After a crazy year of gaming in 2025, which saw the release of several highly anticipated sequels like Ghost of Yōtei, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hades II, Monster Train 2, Monster Hunter Wilds, Borderlands 4, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Dying Light: The Beast, we’re now getting ready for a new year. As it stands, 2026 already has numerous titles to look forward to, including Grand Theft Auto VI, assuming it doesn’t get delayed to 2027. We do expect to see some indie surprises, though, maybe not to the level of this year’s Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but definitely some unannounced games will release that win over gamers worldwide.
We’ll probably be diving into some of the gacha games ourselves, including Arknights: Endfield and The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, and we’ll probably check out Highguard just to see if it’s actually fun. Personally, I’ll probably hop back into Animal Crossing: New Horizons to see how the improvements feel on the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Code Violet
Since Capcom refuses to give us a sequel to Dino Crisis, the folks at TeamKill Media have decided to take matters into their own hands. Code Violet is a spiritual successor to Dino Crisis, blending classic survival horror with dinosaurs. Players take on the role of Violet Sinclair, who awakens in the Aion Bioengineering Complex, which is filled with prehistoric dinosaurs and other hostile forces. Code Violet takes place in the 25th century, after a cataclysmic event has left Earth uninhabitable. The remaining survivors have escaped to Trappist 1-E, and as humanity faces extinction, the Aion colony uses time-travel technology to abduct women from the past to be surrogates. The story honestly sounds a bit like a hot mess, but if the gameplay is fun and it nails that Dino Crisis experience we’ve all been missing, Code Violet might be one of those surprise hits.
Code Violet releases on January 10, 2026 for PlayStation 5.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon
While Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was the talk of 2025, bringing new fans to the series, veterans are looking forward to the next entry, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon. Picking up shortly after Trails Through Daybreak II, this entry continues Van Arkride’s storyline and his work in the Calvard Republic. The government has unveiled Project StarTaker, a space-focused initiative that collides with the deeper mysteries of Zemuria. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is shaping up to be a major turning point for the saga as it moves toward its endgame.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon releases on January 15, 2026 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
The Animal Crossing franchise won over millions of new fans when New Horizons launched during a worldwide pandemic in 2020. It’s hardly a new game, but the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition might bring back players or attract new ones. Those who don’t already own the game will have to fork over $64.99 for the Switch 2 Edition, while the upgrade pack for current owners will run $4.99. The Switch 2 Edition adds improved resolution, including 4K when docked, as well as mouse controls, 12-player online play, and CameraPlay support. The more exciting news is that the game is getting a massive free update on the same day as the Switch 2 Edition’s launch, which adds a new resort hotel run by Kapp’n’s family, new themed items, Slumber Island, and more.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases on January 15, 2026 for Switch 2.
Arknights: Endfield
The original Arknights is a free-to-play tactical RPG with tower defense mechanics that launched globally in 2020 following its China release in 2019. Developer Hypergryph is now readying Arknights: Endfield, a real-time 3D RPG in the same vein as Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves, with an automated production mechanic similar to Satisfactory. Based on closed beta tests, it appears the game’s factory automation will generate various gear, explosives, batteries, tactical items, and more. Many of us enjoyed the original Arknights, so we’re looking forward to what Arknights: Endfield has to offer.
Arknights: Endfield releases on January 22, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and PC.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Xbox, Switch 2)
At long last, Xbox and Switch 2 players can enjoy Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the first game in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy. Originally released in April 2020 on PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy VII Remake got the Intergrade version for PlayStation 5 in 2021 before heading to PC later that year. There’s a demo available on Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 that covers the game’s iconic opening, with progress carrying over to the full release. The question now is how much longer Xbox and Switch 2 players will have to wait to experience Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, one of the best games I’ve ever played.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade releases on January 22, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2.
Highguard
Highguard’s introduction to the world probably could have gone better. If you haven’t been following, the game was the final major announcement at The Game Awards 2025, which is typically reserved for highly anticipated reveals. Unfortunately, Highguard’s trailer fell a bit flat, coming across as yet another hero shooter with destructible environments and mounts. The internet has gone so far as to call it Concord 2.0 based on the short trailer, which is likely not what the developers were hoping for. Still, it comes from some of the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall at a new studio called Wildlight Entertainment, so at the very least, the gameplay should be good. Whether the game is fun, though, remains a big question since we saw so little. We honestly have no clue which way Highguard is going to go, but we’re definitely curious about playing it to see if there’s anything unique about it.
Highguard releases on January 26, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
Yet another gacha game on our list, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is basically a Genshin Impact-like game set in the world of The Seven Deadly Sins, an extremely popular anime and manga. This open-world game drops players into a faithfully recreated Britannia from the original anime, with the full cast joined by some new original characters. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin will present an original story focused on Prince Tristan of the Kingdom of Liones as he embarks on a journey to restore order to Britannia. Truthfully, everything we’ve seen about the game actually looks great, except for the monetization part. Unfortunately, Netmarble has a terrible track record when it comes to these things, but it’s ultimately still a free-to-play title that will offer hours of entertainment, especially if you’re a fan of the anime or manga.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin releases on January 28, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, and PC.
Dispatch (Switch)
Another game that isn’t exactly new, Dispatch makes its way onto this list because it’s heading to the Switch and Switch 2 to kick off 2026. It’s a story-driven game from AdHoc Studio, made up of former Telltale Games developers, and it was one of my favorite games of 2025. As I mentioned in my Dispatch review, my only real complaint after the credits rolled was that the game felt too short. Its production is great, with top-notch animation, voice acting, and writing. While the story itself is a bit predictable, it’s the cast that really shines. Gameplay is a bit limited, but it offers just enough that it isn’t a detriment to the game.
Dispatch releases on January 28, 2026 for Switch and Switch 2.
Cairn
Thanks to Peak, climbing games are just so hot right now. Cairn couldn’t be more different from the co-op game, though, as it’s a realistic simulation that focuses on pro climber Aava as she sets off to ascend Mount Kami. The team at The Game Bakers focused on intuitive, simple controls, as players will have to find the best holds and place their hands and feet to climb. The game promises to offer the freedom of climbing anywhere and on anything, and part of the challenge will be managing resources to survive the long ascent.
Cairn releases on January 29, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Code Vein II
The original Code Vein from 2019 was a pleasant surprise, bringing Soulslike combat to an anime-styled game with AI companions and co-op. The game went on to be a success, selling over four million copies as of mid-2025. So naturally, a sequel is set to arrive, and this time around, Revenants have been transformed into mindless monsters called Horrors. Players take on the role of a Revenant hunter and set off to stop the world’s collapse by traveling to the past with a girl named Lou, who has the power to manipulate time. The sequel also brings a mechanic where players can drain blood from enemies to unleash a variety of skills. Combined with a new build system, Code Vein II will feature plenty of customization for weapons and skills that cater to different playstyles.
Code Vein II releases on January 30, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
