that of the first. Nonetheless, fans were psyched when the third installment was announced at the Xbox showcase in 2024. 

"State of Decay 3" will be more ambitious than ever, requiring players to balance survival and zombie combat with base management, NPC relationship-building, and resource-gathering. In the few cinematic trailers that have been released so far, it's evident that horror and suspense will still be central themes in the game. It's not totally clear what has caused the zombie apocalypse that facilitates the "State of Decay" series, but all organic material is affected, including animals and plant life. "State of Decay" sounds like an ambitious undertaking, but one that will certainly be worth checking out. That said, there is a rumor that its release could be pushed even further, into 2027.

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S (console exclusive), PC