Every year is a little different in the industry. Once upon a time, there was a concentration of games released between August and November (with more leaning towards October and November) to take advantage of the holiday season, with earlier, notable releases being more spread out. The first months of the year, as well as the summer, used to be weaker, but as the industry has grown, these two periods have also seen people enter the market. The 2025 holiday period saw fewer releases, or at least felt like it, likely due to the first release date of GTA 6 before its delay.
While some solid games have already been released in 2026—Arknights: Endfield, Cairn, Pathologic 3, Highguard, Code Vein 2and Nioh 3, most recently – none of which are exactly “must play”. Many of them really depend on liking a specific niche, which holds them back from full-blown must-play status. But Mewgenicswhich releases on Steam on February 10th, has been given the coveted status. Mewgenics reviews have been pouring in for the latest game from the makers of The Binding of Isaac and the end is near (Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel), and it's already pulling strong numbers.
Upcoming PC Games 2026: Big Releases to Indie Darlings and Steam Early Access
PC gamers have hundreds of new Steam games to look forward to in 2026. We're talking basically every genre imaginable.
On review aggregator OpenCritic, the top critic average for Mewgenics is 90 with 94% of critics recommending the title. It is a “Mighty” title according to its description, based on 16 current critic reviews. This number may change as more reviews come in over the next few days, but the number is as likely to go up as it is to go down (given the high reviews so far). Normally, more reviews mean a lower score, but even if it drops from the 90s, many games don't even start in them.
What is Mewgenics? The first must-have game of 2026 on Steam
Mewgenics described by developers as “the ultimate turn-based cat tactics and breeding roguelite”. The general game loop of Mewgenics is about raising an army of cats and then sending them on adventures (adding more to the tactics) in search of food, money and treasure. Combat involves “precise positioning, wild power combinations, and environmental reasons.” MewgenicsAll cats adopt classic RPG classes to some extent, ranging from Fighters and Tanks to Mages and more.
Among these classes and cats are 1000+ unique abilities, with each class having 75 unique abilities. Combined with 900+ items, an emphasis on environmental interactions, and the ability for players to make their own decisions, each roguelite runs in Mewgenics is different. But getting there is still part of the formula. Cats returning from their adventures provide experience, skills and mutations that can then be bred into a bloodline. It's easy to see how these numbers and choices create a very systemic game, becoming more and more complex over time to drive tactical mastery and emergent gameplay.
Mewgenics features at a glance
- 200+ hours of main campaign
- 10+ character classes with 75 unique abilities each
- 900+ wild items
- 200+ enemies and bosses
- Build, experiment, plan, adapt, survive, breed
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
Start
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
What critics say
Dan Stapleton, IGN “Mewgenics is a great tactical RPG good for over a hundred hours of roguelike runs. Just when you think you've got it figured out, it throws something completely unexpected and hilariously gross at you – and probably a catchy new original song too.”
Paul Kelly, PCGamesN “Mewgenics offers more depth and ingenuity than any strategy game I've played in years. It's also ultimately unfunny, with an aesthetic, a theme, and a cast of characters that consistently miss the mark. If you can buy into the humor, there's a really good game waiting here.”
Robin Valentine, PC gamer “A sprawling, ridiculous and endlessly surprising roguelike that will draw you body and soul into its chaotic world.”
Ali Jones, GamesRadar+ “The crude humor and quirky interactions that have been a staple of McMillen's work for decades don't distract.”
Mewgenics release date
Sure, sometimes critics and the public don't see eye to eye. The pedigree of Mewgenics speaks for itself, especially in combination with these points. Ultimately, the best way to judge a game is to experience it yourself, and Mewgenics will be released on Steam on February 11th.
- Released
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February 10, 2026
- Developer
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Edmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel
- Publisher
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Edmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel
- Number of players
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Single player
- Compatibility with Steam Deck
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Unknown
