From 'Forza Horizon 6' to 'Bradley the Badger': 28 games everyone's waiting for in 2026 (Part 3)

With every new year comes the joy of seeing new games eager to make it big, in addition to the pain of waiting for titles that seem like they will only release in the next century.

From big-budget releases like Grand Theft Auto VI and Crimson Desert to indie titles like Hela and Thick as Thieves—discussed in parts 1 and 2—this year has something for all tastes.

Here is the third set of the 28 games that everyone's waiting for this year:

Forza Horizon 6 - 2026

Playground Games is all set to go Tokyo Drift mode in the latest instalment of its legendary open-world car racing franchise that is set in Japan.

Little else is known about the game, except for the fact that the Horizon Festival will also incorporate various aspects of Japanese racing culture, and that the game is set to have one of the most detailed environments from the studio so far. 

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis - 2026

The Tomb Raider franchise turns 30 this year, which Polish game developer Flying Wild Hog has decided to celebrate with a highly anticipated Unreal Engine 5 makeover.

The question is whether it can modernise the game that made Lara Croft, while also staying true to the franchise’s spirit.

In the meantime, the franchise will also get a live-action TV series headed by Sophie Turner, while Crystal Dynamics develops an all-new adventure, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, set to release in 2027.

The Blood of Dawnwalker - 2026

This dark fantasy RPG, developed by former CD Projekt Red crew members at Rebel Wolves, has sparked widespread discussion in gaming circles for its similarities to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

You play as Coen, a half-vampire with 30 days and 30 nights to save his family in a medieval European valley controlled by a vampire regime.

Gears of War: E-Day - 2026

The Gears of War franchise is also celebrating its 20th anniversary with the launch of E-Day, a new prequel set 14 years before the first game.

You play as heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, who return home to face the moment the Locust Horde first emerged, straight from the underground.

Bradley the Badger - 2026

This 3D platformer from the indie studio Day 4 Night has big dreams: it is a metafictional game about creating and playing games.

Described as a “love letter … to games, genres, and developers”, the game has you play as Bradley, a paw-some protagonist who decides to take on undeveloped worlds with his game developer powers.

Cairn - Jan 29, 2026

Rock climbing, which has rarely been chosen as a subject in video games, becomes the focus of this survivalist simulation title.

In playing as Aava, the protagonist, who aims to climb Mount Kami, alongside a supportive robot partner, Climbot—while also carefully managing your strength, rest time, and resources.

Mio: Memories in Orbit - Jan 20, 2026

Move over, Silksong—independent French studio Douze Dixiemes’s new Metroidvania game seems poised to become next year’s runaway hit (read: the Clair Obscur of 2026), should things go right.

Featuring gorgeous hand-drawn environments (and hopefully great combat and narrative power), the game is about the battle against rogue AI and the risks of building a society around robots.