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Alongside brand-new games for Nintendo Switch 2, a number of existing and upcoming games for the original Switch have received Switch 2-enhanced versions, officially dubbed "Switch 2 Edition." Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends Z-A, were among the first games to launch with Switch 2 Editions, while older games such as Super Mario Party Jamboree are among the titles getting an upgrade. Fans who already own those games for the original Switch can purchase an upgrade to the Switch 2 Editions, typically costing $10 (though some exceptions apply). The good news for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom owners is that the Zelda Switch 2 Edition upgrades will be free to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members. However, you will need to own those games in order to play their Switch 2 Edition counterparts. Additionally, some Nintendo Switch games will get free updates for Switch 2. They may improve performance or add support for features like GameShare, but it will vary game by game. Below, you'll find every Switch 2 Edition announced so far. For more, check out details on the every Switch 2 game so far, all of the GameCube games for Switch Online, and the best Switch 2 games at launch. Super Mario Bros. Wonder The Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder arrives just in time for the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and this is a big upgrade to the acclaimed platformer. The Meetup in Bellabel Park add-on includes 17 multiplayer minigames set in Attraction Plaza, GameShare support for eight-player local wireless play, and 12-player online multiplayer. Other noteworthy additions include Rosalina as a playable character and new story content in the main game starring the Koopalings. Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: $20 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target Advertisement Animal Crossing: New Horizons One of the big hits of the Switch era, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has gotten some big upgrades for its Switch 2 edition. Players can expect improved resolution--up to 4K in TV Mode--mouse controls, expanded multiplayer sessions, and support for CameraPlay. If you already own the game, the Switch 2 upgrade can be purchased for $5. Game price: $65 Upgrade pack price: $5 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild This Switch classic and its sequel get smoother frame rates, faster load times, and enhanced graphics with their Switch 2 Editions. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom also feature Zelda Notes, a Switch 2 Edition exclusive feature designed to help players discover some of the hardest-to-find locations in each game. Princess Zelda will have newly recorded commentary for that feature in both titles. Game price: $70 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target GameStop Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition was released on June 5. Game price: $80 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target GameStop Advertisement Super Mario Party Jamboree The Switch 2 Edition incorporates new modes and minigames that utilize the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls as well as the new built-in mic. It's also compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 camera. Players can also compete in Bowser Live, a new game show-themed experience that includes 2v2 team battles and physical challenges. Game price: $80 Upgrade pack price: $20 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target GameStop Advertisement Metroid Prime 4: Beyond The Switch 2 Edition of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond includes the option to use Joy-Con 2 mouse controls instead of the standard controls. Players will also be able to choose between Quality Mode and Performance Mode, both of which are HDR compatible. The game can be played in 4K at 60 fps or in full HD at 120 fps. Game price: $70 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target GameStop Advertisement Pokemon Legends Z-A The Switch 2 Edition of Pokemon Legends Z-A features improved performance, enhanced resolution, and smoother frame rates. Game price: $70 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target Advertisement Kirby and the Forgotten Land Kirby and the Forgotten Land's Switch 2 Edition includes Star-Crossed World, a new story that follows Kirby's adventures after a mysterious meteor crashes in the Forgotten Land. Kirby also got some additional abilities for this story, including new Mouthful Modes. The Switch 2 Edition includes single-player and local-co-op for Star-Crossed World, as well as improvements for the entire game. Kirby and the Forgotten Land's Switch 2 Edition will be released on August 28. Game price: $80 Upgrade pack price: $20 Where to buy Walmart Target GameStop Advertisement Sid Meier's Civilization VII Sid Meier's Civilization VII Switch 2 Edition takes advantage of the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls as players get a more PC-like experience. If you already own the game on Switch, it'll be a $10 upgrade for its Switch 2 version. Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Advertisement Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Alongside an improved frame rate and a higher resolution, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma also offers Joy-con 2 mouse controls support. Set in a fantasy world inspired by Japanese folklore, the game allows you to play as one of two protagonists as you battle monsters, rebuild villages, and manage your own farm. Game price: $70 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target Advertisement Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar A cozy game where you'll get to reap the rewards of the farming life, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar on Switch 2 features a higher resolution with improved frame rates, as well as support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: $10 Where to buy Amazon Walmart Target Advertisement Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time For the Switch 2 edition of Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, you can expect improved load times, better graphics, and a higher frame rate. If you own the game on Switch and you leap over to Switch 2, you can grab the upgrade pack for $2.58. Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: $2.58 Advertisement No Man's Sky No Man's Sky got a substantial update on Switch 2, and best of all, it was completely free. Developer Hello Games says that players can expect the following upgrades with the Beacon update: Multiplayer 4K texture support Improved frame rate Enhanced UI Touch controls Increased TV Mode resolution Increased Handheld Mode resolution Increased geometry Gyro support DLSS + DRS Settlements Cross save Crossplay As for the game, it's still available along with years of free DLC for $60. Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: Free Where to buy Amazon Walmart Advertisement Fortnite The battle royale fun continues on Switch 2, as Fortnite players can expect the game to take advantage of several features on that console. So far, the list of updates include a higher frame rate, higher resolution, and support for GameChat. Fortnite will run at up to 60fps Higher resolutions: 2176 x 1224 docked, 1600 x 900 undocked Greater view distances Higher-quality textures, shadows, and water rendering Clothing physics enabled Replay system available in Switch 2 edition of Fortnite Video highlights capture supported GameChat supported High-detail geometry, distance field ambient occlusion, shadow casting point lights, high-quality effects in docked mode Mouse controls supported with Joy-Con 2, starting June 7 As usual, Fortnite is a free-to-play game, but it also has a robust microtransaction marketplace. Game Price: Free to download and play Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Tamagotchi Plaza Tamagotchi Plaza's Switch 2 release adds three exclusive shops to the game--making for a total of 15 shops in the plaza--as well as support for the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls. If you already own the Switch edition of the game, an upgrade pack will be available for purchase. Game price: $50 Upgrade pack price: $10 Advertisement 4PGP 4K 60fps support in TV Mode Native framerate of 120fps for 1-2 players and 90fps for three or more players in Full HD Game price: $25 Upgrade pack price: $5 Advertisement Isekai Rondo Improved resolution and text visibility, with support for mouse controls Game price: $8 Upgrade pack price: $1 Advertisement The Rumble Fish 2 New Game Mode: Team Battle Graphical updates Crossplay with Nintendo Switch Game price: $20 Upgrade pack price: $5 Advertisement Sail Forth 1080p resolution in Handheld mode 4K resolution in TV mode Increased framerate Faster load times Allows more boats to be present at one time Shadows enabled in water Water reflections enabled High-quality post-processing Game price: $20 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Overrogue Improved resolution and text visibility, with support for mouse controls Game price: $16 Upgrade pack price: $1 Advertisement A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism Support for mouse controls Improved graphics and frame rate Game Chat support added Additional scenarios added Game price: $67 Upgrade pack price: $7 Advertisement Cast 'n Chill 120fps performance mode added for Handheld and TV Modes Enhanced visual effects Game price: $15 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Improved frame rates and resolution Support for GameShare and GameChat added Game price: $32.49 Upgrade pack price: $2.49 Advertisement Divinity 2: Original Sin Improved frame rates and resolution Game price: $50 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Little Rocket Lab Improved frame rates and resolution Game price: $20 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Storm Lancers Improved frame rate Game Share support added Game price: $20 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Simogo Legacy Collection Mouse controls support added Improved frame rates and resolution Game price: $15 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 