The games worth adding to your wishlist right now are not necessarily the ones with the biggest marketing budgets. Some of the most anticipated releases in 2026 are sequels to beloved games, others are new IP from studios with strong track records. Here is what is worth watching.
GTA VI: the release everyone is watching
Grand Theft Auto VI is confirmed for 2025 on consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X) with PC to follow. Whether it launches on the date Rockstar has confirmed or slips is the question most people are watching. The trailer footage suggests a significant leap in world density, NPC behaviour, and the scale of the Florida-inspired setting. If it delivers on what the trailer implies it is one of the most anticipated releases in the history of the medium. It is impossible to review expectations fairly given how long the gap between GTA V and GTA VI has been, but the anticipation is real.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Silksong has been in development for years and its eventual release remains one of the most discussed events in the Metroidvania community. The original Hollow Knight is one of the most respected indie games ever made. Silksong features a new protagonist, Hornet, in a new kingdom, with a new combat system built around her aggressive, fast playstyle rather than Hollow Knight’s more measured approach. A release window has not been confirmed as of early 2026 but Team Cherry has indicated the game is in a completed state pending final testing. Wishlisted and waiting.
Monster Hunter Wilds updates
Monster Hunter Wilds launched to strong reviews in early 2025 and Capcom’s update cadence has been consistent. The first major title update added new monsters and a substantial end-game tier. If you played World or Rise and enjoyed either, Wilds is the current version of that formula with significantly improved environmental design and monster behaviour. The base game is worth playing; the content roadmap through 2026 adds reasons to stay.
Slay the Spire 2
Already in early access as of early 2026 and already receiving the same community enthusiasm as the original. The deckbuilding roguelite genre would not exist in its current form without the first Slay the Spire. The sequel rebuilds the foundation with new characters and card interactions. If you played the original, the early access price is worth it for the state it is currently in. If you did not play the original, this is the current best entry point to the genre.
Games that launched in 2025 worth catching up on
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — a French indie JRPG with the year’s most acclaimed soundtrack and a story that received widespread critical praise. Blue Prince — a puzzle game about a mansion that rearranges itself daily, which generated significant word of mouth in 2025. Hades 2 reached 1.0 release. Monster Hunter Wilds launched to strong reviews. If your backlog from 2025 needs clearing, those are the four titles most worth prioritising before 2026 releases pile up.
For keeping up with what is actually worth playing versus what is just well-marketed, the guides in the Reviews category cover the games across all genres that have been genuinely worth the time investment.
