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If you're wondering what games are coming up in 2026, we've put them all in one convenient location. This list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. This should help you plan out your next year of gaming and beyond. As the gaming calendar is constantly changing, we highly recommend you bookmark this page. You'll likely find yourself coming back to find out the most recent release schedule for the most anticipated games across PC, consoles, VR, and mobile devices. If you notice that we've missed something, feel free to let us know! Please note that games will not get assigned to a month until they have confirmed release dates. Code Vein II January DuneCrawl (PC) – January 5 Suika Game Planet (Switch 2, Switch) – January 5 StarRupture (Early Access) (PC) – January 6 Heartopia (PC, iOS, Android) – January 7 Pathologic 3 (PC) – January 9 Big Hops (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC) – January 12 Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2) – January 15 – Read review The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – January 15 BrokenLore: Unfollow (PlayStation 5, PC) – January 16 On-Together (PC, Mac) – January 19 Hack and Climb (PC) – January 20 MIO: Memories in Orbit (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – January 20 Silt (iOS, Android) – January 20 – Read review Arknights: Endfield (PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, Android) – January 22 Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Switch 2) – January 22 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2) – January 22 – Read review Hermit and Pig (PC) – January 22 Escape from Ever After (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – January 23 Highguard (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – January 26 Core Keeper (Switch 2) – January 28 Dispatch (Switch 2, Switch) – January 28 – Read review The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, Android) – January 28 Cairn (PlayStation 5, PC) – January 29 Don’t Stop, Girlypop! (PC) – January 29 I Hate This Place (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – January 29 Code Vein II (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – January 30 Front Mission 3: Remake (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – January 30 The 9th Charnel (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – January 30 Resident Evil Requiem February Starsand Island (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – February 1 Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – February 5 My Hero Academia: All's Justice (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 6 Nioh 3 (PlayStation 5, PC) – February 6 PGA Tour 2K25 (Switch 2) – February 6 Mewgenics (PC) – February 10 Romeo is a Dead Man (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 11 Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PC) – February 11 BlazBlue Entropy Effect X (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 12 Mario Tennis Fever (Switch 2) – February 12 Ride 6 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 12 Tomb Raider (iOS, Android) – February 12 – Read review High On Life 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 13 Reanimal (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 13 Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – February 13 Astrobotanica (Early Access) (PC) – February 16 Death Howl (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) – February 19 Demon Tides (PC) – February 19 Styx: Blades of Greed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 19 Ys X: Proud Nordics (PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PC) – February 20 Tides of Tomorrow (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 24 No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – February 26 Tokyo Xtreme Racer (PlayStation 5) – February 26 Laysara: Summit Kingdom (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – February 27 Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Switch 2) – February 27 – Read review Resident Evil Requiem (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – February 27 Resident Evil Village (Switch 2) – February 27 – Read review Tales of Berseria Remastered (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – February 27 World of Warcraft: Midnight March World of Warcraft: Midnight (PC, Mac) – March 2 Coffee Talk Tokyo (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – March 5 Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – March 5 Pokémon Pokopia (Switch 2) – March 5 Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – March 12 John Carpenter's Toxic Commando (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – March 12 Replaced (Xbox Series X/S, PC) – March 12 Solasta II (Early Access) (PC) – March 12 Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – March 13 Crimson Desert (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – March 19 Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – March 19 Mouse: P.I. For Hire (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – March 19 Rhell: Warped Worlds & Troubled Times (PC) – March 19 Nutmeg! (PC) – March 26 Screamer (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – March 26 Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – March 27 Pragmata April I Am Jesus Christ (PC) – April 2 Tiny Bookshop (PlayStation 5) – April 10 Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – April 16 Pragmata (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – April 24 Invincible VS (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – April 30 Saros (PlayStation 5) – April 30 007 First Light May Paralives (Early Access) (PC) – May 25 007 First Light (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – May 27 Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) – May 29 Halloween September Halloween (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – September 8 Phantom Blade Zero (PlayStation 5, PC) – September 9 Grand Theft Auto VI November Grand Theft Auto VI (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – November 19 Fable To Be Announced 33 Immortals (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Abashed (PC) Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Acts of Blood (PC) Aerial_Knight's DropShot (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Aether & Iron (PC) Agni: Village of Calamity (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Aion 2 (PC) Aniimo (Xbox Series X/S, PC, iOS, Android) Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster (Switch 2) Aphelion (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Arcane Eats (PC) ArcheAge Chronicles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Armatus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Ashes of the Singularity II (PC) Astromine (PC) At Fate's End (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Australia Did It (PC) Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PC) Awaysis (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Battle Vision Network (PC, iOS, Android) Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes (PC) Beast of Reincarnation (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Beastro (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Big Walk (PC) Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2 (PC) Blighted (PC) Blood: Refreshed Supply (Switch 2) Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Blue Ridge Hunting (Early Access) (PC) BPM Bitcrushed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) BrokenLore: Ascend (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) BrokenLore: Unfollow (Xbox Series X/S) Bubsy 4D (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Buckshot Roulette (Xbox Series X/S) Building Relationships (PC) Carmageddon: