There’s a ton of games on the horizon, in what looks to be another outstanding year for new content.
The big Xbox headliner is without a doubt Grand Theft Auto 6, but it comes against a backdrop of industry turmoil. The memory crisis has vastly constrained console supplies across Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation alike, and competition from non-gaming “hobbies” like YouTube Shorts and TikTok continues to compete for attention.
That’s not stopping the monstrously talented games industry from putting out endless bangers, though. Inspired by a conversation I was having IRL, I thought I’d put the question to you guys too: what are your top 5 most anticipated games for the rest of the year, and maybe some that are also flying under the radar?
Here are some of my picks.
Star Wars: Zero Company (August 27, 2026)
I absolutely adore XCOM, and I’ve been endlessly irritated that Take-Two has put the franchise on ice. Thankfully, various members of the OG Firaxis XCOM team formed a new studio, Bit Reactor, and they’ve teamed up with EA for a next-gen XCOM-like set in the Star Wars universe. Do not sleep on this one, tactics fans.
Beast of Reincarnation (August 4, 2026)
Beast of Reincarnation is from the publisher of Pokemon of all things, proving that they can deliver modernized visuals and combat in a wholly original IP.
Beast of Reincarnation draws upon the likes of Sekiro, Nier Automata, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s hybrid tactics-action combat, and it looks fantastic.
Gears of War: E-Day (October 6, 2026)
Gears of War: E-Day is the first fully forever Xbox console exclusive in years, and it looks to be something special. E-Day is a prequel showcasing the initial attack on humanity, as the Locust horde springs forth from the ground and begins carving humanity into dust. More horrific and brutal than ever, Gears: E-Day might end up being the best entry in the franchise’s history.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword (September 4, 2026)
Capcom is arguably having one of its best years in history, with Resident Evil 9 and Pragmata selling millions of copies at the start of the year. It looks set to make it a hat trick with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which modernizes the classic horror-hack-n-slash for a new era.
Guns of Eschaton (TBC)
Guns of Eschaton is the final game from legendary artist Viktor Antonov, known for shaping the worlds of Dishonored and Half-Life. Antonov sadly passed away in 2025, but not before leaving his mark on Guns of Eschaton, a mind-warping horror Western FPS with soulslike traditions baked in.
Over to you! What games are you most excited for?
There are tons of games I could also mention on top of this list. I’m excited for Final Fantasy Resonance, Mortal Shell 2, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Fable, Clockwork Revolution, Blood of the Dawnwalker, Castlevania Belmont’s Curse, and of course, GTA 6. There’s also tons of DLCs I’m interested in playing too, such as STALKER 2’s Cost of Hope expansion, and Dragon’s Dogma 2’s on top.
There are probably dozens I’m forgetting as well, which is why I’m handing it over to you.
Hit the comments and let us know what your most anticipated upcoming games are, and there are bonus points for highlighting games flying under the radar right now.
The industry is in turmoil in some ways, but the creativity on display despite all the pressures is inspiring in its own right.
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