The 5 Best Games of 2026 So Far
We're halfway through 2026, and the year has already delivered some remarkable games. Here are the five best — ranked by a combination of critical reception, cultural impact, and our own verdicts.
Resident Evil Requiem
Survival Horror · Metacritic: 89The #1 best-selling game of 2026 and the highest-rated mainline RE since RE4 (2005). Dual protagonists, 30th anniversary fan service done right, and the highest user score in Metacritic history at launch. Capcom's "CapGod" era continues.
Pragmata
Action-Adventure · Metacritic: 89Capcom's most original new IP in years. Constantly evolving hacking minigames, escalating difficulty, and a heartfelt story make this a genuine Game of the Year contender. A refreshingly original experience in an ocean of sequels.
Crimson Desert
Open-World RPG · Metacritic: 78Polarizing but impossible to ignore. Pearl Abyss built one of the most visually stunning open worlds ever rendered, with spectacular martial arts combat. The weak story and bugs kept the Metacritic below expectations, but the #2 best-selling game of 2026 proves the audience showed up anyway.
Pokémon Pokopia
Adventure · Metacritic: 89The evolution of the Pokémon Legends format on Switch 2. Over 2.2 million copies sold in its opening weekend. Currently tied with RE Requiem for highest-rated game of 2026.
Subnautica 2
Survival · Metacritic: 87The beloved underwater survival series returns — this time with co-op multiplayer. Released in May 2026 to strong reviews, building on everything that made the original a modern classic.
📌 THE BOTTOM LINE
2026 is far from over. GTA 6 launches in November. Gothic 1 Remake drops this week. The Adventures of Elliot arrives June 18. And Summer Game Fest will reveal dozens more. But these five have already set the bar impossibly high.