Rogue Shift (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) Caves of Qud (Switch) Chronicles: Medieval (PC) Chrono Odyssey (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Chronoscript: The Endless End (PlayStation 5, PC) Cinder City (PC) City of Dolorosa (PC) Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Constance (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch) Content Warning (Switch 2, Switch) Control Resonant (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac) Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) Crashout Crew (PC) Crisol: Theater of Idols (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Crushed In Time (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) D-topia (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) Damon and Baby (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC), Danchi Days (PC) Danganronpa 2x2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) Darwin's Paradox (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Death the Guitar (PC) Decapolice (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch) Decrepit (PC) Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core (Early Access) (PC) Deer & Boy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Demi and the Fractured Dream (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) Demons' Night Fever Denshattack! (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Dimhaven – The Lost Source (PC) Dinoblade (PC) Directive 8020 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy (iOS, Android) Dosa Divas: One Last Meal (PC) Dragon Quest Smash/Grow (iOS, Android) Dune: Awakening (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) Duskfade (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Echo Generation 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Edge of Memories (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Elden Ring Tarnished Edition (Switch 2) End of Abyss (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Enshrouded (PC) Enter the Gungeon 2 (Switch 2, PC) Ereban: Shadow Legacy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) Erosion (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) EVE Vanguard (PC) Fable (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Fading Echo (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition (Switch 2) Fate/Extra Record (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) Fatekeeper (Early Access) (PC) Fields of Mistria (PC) Find Your Words (PC) Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (Switch 2) Forgotlings (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Forza Horizon 6 (Xbox Series X/S, PC), Frog Sqwad (PC) Game of Thrones: War For Westeros (PC) Glaciered (Switch 2, PC) Gnaw (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Go-Go Town! (Switch, PC) Gods, Death & Reapers (PC) Golf With Your Friends 2 (PC) Gothic 1 Remake (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Gothic 3 Classic (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Gothic Classic (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) Gothic II Complete Classic (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) GreedFall 2: The Dying World (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Halo: Campaign Evolved (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Hela (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Xbox One, PC) Hell Let Loose: Vietnam (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Hello Again (PC) Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era (Early Access) (PC) Hitman: Absolution (Switch 2) – Read review Hollow Knight (Switch 2) – Read review Hordes of Fate : A Hand of Fate Adventure (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) Human Fall Flat 2 (Switch 2, PC) Ikuma – The Frozen Compass (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Switch 2) – Read review Infinitesimals (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Inkblood (PC) inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC, Mac) Into The Fire (PC) Into the Unwell (PC) Inzoi (Early Access) (PlayStation 5) King of Tokyo (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Last Flag (PC) Lelu (PC) Limit Zero Breakers (PC, iOS, Android) Lords of the Fallen II (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (Switch 2) – Read review Lost Hellden (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Lou's Lagoon (Switch, PC) Love Eternal (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) Lucid (PC) Luna Abyss (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Map Map: A Game About Maps (PC) Marathon (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Mariachi Legends (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls (PlayStation 5, PC) Marvel's Wolverine (PlayStation 5) Mira and the Legend of the Djinns (PC) Mirria (PC) Mistfall Hunter (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Mixtape (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth (PC) Moonlight Peaks (PC) Mortal Shell II (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Mudang: Two Hearts (Xbox Series X/S, PC) NBA The Run (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Neath (PC) Neverway (Switch, PC) Nivalis (PC) No Straight Roads 2 (PC) Once Human (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) Onimusha: Way of the Sword (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Ontos (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Opus: Prism Peak (Switch 2, Switch, PC) Orbitals (Switch 2) Order of the Sinking Star (PC) Out of Words (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Outbound (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) Outward 2 (PC) Over the Hill (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) Palworld (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Mac) People of Note (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Petal Runner (PC) Phasmophobia (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Pigeon: A Love Story (PC, Mac) Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Pokémon Champions (Switch, iOS, Android) Polyaris (PC) Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (PC) Prehistoric Kingdom (PC) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2026) (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (Switch 2, Switch) Project Evilbane (PC), Project Evilbane (PC), (Xbox Series X/S) Project M (Switch 2, Switch) Puppergeist (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Quest Master (Switch, PC) R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) Recur (PC) Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Rhythm Heaven Groove (Switch) Rising Heat (PC) Road Kings (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Rockbeasts (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) RuneScape: Dragonwilds (PC) SacriFire (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Sayonara Wild Hearts (Switch 2) – Read review Scott Pilgrim EX (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Scramble Knights Royale (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Sea of Remnants (PlayStation 5, iOS, Android) Slay the Spire II (PC) Snap & Grab (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Solarpunk (PC) Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) South of Midnight (PlayStation 5, Switch 2) – Read review Sparkball (PC) SpeedRunners 2: King Of Speed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Springs, Eternal (PC) Squadron 42 (PC) Star Wars Zero Company (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Star Wars: Galactic Racer (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) Stupid Never Dies (PlayStation 5, PC) Subnautica 2 (Early Access) (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch 2) – Read review Super Meat Boy 3D (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) TankRat (PlayStation 5, PC) Tanuki: Pon's Summer (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City (Quest, PC) Tenebris Somnia (PC) The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC) The Artisan of Glimmith (PC) The Blood of Dawnwalker (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) The Coma 3: Bloodlines (PC) The Dungeon Experience (PC) The Duskbloods (Switch 2) The Florist (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) The Heirloom (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) The Incident at Galley House (PC) The Last Gas Station (PC) The Lift (PC) The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) The Occultist (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) The Witch's Bakery (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) There Are No Ghosts at the Grand (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Thick As Thieves (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Tides of Annihilation (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Timberborn (PC) Time Takers (PC) Tiny Metal 2 (PC) Toem 2 (PC) Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Switch) Toxic Crusaders (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, PC) Trivia Murder Party 3 (PC) Tropico 7 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Tsarevna (PC) UN:Me (PC) Unshine Arcade (PC) Valheim (Early Access) (PlayStation 5) Valor Mortis (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Vampire Crawlers (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) Vexlands (PC) Virtue and a Sledgehammer (PC) Voidwrought (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV (PC) Warhammer Survivors (PC) Wax Heads (Xbox Series X/S, PC) Well Dweller (Switch, PC) Windblown (PC) Winx Club: The Magic Is Back (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC) Witchbrook (Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Witchfire (PC) Wolfhound (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC) Woodo (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (Switch 2) Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta (Switch) Zero Parades: For Dead Spies (PlayStation 5, PC) « 2025 Video Game Release Schedule View the full article

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Timberline Studio Developer: Timberline Studio Release: 2026 Rating: Everyone 10+ Like cooking a tasty dish, Beastro tosses several different ideas into a big pot and blends them into an enjoyable experience. During the week of The Game Awards, I played an hour-long demo of the cozy cooking deckbuilding roguelike and found it a fun sampler for the full course coming next year. Beastro centers on a sous chef named Panko who resides in the peaceful, artisan village of Palo Pori. A protective wall surrounding the settlement keeps out the darkness stirring outside, namely monsters that have overtaken the wilds. When Panko’s teacher goes missing, he receives help in the form of a guardian spirit named Flambe, a raccoon-like living flame. In a fun twist, Panko’s job isn’t to save the town but rather to run a restaurant and feed the band of heroes, called Caretakers, whose job is to venture beyond the wall to confront the darkness. By helping them, Panko may be able to find his lost mentor. The game’s day-to-day structure reminds me of Dave the Diver’s, in that each day is divided into three segments. The morning begins in a laid-back fashion, as players gather ingredients in preparation for the restaurant’s opening. I enjoyed strolling through the scenic village to pick up grubs to feed chicken-like birds, catch fish at the pier, and tend to a garden of crops. It’s standard cozy fare, but it’s a nice calm before the busier storm of running the restaurant. Once you’ve gathered your desired ingredients, it’s time to open your eatery to the masses. After determining the menu based on the ingredients you’ve obtained, preparing dishes became my favorite activity. Cooking unfolds as fun, carnival-like mini-games. I chopped veggies as they quickly descended a long cutting board, offering an enjoyable test of speed and timing. Sauteeing involves skillfully turning the pan to keep food from touching harmful pan bubbles. Boiling requires shooting ingredients like a basketball into three different pots, with highlighted pots netting a higher score (note to culinary novices: please never chuck food into boiling pots of water). Completed dishes must then be quickly delivered to patrons. Easy peasy, though Caretakers have more specific tastes and introduce more strategic depth to recipe crafting. A Caretaker with a reservation arrives during each dinner service, eager for a good meal to fuel their excursions beyond the wall. During my service, a friendly Caretaker named Oyshi strolls in requesting a dish that satisfies his particular craving for eggs. Feeding Caretakers builds their card deck, which they’ll use to combat monsters during expeditions (more on this soon). Step 1 is selecting a recipe base by placing Tetris-shaped ingredients with flavor profiles on a grid. Ingredients have one of five flavors: Umami, Salty, Sour, Bitter, or Sweet. These flavors also have a weight that determines how strongly they affect the flavor profile. Adding ingredients changes the flavor profile of the dish, and the goal is to assemble a deck that matches a Caretaker’s likes and dislikes. Appealing to their tastes can provide health and attack boosts, as well as deepen your friendship with them. The finished deck will consist of the cards and abilities gained from eating. This mechanic sounds more complicated than it is, and I gained a stronger understanding of this system once I applied it to combat. Closing the restaurant transitions the day into evening. It’s time to visit a Caretaker, Oyshi in this case, who will recount their adventure in the form of a cute puppet show. This initiates a standard roguelike adventure where you navigate branching paths filled with combat encounters and other pitstops en route to the end. The turn-based battles see monsters play a card with a flavor suit, indicated by a color, and a number value. For example, an Umami card is green. Victory means playing a higher-value card of the same flavor profile as the monster. So in this example, I needed to play a green card with a higher number value. Winning a round deducts health points from the loser, based on my overall attack power, a separate metric indicated by a sword symbol. The dish I serve Oyshi grants a +3 attack power. Enemy cards can be weakened by playing cards that balance their flavor. In this case, blue cards balance green ones, so playing the former will lower the latter's point value. You can also use cards to enhance the strength of others, based on a similar color-coordination comparable to Pokémon’s typing weaknesses/resistances. If you get understandably confused, a color wheel-like chart offers a simple visual breakdown of which flavors enhance or balance each other for easy reference. And if you’re not holding the cards you need to win a round, you can either discard your entire hand to draw five new cards or draw to fill empty hand spaces until you have five again. Otherwise, playing the wrong flavor card against an enemy will cause you to take the full brunt of their attack. Although the combat system is a bit much to take in, I got the hang of the battles during the lengthy trek through the roguelike paths. It’s still ultimately my least favorite aspect of Beastro, at least during this early section, but it has the potential to evolve into something more engaging. Thankfully, I still enjoyed the cozier exercise of prepping ingredients, helping villagers, and running a restaurant. How these more leisurely activities evolve will be key, as the daily loop will need to be consistently engaging and surprising to keep me interested in the long haul. Beastro is a creative confluence of gameplay ideas, and I’m hoping it blends into an experience as rich and delicious as Panko’s dishes when it arrives in 2026. And if you can't wait until then, there's a Steam demo you can play right now! View the full article

