Hello dear readers. It has been a long and exhausting year full of amazing games, and the new year is nearly upon us.  Now, it is time to look ahead to the new titles coming out in 2026 and especially the ones that I am looking forward to playing. GiN blogger Michael Blaker already hit the ground running with this, and he has some very good suggestions. My list is a bit different, of course, but the good news is that in the game industry these days, there is literally something for everyone.

So, without further ado, here in no particular order is my list of five games that I am super excited to see in 2026.

Resident Evil: Requiem (Planned release: 02/2026)

I have missed the last few Resident Evil titles, though I may try to go back and play Village given how well it did with its GiN review. While details have been scant about Requiem, the screenshots look incredible. Leon Kennedy is back and rocking the lovable scruff while facing the horrific creatures the franchise is known for. Grace Ashcroft, an intelligence analyst for the FBI, is introduced as the other main character. Both characters have their own style with Grace being more horror focused while Leon is more action packed. It won the most anticipated game at the TrueGaming awards. Overall, my anxiety is going to absolutely loathe how much Resident Evil I plan to play in 2026.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (2026)

Longtime readers know I am a huge Fire Emblem fan. When the trailer dropped and I saw we would be going back to Fodlan, I got excited because players will get a better chance to fix whatever story that Fire Emblem: Three Houses attempted to tell. This is because Three Houses had three playable stories that each gave different information with their own different endings, and none of those tales really gave any information about the true enemy. Fortune’s Weave will give us a chance to fill in the gaps.

It is unclear right now if Fortune’s Weave is a prequel or a sequel, but it looks like I have to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 so I can play it. The details on Fortune’s Weave are still light but enough to get me excited.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer (2026)

This title came out of left field, and I certainly did not have a new iteration of Star Wars: Racer on my bingo card. That said, I remember enjoying Star Wars: Racer on the Nintendo 64. For the time especially, it was a solid racer and never came off as too much of a gimmick. That says a lot because, for those too young to remember, the Nintendo 64 was the wild west of gaming. This was the same system that had a racing game for both Lamborghini and the Volkswagen Beetle. I guess my only concern is if they go the Star Wars: Squadrons route where the multiplayer is tightly focused to the point where solo play is practically nonexistent. Hopefully, both solo and multiplayer gaming will be possible. Galactic Racer has a Steam page already but no indication of a release date.

Gate Guard Simulator (2026)

It wouldn’t be a list of mine without me wanting a random, obtuse game that seems boring. In this case, Gate Guard Simulator will fill that role in 2026. There aren’t many details yet, but it looks like a medieval version of Papers, Please that is much goofier. The trailer shows a guard toss a bard into the moat while checking carts for stowaways. No release date was given, but I have already sent a review request.

I might just need to be pried away from this one after it releases.

Ledgerbound (No release date yet)

Another game that there’s not many details on at the moment but strikes a fun tone is Ledgerbound, which is also on Steam. Ledgerbound is a tactics RPG which is a win for me but also has a funny twist where it appears that you work at a company that will go bankrupt if another adventuring party dies and claims their life insurance. Ledgerbound might be the one I am actually the most excited for next year. I think that says a lot about who I am as a gamer these days.

Quick Note: I left Grand Theft Auto VI off my list even though Michael made it his number one choice. It does look amazing, but I am not entirely convinced that it will release next year.

So, it looks like we have a lot of amazing titles releasing in 2026. Hopefully, you all will also find something that piques your interest. Until then, have a happy holiday and a happy new year!