James Bond's triumphant return to gaming in 007 First Light proves to be one of 2026's best titles.

Coming in with high expectations, Mina the Hollower's tiny mouse masterfully fills some mighty big shoes. Needless to say, Yacht Club Games has another hit on its hands.

Featuring sharp writing, accessible gameplay, and plenty of discovery opportunities, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is another strong entry in the LEGO franchise perfect for younger players.

While not for everyone, those that carefully plan things out will enjoy their time as CASCADE in ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies - just be mindful of that anxiety.

To no one’s surprise, Forza Horizon 6 provides the best racing experience this year - even if Grand Theft Auto VI hits.

The perfect history lesson, World Heroes Perfect combines timeless fights with rollback netcode and more in what amounts to a title that respects the past while also looking to the future.

Making players feel strong, Invincible VS will take you for a ride with its heavy-hitting action - even if it could use a bit more content.

While MOUSE: P.I. For Hire doesn’t quite scratch that detective itch, its incredible aesthetics and lively cast make it well worth the trip to Mouseburg.

A moonshot six years in the making, Capcom's bold new IP PRAGMATA sends Hugh and Diana to new heights with a successful landing.

A cozy cooking game that’s got the sauce, KuloNiku: Bowl Up! hits the sweet spot with its signature blend of minigames, social elements, and over-the-top personalities.

Shinier than its many golden eggs, Go! Go! Mister Chickums provides a pixel-perfect arcade challenge that had us gunning for yet another shot at its hallowed leaderboards.

WWE 2K26 still represents the best wrestling game on the market today, but it does very little to distinguish itself from last year's release. Combined with egregious monetization and the needlessly mundane grind across nearly every single game mode, and this year simply feels like a step back.

“Cozy” and “cleaning” might sound like polar opposites, but Hozy’s cozy world provides the perfect cure-all for those looking to unwind with some spring cleaning.

Dark Souls has often been used to measure one's gaming prowess, but that measuring stick has changed with Crimson Desert. Not only does it boast some of the most challenging boss battles ever seen in the industry, its required levels of patience, determination, and ability have set a new gold standard.

Providing suspenseful horror and sheer action across both protagonists, Resident Evil: Requiem is yet another Capcom banger survival horror fans will absolutely love.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 version of The Disney Afternoon Collection features a wealth of 8- and 16-bit classics, its light amount of extra content makes this after-school escapade feel more like an elective than a requirement.

Not only is Nioh 3 the best entry in the series, it's also the most accessible entry as well. Whether you're a fan of Soulslikes, previous Nioh entries, or just good samurai action, don't hesitate to check this one out.

For those who dream of blue, blue skies, Toree Saturn and its speedy little chickadee guarantee it has been cast.

Masterfully capturing the Master System era we so adore, Sir Noggin has a good head on its shoulders with its high-action platforming.

Despite the odd performance issue, Code Vein II provides a solid Soulslike adventure that packs a stylish anime flair.

Another home run for the series, fans of old-school JRPGs will absolutely love Dragon Quest VII Reimagined.

Octopath Traveler 0 provides the perfect JRPG comfort food this holiday season, promising to keep you engaged and entertained to the very end - as long as you enjoy turn-based combat.

While Elden Ring Nightreign The Forsaken Hollows' new characters are truly great, the lack of new weapons proves to be a sticking point. Hardcore players shouldn't hesitate to download this DLC, but more casual fans best wait for a sale.

The hardest of the hardcore will enjoy Let it Die: Inferno, but it might prove to be a hard sell for everyone else.

Fans of tense melee terror - or old-school DOOM games in general - shouldn't hesitate to check out Total Chaos this holiday season.

Arcade legends who cut their teeth on run-and-gun greats shouldn’t hesitate to join the Family for Neon Inferno’s new-school, old-school thrills.

Whether one is a fan of medieval mysteries or just looking for more Henry exploits, Mysteria Ecclesiae and its secrets of the church provide another great adventure.

As a newcomer to the Anno franchise, Anno 117: Pax Romana has completely blown me away. I've sunk days into this game, and still feel like I need weeks to get comfortable, and months to get confident - and I absolutely love that.