A few weeks ago, I booted up the narrative-driven rhythm game Unbeatable for the first time and was slowly disappointed. You play an entire slowly paced chapter before you even do your first rhythm gameplay, and the story is vague and disjointed up until that point. For some reason, my disappointment felt familiar, but it wasn't just an emotion tied to video games. Eventually, I realized that I felt the same way I feel when I'm watching a bad scene of improvised comedy. UNBEATABLE I've been taking classes and performing at The Black Box Improv Theater for the past year or so, and while I've had plenty of funny scenes, I've been in my fair share of train wrecks as well. When you're in those early stages of an unsuccessful scene, you desperately try to grasp something funny in hopes of making that psychic link with your teammates that happens when you have a good, coordinated scene. But when you're unsuccessful, there's usually one specific reason: you didn't "find the game." Video games with slow, boring intros have this same problem. Most people are familiar with "yes, and," the first rule of improv, but that's just a guiding principle of action, not an instant recipe for comedy. Heightening, the idea of making things "bigger," is usually what makes a scene funny. The quintessential example of this is the chocolate conveyor belt scene from I Love Lucy – as more chocolate comes out, Lucy has to take increasingly drastic measures to manage it. A more recent example is the substitute teacher sketch from Key & Peele (though any of their sketches would work here). As the teacher continues to mispronounce simple names, he gets more and more enraged. If you can think of your favorite scene from a sitcom or comedy sketch, there's a good chance you'd be able to break it down into an idea that's heightened over time. The pattern of heightening a behavior or quirk is known as "the game." In the aforementioned substitute teacher sketch, the game is that Key's character continues to mispronounce names. It's a load bearing component of the scene, providing structure and a pattern to follow or subvert. The difference between the above examples and improv, however, is that the game in improv has to be "found," agreed upon by the performers on stage, and then executed. For example, if I start a scene by obsessing over my big dumb hat and someone else joins the scene bragging about an even bigger, dumber hat, we've implicitly agreed upon and "found" the game. Of course, it's all more nuanced and complex in practice. Not every game is automatically funny, and not every concept you introduce is worth being heightened, so it can take a few lines to feel out which direction the scene should go. Crucially, however, taking too long to find or agree on a game stalls the scene and makes it feel stale. It's the backbone of that style of comedy, and without finding a game, it's very difficult to find success. What does this have to do with video games? It's simple: get to the point. Most games are not concerned with comedy, but "the game" in this context is probably best redefined as "the gameplay loop." With few exceptions, a game that has you actively engaging with its core mechanics as quickly as possible is almost always a better game. The long-form structure of video games allows you to go back in and fill in narrative or complex mechanical gaps over time, and the sooner you "get" what a game is going for, the sooner you can decide whether you like it or not. Like with an improv scene, the longer you delay that moment, the less likely you are to keep a potential fan long enough to actually enjoy the art. A lot of Sony's first-party titles are excellent at this. Ghost of Yōtei is an especially good example, skipping right to the promise of the premise and putting you on a horse in an uninhibited open field within the opening twenty minutes. Insomniac's trio of Spider-Man games is another perfect example; all three games have players swinging across the city towards a major villain within just five minutes of starting a new save file. You don't just understand the game's premise and core mechanics; you get to experience a microcosm of the game itself, and get a few dozen hours to see that concept executed on a grander scale. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Like improv, however, this is easier said than done, partly because narrative single-player games have to balance "the game" of the mechanics and the intro to the story. Both require a bit of build-up, either as tutorials or exposition, and getting either right is certainly a challenge. Both of the aforementioned good examples, however, merge these challenges into one introductory mission to great success. The alternative is something like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, where proper combat takes a little bit to show up, but the world and character building are in-depth and interesting right away. Hades and Hades 2 take the opposite approach, instead throwing players into a run to learn the ropes of gameplay before slowing down and really establishing the plot. Which brings us back to Unbeatable, a game that struggles on both fronts. Rhythm gameplay only appears at the very end of the first chapter, and the narrative content that leads up to it is slow and meandering, simultaneously holding key plot elements too close to its chest (who are these characters? what is this world?) and spending too long on the details that seem to matter less. I wouldn't mind the story if I was having fun playing, and I wouldn't mind the lack of playing if I enjoyed the story, but waiting for both at the same time just doesn't work. This doesn't necessarily make Unbeatable a terrible game (I haven't played enough of it to make that judgment call), but I'm certainly not a fan of the intro, and with so much else to play, I chose to shelve it in favor of something else. UNBEATABLE The huge number of games on the market is the reason this matters so much. Between game subscriptions like Game Pass, digital sales that list massive games for extremely low prices, countless free-to-play multiplayer games, and the rising number of games released each week, there's always something else you could be playing. Starting a game 20 years ago usually meant you'd already bought it and you were committing to it, but that commitment is much harder to come by nowadays. If a game's intro is slow or uninteresting, there's more incentive to swap to something else than ever before, so developers are tasked with making the game as appealing as possible from the get-go. Of course, improv and video games are not a one-to-one comparison. If you wait too long to find the game in an improv scene, it just won't work, but games can always bounce back over time. Pokémon games (and many other JRPGs, but especially Pokémon) have had some of the slowest, least interesting intros for decades, but each one still sells millions and millions of copies. It's not a rigid requirement, but a strong preference. As someone who's been on and off the stage for awkward improv scenes that can't find their footing, I really appreciate the ones that find the game, get to the point, and keep the audience laughing. And as someone who critiques games for a living, I appreciate a video game with the same goals in mind. View the full article