Improved frame rates and resolution Game price: $40 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Beyblade X Evobattle Improved frame rates and resolution Faster loading times Game price: $ Upgrade pack price: $ Advertisement Pritto Prisoner Improved frame rates Mouse controls support added Game price: $11 Upgrade pack price: $1 Advertisement Stardew Valley Mouse controls support added Local split-screen co-op support for up to four players Online multiplayer support for up to eight players Game Share support added Game price: $15 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Factorio Mouse controls support added Improved resolution in Handheld and TV mode Higher quality animations Faster loading times Game price: $35 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Improved resolution and frame rates Game price: $70 Upgrade pack price: $10 Advertisement Shuten Order Improved frame rates Mouse controls added Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: $2.49 Advertisement Brotato Improved resolution and frame rates Four-player co-op added Game Share with local users added Game price: $5 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Improved resolution and frame rates Faster loading times Game price: $72.58 Upgrade pack price: $2.59 Advertisement Hello Kitty Island Adventure Improved resolution and frame rates Camera Play support added Mouse controls added Game price: $50 Upgrade pack price: $10 Advertisement Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Improved resolution Mouse controls added Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: $5 Advertisement Overcooked 2 Improved resolution and frame rates Camera Play support added Game Share support added Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: $10 Advertisement Dave the Diver Improved resolution and frame rates Game price: $20 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Ball x Pit Improved resolution and frame rates Game price: $15 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Improved resolution and frame rates Game price: $50 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Hades 2 Improved resolution and frame rates Enhanced texture quality Enhanced visual effects Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Improved resolution and frame rates Faster loading times Game price: $60 Upgrade pack price: $1 Advertisement Kuukiyomi 4: Consider It Mouse controls for new game modes added Game price: $13 Upgrade pack price: $5 Advertisement Lynked: Banner of the Spark Improved frame rates and resolution Improved graphics Mouse controls added Game Share support added Game price: $15 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Hollow Knight: Silksong Improved frame rates and resolution Additional effects Game price: $20 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement The Exit 8 Improved frame rates and resolution Game price: $5 Upgrade pack price: $1 Advertisement Shadow Labyrinth Improved frame rates and resolution Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Hollow Knight Improved frame rates, resolution, and additional effects Game price: $15 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Super Bomberman Collection GameShare support and 4K resolution mode added Game price: $25 Upgrade pack price: $5 Advertisement Card-en-Ciel Improved frame rates and 4K resolution Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: $5 Advertisement Novel Rogue Improved resolution and text visibility, with support for mouse controls Game price: $21 Upgrade pack price: $1 Advertisement Subnautica Enhanced resolution, higher frame rate, and support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Subnautica: Below Zero Enhanced resolution, higher frame rate, and support for Joy-Con 2 mouse controls Game price: $30 Upgrade pack price: Free Advertisement Braid: Anniversary Edition Increased resolution: Up to 1080p in handheld mode and up to 4K in console mode. Increased refresh rate: Up to 120Hz. Higher resolution textures throughout. Additional developer commentary. Game price: $20 Upgrade price: $3 Advertisement Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Adds additional content from the Definitive Edition and enhanced visuals for the Switch 2 system. Adds smoother framerate and 4K resolution in TV mode. Game price: $65 Upgrade price: $5 Advertisement Dispatch Adds enhanced resolution and improved frame rates. Game price: $30 Upgrade price: Free Advertisement Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park Adds new Bellabel Park area and multiplayer minigames Adds Rosalina and Co-Star Luma to the existing cast GameShare for local and online added New Super Flower Pot power-up Game price: $60 Upgrade price: $20 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition + Meetup In Bellabel Park $80 | Releases March 26 Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Advertisement Asphalt Legends Resolution Upgrade: 1440p in TV mode, 1080p in handheld mode 60 FPS in both modes Enhanced visual effects Game price: Free Upgrade price: Free Advertisement Minishoot Adventures Higher frame rate and enhanced resolution. Advertisement Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf 60 fps performance at 1080p resolution in TV Mode 60 fps performance at 1080p resolution in Handheld Mode Enhanced texture quality Enhanced visual effects Advertisement Cozy Grove 4K resolution in TV Mode 1080p resolution in Handheld Mode Increased frame rate Advertisement Bang Bang Bandits GameShare support added. Higher resolution and higher frame rates Advertisement The Fox's Way Home Improved frame rates and higher resolution Mouse control support added Advertisement Human Fall Flat GameShare and GameChat support added Improved performance with higher frame rate and resolution Support for mouse controls added Advertisement Disney Dreamlight Valley Improved loading times Enhanced resolution and up to 60fps frame rate Item limit increased to 6,000 items Advertisement Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Higher frame rate and enhanced resolution. Advertisement Demon Castle Story 4K support in TV mode added Joy-Con mouse support added Advertisement Fruit Mountain Party Improved frame rate GameShare support added GameChat support added Advertisement Dinkum Improved frame rate and resolution Advertisement Lorelei and the Laser Eyes 120 fps in 1080p resolution in handheld mode 120 fps in 1440p in TV mode 60 fps in 4K in TV mode Advertisement Sayonara Wild Hearts New Remix Arcade mode added 120 fps in 1080p resolution in handheld mode 120 fps in 1440p in TV mode 60 fps in 4K in TV mode Advertisement Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster Improved frame rates and 4K resolution added Advertisement Chippy & Noppo GameShare support added GameChat support added Improved resolution Advertisement Skyship Quest Story Wider display area added Resolution upgraded to 4K in TV mode Joy-Con mouse support added Advertisement Blood: Refreshed Supply Improved resolution and frame rate Support for up to 6 players in split-screen added Advertisement Lollipop Chainsaw RePop Improved resolution and frame rate New Gun Shooting Mode added with support for Joy-Con mouse controls Advertisement The Prince of Tennis Sweet School Festival: 40 and More Improved resolution in TV and handheld mode New GameShare features added Advertisement Dream Town Island Wider display area Supports 4K resolution in TV mode Adds Joy-Con 2 mouse support Advertisement Psyvariar 3 4K Quality mode added 120fps Performance mode added Advertisement Touhou Yukkuri Mountain Higher resolution added GameShare features added Advertisement RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic Enhanced resolution Joy-Con 2 mouse support added Advertisement Mina the Hollower Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Joy-Con 2 mouse support added Advertisement Isekai Villain Improved resolution and text visibility Joy-Con 2 mouse support added Advertisement Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Shorter loading times GameShare features added Additional DLC added Advertisement Dark Auction Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Shorter loading times Advertisement Unrailed 2: Back on Track Enhanced visuals GameShare features added Advertisement R-Type Tactics I & II Cosmos Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement The Drifter Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Joy-Con 2 mouse support added Advertisement Citizen Sleeper 4K TV mode resolution added 1080p handheld mode resolution added 60fps frame rate added for both modes Advertisement Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector 4K TV mode resolution added 1080p handheld mode resolution added 60fps frame rate added for both modes Advertisement Game Dev Story 4K TV mode resolution added Joy-Con 2 mouse support added Advertisement Botany Manor Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Moonlight Peaks Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 1+2 Dual Collection Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Starbites Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Disney Speedstorm Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Culdcept Begins Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Joy-Con 2 mouse support added GameShare features added Advertisement Go-Go Town Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advertisement Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Joy-Con 2 controller support added Advertisement Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Advanced Scoring Mode added CameraPlay support added GameShare features added Memory of Memorie : A Chill Story Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Joy-Con 2 mouse controls added Advertisement Memory of Memorie : A Chill Story Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates addedJoy-Con 2 mouse controls support added Advertisement Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added Discover a new rare Blade, complete with a quest  New action battle mode added New equipment designs for Pyra and Mythra Advertisement Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Enhanced resolution and higher frame rates added New hero to recruit New wave-based battle mode Fully voiced event scenes added Advertisement...

