I’m easily distracted and sometimes lose track of time. Thankfully, my love of video games helps! I use new game releases as markers to keep track of the days. It’s a win-win: I’m always excited about upcoming games, and it also helps me manage everything else going on in my life.
Lots of games are planned for release in 2026, as you’d expect. Now that January is over, new games will be coming out quickly, making it hard to keep track of everything. To avoid getting overwhelmed, let’s focus on action games and highlight some of the most promising titles – both from independent developers and major studios – that are scheduled for release in the next few months.
The main requirement is that the game needs to have a confirmed release date sometime in 2026. Vague release plans like “coming soon” or dates that haven’t been announced yet don’t qualify.
10. Resident Evil Requiem
Two Flavors of Resi in One
Resident Evil is a hugely successful franchise for Capcom, and it’s become even more popular recently with the remakes and games like Village. Although the marketing for the new installment, Resident Evil Requiem, has been a bit strange – they’ve been focusing on the characters’ watches, for example – there’s no reason to think the game won’t be fantastic.
The upcoming game, Requiem, blends the styles of two popular Resident Evil games. You’ll play as a new character, Grace, whose sections are similar to Resident Evil 7 – slower-paced, focusing on puzzle-solving and avoiding enemies in tight spaces. Meanwhile, when you play as Leon, the action is fast and intense, much like the Resident Evil 4 remake, and he’ll be wielding a metal hatchet that can block and counter many attacks.
The story of Requiem is being kept under wraps, which is great—I don’t want any spoilers! From what we’ve seen so far, it looks like the game will expand on the larger mystery behind the destruction of Raccoon City, as seen in Resident Evil 2. We’ll find out the full story when Resident Evil Requiem comes out on February 27, 2026.
9. Scott Pilgrim EX
After All These Years
Back in 2010, Ubisoft surprised everyone with a fantastic video game based on the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Unlike many movie tie-in games, it was a really fun, retro-style beat ‘em up with cool pixel art. The series faded from view for a while, but the release of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off in 2023 brought it back into the spotlight, making it a perfect time for a new game.
Scott Pilgrim EX is a fresh action game where you fight your way through levels as Scott, Ramona, and other characters. This time, the story is brand new, written by the creator of the Scott Pilgrim series, Bryan Lee O’Malley. The game takes place in a broken version of Toronto, scattered across different times and places. Unlike the first game, Scott Pilgrim EX features a big, connected map with shops and extra missions, similar to River City Girls, allowing you to level up your characters.
The new game is being made with the same care and attention as the original, featuring pixel art by Paul Robertson and a new soundtrack by the chiptune band Anamanaguchi. Fans can expect a strong wave of nostalgia when Scott Pilgrim EX releases on March 3, 2026.
8. Homura Hime
Everyone Loves a Flaming Katana
| Developer | Crimson Dusk |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PC |
| Release Date | March 2026 |
I feel it’s important to point out promising new games in the character-action genre. We all love replaying classics like Devil May Cry 5, but fresh titles are needed to keep things exciting. Which brings me, rather awkwardly, to Homura Hime.
Homura Hime is a new action game where you play as the Flame Princess, a skilled exorcist who fights demons with fiery katanas. Developed by Crimson Dusk and Playism, the game blends fast-paced, combo-focused action with intense bullet-hell sequences. Expect lots of dodging and stylish attacks! If you enjoyed NieR: Automata, you’ll likely find a similar appeal in this game.
I tried out the demo for Homura Hime during a Steam Next Fest and was impressed. I especially enjoyed its beautiful, pastel art style inspired by Shinto Japan and its fast-paced, exciting battles. We’ll find out if this game lives up to its potential when Homura Hime releases on March 4, 2026.
7. Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse
If You Like it, Put a Hat on it
One of the great things about independent games is how they inspire each other, leading to either completely original ideas or fresh takes on existing ones. The new game, Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse, feels like a unique blend of popular titles like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells, with the added element of building and managing a village.
In Never Grave, you play as a witch who’s become a ghost after an ancient witch stole her soul. Now, she must explore a constantly changing dungeon to uncover the truth. As she fights and learns new skills, she’ll map out the dungeon. She’s aided by a magical hat that lets her squeeze into tight spots and even control her enemies.
Okay, so when you die in Never Grave, you don’t just respawn at a checkpoint – you get sent back to the start of the dungeon, but it’s not a total loss! You can use all the stuff you collected to actually rebuild the village nearby. And the cooler the village gets – better buildings, more upgrades – the stronger I get, and the more my character build comes together. Honestly, I’m really excited for this game to drop on March 5, 2026, because once the village is thriving, dungeon-crawling is going to be amazing.
6. Mouse: P.I. For Hire
Nyeh, See
I have a soft spot for two things: classic detective stories and the energetic, cartoonish style of rubber-hose animation. You might expect these two to never mix, but I don’t believe in limitations, and the game Mouse: P.I. For Hire definitely proves that point.
This fast-paced shooter has a unique look, with hand-drawn visuals inspired by classic 1930s cartoons. You play as Jack Pepper, a former soldier and detective (voiced by Troy Baker), who’s trying to expose widespread corruption in his city. The game cleverly contrasts Jack’s serious, old-fashioned detective persona with the over-the-top, cartoonish action – think gaining super strength from spinach or using a psychic-powered laser to defeat enemies.