If you know me at all, you know my favorite horror icon of all time is Michael Myers, his first appearance – 1978’s Halloween – being my favorite horror movie, too. With hundreds of hours played in IllFonic’s ill-fated Friday the 13th: The Game, which launched in 2017, I have been devoutly awaiting the day this studio tackles Halloween. It is the natural next step, and though I had to wait nearly a decade and play other (great) IllFonic asymmetric multiplayer titles during the wait, the time has come. And with Halloween set to launch this September, it will arrive just in time for me to perfect my abilities as Michael Myers for what will no doubt be a fun Halloween night play session the following month. Halloween promises to flip IllFonic’s asymmetrical multiplayer formula, pitting one Michael Myers player against four Civilian players. But unlike Friday the 13th, for example, where your primary goal was to escape, Civilians in Halloween are both attempting to bring in local police to stop Michael Myers and save as many residents as they can. It’s not prey vs predator this time, but rather predator vs some Laurie Strode-like characters who refuse to let this boogeyman plague their home. “Halloween is a special one because it is a true slasher horror game,” IllFonic chief creative officer Jared Gerritzen tells me. “We wanted to go back to the basic rules, jump scares, lots of gore, tension of what is around the corner; a real back-to-the-basics of what is seriously scary.” The team revealed the Haddonfield Heights map last month, which faithfully recreates the iconic neighborhood from Halloween, and while I’m excited to see what the multiplayer survivor action is like on it, I’m just as excited to become the boogeyman there and use his Shape Jump ability. It lets you show up out of nowhere and terrorize player-controlled civilians with great effect. But it’s not a cheat code to kill. “[Michael’s] ability to show up in the most insane moments [during films] was not only a great jump scare but a really great way to break up moments,” Gerritzen says. “I noticed he shut the lights off in a scene, and we thought maybe he just wants it dark all the time, and why would that be? Then the idea of how we could play with that as a game mechanic started to form, and Shape Jump, as an ability to move around the map without anyone knowing, was born. “We made some gameplay rules around it for balance purposes, of course. [As] long as there is no direct light and no one is looking at the area Michael is in, then the ability can be used. It really adds a great level of play, [and] the ability has brought a horrifying element of being stalked by Michael and never knowing where he will pop up.” To use that ability, though, it’s likely the player controlling Michael will need to power up to an extent by racking up their kill count. Gerritzen says the biggest element IllFonic has been focusing on is adding a major focus on the bots in multiplayer. “They really add to the body count and allow a Michael player to power up if they desire,” he tells me. “This also affects the hero players as well, with their fear systems.” What’s so exciting about all of this is it’s only one part of Halloween, which also features a single-player campaign where you play through the events of the original film (and a little beyond it) behind that terrifying, sterile white mask. It represents IllFonic’s first crack at a single-player campaign in one of its multiplayer-centric games, and I can’t wait to see how the Shape shapes up in it later this year. View the full article

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Total War: THREE KINGDOMS is free right now on the Epic Games Store. Set in ancient China, it mixes turn-based ... View the full article

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Pragmata captured my attention way back in *checks notes* 2020 (wow). I finally played Pragmata earlier this year at Gamescom and walked away both thoroughly impressed and annoyed with Capcom for making my demo only 20 minutes long. Following a new trailer at The Game Awards 2025, which showed off new gameplay in New York City, an engaging reprieve from the lunar station that’s been heavily showcased so far, Capcom released a demo for the game; it’s basically what I played earlier this year and I can’t recommend it enough. It quickly highlights how unique Pragmata’s gameplay is, which mixes third-person gunplay with real-time hacking minigames. “From the start, the core vision was a buddy-action experience where you would control two distinct characters with a single controller,” Pragmata director Yongchee Cho tells me. The team explored giving protagonist Hugh a small drone that aids him in combat, but once the developers landed on the android Diana as a second protagonist, this idea evolved into the hacking system. This created various layers of gameplay that all happen at once, and when coupled with the mysterious narrative and various locales warped and twisted by Luna Filament, the name Pragmata makes a lot of sense. “The word comes from Greek, meaning things, actions, or facts, and in philosophy, it connects to pragmatism,” Cho tells me. “A single word carrying so many layers of meaning felt like the perfect fit for the story and world of this game.” Speaking of that Luna Filament, it's the stuff that's causing New York City's Times Square to look so different in the latest Pragmata trailer, and that's not the only location that will be transformed by this mysterious substance. Cho says it's key to the sci-fi world Capcom is creating in the game. "We want players to enjoy diving into the unique sci-fi world that defines Pragmata, and not just the protagonists and their interactions," he says. "You'll come across areas warped by Luna Filament, where strange reactions and irregular structures create an atmosphere that feels both alien and intriguing. The game is full of moments and locales that spark curiosity, whether you're into sci-fi or not, and those surprises run throughout the game. "Personally, I can't wait to see the incredible, super-plays players pull off once they get their hands on it." Those super-plays will be performed throughout Pragmata by the two unlikely protagonists, Hugh and Diana. Cho says Hugh tends to be laid-back and reluctant, but has a strong sense of responsibility. It's no surprise, then, that he teams up with Diana. "At first glance, he might seem distant, yet deep down, he's a kind person," Cho adds. "Diana might have felt like a burden early on, but through their explorations of the space station, he gradually starts to see her as someone he truly wants to help. We worked hard to express that side of Hugh's character, not only in dialogue, but also during combat throughout the game." On the flip side, Cho describes Diana as an android girl with vast AI knowledge but little real-world experience, making her a perfect fit for Hugh. "She's full of curiosity about a world she knows almost nothing about," Cho says. "She originally intended to stay on the Moon, but meeting Hugh gives her a new purpose, and she chooses to travel with him. As they journey together, learning from Hugh's experience, Diana becomes increasingly fascinated by Earth and eager to discover more." The Moon, Earth, and other settings we'll visit in Pragmata are inspired by all manner of media, Cho tells me. "The character-driven story takes cues from human drama; the visual world borrows ideas from animation and Hollywood films; and the mechanical design and presentation are influenced by Japanese animation," he says. "Of course, it's not just about inspiration. We've blended these influences while preserving the unique atmosphere that makes Pragmata stand apart." Pragmata launches in April, so we don't have to wait long to see whether it really stands out from its inspirations. If what we've played so far is any indication – and don't forget, you can check out a Pragmata demo right now – Cho and team are on the right track. View the full article