Once again, the year in gaming has seen no shortage of high-quality releases and GOTY contenders. Looking ahead, there are many highly anticipated games coming out in 2026, but how well will they score when they arrive? That remains to be seen, but, as in previous years, we'll keep track of all the games that hit a review score of at least 8 and list them below. That doesn't mean that games that fall below that threshold aren't worth your time, as they can still entertain you for hours on end if you can overlook some of their flaws. We'll also be keeping track of those titles below, but for now, the focus here is on must-play games. 2025's best games included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Silent Hill F, alongside entries from smaller studios like The Seance of Blake Manor, Dispatch, and Blue Prince. As a reminder, GameSpot does standard game reviews, reviews in progress, and we'll sometimes publish updated reviews of ongoing games if there have been major changes to them. Most of our reviews are also adapted for video, so if you'd like to hear the soothing voices of our producers tell you exactly why a game is worth your time, you can hit up our YouTube page. To keep things simple, we'll be listing the games below alphabetically, based on their scores. Advertisement Cairn -- 9 Cairn represents a new peak for mountain-climbing games, as it fuses a vivid sense of wonder with a feeling of true peril. It's you against the world as you guide the protagonist Aava up steep cliffs and search for that one handhold that won't spell certain doom when you shift your weight. With equilibrium being a key component of the experience, Cairn also knows exactly when to let players breathe, offering moments of quiet reflection as a counterbalance to when you hit a metaphorical--and literal--wall on your ascent. Read our Cairn review, and watch the video review here. Available for PC and PS5. See on Fanatical Featured in this image Cairn View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred -- 9 Diablo expansions are a big deal, as these add-ons have given rise to some of the best moments in the franchise. Lord of Hatred can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lord of Destruction and Reaper of Souls, as it brings fantastic quality-of-life improvements, two new classes that make you feel like a powerhouse, and a thrilling narrative to the table. Diablo 4's Hatred Saga comes to a satisfying conclusion, while the new Warlock and Paladin classes offer explosive fun honed by major changes to the core gameplay. Read our Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. See on Steam Advertisement Esoteric Ebb -- 9 What happens when you combine a tabletop Dungeons & Dragons session with Disco Elysium? You get Esoteric Ebb, a charming fantasy game where sweat-inducing die rolls govern your fate. Set in an original fantasy world that's brimming with personality, Esoteric Ebb is charming and surprisingly hilarious, as you don the chainmail of an idiot with a talent for magic: all that and a killer soundtrack. Read our Esoteric Ebb review. Available for PC. See on Fanatical Advertisement Marathon -- 9 Marathon is admittedly a lot to take in the first time you boot it up, but stick with it, and you'll find an extraction shooter that captures the highs and lows of the genre. Its art direction is a visual feast, the gunplay packs a punch, and there's a surprising amount of depth in each 20-minute excursion to Tau Ceti IV. How Marathon will shape up over the long term remains to be seen, but Bungie has delivered an exciting game with strong fundamentals, rich lore, and tactical gameplay that could get even better in time with post-launch DLC drops. Read our Marathon review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. See on Fanatical Advertisement Mewgenics -- 9 All the joy of breeding an army of cats with none of the real-life responsibility of spending a fortune on food and kitty litter, Mewgenics is a challenging experience with unparalleled depth. The Binding of Isaac and The End is Nigh developers Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel have delivered a complex game, balancing the joy of managing an ever-growing collection of cats with the nail-biting "just one more run" energy you'd expect from the best roguelites. Read our Mewgenics review. Available for PC. See on Steam Advertisement Mina the Hollower -- 9 Now that it's finally out of the gate, Mina the Hollower is proving that is well worth the wait. A masterclass in design that combines the retro aesthetics of Game Boy-era Zelda games with souls-like gameplay, Mina the Hollower is a love letter to the path that feels refreshingly modern. Developer Yacht Club Games has come out swinging with an ambitious game, one that's densely packed with content and charm, while demanding combat ensures that your attention never drifts away for a single second. Read our Mina the Hollower review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and Switch. See on Steam Advertisement Mixtape -- 9 This year is going to go down as one of the best for video games with a music bend, thanks in part to standout titles like Mixtape. A sincere look at the horrors of growing up from Australian developers Beethoven & Dinosaur, Mixtape also features one of the best soundtracks of the year so far. Music and memories collide in grand fashion, and the end result is a heartfelt coming-of-age story. Read our Mixtape review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2. See on Fanatical Advertisement Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection -- 9 Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection proves just how good a spin-off from a mainline series of games can be, as this charming threequel checks multiple boxes for a great gaming experience. A compelling story, a colorful cast of characters, and a flashy combat system all add up to build an all-time classic Monster Hunter game, successfully standing tall next to several of the best games in the main Monster Hunter franchise. Read our Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Fanatical Advertisement Nioh 3 -- 9 Team Ninja's souls-like Nioh games have established themselves as fast-paced and punishing adventures. Nioh 3 doesn't stray from that established formula, but it does add compelling new additions and refinements that sharpen the experience. With the introduction of "open-field" design that adds more exploration and discovery to the mix, quality-of-life enhancements, and rock-solid combat, Nioh 3 is the best game in the series to date and Team Ninja at its best. Read our Nioh 3 review. Available for PC and PS5. See on Fanatical Advertisement Pokemon Pokopia -- 9 The idea of a Pokemon-themed cozy life sim sounds like an interesting idea for a spin-off, and it's one that has been expertly realized in Pokemon Pokopia. A well-executed combination of the design sensibilities of Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders--with some Viva Piñata inspiration for good measure--Pokemon Pokopia is an elegant celebration of the Pokemon franchise's 30th anniversary. Read our Pokemon Pokopia review. Available for Switch 2. Pokemon Pokopia (Game Key-Card) $70 See at Amazon View at other stores See at Walmart See at Best Buy See at Nintendo Store See at GameStop Advertisement Pragmata -- 9 One of 2026's contenders for game of the year, Pragmata is a refreshingly original IP in an ocean of sequels and remakes. It's no one-trick pony, as the constantly evolving hacking minigames, challenging gameplay that only escalates the more you play, and the heartfelt story make for a standout experience on PC and console. Read our Pragmata review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Fanatical Advertisement Saros -- 9 Housemarque knows a thing or two about roguelite bullet-hell adventures that keep you glued to the screen, and Saros builds on Returnal's foundation to deliver a rollercoaster of fun and challenge. While it's not as unforgiving as Returnal, prepare to die and try (try!) again as you master the exquisitely aggressive gameplay of Saros. The game successfully flips Housemarque's roguelite formula on its head, and the result is an intoxicating rush of power when the stars align. Read our Saros review. Available for PS5. See on Amazon Advertisement 007 First Light -- 8 With Hitman developer IO Interactive at the helm, 007 First Light is a showcase of the studio's greatest strengths. From intricate worldbuilding to top-tier stealth, the first James Bond adventure in many years shares a lot of DNA with Agent 47, but it also breaks free from those comparisons by excelling in other gameplay areas. A game that's laser-focused on delivering a tightly constructed story complemented by rough-and-tumble action, precision shooting, and an arsenal of one-liners, 007 First Light is a successful and confident reinvention of Bond for the modern era. Read our 007 First Light review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. See on Amazon Advertisement Big Hops -- 8 What happens when Super Mario meets The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? You get Big Hops, one of the first great games of 2026. A 3D platformer with plenty of charm and heart, Big Hops keeps things simple and polished as it confidently hops into vibrant worlds. That makes it an approachable game for all ages, and with its well-executed gameplay, it's a constantly satisfying adventure. Read our Big Hops review. Available for PC, PS5, and Switch. See on Steam Featured in this image Big Hops View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Forza Horizon 6 Forza Horizon 6 doesn't stray from the formula it has been fine-tuning since 2012, but it doesn't need to either. Instead, Forza Horizon's tour of Japan is a celebration of car culture that is constantly rewarding and looks as good as a million-dollar supercar. Forza Motorsport's open-world spin-off has become Microsoft's champion racing game franchise, and this new entry in the series is firing on all cylinders with its mix of fast cars, wild showdown races, and intelligently designed systems that complement the racing experience. Read our Forza Horizon 6 review. Available for PC and Xbox Series X|S. See on Amazon Advertisement Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight -- 8 Batman is no stranger to the world of Lego, having headlined several games in the past, but this new entry featuring the Dark Knight is more than just a toybox of destructible environments and cheeky humor. It's a celebration of the Caped Crusader's rich legacy, and it plays like the Arkham sequel fans have been waiting over a decade for. Full of heart and charm, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight keeps your eyes glued to the bat-screen with enjoyable gameplay, Easter eggs, and a playful take on the beloved Gotham vigilante. Read our Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. See on Amazon Advertisement Mario Tennis Fever -- 8 Mario has developed into quite the sportsman over the years, and Mario Tennis Fever might just be his best athletic adventure yet. While the core mechanics of Mario Tennis remain largely unchanged, it's the fun and flexible Fever Rackets that serve up some great content and add a layer of unpredictability to every match. Alongside the enjoyable Adventure Mode, challenges, and special game types, Mario Tennis Fever is a grand slam winner for Switch 2 owners. Read our Mario Tennis Fever review. Available for Switch 2. See on Amazon Featured in this image Nioh 3 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Mouse: P.I. For Hire -- 8 With a game like Mouse: P.I. For Hire, looks do matter--and those looks are an exquisite throwback to the rubber hose aesthetic of classic cartoons wrapped up in a film noir aesthetic. Not just a visually engaging adventure, Mouse: P.I. For Hire also flexes some beefy gameplay muscles with kinetic gunplay and weapons that deliver some gloriously silly slapstick violence. Read our Mouse: P.I. For Hire review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, and Switch. See on Nintendo Advertisement Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf -- 8 Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf sticks to the winning formula of the first game, giving players a beautiful world to explore and savor, thanks to its strong art direction and fantastic soundtrack. While it takes a while for the story to truly get going, the second half of this adventure is a bold and stunning collection of fascinating puzzles and platforming, all built around a central mystery that keeps you hooked to your screen. Read our Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, and Switch. See on Steam Advertisement Reanimal -- 8 Critics of the Little Nightmares co-op horror game series say that the terror of the original game has been somewhat muted in its sequels, and if you feel the same way, then you'll want to check out Reanimal. It more than lives up to the legacy of Little Nightmares, as this spiritual