# The 10 Best Video Games of 2026 So Far: From Resident Evil to Forza Horizon 6

> Discover the 10 best games of 2026 so far, including Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and Forza Horizon 6. See which titles are dominating the year.

- Canonical URL: https://coreiten.com/en/article/the-10-best-video-games-of-2026-so-far-from-resident-evil-to-forza-horizon-6
- Language: en
- Section: Best Games
- Author: Sami
- Published: 2026-07-08T12:02:24+03:00
- Modified: 2026-07-08T12:02:24+03:00
- Publisher: CoreITen (https://coreiten.com)
- Keywords: Best Games of 2026, Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, Forza Horizon 6, Nioh 3, 007 First Light, top video games 2026

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The first half of 2026 has already delivered a staggering lineup of titles that demand your free time, proving that this year is anything but a slow burn for the gaming industry. Whether you are looking for intense bullet-hell shooters, sprawling open-world racers, or nostalgic life simulators, the best games of 2026 so far offer something for every type of player.

- **10. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight:** Blends the classic Arkham gameplay loop with LEGO's signature humor, exploring Bruce Wayne's early days in Gotham before he became an urban legend.
- **9. Mouse: P.I. For Hire:** A 1930s noir shooter starring Jack Pepper in a gritty world of rodents, featuring intelligent writing, cheese puns, and a unique ink-spilled aesthetic.
- **8. Pragmata:** Combines robust shooting mechanics with a parallel hacking minigame, driven by a heartwarming story that explores the bond between human Hugh and android Diana.
- **7. Saros:** A punishing bullet-hell shooter from Housemarque set in Carcosa, following Arjun as he uncovers mysteries that test his sanity and resolve in an ethereally beautiful world.
- **6. Forza Horizon 6:** Playground Games takes the Horizon Festival to Japan, offering an authentic, visually stunning arcade racing experience with a dynamic weather system and breathtaking locales.
- **5. Nioh 3:** Team Ninja returns with two distinct playstyles, stance-based combat, and an open-world approach focused on collecting loot and surviving challenging boss encounters.
- **4. 007 First Light:** IO Interactive delivers a phenomenal James Bond origin story, blending their signature stealth DNA with brutal combat, cool gadgets, and open-ended level design.
- **3. Pokémon Pokopia:** A delightful life simulator blending Animal Crossing mechanics with the Pokémon universe, tasking players with rebuilding Kanto alongside Ditto.
- **2. Crimson Desert:** An evolving open-world experience in Pywel, following Kliff's fight to unify the land while masterfully blurring the lines between single-player and live-service gameplay.
- **1. Resident Evil Requiem:** A masterful celebration of the franchise featuring Leon and Grace, offering two distinct playstyles and setting up a massive shift in the series' overarching meta-narrative.

### The Shift Toward Genre-Blending Experiences

Looking at the top releases of 2026, the most successful titles are aggressively blending genres rather than sticking to traditional formulas. *Pokémon Pokopia* successfully merging creature collection with life simulation, and *007 First Light* integrating deep stealth mechanics into a blockbuster action framework, prove that players are rewarding mechanical risks. Studios are no longer content with delivering a standard linear experience; they are actively cross-pollinating mechanics to create deeper engagement loops.

Furthermore, the dominance of *Resident Evil Requiem* and *Crimson Desert* highlights a growing industry trend: developers are prioritizing highly replayable, dual-protagonist or live-service-adjacent structures to keep players engaged long after the initial credits roll. As we head into the second half of the year, studios relying on safe, single-genre templates may struggle to compete with these multifaceted experiences. The bar for what constitutes a "must-play" title has been permanently raised by games that refuse to be boxed into a single category.

## Sources

- [gamingbolt.com](https://gamingbolt.com/10-best-games-of-2026-so-far)

## Related topics

- [Resident Evil Requiem](https://coreiten.com/en/topic/resident-evil-requiem)
- [Crimson Desert](https://coreiten.com/en/topic/crimson-desert)
- [Forza Horizon 6](https://coreiten.com/en/topic/forza-horizon-6)
- [Nioh 3](https://coreiten.com/en/topic/nioh-3)