In 2025 there were video games. There will be video games in 2026. GTA 6 could be one of those video games. However, it is currently only planned for consoles next year. Not that I was going to write about it in an article like this. two years in a rowjust for fun. That would be hacky and below the level I hold myself to. Well, about three millimeters.
Either way, I did it right. Here are four games planned for 2026 that I'm genuinely excited about. Only half of them are racing games, so I did exercise some self-discipline. I hope you're proud of me. Without further ado.
007 First Light
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, doo, yes. ugh, ugh, ugh. ugh, ugh, ugh. Dingdiddlidingding, Dukhdu Luhdiddlidingding, Dukhtute, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I exclaimed you, io interactive. Your game is called First Light, 007 First Light, and it's kind of like Hitman, just with a little more action movie flavor to sneaking around and driving thugs unconscious. I'm far from the biggest Bond fan, more of a casual lover of an easy way to fill a Sunday afternoon with funny Daniel Craig jokes or one of the Moore/Connery classics if my grandparents came over.
However, I am quite ready for the First Light. Especially if it can offer a loop as fun as Hitman's missions. There will be less kills in chess and chattier car shootouts as part of the Bond formula, as IO has demonstrated at various points this year. Lenny Kravitz is one of the villains would also be a change of pace if Agent 47 hadn't started regularly communicating with the likes of Eminem And Jean-Claude Van Damme over the past few years.
Deviating from the time-tested “find a way to take this person's life” principle of Hitman's Kill Box levels—each of which is a perfectly formed maze of domino-like killing runs that you can run at will, mix it up, or abandon entirely in favor of improvisation—comes with risks. Bond may be more of a one-off romance than a dance partner you dance with endlessly until you've explored all the surprises they have to offer. Even if that is the case, I believe it will still be a good time. If it reaches the heights of Hitmanny, talk of game of the year could already have a locked-down rival sipping martinis in the lobby by the end of March.
Blood of the Dawnwalker
WITH The Witcher 4 It's still a little while away, and I'm eager to give Blood of the Dawnwalker a chance to sink its teeth into me next year. Much has been said about the witchy credentials of the developers of Rebel Wolves, and you can certainly see the similarities between CD Projekt's dark medieval fantasy and Dawnwalker. However, I'm interested to see if there's a wealth of Witcher-level content behind the vampire RPG's urgent mission to break into the lair of a powerful bloodsucker and reclaim your family.
Rebel Wolves sought to highlight the dynamic changes in both how quests should be approached and what powers the protagonist Koen must draw upon depending on whether it is day or night. They also heavily promote the idea that choices and consequences will be plentiful and quite brutal, especially if you're bad at deciding quickly what to prioritize. It all looks great, even if I'm fully convinced that the combat might take a while to get into gear. Honestly, it's the same in The Witcher 3, and my main concern is the weak parry response, which lets me down in sword fights with heavy targeted attacks.
Dawnwalker seems set to offer an experience that taps into darkness even more deeply than The Witcher games, and therefore boasts less of the levity that comes from the likes of Jerry using his mutant powers to return an old lady's frying pan. So, assuming there aren't many gags lurking among the moonlit streets, it will be interesting to see if keeping an overall serious tone might push the Rebel Wolves to rule the night.
Forza Horizon 6
I haven't played nearly that much Forza Horizon 5 how did I do it Forza Horizon 4. Steam tells me the hours range from 245 to 81 in favor of the latter, and although I had a lot of fun along the way. rush through MexicoI haven't turned the keys on an FH5 since 2023. This is largely due to the fact that I only came to Horizon 4 when it appeared on the Valve storefront in 2021 and played it a lot in anticipation of the release of its sequel.
However, Horizon 6 seems well positioned to entice me into another Forza binge now that I've had some time away from the series' open-world collectible car festival formula. Setting is always a key point in these games, and racing through Japan seems to offer the same variety of biomes and weather as Horizon 4's brilliant rendition of Britain. Sure, I won't be able to drive past Bamburgh Castle like I've done many times in real life, but driving a train of kei cars through urban sprawl or drifting through narrow mountain passes fringed with cherry blossoms must be a killer. Bonus points if I can get through some snow in the foothills around Mount Fuji.
Star Wars: Galaxy Racer
I liked it Star Wars Outlawseven if his representation of the galaxy's explosive bad side was a little by the numbers at times. I love racing games, especially ones that involve hovering futuristic ships and the ability to race through off-roads littered with visual furniture that makes you go “kor, that's beautiful” halfway through a corner. Star Wars: Galaxy Race Looks Like It Could Merge These Two into One satisfying package with Sebulba. Then it's quite possible it's my bag.