successor surpasses it with a game design that makes exploring a haunting and unsettling world quite enjoyable, especially with a co-op partner in tow. While its puzzles aren't too challenging, it's the unsettling imagery that leaves a lasting impression as you guide siblings through a nightmarish world and toward freedom. Read our Reanimal review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Fanatical Featured in this image Mario Tennis Fever View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Resident Evil Requiem -- 8 Imagine Resident Evil's greatest hits bundled into one delightfully macabre package, and you've got Resident Evil Requiem. A highlight reel of the heart-pounding horror and action that has defined the series for 30 years, Requiem refines the formula behind the games and polishes it with small but thoughtful gameplay additions to create a gorgeously gruesome experience. Read our Resident Evil Requiem review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Amazon Advertisement Rhythm Heaven Groove -- 8 Nintendo might be looked at as a publisher of kid-friendly games, but the company isn't afraid to get weird from time to time. Rhythm Heaven Groove continues that tradition for surprisingly goofy games, and similar to WarioWare offering a collection of zany microgames, there's plenty to dig into here. The big difference is the emphasis on music and timing in Rhythm Heaven Groove, but once you find your groove, you're in for a heck of an experience. It looks and sounds great, Remix Sections are downright magical, and the game is unapologetically weird. Read our Rhythm Heaven Groove review. Available for Switch and Switch 2 Advertisement Vampire Crawlers -- 8 Roguelike deckbuilders feel like an oversaturated genre these days, but Vampire Survivors developer Poncle puts a fresh spin on the genre with a spin-off game that's hard to put down. Capturing all the magic of its breakout hit bullet-heaven game and reimagining it as an approachable deckbuilder that gets better with each run, don't be too surprised if the "just one more turn" energy of Vampire Crawlers keeps you awake way past your bedtime. Read our Vampire Crawlers review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. See on Steam Advertisement World of Warcraft: Midnight Midnight is the 11th expansion for World of Warcraft, and it continues to make major foundational changes to Blizzard's legendary MMO. With enough content to cater to both veteran players and newcomers, Midnight builds on that momentum with challenging endgame activities, welcome overhauls to the user interface, and a robust housing system that gives you the opportunity to turn a slice of Zeroth into a dream home. Read our World of Warcraft: Midnight review. Available for PC. See on Amazon Advertisement WWE 2K26 -- 8 WWE 2K26 doesn't offer many changes to the bread-and-butter gameplay of previous releases, but this year's entry in the sports entertainment series does address a long list of issues. The focus on quality-of-life improvements makes each match feel more fun than ever before, thanks to the added layers of polish, while new match types, a story mode focused on CM Punk, and an overhauled Island mode put WWE 2K26 in the main event spotlight. Read our WWE 2K26 review. Available for PC, PS5, and Switch 2. See on Amazon Advertisement Zero Parades: For Dead Spies -- 8 Any spiritual successor to Disco Elysium certainly has its work cut out for it, and while Zero Parades: For Dead Spies doesn't quite reach that benchmark, it's still a powerhouse spy thriller full of interesting ideas. Featuring razor-sharp writing and fascinating characters, Zero Parades is a clandestine tale of espionage with rich RPG systems that encourage you to fail upwards. Read our Zero Parades: For Dead Spies review. Available for PC. See on Steam Advertisement Every other GameSpot review in 2026 Not every game released this year is a winner, but that doesn't mean that they're not worth playing. If you can overlook some of their issues, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised, and we'll be running a list of the games that didn't make the cut above. These will be arranged in alphabetical order so that you can quickly find what you're looking for. The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales -- 7 Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced -- 7 Code Vein 2 -- 6 Crimson Desert -- 7 Crisol: Theater of Idols -- 6 Darwin's Paradox -- 7 Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined -- 7 God of War: Sons of Sparta -- 5 High on Life 2 -- 7 Highguard -- 6 Hytale (Early Access) -- 6 Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered -- 7 NBA The Run -- 7 People of Note -- 7 Pokemon Champions -- 7 Romeo is a Dead Man -- 5 Scott Pilgrim EX -- 7 Star Fox -- 7 Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup In Bellabel Park -- 7 Tides of Tomorrow -- 7 Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties -- 6 Yoshi and the Mysterious Book -- 7 Featured in this image REANIMAL View Game Hub Follow Advertisement...

Superhero games make for some of the best interactive entertainment around, as they provide the ideal form of escapism: all of the great power, and none of the great responsibility to use it wisely. The last couple of years have seen some terrific entries in this genre, from Eidos Interactive’s Guardians of the Galaxy to Insomniac's successful reimagining of Spider-Man, and last year's sleeper hit, Dispatch. Several games based on characters from Marvel, DC, and other comic book publishers are in development at several studios--from Iron Man to Black Panther-- and here's a closer look at the projects headed to PC and console in the near-future. Two games we've sadly removed from the list are Monolith's Wonder Woman and Cliffhanger's Black Panther, as both games were canceled and their studios have been closed. For a broader sense of what's on the way, check out our full 2026 video game release date schedule. Advertisement Marvel's Blade (Arkane Lyon) Blade's no stranger to video games--the Wesley Snipes incarnation had two movie tie-in games and he's appeared in various other big Marvel games over the years. But the idea of a new solo title with Deathloop studio Arkane Lyon leading the way sounds like a match made in heaven. This time, Blade's adventure takes him to the streets of Paris, a city under siege by vampires and in dire need of the Daywalker's lethal talents for dealing with the undead pain-in-the-neck menace. While it's still early in development, Arkane has described this project as a narrative-driven third-person action game and has shared some concept art for the game. Recently, there have been fears that Marvel's Blade might be facing cancellation, following sweeping cuts at Xbox. Since it's based in France, Arkane Lyon has now entered a period of "required consultation" with its local works council to discuss "potential" strategic options, which could see a new buyer found for the Deathloop studio. There's also the potential for Arkane to become an independent studio--a path that Double Fine and Compulsion Games have opted for following their exit from Xbox--but it's unclear what the future holds in store for Marvel's Blade. According to recent reports, the Marvel game was over-budget and had been delayed internally to late 2027. Advertisement Marvel's Iron Man (EA Motive) Not much is known about EA's take on everybody's favorite genius billionaire playboy philanthropist Iron Man, as the game is still early in pre-production, but EA Motive has said that it wants to get this project right. The Dead Space studio has a legion of Iron Man fans to consult on this project, hiring is ramping up, and the game is being developed in Unreal Engine 5. Advertisement Marvel's Wolverine (Insomniac) Release date: September 15, 2026 After three games spent spinning webs, dealing with pesky symbiotes, and suffering regular insults from J. Jonah Jameson, Insomniac's next project is focused on Canada's finest export, Wolverine. After years of radio silence, the studio showed off its Wolverine game in all its gory glory, revealing a brutal exploration of the character and a September 15, 2026, release date. In the months leading up to its release, Insomniac has shown off plenty more of the game in action, and yes, it is an incredibly violent game. Set in a world where the X-Men don't exist yet--but a globe-trotting group of mercenary mutants known as Team X is in action--Marvel's Wolverine looks like it'll have plenty of Easter eggs and classic costumes to unlock when Logan pops his adamantium claws out.    Advertisement Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra (Skydance Media) The next game from Uncharted director Amy Hennig and Skydance Media, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra will feature more than just Wakanda's defender and the first Avenger in action. The debut trailer teased Gabriel Jones, a US soldier, and Nanali, the founder of the Wakandan Spy Network, as two more playable characters in the game's ensemble cast. Gameplay has yet to be revealed, but Skydance Media did showcase some of the game's very impressive visuals during the State of Unreal presentation at the Game Developers Conference. While Captain America is still a rookie star-spangled hero, this incarnation of Black Panther is Wakandan King Azzuri, T'Challa's grandfather, and the forces of Hydra are sweeping across Europe. The storyline will draw inspiration from the 2010 "Flags of Our Fathers" comic book arc, and Hennig added that the game is being structured somewhat similarly to a "binge-able serialized adventure" for fans to enjoy. What's taking so long for the game to see the light of day? According to Shawn Kittelsen, a senior executive at the newly formed Paramount Games Studio, the game's small team and producer Amy Hennig's push for quality are factors in its lengthy development, but Paramount wants to support a team that's focused on delivering a high-quality experience. Advertisement Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls (Arc System Works) In what might be the most surprising team-up of the year, the next brawler featuring Earth's mightiest mortals will see Marvel team up with Guilty Gear developer Arc System Works. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls features fresh redesigns of characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Captain America, along with an exciting 4v4 battle setup. It'll be out in 2026. The rest of the game's launch roster has also been revealed, and yes, Deadpool is still a scene-stealing character who dares to use moves from other fighting games. Advertisement Mystery Marvel games (EA) Details on the two mystery Marvel games at EA are locked up tighter than Wolverine's liquor cabinet when he's out of town, but EA has confirmed that one of them will be an original story-driven game set in the Marvel universe, just like its Iron Man project. Which characters will we eventually see revealed? Modern Marvel games typically focus on their biggest blockbuster icons, and it doesn't look like the Hulk, Captain Marvel, or Ant-Man are up to anything right now. Who knows? It might be time to walk on the print side of that universe with Marvel's Daily Bugle Simulator. Advertisement The Wolf Among Us 2 (Telltale Games) While it's not a capes-and-tights adventure like the other entries above, The Wolf Among Us 2 still has its origins in comic books. Originally announced in 2017, The Wolf Among Us 2 has had a long--and reportedly troubled--development cycle, enduring multiple delays and the closure of the original Telltale Games. The current incarnation of Telltale Games confirmed that development on The Wolf Among Us 2 is still ongoing, following rumors that the game was at risk of being shelved due to financial difficulties and internal pressure. At Summer Game Fest, The Wolf Among Us 2 finally got a fresh reveal, and so far, it's looking pretty good. The game is now running in Unreal Engine 5, with its art direction aiming to capture the Telltale Games vibe while also modernizing it. Exploration sections have been expanded on to include full 360-degree camera control, while various other gameplay mechanics are all designed to make you feel like a hard-boiled detective. It doesn't have an exact date yet, but the game is currently on track to be released in 2027 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. Advertisement The Dark Knight rises once again? After releasing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to lukewarm reviews and poor sales, UK-based developer Rocksteady Studios is rumored to be returning to Batman for its next project. A recent report claimed that the studio is working on a single-player Batman game, but it's "years away" from seeing the light of day. With Netflix also preparing to purchase Warner Bros.--and by association, all of the Warner Bros. Interactive game studios--it'll be interesting to see if the Caped Crusader is being primed for a big comeback. Advertisement...

