2025 had video video games. 2026 may have video video games. GTA 6 is perhaps a kind of video video games. Nonetheless, it’s at the moment solely pencilled in for console subsequent yr. Not that I thought-about writing about it on this type 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 accomplished 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 Gentle
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 recreation’s known as First Gentle, 007 First Gentle, 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 most important Bond buff, extra an informal enjoyer of a simple approach 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 Gentle. Particularly if it might probably supply as satisfying a loop as Hitman’s missions. There’ll be much less homicide chess and extra chatty automotive chasey shootering as a part of the Bond system, as IO have proven off at numerous factors this yr. 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 approach 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 danger. Bond might be extra of a one-time fling than a dance accomplice 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 superb time. If it hits Hitmanny heights, the sport of the yr 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 approach off, I’m eager to offer The Blood of Dawnwalker an opportunity to get its enamel into me subsequent yr. A lot has been product of 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 adjustments in each how quests need to 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 that the selection and consequence shall be ample and pretty brutal, particularly in the event you’re crap at deciding what to prioritise rapidly. All of that appears nice, even when I’m totally satisfied the fight would possibly take me a short while to get into the swing of. The Witcher 3’s did too, to be truthful, 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 previous girl’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 the 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 rely 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. Lots of that’s possible all the way down to me solely coming to Horizon 4 when it plopped onto Valve’s storefront in 2021 and taking part in 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 automotive amassing pageant system. Setting’s at all times key for these video games, and racing round Japan looks like it’ll supply the same type of variety in biomes and climate to Horizon 4’s good rendition of Britain. Positive, I gained’t be capable to drive previous Bamburgh fort like I’ve quite a few instances in actual life, however main a prepare of kei automobiles by way of an city sprawl or drifting alongside slender mountain passes bordered by cherry blossoms needs to be killer. Bonus factors if I can rally by way of some snow within the underhills round Mount Fuji.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
I preferred Star Wars Outlaws, even when its rendition of the galaxy’s blastery dangerous facet was a bit by the numbers at instances. I like racing video games, particularly ones which contain hovering futuristic craft and the prospect to blast by way of off-road trails dotted with the type of visible vista furnishings that makes you go ‘cor, that’s fairly’ halfway by way of sliding spherical a bend. Star Wars: Galactic Racer appears to be like prefer it may marry these two into one satisfying Sebulba-toting bundle. Very in all probability my bag, then.
