From mainline releases like Silent Hill to long-awaited indie sequels such as Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong, 2025 was an incredible year for gaming. As 2026 started to approach, however, a certain question lingered in my mind: what comes next?

A lot, it turns out. A range of games, from long-awaited passion projects to small-scale titles announced just last year. Whether single or multiplayer, peaceful or chaotic, cooperative or competitive, 2026 is almost guaranteed to have a game for everyone. Here are the ones I am looking forward to the most.

Witchbrook

My longest awaited game is Witchbrook, which has spent almost a decade in development. The game is being developed by Chucklefish, best known as developers of Starbound and Wildfrost, and publishers of Stardew Valley.

Although there is no set release date yet, fans recently received progress reports indicating the game is gradually inching closer to completion. Mossport, a charming seaside town home to the titular Witchbrook College, is soon to be within reach of exploring.

I have always been a fan of magical academy fantasy settings, so this game appealed to me from the very beginning. Soon enough, players will start their ideal magical journeys. These can involve attending classes, cultivating herb gardens, or bonding with NPCs (with opportunity for potential romance).

Mewgenics

Mewgenics is a morbid roguelike by Edmund McMillen, creator of other perturbing games such as The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy. The former is my most played game of all time, so I am eager to try Mewgenics as well.

The game revolves around breeding cats with unique stats, characteristics, and classes. The cats engage in turn-based fights on procedurally generated grids. As with other Edmund McMillen games, Mewgenics is sure to feature dark humour and disturbing imagery, but also strategic and rewarding gameplay.

I cannot deny that I am looking forward to this game’s release, even despite its peculiar premise. Mewgenics will be released on 10 February 2026, so fellow roguelike fans should keep an eye out.

Update: Mewgenics has since been released to great success, and appears to be an addictively enjoyable game for players to sink their teeth into.

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam

I am very late to the Professor Layton series, as I am only halfway through playing the existing games as of writing this review. Nonetheless, I cannot help but be excited for this release, as New World of Steam will be the first mainline Professor Layton game in over a decade.

While the last three mainline games of the series were prequels, New World of Steam continues with Layton’s present journey. He reunites with his apprentice, Luke Triton, in America, where they no doubt will face a thrilling mystery and challenging puzzles.

The developers of Professor Layton, Level-5, have created a few of my favourite games of all time, even outside this particular franchise. Needless to say, I will be patiently waiting to try New World of Steam. Until then, I will be quickly catching up with the rest of the series.

Big Walk

From the developers of the chaotic indie puzzle title Untitled Goose Game comes Big Walk. Given that the former game is all about disruption, fans may be surprised by House House’s attempt to create a cooperative adventure title. However, make no mistake: Big Walk is shaping up to be just as tumultuous.

Big Walk is a multiplayer adventure, relying on players collaborating best they can to navigate the vast environment and solve various puzzles scattered around the open world.

Puzzles not only require teamwork, but unique methods of communication between players. The game utilises proximity voice chat, so players must rely on improvised signals and gestures when separated. If this chaos sounds perfect for your friend group, keep an eye out for Big Walk’s release.

Altogether, these titles highlight the diversity of games to come from 2026. The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is also releasing this year, over a decade after the last instalment.

Fans of all genres are likely to find a new, fun experience this year — perhaps the next game to obsess over until 2027 poses the same old question.

Interested in our favourites from the last few years? Find them here:

Redbrick’s Video Game Awards 2025

Editors’ Picks: What to Watch and Play November 2024

Redbrick Gaming’s Year In Gaming 2023