While E3 has been dead and buried for a few years now, Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest has stepped in to fill that void. In what is undeniably the busiest month in video game news, Summer Game Fest is just the tip of the iceberg. The main event has several themed showcases that officially accompany it, while other publishers and developers from across the world also host unaffiliated events of their own. Two of the biggest names in gaming--Sony and Microsoft--have revealed what's next for PlayStation and Xbox with dedicated livestreams, with Nintendo up next, but if you're looking for something that suits your niche interests, you can also grab livestreams dedicated to indie games, projects from various parts of the world, and more. To help you keep track of what's on the horizon, we've gathered up all the upcoming video game showcases below, when you can watch them, and their streaming links. We'll keep this list updated, so you can check back often to see what else you can look forward to as soon as it's announced. Advertisement Summer Game Fest Live - June 5 Summer Game Fest 2026 kicked off this year from the Dolby Theatre, and featured big reveals like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Resident Evil Veronica, and a whole lot more. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Xbox Games Showcase -- June 7 The annual Xbox Games Showcase had several first looks at games from first-party studios, even reveals from third-party partners, and was followed by a deep dive into Gears of War: E-Day. Where to Watch: YouTube Twitch All the news Gears Of War E-Day Looks Mobility-Focused, And Don’t Worry, There’s A Chainsaw Fable Release Date Announced, With A Look At New And Old Villains Persona 4 Revival Coming February 2027, Included In Game Pass State Of Decay 3 Finally Resurfaces With New Trailer, And It’s Coming To PS5 Metro 2039 Arrives Next February, And Nazis Have Overtaken Moscow New Hellblade Game Already Coming, But Is Just Called “Senua” New Crazy Taxi Game Revealed Using That Classic Offspring Song New Co-Op Game, Join Us, Is Like GTA With Cults And The Apocalypse Magicians: The Devil’s Deal Looks Like BioShock With Stage Magic, Coming To Game Pass Doom: The Dark Ages Swaps The Shield For An Awesome-Looking Spear In New Revelations DLC Xbox Unveils New 25th-Anniversary Edition Xbox Series X Based On Original Xbox–And It’s Gonna Be Pricey Next Big Minecraft Game Is Coming This September Spyro The Dragon Returns After 20 Years, And He’s Finally Taking Flight Clockwork Revolution Is Another Xbox Console Exclusive, Coming In 2027 Nintendo Direct - June 9 As rumored, a Nintendo Direct will be held on Tuesday, June 9, at 7 AM PT/10 AM ET. It's expected to be a big one, as it will run for about 50 minutes and then be followed by an approximately 95-minute Nintendo Treehouse livestream. The Treehouse stream will dive into more detail on some of the Switch or Switch 2 games featured during the main broadcast. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement All the news Minecraft Is Finally Coming To Switch 2, With A Huge Improvement Donkey Kong Banaza’s Mario-Inspired Update Has The Strangest Limitation Imaginable DK Challenge Revealed For Nintendo Switch Online On Switch 2 Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Features Four Different Storylines Pokemon Pokopia Getting Free Underwater Expansion And Paid DLC, And It’s All A Little Confusing Minecraft Is Finally Coming To Switch 2, With A Huge Improvement Nintendo Finally Reveals The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake For 2026 Kingdom Hearts 4 Gets A Surprise Look At Nintendo Direct 2026 Deltarune Chapter 5 Revealed, And It’s Out Very Soon Nintendo Just Revealed A New HD-2D Final Fantasy Game Is On The Way You Can Play Star Fox Today Thanks To A New Demo New Switch Sports Game Revealed For Switch 2, And It Includes A Very Unexpected Sport Xenoblade Fans Are Eating Good With A New Game, Genesis, Announced For 2027 Nintendo Finally Reveals The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake For 2026 Convergence Showcase -- July 16 An online-only, creator-led digital broadcast, the Convergence Showcase will be heavily focused on AA and indie titles, with 70 new indie games from 29 different countries in the spotlight. When to watch: July 16 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement For One Night Only -- July 29 This mid-summer indie and AA digital-only showcase will offer a selection of gameplay deep dives and updates for existing titles in development from various UK developers. When to watch: July 29 Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement THQ Nordic Showcase 2026 -- August 7 THQ Nordic’s Digital Showcase will offer new looks at upcoming games like Titan Quest 2, Wreckfest 2, The Guild: Europa 1410, Fatekeeper, Expeditions: Samurai, The Eternal Life of Goldman, and more. When to watch: August 7 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Gamescom Opening Night Live Geoff Keighley's annual kick-off show for Gamescom is back for another year, and once again, you can expect world premieres, gameplay reveals, and major studio announcements. When to watch: August 25 Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement The Game Awards 2026 -- December 10 Geoff Keighley has announced the date for The Game Awards 2026 almost an entire year in advance, and it'll be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. More details will be revealed later this year. When to watch: December 10 Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement In case you missed it With so many video game showcases scheduled for 2026, there's a chance that you might miss one. Fret not, because we'll be keeping track of them, and you can keep browsing below to grab links to the original livestream and the stories we wrote about them. We've arranged the list according to the date that each event originally aired. Advertisement PlayStation State of Play -- June 2 Kicking off June, the PlayStation State of Play showcase was headlined by Marvel's Wolverine, updates, announcements, and gameplay reveals across an hour-long broadcast. All the news: PlayStation State Of Play June 2026: All The Biggest Announcements And Games Marvel’s Wolverine Trailer Breakdown: 20 Easter Eggs And Hidden Details I’m Starting To Think Phranque The Cube Is Why People Are Excited For God Of War Laufey God Of War Laufey’s Phranque Is Far From Just A Cube God Of War Laufey Brings Back One Of The Best Parts Of The Previous Games God Of War Devs Explain Laufey’s Place In The Franchise Wolverine Dev Changed Things To Avoid Logan Appearing To Be A “Sadist” There Will Be More Kratos Stories, Sony Promises, After God Of War: Laufey Reveal Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Features “AI-Assisted Assets” That Were “Refined By Humans” The X-Men Don’t Exist In Insomniac’s Wolverine, But Another Important Team Does The Boys Star Jack Quaid’s Next Role Is Utterly Baffling, But We’re Here For It Silent Hill: Townfall Looks Part Resident Evil 7, Part Scary Myst In Release Date Trailer New PlayStation Plus Games Announced During State Of Play Include Rare PS2 Rhythm Cult Classic You Can Now Preorder Marvel’s Wolverine Physical Edition Until Dawn 2 Finds Horror In The Sun God Of War Laufey For PS5 Revealed, And Its Co-Star Is A Cube Played By Jack Quai September 2026 Is Packed With Games Trying To Avoid GTA 6 We’re Getting Sunset Overdrive Vibes From Ikumi Nakamura’s New Game Control Resonant Trailer Drops A Release Date And Teases The Return Of Control’s Best Character Wolverine Gameplay Trailer Reveals Jean Grey Team-Up And More Marvel Characters Rayman Legends Retold Is More Than A Remake–It Could Be The Future Of The Series Stuntman Series Returns Featuring Knight Rider, Back To The Future, And More Marvel’s Wolverine Has The Classic Brown Suit–And There Will Be Plenty More Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Gets Out Of The Way Of GTA 6 With Delay To 2027 Wolverine Gameplay Demo Violence Makes It Look Like Mortal Kombat Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Resident Evil Showcase -- January 15 Capcom showed off more gameplay for Resident Evil Requiem, teasing thrilling survival-horror and action, creepy zombies, and one really big revolver. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Resident Evil Requiem Showcase Reveals Grace And Leon Gameplay Differences Advertisement Xbox Developer Direct -- January 22 The first big Xbox showcase of the year kept things short and sweet, focusing on games like Forza Horizon 6, Fable, Kiln, and Beast of Reincarnation. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Xbox Developer Direct 2026: All the announcements Forza Horizon 6 Channels Initial D-Inspired Anime Racing With Its New Mode Fable And Forza Horizon 6 Are Coming To PS5 To Help Reach The "Largest Number Of People Possible" Forza Horizon 6 Gets Official May Release Date, More Than 550 Cars Fable's New Open World Has 1,000+ NPCs As A "Living Population" New Fable Keeps Series Tradition Of Kicking Chickens Alive, And You'll Be Judged For It Fable Is Pulling Inspiration From An Unlikely (And Extremely Popular) TV Show Fable Releases This Autumn, Coming To PS5 At Launch Game Freak's Beast Of Reincarnation Team Is "Relatively Small" With Many External Developers Beast Of Reincarnation Doesn't Look Like Anything Game Freak Has Made Before Double Fine's New Game, Kiln, Features Pottery Battles To The Death Advertisement World of Warcraft: State of Azeroth -- January 29 The State of Azeroth livestream revealed what's next for World of Warcraft and Classic World of Warcraft, introduced Azeroth interiors for budding home decorators, and teased the launch of Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary Edition. