2026 will be hotter than 2025, and this Best 11 list proves it.
2025 has been an epic year for gaming. You could go as far as to say that it was one of the greatest years in gaming history, and why would you not think that? We had the likes of Kingdom Come Deliverance II, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and of course, the 2025 Game of the Year, Expedition 33.
A game that received a whopping nine awards, the most awards in gaming history, and received the most nominations in history. This game was breaking records and rightfully so. What makes this sweeter is that Expedition 33 was up against super heavyweight games. It is fair to say that this is among the greatest games ever. 2025 had so many great games; it is amazing they narrowed it down to just six.
Now, 2025 is out, and 2026 is in, and for this year, from the look at the current lineup of games expected to arrive this year, it could outshine last year in so many ways. We all have a wishlist of games we will be getting this year.
There are many games I plan on getting this year, but we will be here all day, if I described them all. Therefore, I will only give the best 11 games I plan to get this year. This list of the best 11 is in no particular order.
Grand Theft Auto VI
I may as well start the best 11 list with 2026’s most anticipated game of the year and the sixteenth entry into an iconic franchise. It has been over a decade since the last game, and minus the remasters, rereleases, and so forth, it has been almost a decade since the release of a Rockstar Games title (Red Dead Redemption 2).
What is funny is that it was actually supposed to arrive last year, but due to delays, it was pushed to a new schedule: November 19, 2026. Unfortunately, there are rumours that it will be pushed to 2027. However, due to the current date, this game makes the best 11 list. Set in Leonida, the fictional state of Florida, which features the Miami-inspired Vice City.
The storyline consists of a Bonnie and Clyde-like criminal couple, Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, where players take on both roles. Lucia, the first female protagonist in the franchise, was imprisoned after the events in Liberty City, where she fought for her family. Whereas Jason, who previously worked in the illegal drug trade, also served in the army. The couple is now facing a conspiracy that puts both their lives in danger, and they are sworn to protect each other.
There are currently few game details on the game’s gameplay and mechanics. However, we would expect it to be similar to Grand Theft Auto V’s core gameplay, but with many additional gameplay features and much more realistic animations. Nonetheless, I cannot wait to get this game, as I will be back to enjoying a plethora of criminal activities and goodness.
007: First Light
This game caught my eye aPlayStation’sgo when PlayStation’s State of Play announced it and showed some awesome gameplay and mechanics that got me to hit the wishlist button on Steam and add it to my best 11. Moreover, I am a huge fan of James Bond movies and games.
The story follows a young agent who undertakes a dangerous mission, and completing it will grant him 00 status. You have Q, M, and Moneypenny reprising their roles, and the leading antagonist is played by music icon Lenny Kravitz.
Developed and published by IO Interactive. Does that name sound familiar? It should, because it is the creator of the iconic Hitman series, and from Light’s look at First Light’s gameplay videos, the gameplay is pretty similar. This is not like your typical James Bond. This one is much more agile than ever before, including much more fluid, dynamic, and expertise in combat, and you have at least three solutions for taking down each enemy.
The mechanic I love the most is during stealth, where you have a seemingly endless amount of options in surpassing your targets, ranging from gadgets to the environment. This is the best 11-game on the list, and I cannot wait to play it. Tons of thrilling gunfights, combat, stealth, and of course car chases, and much more. Due to the recent delay, the game is now set for May 27, 2026.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Just like Grand Theft Auto VI, there aren’t many details about the gameplay, but it’s still on my best 11 list. The only thing we know for now is that you get control over four characters: Black Panther, Captain America, Gabe Jones, and Wakandan Spy Network leader, Nanali. This is the first-ever game developed by Skydance New Media and published by Plaion.
Set in World War II at Occupied Paris, all four playable characters reluctantly ally to take down the fictional terrorist organisation, Hydra. Heavily influenced by the 2010 Marvel Comics limited series Captain America/Black Panther: Flags of Our Fathers. Although this game doesn’t say much, it still carries massive expectations, especially from comic book fans. There is currently no official date; it is still set to arrive this year.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Given the huge financial and critical success of Requiem and Innocence, their upcoming title comes with even greater expectations. Seriously, the last game was a (2022) Game of the Year contender for crying out loud. We expect Resonance to be perfection, or close to it, which is why I put this game into my best 11. If you played the last game, you would know about Sophia.
However, this time, not only do you know much more about her story, but you will also be playing as her, as she is the new female protagonist in this prequel. The story is set fifteen years before the events of Requiem, as her journey takes her to the Minotaur’s Island. She will face an abundance of dangerous trials and puzzle-solving, all while tackling an army after her.
Unlike Amicia, Sophia possesses a particular set of skills, abilities, and weapons to give you A Plague Tale combat and stealth experience like never before, as you will engage in the most dynamic combat in the franchise. This game also has no official date, but it is still Marvel’d for 2026.
Marvel’s Wolverine
This is arguably the most anticipated game after Grand Theft Auto VI. I still remember the first-ever trailer for this game back in 2021, and since then, there has been radio silence, leading fans to speculate whether the game is still happening.
Thankfully, after just a couple of months, it has been confirmed that we are indeed getting the Wolverine game this year, which is why it makes my best 11 list.