As 2025 wraps up, I’ve been thinking a lot about the games that have stuck with me from a year filled with trying out dozens of excellent releases. Absolum is one that keeps coming back to mind, pulling me to boot it back up and play just one more run. As the year comes to a close, we're highlighting some personal favorite games from our team that we feel you shouldn't miss. If you're still looking for the right game to carry you into 2026, and you've already hit up our Top 10 Best, we're hoping one of these recommendations will hit the mark. Absolum harkens back to early great fantasy beat ‘em ups, but thinking of it as a retro throwback is a misunderstanding of the game’s strength. The melee-focused battles are precise and rewarding, with each of the playable characters featuring small distinctions that grow in depth as you play more. Each run, borrowing from great titles like Hades, your character develops a short-term build focused on a particular mix of powers, and even after dozens of runs, you’ll be constantly finding new favorite power combos. The storytelling is a continuous narrative that accounts for your character’s death and return, and individual pathways through the game’s many varied biomes further enhance replayability; maybe last time you delved far beneath the dwarven mountain, but this time you chart a path through the burning village, and head on to the ruined city of the ancient elves. The visuals are a delight, recalling a cartoon aesthetic of exaggerated bodies and faces alongside vibrant environments and flashy magic effects. Likewise, the musical score is a consistent high point, with catchy melodies that aptly capture the fantasy adventure vibe. The other thing I love about Absolum is how great the game is when played solo, even while it can be enjoyed equally by partnering with a friend, either on the couch next to you, or connected to online. The addition of another player only adds to the onscreen chaos and fun. Absolum arrived during a busy season of game releases, but if you want a satisfying fantasy adventure, some great world-building, and a surprisingly deep but approachable combat system to master, it’s one well worth tracking down. View the full article

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2025 was a stellar year for video games, and consequently, also a stellar year for video game music. These aren’t official Game Informer awards for the best music of the year (though we did award South of Midnight best original score), but rather an opportunity for us as a staff to point to some of the tracks that stood out to us this year. Check out some of our picks below. From Alex Van AkenOne of my favorite video game composers, Sam Webster (Grindstone, Reigns: Beyond), teamed up with developer Furcula to tackle the soundtrack and sound design for Morsels. The weird-as-hell creature collecting roguelike is brimming with trippy visuals, and Webster's recognizable sample-heavy sound makes for an excellent pairing. Put on a nice pair of headphones and immerse yourself in the lush synths, distorted bass lines, and saturated drum machines that define Webster's signature style. <a href="https://samwebster.bandcamp.com/album/morsels-original-soundtrack">MORSELS (Original Soundtrack) by Sam Webster</a> From Wesley LeBlancThe entire score of South of Midnight is incredible, a fantastic facet of my favorite game of 2025. The way composer Olivier Deriviere mixes authentic Southern instruments with lyrical storytelling creates a soundscape that lifts the rest of this heartfelt, folktale-infused adventure. No track demonstrates that more than The Tale of Two-Toed Tom. Enjoy! I love Assassin's Creed Shadows – it's my favorite game set in feudal Japan of the year, actually. I have always loved the scores of Assassin's Creed, too, as they tend to remix themes and motifs I already love to fit the era of the historical fantasy in which each entry takes place. But The Flight's take on Assassin's Creed music genuinely surprised me – instead of defaulting to familiar melodies played on Japanese instruments, this musical duo mixed modern 808s and production with all sorts of classical Japanese instruments. The result is the most unique-sounding Assassin's Creed score to date. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is one of the best games of the year (and my personal number 2, right behind South of Midnight). Its score is one of the reasons why. It sounds fantastical but medieval, hopeful but mysterious, and ultimately, quickly places me into this 15th-century epic. I just adore how "knights and princesses and dragons" it sounds, and the track below, which is a motif that runs throughout the wider score, is an excellent demonstration of that. From Matt MillerAbsolum's soundtrack is one of the best features in an already great game, offering memorable melodies, exciting battle themes, and surprising instrumentation. In addition to the fun of playing one more run for the joy of the gameplay, I often found myself choosing my path through the game just to hear particular tracks again. From Charles HarteYou can actually here more context from Charles (and Kyle) about his favorite game music tracks of the year over on MinnMax. From Eric Van Allen From Kyle HilliardThe track below is, admittedly, not a song I am jamming to outside of the game, but I just love how bizarre it is in the context of Donkey Kong Bananza. This track sounds like it belongs in a Playdead game, not a bombastic game about a little girl who dreams of being a singer. And this one I like because it recalls Donkey Kong Country, specifically. Fair warning that the video I am embedding here does contain spoilers for the end of Clair Obscur, but it is the best way to present the track. This is just some primo background/study music that is also just a little creepy. I am still holding out to play Deltarune for when it is complete, but my Deltarune/Undertale superfan daughter introduced me to this track and I fell in love with it. And here’s a great cover version of it that I have also been enjoying. What have been some of your favorite video game tracks of 2025? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Developer and publisher CD Projekt RED (CDPR) has sold the GOG distribution platform to one of its founders for 90.7 million Polish zlotys (around $25 million/£18.6 million). Read more View the full article

Marvel Rivals has been getting increasingly creative with its skins, but today's reveal pushes the game to a new level. Lady Loki, a female version of the god of mischief, is coming to the in-game shop later this week, complete with a new voice lines from a (presumably) new voice actor. You can see the skin in action below. 🐍 Lurking and ready to strike! "The fates do have their little surprises, do they not? No less so for me than you, as my appearance gives stark testimony." Be reborn as a reckoning force and show the battlefield what true power is with the striking Lady Loki costume, first… pic.twitter.com/qkJtJ6jd3j — Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) December 30, 2025 Loki's magically fluid nature has been a fascinating part of his character, especially since he introduced the concept of variants was through his MCU TV series, but no version is as popular as Lady Loki. While the TV series' Sylvie is a popular take on the character in her own right, Lady Loki is typically depicted as a woman with long black hair, like we see in NetEase's shooter. Lady Loki in Marvel Rivals While past cosmetics have put filters on voice lines or included alternate sound/visual effects, this is the most transformative skin Marvel Rivals has seen to date, and raises the question of other potential character variants that could be included as cosmetic overhauls. That said, as far as I know, no one else on the roster has an alternate version as popular as Lady Loki that would require re-recorded voice lines. And I'd prefer characters who have taken up existing heroes' mantles (like Miles Morales, Shuri, or Kate Bishop) to get their own spot on the roster, rather than a reskin. Future speculation aside, Lady Loki is real, but will only be available from January 2 to January 30, so if you're interested, make sure to pick her up while you can. For more Marvel Rivals, check out our review from earlier this year. What other cosmetic overhauls do you hope to see in Marvel Rivals? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

