2025 had video video games. 2026 may have video video games. GTA 6 is perhaps a kind of video video games. Nevertheless, it’s presently solely pencilled in for console subsequent 12 months. Not that I thought-about writing about it on this form of article two years working, only for fun. That’d be hackish and beneath the extent I maintain myself to. Properly, by about three millimeters.
Anyway, I’ve performed this correctly. Listed here are 4 video games slated for 2026 that I’m genuinely enthusiastic about. Solely half of them are racing video games, so I’ve actually exercised some self-discipline. Hope you’re happy with me. With out additional ado.
007 First Mild
Duh-duh duhh, duh-duh duhh, duh-duh de duh-duh. Duh, duh duh duh. Duh, duh duh duh. Dingdiddleingdingding, duhduluhdiddleingdingding, duhduhduhduh, duh, duh, duh. I’ve been anticipating you, IO Interactive. Your sport’s referred to as First Mild, 007 First Mild, and it’s like Hitman, however with a bit extra of a motion film flavour to the sneaking about and rendering goons unconscious. I’m hardly the largest Bond buff, extra an off-the-cuff enjoyer of a straightforward option to fill a Sunday afternoon with some Daniel Craig spyjinks or one of many Moore/Connery classics if the grandparents have come spherical.
That mentioned, I’m properly up for First Mild. Particularly if it could provide as satisfying a loop as Hitman’s missions. There’ll be much less homicide chess and extra chatty automobile chasey shootering as a part of the Bond method, as IO have proven off at varied factors this 12 months. Lenny Kravitz being one of many baddies would even have been a change of tempo, if Agent 47 hadn’t began recurrently rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eminem and Jean-Claude Van Damme over the previous few years.
Diverting from the years-tested ‘discover a option to unalive this particular person’ nature of Hitman’s homicide field ranges – every a perfectly-formed maze of killer domino runs you possibly can set off at will, combine collectively, or completely abandon in favour of improvisation – comes with threat. Bond could possibly be extra of a one-time fling than a dance companion you tango with endlessly till you’ve grow to be accustomed to each shock they’ve to supply. Even when that’s the case, I reckon it’ll nonetheless be a very good time. If it hits Hitmanny heights, the sport of the 12 months dialog may have already got a locked-in contender sipping martinis within the foyer by the top of March.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
With The Witcher 4 nonetheless a little bit manner off, I’m eager to provide The Blood of Dawnwalker an opportunity to get its enamel into me subsequent 12 months. A lot has been manufactured from devs Insurgent Wolves’ witchery credentials, and you’ll actually see the resemblance between CD Projekt’s darkish medieval fantasy and Dawnwalker’s. That mentioned, I’m to see if there’s a Witcher-level wealth of substance behind the vampire RPG’s time-sensitive mission to bust into a robust bloodsucker’s lair and get again your loved ones.
Insurgent Wolves have been eager to stress dynamic modifications in each how quests must be approached and which powers protagonist Coen has to lean on relying on whether or not it’s day or night time. They’ve additionally closely pushed the concept the selection and consequence will likely be considerable and pretty brutal, particularly should you’re crap at deciding what to prioritise rapidly. All of that appears nice, even when I’m completely satisfied the fight would possibly take me a short while to get into the swing of. The Witcher 3’s did too, to be honest, and I’m primarily involved about lackluster parrying reactions letting me down within the directional thrust-heavy sword battles.
Dawnwalker appears set to supply an expertise that dwells much more deeply on darkness than the Witcher video games do and as such would possibly boast much less of the levity that comes from the likes of Gerry utilizing his mutant powers to retrieve an outdated woman’s frying pan. So, assuming there aren’t many gags hiding amid the moonlit streets, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see whether or not sticking broadly to seriousness tone-wise can carry Insurgent Wolves in direction of ruling the night time.
Forza Horizon 6
I’ve not performed practically as a lot Forza Horizon 5 as I did Forza Horizon 4. Steam tells me the hour depend stands at 245 to 81 in favour of the latter, and whereas I had loads of enjoyable in that point zipping round Mexico, I’ve not turned FH5’s keys since 2023. A whole lot of that’s probably right down to me solely coming to Horizon 4 when it plopped onto Valve’s storefront in 2021 and enjoying an terrible lot of it within the run as much as the arrival of its follow-up.
Horizon 6, although, feels well-positioned to set me off on one other Forza binge now I’ve had a while away from the collection’ open-world automobile accumulating competition method. Setting’s at all times key for these video games, and racing round Japan looks like it’ll provide an analogous form of variety in biomes and climate to Horizon 4’s sensible rendition of Britain. Positive, I gained’t be capable of drive previous Bamburgh fortress like I’ve quite a few occasions in actual life, however main a practice of kei automobiles by means of an city sprawl or drifting alongside slim mountain passes bordered by cherry blossoms must be killer. Bonus factors if I can rally by means of some snow within the underhills round Mount Fuji.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
I favored Star Wars Outlaws, even when its rendition of the galaxy’s blastery dangerous facet was a bit by the numbers at occasions. I like racing video games, particularly ones which contain hovering futuristic craft and the prospect to blast by means of off-road trails dotted with the form of visible vista furnishings that makes you go ‘cor, that’s fairly’ halfway by means of sliding spherical a bend. Star Wars: Galactic Racer appears prefer it may marry these two into one satisfying Sebulba-toting package deal. Very most likely my bag, then.
