After several tumultuous years, the video game industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, with 2025 delivering a packed slate of standout titles and 2026 shaping up to be just as thrilling. While gamers and industry insiders alike have grown accustomed to headlines about layoffs, rising prices, and high-profile delays—most notably the much-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI being pushed to 2026—the past year has proven that creativity and innovation are still alive and well in gaming.
According to NextPit, the industry’s struggles since 2021 have been hard to ignore. Mass layoffs and underwhelming releases left many questioning the future of gaming. Yet, 2025 turned out to be a banner year for quality, with a diverse selection of games capturing players’ imaginations and critics’ praise. The year’s biggest surprise? It wasn’t the usual blockbuster shooters like Call of Duty or Battlefield that stole the show, but rather a collection of inventive, story-driven, and genre-bending experiences that reminded everyone why they fell in love with gaming in the first place.
Leading the charge was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which swept The Game Awards and was widely hailed as the best game of 2025. As NextPit reports, this turn-based RPG follows a desperate group marked for death by the enigmatic Paintress, who annually paints a number on a monolith—dooming everyone past that age to turn to dust. With the number 33 set to be painted on December 29, 2025, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The game’s fresh mechanics and gripping premise, paired with a $50 price tag (and frequent sales), made it a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.
Another phenomenon was Hollow Knight: Silksong, which arrived unexpectedly in 2025 and quickly became a cultural touchstone. Its release was so impactful that, according to NextPit, other developers postponed their own launches out of respect—or perhaps fear—of its success. Set in the mysterious kingdom of Pharloom, Silksong won hearts with its challenging action and rich world-building, all for just $20.
Cooperative play saw a renaissance with Split Fiction, a quirky adventure where two writers are trapped in their own stories and must work together to escape. The game was lauded for making co-op “cool again,” and its innovative Friend’s Pass system allowed two players to share the experience for just $25 each. Overwhelmingly positive reviews and a strong social media presence cemented its status as a 2025 favorite.
Not to be outdone, Hades II expanded on the acclaimed formula of its predecessor, offering players the chance to explore the underworld as the Princess of the Underworld herself. With the backing of Olympus and an ever-expanding mythical world, the rogue-like dungeon crawler kept players coming back for more, all for a reasonable $30.
And for those with a taste for the post-apocalyptic, Atomfall provided a contained, atmospheric survival-action experience inspired by real-life nuclear disasters. Set in the fictional Windscale quarantine zone, the game drew comparisons to giants like Fallout and Stalker, but carved out its own niche with a focus on tight storytelling and survival mechanics. On sale, it could be picked up for as little as $30—a bargain for fans of the genre.
Yet, as 2025 drew to a close, the industry’s gaze shifted forward. As Matt Tate of Shortlist points out, anyone worried that 2026 would be a dry year for gaming need not fret. The upcoming release calendar is brimming with promise, from long-awaited sequels to bold new IPs.
Among the most anticipated is Resident Evil Requiem, set for release on February 27, 2026. Capcom’s ninth mainline entry in the legendary survival horror series introduces Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst investigating mysterious deaths in the ruins of Raccoon City, alongside franchise favorite Leon S. Kennedy. The game promises both scares and action, with the flexibility to switch between first- and third-person perspectives.
March will see the return of James Bond in 007: First Light, the first significant Bond game in over a decade. Developed by IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman, the game serves as an origin story for a young Bond, portrayed by Patrick Gibson. Expect a blend of stealth, action, and cinematic flair as players guide the 26-year-old agent toward his iconic 00 status.
For those craving something visually unique, Mouse: P.I. for Hire arrives March 19, 2026. Inspired by 1930s rubber hose cartoons, this black-and-white FPS stars Jack Pepper, a rodent detective voiced by Troy Baker. Its hand-drawn art style and blend of detective work and frantic combat have already drawn comparisons to Cuphead, but with a noir twist.
Housemarque’s Saros is due April 30, 2026, and aims to be another technical showcase for the PlayStation 5. The sci-fi, third-person action game with roguelike elements puts players in the shoes of Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer investigating a colony on the planet Carcosa. Unlike its punishing predecessor Returnal, Saros allows for permanent upgrades, making each run a bit more manageable for the faint of heart.
Fans of the Caped Crusader will want to mark May 29, 2026, on their calendars for Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. This open-world Gotham adventure celebrates Batman’s entire history, with UK comedy legend Matt Berry lending his voice to Bane. Developer Traveller’s Tales promises a blend of humor, action, and nostalgia that should appeal to Bat-fans old and new.
Nintendo Switch 2 owners have plenty to look forward to as well, with FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods offering a multiplayer action RPG experience with up to eight players. Featuring vampire-like characters known as the Bloodsworn, the game adds another layer to the studio’s legacy of challenging, atmospheric adventures.
After years of anticipation and delays, Grand Theft Auto VI is finally set to launch on November 19, 2026. Rockstar’s latest epic will return players to the Miami-inspired Vice City—now part of the fictional state of Leonida—and follow protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. The trailer hints at a more grounded story, but longtime fans can rest assured that the series’ trademark open-world mayhem will be front and center.
Other highlights include the long-awaited Fable reboot from Playground Games, which promises a return to the whimsical, irreverent fantasy world beloved by fans, and Marvel’s Wolverine from Insomniac Games, which puts players in the shoes (or claws) of Logan as he embarks on a globe-trotting quest for answers.
With so many exciting titles on the horizon, it’s clear that the challenges of the past few years have only fueled the industry’s creative fire. Gamers have plenty to look forward to in 2026—and plenty of reasons to keep their controllers charged and their backlogs clear.