The game will feature 20 levels that aren’t played in a strict order. Players will investigate mysteries, unlock new skills, and uncover secrets along the way. I’m eager to see if this unique black-and-white shooter lives up to the hype when it releases on March 19, 2026.
5. Pragmata
Cybernetic Daughter Simulator
Capcom is planning a big release in 2026 with Pragmata, their first completely original game in quite some time. They’re aiming to deliver a truly impressive experience, combining fast-paced action shooting with challenging puzzles and stunning visuals.
In Pragmata, you play as Hugh, an ordinary man in a powerful suit, who’s stuck on a lunar space station invaded by robots controlled by a dangerous AI. He teams up with Diana, an android who appears as a young girl but has hidden abilities. Together, they fight the robots – Diana hacks into the enemy systems to reveal their vulnerabilities, and Hugh uses futuristic weapons to destroy them.
I wasn’t very impressed with the first look at Pragmata because it didn’t show how the game would actually play. But after trying the demo in December, I finally understood it! I got how Diana’s hacking puzzles connect to Hugh’s shooting gameplay. Now I’m really excited to see what Capcom does with the full game when it comes out on April 24, 2026.
4. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
The Arkham Game We’ve All Wanted
It’s been more than ten years since a true Batman: Arkham game was released. Games like Suicide Squad and Gotham Knights don’t compare. I mean a game with the classic stealth gameplay, intense combat, and without frustrating ongoing service requirements. Surprisingly, it looks like we’ll be getting another game like that soon, and from a developer no one expected.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a brand new game in the LEGO Batman series, and that’s exciting! It combines the expansive, open-world gameplay of Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO games with the feel of the Batman: Arkham series. Players can explore a detailed LEGO version of Gotham City, taking down enemies stealthily or through direct combat. While it’s lighter in tone than the Arkham games – as you’d expect from a LEGO title – that actually adds to the fun.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a celebration of Batman’s greatest moments, letting you play through his most iconic adventures. You’ll also get to unlock and use a huge collection of Batman suits and drive almost every version of the Batmobile ever created. Get ready for some Batman action when the game releases on May 29, 2026!
3. Icy Tower
This One’s for My Fellow Millennials
| Developer | Johan Peitz, Anders Svensson |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PC |
| Release Date | 2026 |
In the early 2000s, before everything cost money, there were tons of free online games that people loved to play and share. One of my favorites was a simple platformer called Icy Tower – I spent almost an entire summer playing it when I was younger! I’m easily hooked on games, so I was really excited to hear that Icy Tower was being re-released, and I immediately wanted to play it again.
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Icy Tower’s updated gameplay remains true to the original: you jump upwards through a tower of platforms, trying to stay ahead of the rising screen. As you run across the platforms, you gain speed, allowing for bigger jumps and higher scores. It’s a surprisingly addictive game with a simple but challenging design that’s hard to put down.
This version of Icy Tower is a total rebuild, featuring updated graphics, a brand new soundtrack recorded with live musicians, and helpful improvements like a reward system that gives you a boost when you stumble. It’s scheduled to come out in 2026, and I’m already incredibly excited!
2. Control Resonant
Let’s Get Weird With It
Okay, so Alan Wake 2 finally dropped, and Remedy really seems to be building this awesome connected universe with all their games – like Alan Wake and Control. Now that we’ve gotten a sequel for Alan Wake, all eyes are turning back to Control, and honestly, Control Resonant is looking incredible. It feels like it’s going to be a huge expansion and I’m super hyped for it!
Control Resonant follows Dylan Faden, brother of Jesse Faden, as he’s sent into the center of a strange, supernatural disaster overtaking Manhattan. This event is changing the city’s people and distorting reality itself. Unlike the original Control, which focused on exploration and shooting, Resonant will be a faster-paced, hack-and-slash action game. Dylan fights using a unique weapon called the Aberrant, a shapeshifting club that can turn into different kinds of blades and hammers.
Control Resonant is leaving the strange, otherworldly Oldest House and evolving into a larger-scale action-adventure game. Expect to face even stranger and more plentiful enemies! I’m really excited to start battling these paranormal threats when the game comes out in 2026.
1. Marvel’s Wolverine
He’s Still the Best at What he Does
Insomniac Games has become well-known for successfully adapting Marvel Comics characters into excellent video games, thanks to the popularity of their Spider-Man titles. Now, they’re taking on a new challenge: creating a Wolverine game, as the character hasn’t starred in his own video game since 2009.
Marvel’s Wolverine is the next collaboration between Insomniac and Sony Interactive Entertainment. This time, players will experience a grittier story as they take on the role of James “Logan” Howlett, the X-Men’s Wolverine, as he journeys across the globe to uncover truths about his past and escape those pursuing him. Unlike the Spider-Man games, Wolverine will feature more intense and brutal combat, with a focus on quick, powerful claw attacks. While the game hasn’t received an age rating yet, it’s likely to be more mature and not suitable for younger players.
Marvel’s Wolverine will feature a cast of familiar faces, including both allies and enemies of Wolverine like Mystique and Omega Red. And for those wondering, Wolverine will be sporting his classic yellow suit! Get ready to play when the game releases in late 2026.
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2026-02-06 21:43