It's been an incredible year for music enthusiasts. Some of the space's best songwriters and producers returned with something to share, including Dijon's sample-heavy Baby, Bon Iver's contrasting Sable, Fable record, and Turnstile's Never Enough album. Newcomer Joshua Slone's debut record, Thinking Too Much, quickly established the young songwriter as a songwriting force, while Lorde's Virgin delivered a gut punch to listeners. For as many hours as Game Informer editors spent covering new video games in 2025, we spent as much or more listening to music. Below are our picks for the year's best new music releases. I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! Jensen McRae It’s a rare gift to listen to an album that feels programmed to your tastes, and I’ve been so grateful to experience singer-songwriter Jensen McRae’s sophomore release, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, in such a way. From the record label Dead Oceans (Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast), the album features sharp lyrical passages that highlight the throes of intimacy and the defiant act of excising the bitterness we can be left with—McRae’s gorgeous melodies drape over acoustic instrumentation, with saturated guitars and drums emphasizing her affecting storylines. “Savannah,” “Massachusetts,” and “Novelty” are personal standouts, but there’s not a single skip on this impressive record. - Alex Van Aken Beautiful Chaos Katseye As someone who cannot dance, still loves to dance, and especially loves watching professional dancers, I’ve observed K-pop from a distance for years, never knowing where to start with this genre. On a whim last Fall, I watched Netflix’s Pop Star Academy: Katseye, a documentary series created in collaboration with international record labels Hybe and Geffen Records that follows the creation of a global girl pop group in the style of K-pop. Through this documentary, I came to appreciate the rigorous (at times, too rigorous, given these were teenagers and young women being treated with questionable standards) and perfectionist artistry embedded in K-pop. It’s incredible to see how much thought and detail go into every aspect of a performance, from faces to vocals to even the ways one’s fingers are positioned in specific dance moves. Throughout the series, you watch more than 100 girls be whittled down to a selection of finalists, with the final six coming together to create Katseye. Katseye’s first EP, SIS (Soft Is Strong), was good, great even, but it felt distinctly Hybe and Geffen, failing to capitalize on the potential of the group’s six members, who are of differing ages and cultural backgrounds. Songs like “Touch” and “Debut” are bops, to be sure, but it’s clear the girls of Katseye’s weren’t necessarily vibing with its more sanitized, ubiquitous, mainstream sound. But then Katseye released their debut EP, Beautiful Chaos, and the fog cleared on what the girls of Katseye want to do and be. Katseye - "Gameboy" Official Music Video: Beautiful Chaos is a thrashy, loud, and unique album. It’s more brat than anything else, but even that diminishes how varied its songs are, which range from sonic melodies about womanhood (“Mean Girls”) to confident and powerful club heaters (“M.I.A.”) to ironic underground romps (“Gnarly”) befitting their Y2K fashion tastes. And just when you think you’ve found a description for Katseye’s sound on Beautiful Chaos, you listen to “Gabriela”, a telenuovo-inspired Spanish song of seduction, love, and heartbreak, and all musical parameters around this girl group fade away. “Gameboy,” with its Nintendo samples and catchy chorus, is one I’d especially recommend checking out if you’re reading this. Beautiful Chaos is not for everyone, but neither is Katseye – they aren’t k-pop; they aren’t pop; they are Katseye. - Wesley LeBlanc Syndicate The Midnight Great synthwave hits like a time machine trip back to the 80s, and The Midnight are masters of the art form. This lengthy album offers plenty to enjoy, but never stops feeling like you’re making your way through one of those great melodramatic teen action movies from 40 years ago, albeit with a more modern production, strong house music influence, and a never-ending driving pace that will keep you nodding along in satisfaction. Bonnie McKee’s guest vocals on “Runaways” feels like the kind of thing you’d want to have hit as the romantic heroes of your film make their daring escape from dystopia, and “Chariot” could slot happily slot in as the best-case-scenario boss music in that epic sci-fi action game you’re playing right now. Seriously, if you came up on video games and synth-driven beats, and you’re not listening to The Midnight, you’re missing out. - Matt Miller Box of Magic Foxy Shazam Many people discovered Foxy Shazam in 2025 thanks to their prominent placement in Peacemaker Season 2, but I’ve been a huge fan since 2012, when they released their incredible album The Church of Rock and Roll. In the time since, they’ve released several albums that I have enjoyed to varying degrees, but nothing has really hit for me the way Church had. Thankfully, 2025’s Box of Magic finally gave me the successor I’ve been waiting for. It’s not as rock-edged as that album, but the songwriting, instrumentation, and production are on par with it. The signature weird fun that Foxy always brings to the table is perfectly complemented by infectious pop melodies, keeping things from either coming across as too subdued or going off the rails in ways I would argue they had in other recent releases. Box of Magic is my favorite Foxy Shazam album in nearly a decade and a half, and when you combine it with their newfound mainstream success, it’s a great time to be a fan of Foxy Shazam. - Brian Shea The Blue Nowhere Between the Buried and Me I am an old man whose musical taste is pretty stagnant (though I do love this year’s “Born Again” from Lisa featuring Doja Cat and RAYE). I played drums in a metal band in high school and college, but it’s safe to say those days are behind me. I don’t really keep up with the genre. However, the band Between the Buried and Me is the one exception, and I always check out their new releases. I particularly like their latest album, specifically the song “Things We Tell Ourselves In The Dark.” They’ve always been an experimental group that is not exclusively metal, and I like that this album gets into the more melodic and experimental side of things. - Kyle Hilliard View the full article

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CD Projekt and GOG.com co-founder, Michał Kiciński now has full ownership of GOG.com. Kiciński founded CD Projekt alongside his brother Marcin in 1994 and co-founded GOG.com, the classic PC game digital distribution platform, in 2008. Michał Kiciński resigned from his position at CD Projekt in 2010, but has remained involved in the company. CD Projekt has maintained ownership over GOG.com since its inception, but it announced today that Michał Kiciński now retains full ownership of GOG.com after acquiring 100% of its shares. It was an amazing journey! Good luck, friends. Can’t wait to see you conquering new heights! https://t.co/wr0jddtRic — CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) December 29, 2025 In a blog announcing Kiciński's acquisition, CD Projekt joint CEO Michał Nowakowski wrote, “With our focus now fully on an ambitious development roadmap and expanding our franchises with new high-quality products, we felt this was the right time for this move.” In the same blog, Michał Kiciński. reiterated the original intention of GOG.com writing, “From the very beginning, GOG has always been built on strong values and clear principles. When Marcin Iwiński and I came up with the idea for GOG, the vision was simple: bring classic games back to players and ensure that once you buy a game, it truly belongs to you — forever.” How and if this affects GOG.com's user experience and library remains to be seen, but hopefully the core idea – make classic games playable on contemporary machines without DRM restrictions – remains true under this direction. [Source: CDProjekt.com] View the full article