Furthermore, since the developer Insomniac Games created 2 Game of Marvel contenders, Marvel’s Spider-Man 1 and 2, we expect nothing less from their upcoming standalone title, which is exactly why it made my best 11. There isn’t much said about the story or gameplay, but the announcement alone is enough to leave our mouths watering. Scheduled for fall 2026.
Resident Evil Requiem
This game arrives just next month, the earliest release in my best 11 list, and as a Resident Evil fan, I am literally counting down the days. To make things sweeter, the iconic character, Leon Kennedy, is returning for the first time since Resident Evil 6. However, I did get to enjoy replaying as him in 2023’s brilliant remake of Resident Evil 4. Furthermore, he is one of the playable characters in Requiem.
The other is a brand new protagonist to the franchise. Her name is Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst who, with Kennedy’s help, uncovers the truth about post-nuclear Raccoon City. Players can switch between the two characters, and each has different mechanics. Leon’s missions are mainly combat-driven, similarly to the 2023 RE4 remake.
Grace, on the other hand, uses mechanics similar to those in 2019’s RE2, 2017’s RE7: Biohazard, and 2021’s Village, where she mainly focuses on avoiding detection by the leading antagonist, Victor Gideon, and his army of creatures inside the hotel. This bad boy will arrive on February 27, 2026.
Crimson Desert
This is another title that is not long away from its release date. March 19, 2026, is when this gem is expected to be released. Crimson Desert is an open-world, action-adventure title that was released in 2015 as a prequel to 2015’s MMORPG, Black Desert Online. However, they had eventually decided to make this game a single-player, standalone game.
Players will take on the role of a Greymanes member, Kliff, who vows to reclaim all that was lost in the fictional continent of Pywell. This is a stunning yet devastated medieval fantasy universe. A world that is now filled by mythical creatures, arcane forces, and, of course, rival factions.
The game made my best 11 list because it offers immensely immersive gameplay, with incredible combat that includes brilliant melee sequences, crazy combos, and high-intelligence-required strategies. The combat systems will be much better during thrilling boss fights.
Additionally, players can engage in a wide range of immersive activities and tasks, such as hunting, cooking, and crafting, as they progress through their playthrough. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the highly anticipated Crimson Desert.
SAROS
This one releases a month after the previous game in this list: April 30, 2026. The first time I saw this announcement was at State of Play, and it immediately went into my best 11. I could not wait to get my hands on it since then. This is a uniquely designed game with incredibly well-designed visuals throughout, which alone was enough to make me want to learn more about it.
This upcoming action game was developed by Housemarque, which made its return with the 2021 classic Returnal, and is published by Sony Interactive Studios. As of now, this game is solely available on the PlayStation 5. Players experience a thrilling third-person perspective that combines elements of third-person shooter, bullet-hell, and roguelite.
The player takes on the role of Arjun Devraj, an enforcer for Soltari who aims to unravel the secret behind a lost off-world colony on the shape-shifting planet Carcosa. Players get to master bullet baller combat, which features highly immersive, projectile-focused gameplay and a unique, neon-infused look to tackle enemies and insane boss fights.
Phantom Blade Zero
This game has been on my radar since 2024, I believe, and now that it is expected to come out this year, I could not be any happier. The game itself looked stunning, with its unique visuals of the environment, objects, and even the enemies, but what caught my attention the most was the ultra-realistic and immersive combat and animations. Especially, when sword fighting, and from the looks of the combat from the gameplay videos, I know I will have one hell of a time with this game’s combat, which is why it is in my best 11.
As for the story, there is not much said about it other than players taking on the role of a warrior named Soul, who apparently has around sixty-six days left to live and must, in his final days, overcome deadly assassins and uncover world-destroying conspiracies. Furthermore, he has to defend his values with his life. Phantom Blade Zero is expected to arrive on September 9, 2026.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
This game is the latest to touch my best 11 list as it won last month’s 2025 Game of the Year Awards. The moment they finished their trailer, I immediately went on to Steam and clicked on the wishlist button. Moreover, as a massive Tomb Raider fan, I will be simply counting down the days for this best 11 game.
Legacy of Atlantis has not shown any real gameplay. However, we do know that this is a remake of the iconic 1996 game Tomb Raider. The first-ever game in the franchise. This game prioritises rich storytelling, immense puzzle-solving, and a classic style of exploration.
The story is centred on the highly intelligent British archaeologist Lara Croft, who searches for the missing pieces of the Scion, a mysterious yet unbelievably powerful artefact from the lost civilisation of Atlantis—no official release date, but expected to arrive this year.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
This game is on my best 11 list because whenever Japan and its history, whether real or fictional, are involved, I am game – always. I recently enjoyed Ghost of Yōtei, and earlier last year, despite the immense controversy, I enjoyed playing Assassin’s Creed: Shadow of the Tomb Raider. We finally have the next instalment in the Onimusha franchise: Way of the Sword.
I will have the privilege of getting involved in an abundance of blood spilled and ultra-realistic swordplay action on the battlefield, as I will be navigating the historic Japanese capital of Edo-era Kyoto. The story is about a samurai who holds the Oni Gauntlet, a mysterious artefact that grants its bearer the ability to destroy Genma.
