Two Months In, 2026 Is Already a Standout Year for Games
..and it's just getting started.
I say this every year, but the number of great games coming out every other week is honestly absurd. Whatever your preferred genre, it is hard not to find something to enjoy at any price point, from indie gems to big-budget adventures and everything in between.
It is only March 2026, but the year has already delivered several excellent releases. With so many standouts arriving in just the past couple of months, I wanted to look back at some of the most notable ones.
Nioh 3
- Platforms: PC, PS5
- Release date: February 6, 2026
KOEI TECMO and Team Ninja’s latest action RPG extravaganza takes the series into open fields with roaming enemies and bosses, introduces a swappable Ninja form (that is frankly a bit broken), and includes plenty of quality of life improvements to the series’ formula for a fantastic action experience that can last dozens upon dozens of hours.
Cairn
- Platforms: PC, PS5
- Release date: January 29, 2026
My personal favorite release of the year, Cairn, is an absorbing and demanding climbing adventure with a heartfelt narrative that lingers for days, meaningful exploration seamlessly woven into the deadly journey, immersive climbing mechanics that demand patience, and a gallery of vistas rewarded after each ascent.
Resident Evil Requiem
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2
- Release date: February 27, 2026
CAPCOM has several major releases planned for 2026, and they’re kicking off the year with a bang with the new mainline Resident Evil, Resident Evil Requiem. Play as Grace, the new protagonist, hiding from monstrosities and surviving by the skin of your teeth, then switch to series favorite Leon for high-octane zombie-slaying action.
It is a blend of two very pure Resident Evil styles that somehow come together for an expertly paced survival horror experience.
REANIMAL
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2
- Release date: February 13, 2026
Just when you think cinematic 2D platformers are running out of steam, Tarsier Studios drops REANIMAL, a stunning horror adventure that takes you through twisted hellscapes on a war-torn island. Flee gigantic animalistic monstrosities, solve contextual puzzles, and uncover echoes of your past as a disturbing narrative unfolds.
Play alone or with a friend through online co-op and a friend’s pass!
Esoteric Ebb
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: March 3, 2026
Like many, Disco Elysium had a profound impact on me and elevated the medium to new heights thanks to its bold writing, incredible art, and consequence-driven approach to design. Nothing has captured its magic since, but Esoteric Ebb is probably the first title you can really point to that understands what makes Disco Elysium so special.
It is a hilarious RPG adventure that is heartfelt at the same time, with plenty of choices to make and a few missteps to navigate.
Demon Tides
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2
- Release date: February 19, 2026
Open-world 3D platformers can’t work, right? WRONG. Demon Tides is an expressive, joyful, and mechanically dense platformer that takes some of the best ideas from the genre and blends them into a playground of technical expression and customization.
If Bowser’s Fury showcased the potential of this style of platformer, Demon Tides builds on it with an even more focused and varied landscape.
Other Notable Releases
- Mewgenics – Edmund McMillen and Tyler Galeil’s new strategy game… with cats.
- Romeo is Dead Man – Suda51’s latest. Stylish, janky, and bursting with creative expression.
- Pathologic 3 – Yep. More Pathologic.
- Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered – Vae Victis! Blood Omen next, please?
- TR-49 – Operate a World War II computer in this narrative deduction game.
- PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse – An actual sequel? Square, are you okay?
- Homura Hime – An anime action game that’s actually really good? How?
Did I miss something that you think deserves some love? Share it in the comments below!
