Rockstar has started taking preorders for “Grand Theft Auto VI,” but the game is still months away from its Nov. 19 launch. In the meantime, the ridiculously hyped title has warped the video game calendar.
That’s what 13 years between sequels does to an industry and fanbase. The demand has generated its own undeniable gravity, and publishers are treating it like a black hole, an object best avoided. Even “Call of Duty,” a game that often owns November, has shifted its release date because Microsoft doesn’t want it drowned out by the “GTA VI” hype.
Although 2026 will be dominated by one game in its latter half, the first half of the year has been stellar, with several games that will likely be in the end-of-the-year lists. Here are seven that have stood out in the first six months in no particular order.
“Resident Evil Requiem” — The popular survival-horror franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and this new entry is the perfect way to do it. This chapter combines elements of past games in a cohesive whole that brings together the first- and third-person perspectives and integrates them into a story that brings back fan-favorite Leon Kennedy and a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft.
While it melds survival-horror and action elements, “Requiem” also introduces crafting mechanics and more intelligent infected and creatures that add new wrinkles to combat and level design. (Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.)
“Pokémon Pokopia” — At first glance, this pocket monsters spinoff seemed like the franchise’s take on “Minecraft,” but it ended up being so much more. Developed by the team behind “Dragon Quest Builders,” this title puts players in the role of a special Ditto, which has the ability to transform into its former trainer. It’s thrown into a world without humans.
Players will have to build towns across five biomes and attract new creatures to those areas. It scratches that cozy game itch, and one-ups other games such as “Animal Crossing” by offering a more granular crafting experience. Players can explore and build whole worlds for Pokémon and catch them in a new light. (Available on Nintendo Switch 2.)
“Pragmata” — Capcom’s other major release is a new property that seemed gimmicky at first. In this third-person shooter, players take on the role of Hugh Williams, who is part of a lunar team investigating the loss of communication at the Delphi Corporation. During his exploration of the moon base and its cutting-edge research into lunafilament, he discovers a young android girl whom he names Diana.
Together, they seek to escape the facility and the AI trying to kill them by 3-D printing deadly robots. To defeat them, players must use Hugh’s expertise in gunplay and Diana’s hacking abilities. At first it feels clumsy, but the more players delve into this world, the more they’ll appreciate how the game forces them to make strategic decisions while avoiding adversaries. (Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.)
“Forza Horizon 6” — Playground Games’ latest entry to its award-winning series is a love letter to Japan and the nation’s car culture. The team brings the Horizon Festival to Tokyo and the surrounding areas, giving players miles of roads to explore and more opportunities to customize not only their cars but also their garages and an estate.
The focus of “Forza” is racing, and players will find a plethora of competitions that take advantage of Japan’s mountainous terrain and varied landscapes. When you think you’ve seen everything from Turn 10, the studio still manages to surprise players with Showcase events and a polished experience to find ways to make racing even more enjoyable. (Avalabile on Xbox Series X and S and PC.)
“007 First Light” — It has been ages since an original James Bond game was released, and this IO Interactive release manages to capture the essence of the famous spy better than any past release. In other games, players just dash from one action sequence to another, while this entry offers a more well-rounded take on Bond.
It follows 007 at the start of his journey into the world of cloak and dagger, and instead of getting into gunfights and car chases, players have to actually be stealthy and outthink the villains. The studio uses its background with “Hitman” to create a brilliant adventure that blends spying, shootouts and wild pursuits into a compelling adventure that’s just as good as anything on film. (Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S and PC with a Nintendo Switch 2 version coming later.)
“Saros” — Housemarque made a name for itself with “Returnal,” a game that translates its trademark bullet hell gameplay to a 3-D world. It was a brilliant effort that was mind-numbingly hard. The studio’s follow-up retains many of the same gameplay elements but melds them into the roguelite structure of titles like “Hades.”
Players take on the role of Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer who lands on the alien planet of Carcosa to investigate what happened to previous colonies. His journey and search for survivors leads to endless battles against the planet’s creatures and alien technology. Players will die, but the campaign rewards those who try again and make long runs, making a tough game more approachable.. (Available on PlayStation 5.)
“Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” — With each sequel, this spinoff to Capcom’s popular action role-playing game has slowly established itself as its own bona fide franchise. This third entry is where the series spreads its wings, offering players a larger, more elaborate world and a deeper and more refined combat system.
Players take on the role of a royal of Azuria, who also leads a team of Rangers. They are protecting their kingdom from a phenomenon known as the “Crystal Encroachment,” which has devastated their neighbor, Vermeil. A conflict between the two nations sends the royal and Rangers on a quest to stop the war, and it reveals a surprising aspect of the world.
The story isn’t the most enthralling part of the game. Rather, it’s the numerous monsters that one can capture and power up that hook players and give the game a Pokémon vibe. (Available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and S and PC.)
