Brand new games that are really exciting

2026 looks like a great year for gaming. If everything matches, we should get Grand Theft Auto 6 later this year, which will definitely be the big highlight. Even before that we have Resident Evil Requiemthe franchise makes a return with what looks to be another crunch of a survival horror entry. Nioh 3 is also just around the corner, along with Code Vein 2. On the indie side, the long awaited Paralives might fall into Early Access as well. And with remasters, who could forget Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly making an iconic comeback?

I could go on and on about what's exciting, but the point of this list is to focus more on games coming out in the first four months or so of 2026. We won't be taking into account remasters or new entries in a famous franchise, hence why I celebrated GTA 6 and Resident Evil 9 above. Only brand new, standalone (at least for now) games that are fully released or into Early Access will be mentionedmaking this an ideal little catalog for anyone looking to try something brand new in the first quarter and a half of 2026.

Games released on Early Access will be included.

Mouse: PI for rent

An artistic look back at the 1930s

Starting with one of the best looking games for 2026 is Mouse: PI for hire. This is a big throwback to old-school black-and-white cartoons from the 1930s, married with some wild, action-packed first-person shooter gameplay. It's definitely a combination that no one could have imagined in gaming for 2026, but strangely, it looks very appealing and fun.

You will take control of a private detective named Jack Pepper as you begin to unravel the mystery of a missing person. As with all detective stories, the truth is always more complicated than you initially think, and this story looks to take you through multiple levels and environments full of retro noir personality.

Reborn animal

Experience true terror in co-op mode

About the style of Reborn animal looks vaguely familiar to you, that's because this is the new title coming from the same people who did Little nightmares game. It all starts with a missing person, a friend you set out to find on an island that doesn't exactly welcome you. Jump in with your go-to co-op buddy, or go it alone; both are possible here, so even if you don't find anyone to try it with, you can still experience the full spectrum of horror.

It has a lovely, fantastical art style of a dark children's story, paired with nightmarish horrors straight out of a child's wildest imagination that chase you and search for you as you sneak around and hide. Honestly, this might be the next best thing to co-op skinning between friends.

Threat

Lead a strike force against all threats

If you liked the atmosphere and concept of a game that XCOM 2you might like what Threat has to offer, as you take care of a strike team against various threats that pop up around the system. It's all about strategy and tactics here, as you decide where to step in and where you might need to hold back. With a large arsenal of tools at your disposal, in addition to your chosen crew, you can also engage walkers and tanks on the battlefield as you work your way through the myriad of missions and operations.

One battle takes you to another, along a specific path. It looks to be a game where your decisions will give way to a rather unique gameplay, with choices and approaches playing a big role as factions are also involved in the game. Who will you befriend and who will be ready to help you?

SAND: Raiders of Sophie

Build your own Desert Walker, ready for battle

If you ever thought to yourself that hikers from Star Wars would make nice homes in a world that kind of makes you think of Arrakis, Sand: Raiders of Sophie may be the exact niche for you. It's an FPS game with a pretty unique concept: build your own walker, which is essentially your home base, and head out into the dunes to loot and look for more resources and gear.

Oh, but beware, there are other players in the mix who want to conquer the exact same desert as you. With PVP included and the desert a procedurally generated map where you have to fight tooth and nail for your survival against others, it definitely sounds like an experience guaranteed to get your blood pumping.

YAPYAP

A magical new Friendslop game

Friendslop game like Deadly business and REPO have become super popular in recent years, and YAPYAP could be the next big thing to hit the shelves. This time you are a group of would-be little wizards sent to trash a rival's tower by causing as much chaos and destruction as possible. Of course, you have to remain undetected while doing this, as the towers are guarded by strange creatures and monsters. Chaos is bound to happen.

What really makes this one stand out is the magic system. You basically cast spells with your voice, which is perfect, since there's a reason in the game to actually talk now and possibly warn the monsters. The spells are also available in a rather fun and pleasant variant. Some are pretty silly, like fishify, and others can be genuinely helpful, like teleportation.

Replaced

A taste of cyberpunk aesthetics in 2.5D

Easily one of the best looking games on this list, the graphics on Replaced alone will make you gasp and wow. The lightning, the gorgeous retro-futuristic art style, mixed with pixelated characters, turns this platformer into a whole new experience.

It will definitely be a game that you will stop and admire as you progress through its ominous cyberpunk story set in an alternate history America, circa 1980s. You play as an AI named REACH, inside a human body. Your job is to investigate the suspicious activities of the Phoenix Corporation, a classic evil megacorp. Even if you're not big on platformers, this one really pushes the boundaries of what the 2.5D format can offer.

Pragmatics

Capcom's new IP is a new Sci-Fi story

Pragmatics will probably be one of the biggest brand new action-adventure games to look out for in the first half of 2026. It's something brand new from Capcom, a deep dive into a sci-fi world through the lens of Hugh and his AI companion Diana. From what we know about the trailers, it looks like things have gone to hell for humanity after the Delphi Corporation's technological advancements.

The highlight, however, is the battle. Diana plays a pretty cool role as your companion, traveling on Hugh's back and helping him defeat the machine enemies through her hacking abilities. This could potentially be something new in the field of combat, and the graphics are definitely next level detailed.

The Gold River Project

The survival genre gets a welcome expansion

The final release date for The Gold River Project is still a question mark, as the game is only coming out for Early Access. That said, if you're a survival fan and love open-world environments and happen to have a friend group that likes co-op survival titles, this could be your next big stop. Set in the Pacific Northwest, the game features all the classic bells and whistles of a survival game, from crafting to managing your needs like hunger and thirst.

But this isn't just an ordinary game about camping. It goes much, much deeper. You are not out in the woods for nothing, but instead people are watching you and manipulating you. There's more to this title than meets the eye, and it's a perfect upcoming game to keep an eye out for if you like titles like The Forest.

Crimson Desert

Welcome to the next big open-world action-adventure newcomer

On the open world gaming front, Pearl Abyss is looking to deliver something quite ambitious in terms of Crimson Desert. Considering they are the brains behind it Black Desert Onlineit is understandable why the hype for this game is currently increasing. The visuals look amazing, but will the game provide a deep enough experience? Since it's coming out in March 2026, thankfully we won't have to keep guessing for long.

As far as we know, players take control of Kliff in a fantasy world known as Pywel. You are free to explore its nooks and crannies for side quests, ruins and towns, as you embark on a journey to gather the survivors of the Greymanes. In true RPG fashion, you have companions to meet and greet, weapons and buildings to choose from, and epic bosses to stand in your way.