While I love being nostalgic and sharing games I’ve already played, there’s something to be said for looking to the future. After all, one of the best things about being a gamer is discovering something new and exciting. And 2026 is shaping up to be an amazing year for fans of the adventure genre.
Though this was a genre that took me a while to become a fan of, now that I am, I can’t get enough of narrative adventures. There are plenty scheduled to release in the new year, ranging from cozy ghost stories, unsettling horror, monstrous therapy, and even some classics reforged in a flashy style.
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Since this list of games is all for titles that aren’t out just yet, they’re arranged in my order of interest. Because without more info about each of them, it’s hard to say which is truly better than another, meaning this list is a smidge more subjective than usual. Now that we’ve sorted that, let’s talk about some excellent-looking adventure games coming in 2026!
10
Spirit Talk – Cozy Visual Novel
Witchy Business
Platform
PC
Publisher
Tortita Studio
Genre
VN
Release Date
2026
Since the cozy genre is so en vogue lately, why not start with a cozy visual novel? Spirit Talk – Cozy Visual Novel is an upcoming adventure about a witch named Julia connecting with ghosts to help her neighbors and friends.
Not only is Spirit Talk a very LGBTQ+ friendly game, but it will also have you crafting potions for a variety of purposes. It also features a very cute and disarming visual style that’s sure to attract many fans. If that’s not enough, it’s slated to have a lo-fi soundtrack that’s sure to put you in a happy vibe.
A very solid start, but we have many different visual novels to go. And many of them aren’t quite so cozy or calm.
9
Sister Other Paranoia
A Scary Type of Co-Dependent
Platform
PC
Publisher
HazeDenki
Genre
VN, psychological horror
Release Date
August 2026
Love can be a tricky thing. Sure, it’s sometimes beautiful, but it can also be twisted into something ugly and horrifying. And it’s that sort of psychological horror that’s present in a game called Sister Other Paranoia.
It’s the story of a writer who can read the minds of others. But instead of making him more understanding, it drives him into isolation. Worse yet, he starts to only feel affection and kindness towards his sister and disdain for everyone else.
What makes Sister Other Paranoia even more creepy, though, is that the main character eventually learns to push people with his mind. And that allows you to prey on their insecurities and even drive them to suicide. It definitely seems like a dark story, but a fascinating premise nonetheless.
8
Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror: Reforged
Back to Basics
Sometimes the games we fondly remember don’t hold up very well. They have rough edges or awkward graphics. So while I don’t always enjoy the glut of remasters out there, I’m happy about Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror: Reforged. It takes an already fantastic narrative adventure and gives it a gorgeous new coat of paint.
Not only does that mean that Broken Sword – The Smoking Mirror: Reforged is stunning looking, but it also has enhanced audio, additional content, controller and touchscreen support, and even toggles if you want to experience the original version.
This means you’ll get to enjoy the thrilling story of dangerous artifacts, a web of intrigue, and unexpected dangers. This will be great for longstanding fans as well as those looking to play a classic adventure.
7
Mixtape
Memory As Collage
Memory is less of a chronicle and more of a pastiche, which is why I’m so happy about an upcoming adventure game called Mixtape. It’s about a mixtape of memories of three friends during their last time together. In turn, that means the events of this game might be less factual and more fantastical.
It’s a sort of coming-of-age experience, full of music and mischief. Adolescence can be equal parts gratifying and unnerving, and Mixtape looks to point a spotlight on all of it.
Best of all, this adventure is by Beethoven and Dinosaur, partnered with Annapurna, and features stellar music from the likes of Lush, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure, and many more.
6
Crushed in Time
Holmes and Watson
As a fan of narrative adventures, I also adore a good mystery. And a large part of that is thanks to the stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Which is why it’s so neat that they’re reunited in a time-travelling adventure in 2026 called Crushed in Time.
Usually, Sherlock investigates cases in a world of logic and science. But science fiction is also a lot of fun, which is why I’m eager to see how this story unfolds. Better yet, it’s a game with many meta storytelling elements, which is sure to put a smile on many faces.
Mix all that with colorful graphics and more than a bit of quirky humor, and Crushed in Time could be a spectacular new adventure for iconic investigators.
5
Scarlet Hollow
Can You Survive This Family?
I didn’t know about Black Tabby Games until I played Slay the Princess. And after that mind-twisting adventure, I knew I had to watch them carefully for their next game. Which brings us to something called Scarlet Hollow.
The reason I feel justified in including this game is that it’s an episodic adventure, and all the episodes aren’t out yet. Which means it’s still fair game as an upcoming adventure. And while Slay the Princess contorted the white knight trope in amazing ways, this adventure is about family and the horrors it can bring.
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Scarlet Hollow features a branching narrative with many harrowing choices, romance options, and even a paranormal mystery in a coal mining town. Best of all, there’s a gorgeous hand-drawn aesthetic and even some creepy Cryptids. A worthy successor to Slay the Princess, it would seem.
4
Vampire Therapist
Fangs for the Closure
Now, this next game officially came to PC in 2024. But the console version of the game, replete with all the DLC, is coming in 2026. So let’s talk about some unusual therapy in Vampire Therapist!
Honestly, Vampire Therapist has been on my radar for a while, and as someone who prefers to game on my Switch 2, I have been waiting for some time. It’s a twisty tale where you’re a vampire gunslinger turned therapist keen on helping your fellow undead with their numerous problems. If you’re lucky, you might even get to take a bite from a juicy neck.
If all that wasn’t enough, the game also features a stunning voice cast, including the likes of Matthew Mercer, Sarah Grayson, and Cyrus Nemati. These seem like the perfect voices to fit the dark yet comedic setting of this vampiric adventure.
3
Tides of Tomorrow
Elynd Beckons
When I let myself think about the state of our planet, I start to panic a bit. We’re facing a lot, between climate change, microplastics, and other human catastrophes. Which is why part of me is glad that the team behind Road 96 is tackling many of them in an upcoming adventure called Tides of Tomorrow.
Elynd is a planet that survived a Great Flood, but now is being threatened with extinction by plastification. You’ll get to explore an ocean planet and make many difficult choices, including who lives and who dies.
Surprisingly, Tides of Tomorrow also has you following your favorite streamers in some capacity, as well as gathering resources in your fight for survival. Let’s hope this far-looking tale inspires positive action in our own world.
2
Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse
From Honjo to Mermaids
One of my favorite things about Japanese culture is its expansive mythos, featuring numerous monsters and other oddities. And in Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, we get to explore an iconic mythical creature in mermaids.
While I mostly associate Paranormasight with Nintendo consoles, Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is coming to PC and mobile as well. This means that a broader swathe of gamers gets to experience this intriguing and perhaps disturbing adventure.
What’s most exciting about this sequel is that it features faithful reproductions of real places from Mie prefecture. You even get to enjoy a new diving mini-game. It should be a wonderful place for reality and fiction to intersect in 2026.
1
Coffee Talk Tokyo
A Piping Hot Cup of Happiness
Despite my love of caffeine, it took me a very long time to finally dive into the Coffee Talk series. But once I finally did, I instantly became a fan. This is a big reason I’m so excited about playing Coffee Talk Tokyo.
This follow-up adventure might take place in a new location, but it still looks to endear fans with a colorful cast of characters, cozy vibes, and luscious artwork. Much like VA-11 Hall-A, this is a game where you’ll fall in love with the characters, a wonderful mix of humans and monsters like Kappa.
Coffee is one of those things that my life revolves around. So when you mix that with video games, you have a winning combination. Here’s hoping Coffee Talk Tokyo is just as great as the other entries from Toge Productions and Chorus Worldwide Games.
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