The best games of 2026, so far

Even this early into the year, we've already played more than enough to begin to assemble our best games of 2026. While some of them have been part of well-loved series, like Resident Evil Requiem, what's been great about the year so far is how many surprises it's brought – games we've loved far more than expected. We're only getting started too, with loads of new games for 2026 ahead shaping up to be promising as well.

Below, we've got our ranked list, where we've collected together our favorites to highlight what's been sticking with us so far. That means that when we've scored them, they've received a 4-star ranking or above (you can find our criteria by taking a look at how we score on GamesRadar+). We've further fine-tuned the selection after some healthy debate on the team, including zero thrown coffee mugs. As the year progresses and more games release, this order may move around a bit.

Either way, these highly-rated games will be in the conversation when it comes to Game of the Year discussions. Unsure why something is missing? You can take a look at all our reviews to see which ones we gave a full verdict, but we also offer additional curated lists on a genre-by-genre basis, such as the best single-player games, best RPG games, best FPS games, and more! For now, join me as we rundown the best games of 2026 so far!

The best games of 2026, ranked

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a remake of the iconic PS3 crime drama, centering on former yakuza with a heart-of-gold Kazuma Kiryu as he attempts to retire and run an orphanage in Okinawa. But won't you believe it, he gets dragged right back in as the land his orphanage is on becomes a valuable piece in a political conspiracy.

In terms of narrative, this remains one of the best Yakuza storylines because of how much it really does grapple with Kiryu trying to leave his criminal life behind, and having to grab that by the horns rather than operate from the shadows. Crunchy real-time brawls return too, which is great to see after recent turn-based and floatier entries. While great side content from the original is missing, and replacement bonuses are a bit hit-and-miss – this is still a great adventure and a solid overhaul of one of the best Yakuza games.

Romeo is a Dead Man is a bloodbath-generating time travel hack and slash adventure that isn't quite like anything else, with hyper-violent gunplay and melee. Romeo is plucked out of time just before his death to join the FBI Space-Time taskforce, coming down on aberrant fluctuations with extreme prejudice, all as he tries to find meaning in this new, strange existence.

The result is an electric experience like little else, with bloody, high-octane clashes, a talking jacket, a mysterious man inside a TV who helps you solve puzzles, and a hub area that shifts perspective from third-person to being in the style of a 16-bit RPG. Creator Suda 51 is known for a certain punk and irreverent style that permeates the likes of Killer7, No More Heroes, or Shadows of the Damned – and it feels like it all coalesces here. So off-kilter is Romeo is a Dead Man, it won't be for everyone, but that feels like a triumph of its own, and only ensures those who are into it will love it all the more.

Like if Metal Gear Solid 5 went goblin mode, Styx: Blades of Greed sees the return of the titular fantasy burglar for another quest to nab shiny goodies. This time around, though, the action goes open world, with each act of the story expanding a handful of big, dense maps with more thieving opportunities.

Here, Styx is after magical Quartz on a world-saving mission that just so happens to also be beneficial to him. After all, if the world ended, there'd be nothing left to steal, right? Objectives are broad and available for Styx to tackle in mostly any order, each map connecting together different structures with multiple points of entry, with Styx having numerous fantasy skills to get the job done. From scrambling up chimneys, poisoning food with his vomit, or creating clone decoys, there are loads of ways to get creative with stealth. It's rare to get any big budget stealth games these days, and we didn't expect this one to impress us so much by genuinely evolving the genre like it does.

Demon Tides offers a whole archipelago of platforming levels, each with their own biome, theme, and set of jumping challenges for demon queen Beebz to master. Building on the tricky platforming in Demon Turf, this gorgeous step forward refines the action while adding in loads of customization options that make you feel like you're putting together your own platformer moveset.

Core actions draw from the genre's best, from long jumps to wall runs. Demon transformations add complexity, giving bonuses depending on how you swap between them with each jump, which can then be further customized with talismans. Want extra height on certain moves? More horizontal traversal at the cost of less verticality? Greater speed at the cost of exploding if you stand still? Just strapping on rollerblades? Playing how you want doesn't stop Demon Tides from offering fantastic challenges, even if it ends up a bit easier than Demon Turf. Few 3D platformers feel as joyous as this.

I never thought that a game centred around the tactical breeding of questionable-looking cats would be so good. But I'm happy that Mewgenics proved me wrong. Developed by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, here we get the perfect mash-up of The Binding of Isaac, Into the Breach, and a touch of Dungeons and Dragons to give us a truly outstanding strategy roguelike. With each run, you'll need to pick a group of cats and assign them different classes that come with their own abilities and quirks.

On said runs, you'll need to win turn-based encounters and often stop by skill checks on your adventures. Basically (if you don't want to get exploded by a cocky rat, or worse), the game relies on your cats having good stats, and you'll want to breed the ultimate crew as you progress to different areas. The gameplay loop is massively fun, but the humor and frankly outstanding soundtrack really tip Mewgenics into being one of the best games you'll play this year.

Pokemon Pokopia isn't just one of the best Switch 2 games, but it's also (in our opinion anyway), a system seller that will have you saying "just one more hour" every time you play it. For years cozy gamers have wanted a relaxing Pokemon title in the genre, and Pokopia delivers a well-balanced and truly addictive answer to our prayers. Here you play as a Ditto that takes on the form of their old trainer after waking up in a post-human world.

The world is truly in ruins, and it's up to you to restore areas, strategically place items to form Pokemon habitats, and make sure all the Pokemon friends you find are happy and thriving. As a completist, filling up my Pokedex and the new Habitat Dex, is beyond satisfying. That, paired with a surprisingly touching story and the absolutely massive amount of building and colossal maps to decorate, creates a winning formula.

Nioh 3 takes the masocore Soulslike series open world, and manages to make it feel like a huge improvement rather than a gimmick. Each large map is dense with activities, and the wideness means you can poke and prod as you please without feeling like you're stuck on a single challenge. Well, most of the time, that is. Nioh 3 still has more traditional levels you access throughout the map, which makes it feel like the best of both worlds.

Speaking of two worlds, the samurai action of the earlier games is joined by a ninja playstyle. Rather than pick one, you can swap between them with just the press of a button, even mid-combo, creating fluid multi-skill builds that allow you to strike back at even the biggest of yokai demons. Nioh 3 is as challenging as ever, but manages to feel fairly balanced so you have the tools to take on all-comers. This isn't just the most ambitious Nioh yet, but the easiest to get into as well – a great combination.

Resident Evil Requiem celebrates 30 years of survival horror, tying together plot threads stretching back into series history while also introducing some newer, scarier elements to push the genre forward.

Two heroes help those mesh, with veteran agent Leon Kennedy taking point on bombastic action horror, while newcomer FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft struggles to make it through more classic-themed survival horror. Both are split across one storyline, perspective shifting as the narrative progresses. The detailed environments early game in the Rhodes Hill Care Center really modernize the vibes of the iconic Spencer Mansion, while Raccoon City is the backdrop to cutting through legions of undead. It might not specialize in one form of horror, but this combination manages to feel fresh, making for one of the best Resident Evil games yet.