The year has gotten off to a flying start, and looking ahead, there are many highly anticipated games coming in 2026. How well will they score when they arrive? That remains to be seen, but, as in previous years, we’ll keep track of all the games that hit a review score of at least 8 and list them below. That doesn’t mean that games that fall below that threshold aren’t worth your time, as they can still entertain you for hours on end if you can overlook some of their flaws.
We’ll also be keeping track of those titles below, but for now, the focus here is on must-play games. 2025’s best games included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Silent Hill F, alongside entries from smaller studios like The Seance of Blake Manor, Dispatch, and Blue Prince.
As a reminder, GameSpot does standard game reviews, reviews in progress, and we’ll sometimes publish updated reviews of ongoing games if there have been major changes to them. Most of our reviews are also adapted for video, so if you’d like to hear the soothing voices of our producers tell you exactly why a game is worth your time, you can hit up our YouTube page.
To keep things simple, we’ll be listing the games below alphabetically, based on their scores.
Cairn — 9
Cairn 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 Aava 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, Cairn 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.
Read our Cairn review, and watch the video review here. Available for PC and PS5.
Esoteric Ebb — 9
What happens when you combine a tabletop Dungeons & Dragons session with Disco Elysium? You get Esoteric Ebb, a charming fantasy game where sweat-inducing die rolls govern your fate. Set in an original fantasy world that’s brimming with personality, Esoteric Ebb is charming and surprisingly hilarious, as you don the chainmail of an idiot with a talent for magic: all that and a killer soundtrack.
Read our Esoteric Ebb review. Available for PC.
Marathon — 9
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. Its 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 IV. 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.
Read our Marathon review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Mewgenics — 9
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 from the best roguelites.
Read our Mewgenics review. Available for PC.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection — 9
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, successfully standing tall next to several of the best games in the main Monster Hunter franchise.
Read our Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
Nioh 3 — 9
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.
Read our Nioh 3 review. Available for PC and PS5.
Pokemon Pokopia — 9
The idea of a Pokemon-themed cozy life sim sounds like an interesting idea for a spin-off, and it’s one that has been expertly realized in Pokemon Pokopia. A well-executed combination of the design sensibilities of Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders–with some Viva Piñata inspiration for good measure–Pokemon Pokopia is an elegant celebration of the Pokemon franchise’s 30th anniversary.
Read our Pokemon Pokopia review. Available for Switch 2.
Pragmata — 9
One of 2026’s 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 minigames, challenging gameplay that only escalates the more you play, and the heartfelt story make for a standout experience on PC and console.
Read our Pragmata review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
Big Hops — 8
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 its well-executed gameplay, it’s a constantly satisfying adventure.
Read our Big Hops review. Available for PC, PS5, and Switch.
Mario Tennis Fever — 8
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.
Read our Mario Tennis Fever review. Available for Switch 2.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf — 8
Planet of Lana II: 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 mystery that keeps you hooked to your screen.
Read our Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, and Switch.
Reanimal — 8
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’ll want to check out Reanimal. 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.
Read our Reanimal review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
Resident Evil Requiem — 8
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.
Read our Resident Evil Requiem review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
World of Warcraft: Midnight
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 endgame activities, welcome overhauls to the user interface, and a robust housing system that gives you the opportunity to turn a slice of Zeroth into a dream home.
Read our World of Warcraft: Midnight review. Available for PC.
WWE 2K26 — 8
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 makes each match feel more fun than ever before, thanks to the added layers 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.
Read our WWE 2K26 review. Available for PC, PS5, and Switch 2.
Every other GameSpot review in 2026
Not every game released this year is a winner, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth playing. If you can overlook some of their issues, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised, and we’ll be running a list of the games that didn’t make the cut above. These will be arranged in alphabetical order so that you can quickly find what you’re looking for.
- Code Vein 2 — 6
- Crimson Desert — 7
- Crisol: Theater of Idols — 6
- Darwin’s Paradox — 7
- Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined — 7
- God of War: Sons of Sparta — 5
- High on Life 2 — 7
- Highguard — 6
- Hytale (Early Access) — 6
- Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered — 7
- People of Note — 7
- Pokemon Champions — 7
- Romeo is a Dead Man — 5
- Scott Pilgrim EX — 7
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup In Bellabel Park — 7
- Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties — 6