A lot of games have arrived in the latter half of 2025, but one RPG has remained a steady undercurrent. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is the story I keep going back to and gradually picking away at, and it's the revival that finally made me understand why Nihon Falcom's series has garnered such a fervent following. As the year comes to a close, we're highlighting some personal favorite games from our team that we feel you shouldn't miss. If you're still looking for the right game to carry you into 2026, and you've already hit up our Top 10 Best, we're hoping one of these recommendations will hit the mark. Few series look as intimidating as Trails does from the outside, as the games have gradually rolled out over the years under different arcs. While there are a few options for starting points, Trails in the Sky does appear to be the best by fan consensus. It's the first in terms of launch order, but that also usually meant Trails in the Sky carried some baggage of appearing dated next to the likes of later Trails games. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter tunes it all up, without losing elements that made the original so well-remembered in the first place. The characters run around in full 3D and combat incorporates some of the real-time action elements seen in more recent Trails entries (or the likes of Metaphor: ReFantazio), and the overall look of Trails in the Sky received a massive overhaul from its original look. The story of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a slow, steady burn. It follows Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua, in the midst of their training and initiation as Bracers, a guild of mercenaries, monster hunters, and investigators that form a neutral third party from state military or other forces. Estelle is naive and headstrong, while Joshua is reserved and brooding; the pair make for excellent leads as their travels soon start to leave their hometown and expand out to the wider world. It's the wider world that really makes Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter come together for me, though. The continent of Zemuria has a rich history that feels reinforced wherever you go. Characters remark on past events, sure, but towns also carry the scars of former conflict. Regions are defined by their access to resources and border lines. One of my favorite collectibles are readable issues of Liberl News, the paper for the Liberl region your characters hail from, which comments and adds texture to everything happening around the party. For such a massive series that's garnered deep attachment from those who have dug into it, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a well-crafted update to Trails' starting line. Nihon Falcom has made it even easier to see why Trails games are worth diving into, and considering how playable this 1st Chapter is on platforms like Switch 2 and Steam Deck, this makes for a wonderful winter game to chip away at as the nights get longer and colder. If you've ever considered seeing what all the hubbub is about, now's the time. View the full article

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As we put a bow on 2025, we've gladly acknowledged all the good that has emerged out of the games industry and the incredibly creative folks therein. We received unexpected hits, tried-and-true juggernauts, and a follow-up to one of the most successful video game devices of all time. However, as I look ahead to 2026, I cannot help but feel wowed by the number of heavy hitting video games and all-around nerdy things that I cannot wait to experience over the next year. Here at Game Informer, we are hyperfocused on the games side, and 2026 looks incredible in that regard. We don't even have a full picture, and already, we know about some unbelievably exciting titles. Grand Theft Auto VI is at the top of mind for pretty much everyone, but other top-notch studios have games we also cannot wait to get our hands on. Marvel's Wolverine, Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Invincible VS, Pokémon Pokopia, Saros, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Forza Horizon 6, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis all look and sound extraordinarily promising. And we don't know what else major companies have in store; we know Nintendo has gotten into a rhythm of announcing games just a few months before release, so who knows what games will pop up during the next few Nintendo Directs? Grand Theft Auto VI But it's not just games that nerdy folks such as myself are excited for. After a bit of a down year for game adaptations, the video game movies of 2026 are super promising: Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to follow up the most popular video game adaptation of all time, while Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat II have a high ceiling when it comes to how fun they shape up to be. And on the comic-movie side, after stepping back a bit in recent years, it sure seems like Marvel, DC, and other comic adaptations are ready to fire on all cylinders, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Supergirl, not to mention new seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, X-Men '97, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, The Boys, and Invincible, plus new shows like Lanterns, Wonder Man, and a special presentation featuring The Punisher. On top of that, Game of Thrones fans have Season 3 of House of the Dragon and the new prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2026. Star Wars is also back in theaters this coming year through The Mandalorian & Grogu, as is Dune with Dune: Part Three. Top it all off with new entries in the Moana, Scream, Insidious, Shrek, Minions, Jumanji, and Toy Story franchises, as well as a Masters of the Universe movie, and 2026 will deliver plenty of excitement for fans of these IP. Even divorced from major franchises, we have new films from Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg to look forward to, as well. Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu To put it bluntly, we have needed quite a bit of escapism in 2025, as sociopolitical strife, economic uncertainty, and a continually challenging games industry job market have remained prominent in the headlines. Educating yourself and staying in touch with events happening in the world is important, but doomscrolling has certainly emerged as a problem for many. Video games, movies, shows, comics, and books provide the escapism that allows us to turn off that part of our brain, disconnect from our real-world struggles, recharge our batteries, and get lost in an incredible adventure. Sadly, 2026 shows no signs of slowing down in terms of real-world challenges, but the moments when we feel we can lose ourselves and lessen the weight of the world for even a small stretch can mean everything. And though we have no idea what awaits us in the realm of real-world things outside of our control in 2026, we can rest assured that when the time comes to relax, rest, and recover from whatever has been taxing us, the entertainment we will receive in 2026 will rise to the occasion. View the full article