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: What to expect from World of Warcraft in 2026 Advertisement Nintendo Direct: Tomodachi Life -- January 29 One of the weirdest games coming out this year, Tomodachi Life is shaping up to be an interesting social-life sim. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Lets You Have A Love Square With A Clown Because Why Not? Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Adds Same-Sex Relationships And Non-Binary Miis Nintendo Places Image-Sharing Restrictions On "Certain" Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Features Advertisement Overwatch Spotlight -- February 4 A new era of Overwatch is upon us, as Blizzard is introducing some massive changes to the game. From dropping the "2" from its title to introducing several new heroes, Blizzard's popular hero shooter is being changed on a fundamental level as the company aims to transform it into a "Forever Game". Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Overwatch Is Dropping The 2 And Launching A New "Story-Driven Era" Overwatch Is Finally Getting A Cat Hero, A Decade After Inception Overwatch Is About To Reach Peak Cute With Sanrio Hello Kitty Collab Overwatch Director Says Upcoming Changes Will Upset The Game's Balance: "There's No Getting Around That" Yes, Overwatch Characters Have Been Getting Sexier, But Not For The Obvious Reason Overwatch Is Getting Five New Characters, Here's A First Look At What They Do Overwatch Kills Its First Character, But That Won't Stop You From Playing As Them Goodbye Overwatch 2, Hello Overwatch: The Story-Driven, "Forever Game" Blizzard Promised Is Finally Here Overwatch Team Is "Not Comfortable" Releasing AI-Generated Content, But Blizzard Is Open To Experimenting Advertisement Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase -- February 5 Nintendo's third-party partners were in the spotlight during a livestream dedicated to upcoming Switch and Switch 2 games. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Hits Switch 2 This June This Dinosaur Stealth Game On Switch 2 Lets Four Players Share Controls, For Whatever Reason A New Paranormasight Game Is Coming And I'm Begging You Not To Sleep On It Again This Game Looks Like If Split Fiction Were An 80s Anime And We’re Obsessed Advertisement Hearthstone Spotlight -- February 9 Another developer-led showcase, Blizzard revealed that Hearthstone will celebrate its 12th year with a new Core Set and a new expansion based on one of World of Warcraft's most iconic events. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch All the news: Hearthstone's Next Expansion Cataclysm Coming March 17, Imagines If Deathwing Won Hearthstone Isn't Getting A Physical Trading Card Game Anytime Soon, Here's Why Advertisement Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight -- February 11 The Diablo franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and Blizzard revealed some big updates for current games in the franchise like Diablo 2, Diablo 4, and Diablo Immortal. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch All the news: Diablo 4: Lord Of Hatred Puts Badass Amazons Front And Center If You Thought Diablo 4 Didn't Have Enough Skill Trees, You're In Luck Warlock Is Diablo's Newest Class, And It's Coming To (Almost) Every Diablo Game Diablo 4's Next Location Won't Be "Grotesque, Destroyed, And Ruined," And Its Devs Appreciate The Break How A Diablo 2 Game Manual Found New Purpose In Diablo 4's Latest Expansion Major Diablo 2 DLC Adds Features Fans Have Waited Decades For--But It'll Cost You Advertisement PlayStation State of Play -- February 12 The first State of Play from Sony kicked with an impressive hour-long presentation. Alongside Konami announcing the first new Castlevania game in many years and a port of Metal Gear Sold 4, the show also featured a first look at Ghost of Yotei's new multiplayer mode, the confirmation of a PC port for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and much more. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch All the news: PlayStation State Of Play February 2026: All The Biggest Announcements And Games PlayStation Is Bringing Back An Unexpected Series With A New, Zelda-Like Spin Ghost of Yotei Becomes Legendary With New Multiplayer DLC Coming In March Death Stranding 2 PC Port Releases In March 4 Loop Has A Giant Rubik’s Cube Boss And Alien Berries That Teleport Enemies Here’s A First Look At Resident Evil Requiem’s Raccoon City Police Department Decades After RE2 New Legacy Of Kain Game Revealed, And It’s Out Next Month A New Dead Or Alive Game Is In The Works Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition Includes Five Versions Of Game, Interactive Documentary Metal Gear Solid 4 And Peace Walker Coming As Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 New Castlevania Game Is Coming From The Dead Cells And Rogue Prince Of Persia Devs Silent Hill: Townfall Shifts First-Person Survival To New Town John Wick Is Getting A 3D Action Game, Lets You Murder Gangsters With Household Objects Marathon Open Beta Announced, Coming Very Soon With Special Perks For PS Plus Members New PlayStation Plus Games Revealed, Including Day-One Release For All Subscribers Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Is Building A Packed Roster, New Trailer Shows God Of War Trilogy Remake Announced, Brings Back Original Voice Actor Sony Reveals New God Of War Sidescroller, And It’s Out Right Now Advertisement Silent Hill Transmission -- February 12 Konami's Silent Hill Transmission livestream wasn't too long, but it did reveal that the next game is expanding into first-person survival horror. Set in the Scottish seaside town of St. Amelia, protagonist Simon Ordell will have to use a handheld portable TV to detect the monsters around him. The game is being developed by Scottish team Screen Burn, who previously produced Stories Untold and Observation. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Silent Hill: Townfall Shifts First-Person Survival Horror To New Town Advertisement Convergence Showcase -- February 19 A two-hour show hosted by indie-focused streamers Dodger and Jesse Cox, the Convergence Showcase featured dozens of indie and AA games. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Black Voices in Gaming Showcase -- February 19 An event that aims to address the lack of visibility for Black creators, the Black Voices in Gaming Showcase showed off games at various stages of development--from early concepts to near-launch titles--and also celebrated creativity, culture, and innovation in games. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch All the news: The Biggest Games From February's Black Voices In Gaming Showcase Advertisement Indie Fan Fest -- February 19 The second Indie Fan Fest presented new game reveals, world premiere trailers, and more for unreleased games. Even better, several of these games now have demos that you can check out Where to watch: YouTube Twitch All the news: Suddenly, There Are 14 New Games You Can Try For Free Advertisement Pokemon Presents -- February 27 While this year's Pokemon Day livestream mostly focused on mobile games, it did end with a bang as we got our first look at Pokemon Winds and Waves. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: GameCube's Pokemon XD: Gale Of Darkness Will Appear On Switch 2 Soon Pokemon Winds And Waves, The 10th Generation Of Pokemon, Officially Revealed The Wait For Pokemon Winds And Waves Will Be The Franchise's Longest Yet Those Pikachus In The Pokemon Winds And Waves Trailer Are More Important Than You Think Advertisement Nintendo Indie World Showcase -- March 3 Like previous broadcasts, the March 2026 Indie World Showcase was dedicated to all the indie games headed to Switch consoles soon. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Nintendo Indie World March 2026 Showcase: All The Biggest Announcements Advertisement Capcom Spotlight -- March 5 Hot off the success of Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom kept the momentum going with a closer look at Pragmata, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and several more upcoming games. Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Future Games Show: Spring Showcase -- March 12 The first of three Future Games Show events planned for 2026, the Future Games Show Spring Showcase offered exclusive trailers and developer deep-dives on a wide range of video games. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Xbox Partner Preview - March 26 The Xbox Partner Preview lifted the lid on what several publishers like Sega, GSC Game World, and Owlcat Games have been cooking up lately, and there were also a few new Xbox Game Pass announcements to spice things up during the broadcast. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch All the news: Xbox Partner Preview 2026: All The Big Announcements Advertisement Triple-I Initiative - April 9 The Triple-I Initiative returned for its third year, dropping dozens of new game reveals across its 45-minute runtime. Big highlights for this year included fresh looks at games like Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse and Dead as Disco. Where to watch: YouTube All the news: Triple-I Initiative Showcase 2026: Castlevania, Dead As Disco, And Every Game Shown Advertisement Galaxies Spring Showcase 2026 - April 16 With a rock-solid hour of announcements and world premieres, the Galaxies Spring 2026 Showcase was a fun livestream featuring dozens of indie games. Highlights included a new gameplay breakdown on Directive 8020, a first look at ReVamp from the developers of Moonlighter, and the announcement of a crossover between Alan Wake 2 and Phasmophobia. Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Warhammer Skulls -- May 21 A celebration of all things Warhammer, this year's Warhammer Skulls livestream featured plenty of new reveals and announcements. Actor and director Alanah Pearce hosted the event, which featured games like Space Marine 2, Darktide, Rogue Trader, Dark Heresy, Boltgun 2, Warhammer Survivors, Dawn of War IV, and more. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Six One Indie Showcase -- May 21 Another one of the big livestreams for independent developers, the Six One Indie Showcase was headlined by world premieres, digital showcase debuts, and exclusive news from studios all over the globe. Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Thinky Games Direct 2026 - May 28 If you're looking for games that'll leave you scratching your head, you've come to the right place! This year's Thinky Games Direct was full of puzzlers and brain-teasers, with more than 40 titles showcased. Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement MIX Summer Showcase - June 1 Formerly known as the Guerrilla Collective, the summer showcase was another highlight of new game announcements and updates. When to watch: June 1 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Black Voices in Gaming - June 2 Dedicated to showcasing Black representation, visibility, and inclusion within the video game industry, the digital event will once again show multiple games in development from a wide variety of creators and developers. Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Women-Led Games - June 4 It's a kind of magic with this year's Women-Led Games Showcase, as Briana White (Aerith in Final Fantasy Remake and Rebirth) joins Warframe's creative director and community director, Rebecca Ford, and Megan Everett, to host the event. The show will have several world premieres and big announcements from studios primarily led and populated by women in the gaming industry. Where to Watch: Twitch YouTube Advertisement Latin American Games Showcase - June 4 Part of this year's Summer Game Fest. the Latin American Showcase returns with multiple world premieres, release date reveals, and a focus on Latin America with its content. Where to Watch: Twitch YouTube Advertisement Day of the Devs - June 5 Immediately after Summer Game Fest Live, tune in to Day of the Devs for a deep dive into new games from various indie developers. When to watch: June 5, after Summer Game Fest Live Where to watch: Twitch YouTube Advertisement Access-Ability Summer Showcase - June 5 Back for a fourth year, the Access-Ability Summer Showcase is your next stop for a look at video games, the people who make them, and how they're being designed with accessibility settings to help more people enjoy them. When to watch: June 5 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Story Rich Showcase -- June 6 A brand-new video event dedicated entirely to story-rich indie games, the Story-Rich Showcase will take place within the Summer Game Fest period. The event will spotlight a lineup of 20-25 narrative-driven games, and viewers can expect first looks, new trailers, release dates, updates, and a few surprises. When to watch: June 6 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Wholesome Direct 2026 -- June 6 The Summer Games Showcase season wouldn't feel right without some cozy warmth, and that's where the Wholesome Direct steps in. The showcase for uplifting, joyful, and hopeful games, this year's livestream will feature a curated selection of over 50 games, including world premieres, demo announcements, and more. When to watch: June 6 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET Where to Watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2026 - June 6 Featuring world premieres, exclusive trailers, and stealth demo drops , this year's Future Games Show Summer Showcase will be followed by a live event in Los Angeles. When to watch: June 6 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement PC Gaming Show 2026 - June 6 Back for another year, the PC Gaming Show will offer new looks at over 50 PC games, including world premieres, exclusive announcements, developer interviews, and updates. When to watch: June 7 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Green Games Showcase - June 6 Designed to be a gaming livestream that also reconnects with nature, the Green Games Showcase is all about games inspired by our planet. When to watch: June 6 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Advertisement Southeast Asian Games Showcase - June 6 Southeast Asian developers are in the spotlight in this showcase, and you can expect plenty of new game reveals alongside updates on upcoming games. When to watch: June 6 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET Where to watch: YouTube Deutsche Indie Showcase - June 7 Over in Europe, game developers from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria are banding together to show the rest of the world what they've been working on. When to watch: June 7 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement India Games Showcase - June 8 Once you're done seeing what European developers are up to, you can catch a flight to the India Showcase for a look at dozens of upcoming games from studios in that region. When to watch: June 8 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET Where to watch: YouTube Twitch Advertisement...

The best new co-op games are those that do something a bit different, offering more than a single-player experience with another player thoughtlessly tacked on. These multiplayer games account for groups of friends all wanting their own role, with a shared goal in sight and plenty of chaos on the path to getting there. Whether you prefer a chilled out co-op experience or something a bit more frenzied, the last six months have been rich with new co-op titles for you and your pals to gather around. This list looks at the full spectrum of new co-op games, from drop-in party games to detailed story-based adventures requiring two players. These games all require a joint investment from at least two people to really get the most out of them, making them the perfect games to show to friends, partners, kids, and family. If you're looking for a couples night in, try one of our best two-player co-op games, and if you're wanting to play side-by side, we've got you covered with our best couch co-op games list, too. Advertisement Slay The Spire 2 Release date: 5 March, 2026 Arguably one of the biggest changes introduced in the much anticipated Slay The Spire 2 is the ability to play co-op. Multiplayer functionality has revolutionized the game, it works beautifully against all odds, and is now one of the key selling points of the sequel. Enemies harm you all equally in battle, and their health scales appropriately to the number of players, so there's no fear of the game going easier on you for having back up. If you can't agree on a decision, you'll rock-paper-scissors it out, and hopefully strengthen your friendship in the meantime. See at Steam Featured in this image Slay the Spire 2 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Burglin' Gnomes Release Date: June 10, 2026 If you and up to five friends have ever wondered what it would be like to be gnomes invading strangers' houses--and let's be honest, who hasn't--now is your chance to live that dream. That's the whole premise of the aptly titled Burglin' Gnomes, a game where you get to be tiny and stealthy: stealing, crafting, completing tasks, and looking out for one another. There's plenty of replayability as you can come up with your own solutions to ridiculous puzzles, and the more chaos you cause, the better your experience will be. See at Steam Advertisement Fears To Fathom: Scratch Creek Release date: June 10, 2026 The latest in the Fears To Fathom anthology series, Scratch Creek is an online two-player co-op horror that plays out like a walking simulator with all the bells and whistles. Proximity chat means you and your partner can negotiate your choices, and you can text back and forth when you're apart. If you can't find someone you know to play with, the game will match you up with someone else online, as you need two people to stand a chance of surviving in Scratch Creek. See at Steam Advertisement Subnautica 2 Release date: May 14, 2026 (Early Access) While Subnautica 2 is still in Steam Early Access, you'll want to grab it ASAP if you like exploring alien worlds with your pals. The sequel to 2018's Subnautica supports up to 4-player co-op, meaning you can combine skills and wits to build a sturdy base and survive in a challenging underwater environment. Everything here is new, so scanning and learning to understand the local lifeforms is a big part of your job, and could make all the difference to your survival chances. Early Access means a few features, such as character customization, are not yet present, but if you're already playing you'll be the first to know when it drops. We're staying ahead of the curve with our list of the best Subnautica 2 mods to download, so keep an eye on that for more custom options. See at Steam Advertisement Swapmeat Release date: June 17, 2026 Swapmeat is a fairly grotesque premise, but nevertheless makes for an excellent, fast-paced, drop-in co-op for up to 4 players. Combat is about grabbing body parts and making the most of them, hitting people with their own hands, outmaneuvering them on their own legs, and stealing their head to power yourself up. Pretty much everything the enemy might turn against you can be stolen and used against them, and these parts are combined at random, meaning no two runs will ever be quite the same. Difficulty scales when new players join,s o the more you have, the more of a challenge enemies will present, whereas tackling it alone might be a little easier. Within that you have four difficulty levels, though, so if the extremely quick-on-the-draw combat takes some time to adjust to, you can always dial things down a notch. See at Steam Advertisement 33 Immortals Release date: 10 June, 2026 When we say co-op or multiplayer we don't usually mean 33 players at once. That's the premise of 33 Immortals though, a co-op action roguelike for 33 players that lets you swarm enemies and try to overpower them in both skill and sheer numbers.  You and your fellow Immortals are damned souls, going up against God and starting a rebellion, so the stakes couldn't really be higher. There are no lobbies for online co-op, you'll just be dropped straight into the action, or you can play with up to 4 of your pals in a more streamlined version of the game (or even alone, but that seems like a challenge). See at Steam Advertisement Meccha Chameleon Release date: 10 June, 2026 You might have seen this one being streamed already, as Meccha Chameleon quickly became  in turn viral, and then a meme in its own right within just a few days. It's a chaotic hide-and-seek variant where plain white-bodied mannequins look to hide from the Seekers by painting their bodies to match with their surroundings. Hiders can pose and hide all they like, but without a bit of artistic flair their bright white bodies might be spotted against the colourful backgrounds of the game. It's recommended to play the game with up to 10 players, but adding more is possible depending on your network capabilities. See at Steam Advertisement Forza Horizon 6 Release date: 15 May, 2026 It seems like just about everyone is going to Japan this year, and the world of gaming is no different. Forza Horizon 6 is set on the sleek streets of Japan, one of the most requested locations from fans worldwide. The world-crafting doesn't disappoint, with gorgeous Fuji-adjacent high‑speed highway stretches, tight mountain roads, and festival‑style events that capture the region’s cultural and automotive diversity. With all the attention to detail, enhanced features, and smooth driving simulation, Forza Horizon 6 signals a new peak for open world driving games. You can read our review here. See at Steam Advertisement Gamble With Your Friends Release date: 1 May, 2026 Gamble With Your Friends is a 1-6 player "casino-crawler" where you and your pals are let loose in a casino with a shared bank account. You're all working together to make terrible life choices and try to pay off your massive debt through gambling, upgrading your items, and climbing higher into the tower as your lone shark looms. The game combines 17 games of chance and 4 casino floors with an intense need for co-ordination between you all, as one risky all-in could spell disaster for you all. See at Steam Advertisement Hold Your King Release date: 30 June, 2026 We love a physics-based platformer, especially one you and your less-coordinated pals can grapple with together, and Hold Your King is a hilarious royal challenge that'll cause chaos in the friend group. In the game, you and a friend team up to carry a demanding King on a stretcher, while navigating challenging medieval courses packed with deadly obstacles. You’ll need to keep momentum, speed, and balance in check, so communication will be key in keeping the stubborn king from rolling down a hill or into a river. It's a great addition to your library if you're always on the look out for great two-player co-op games. See at Steam Advertisement Far Far West Release date: 28 April, 2026 Far Far West plays like Helldivers at 2X speed, with teams of up to four players battling the rootin' tootin' wild west with everything they've got. As a team of robot bounty hunters, you'll have to fight Wild West-themed enemies like bulls, vultures, and even six-shooting reanimated skeletons. If you can hold onto your hat while changing up weapons, upgrading equipment, and shooting fast with both hands, you'll enjoy the chaotic challenge offered by Far Far West. You can even customize your horse. See at Fanatical Fanatical and GameSpot are both owned by Fandom Advertisement Reanimal Release date: 13 February, 2026 Reanimal is already one of the best co-op adventure games to play in 2026, especially if you like your games packed full of creepy symbolism and tense, jump-inducing moments. It's a compact experience for fans of Little Nightmares--playing on the same style as two tiny protagonists try to escape impossible horrors with very little in the way of weapons or strength. Instead, you'll have to use your shared wits (and a claustrophobic shared camera) to stay safe and sane despite literally everything. See at Fanatical Advertisement YAPYAP Release date: 3 February, 2026 If we're honest, we all love a bit of Friendslop, and YAPYAP is an excellent example of the slightly amorphous genre encompassing something a bit different from the endless cooking, moving house, or driving games. Instead, YAPYAP's sweet whimsical outer layer pretty quickly gives way to a horror game--still absurd and slightly weirdly cute, yes--but a horror game nonetheless. Strange and twisted creatures will attack as you try and break through the wizard's defences to access the tower, and once you're in, all you have to do is cause as much chaos as possible without getting caught. Block his toilet, smash his precious tools, anything you can do to make his life a bit worse with your voice-chat-controlled spells.  See at Steam Advertisement...

Marvel Comics has one of the best rosters of superheroes and supervillains, and you're able to smash them against each other in Marvel Rivals now that the game is available to play on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. A free-to-play team-based competitive shooter, Marvel Rivals is developed by NetEase and features playable characters from superteams like the Avengers, X-Men, and Guardians of the Galaxy. So far, dozens of heroes and villains are in the game, giving players a diverse group of portal-manipulating wizards, not-so-jolly green giants with astonishing anger management issues, and a fictional K-pop sensation to use in combat. Set in a universe where Doctor Doom and his 2099 incarnation have mucked about with time and created an anomaly called the Timestream Entanglement, this event eventually leads to heroes and villains battling each other in 6v6 battles across destructible environments. For a closer look at how these characters stack up when compared to each other, you can also check out GameSpot's tier lists on the best Vanguard, Duelist, and Strategist characters to play as. You can also read up on how NetEase chooses new characters for the game. Advertisement Iron Man A tech-savvy powerhouse, Iron Man looks like a versatile character with plenty of powerful tools in his arsenal. He can attack foes with his Repulsor rays, unleash a barrage of missiles, and can go airborne. Advertisement Spider-Man With the proportionate speed, strength, and agility of a spider, Spider-Man is an agile option for anyone looking to disrupt the momentum of the opposition. Thanks to his web-shooters, he can temporarily trap opponents and leave them in a vulnerable state. Advertisement Hulk Interestingly, it looks like players will be able to take control of both the Hulk and his puny alter-ego, Bruce Banner. Once Banner hulks out, he gets an enormous health bar boost and he uses a variety of ground-and-pound techniques to smash foes. As part of the team-up gameplay mechanic, Hulk can even channel excess gamma radiation into Iron Man and supercharge the armored Avenger's energy attacks. Advertisement Black Panther The defender and ruler of Wakanda, Black Panther can slash away at the competition with his Vibranium claws and summon the power of the Panther God Bast in battle. Advertisement Loki The god of stories, Loki hasn't forgotten his trickster roots and can confuse enemies by summoning a mystical doppelganger. Loki can even shapeshift into one of the opponents, using their unique skills to cause some chaos. Advertisement Storm Briefly seen at the end of the Marvel Rivals trailer, we're not too certain how Storm plays in the game just yet, but we do know that this mutant weather goddess is no pushover. In media, Storm's weather-manipulating powers allow her to summon lightning, fly with air currents, and even create tornadoes. Advertisement Namor An oceanic powerhouse, Namor can dish out some pain with his trident or summon a squid-like familiar for some extra firepower. Advertisement Doctor Strange Very little has been shown of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, but from what we have seen so far, it looks like this master of the mystic arts can use portals to safely close gaps and can stop time with the Eye of Agamotto. Advertisement Magik Magik looks like the last person you want to have invading your personal space, as she can send you flying with her Soulsword. And if that wasn't bad enough, she can transform into her demonic form, DarkChylde, and make use of new abilities to level the playing field. Advertisement Groot Everyone's favorite tree titan, Groot hits hard and from a mid-range distance thanks to his flexible limbs. This Guardian of the Galaxy can also team up with Rocket Raccoon for some extra devastation. Advertisement Rocket Raccoon Rocket might be a bit of a glass cannon with his small health bar, but he could also be hard to pin down as he comes equipped with a jetpack and can quickly scale buildings. When he's not dodging attacks, he can fight back with his long-range weapons and team up with Groot during matches. Advertisement Star Lord Briefly teased, Star Lord can be seen with his trademark Element Guns. In other Marvel games, these blasters allow Star Lord to fire various elemental rounds, and with a bag of technological tricks at his disposal, he usually allows for flexible playstyles in those games. Advertisement Mantis Mantis hasn't been seen in action yet, but if she's anything like her comic book or MCU counterpart, she'll likely be a close-quarters combat specialist who can immobilize enemies with her empathic powers. Advertisement Peni Parker One of the standout stars from the Spider-Verse, Peni Parker doesn't have Peter Parker's arachnid-themed powers, but she does have a powerful mech suit armed with lethal appendages. Advertisement Luna Snow Previously seen in games like Marvel Future Fight and Marvel Super War, Seol Hee AKA Luna Snow mixes ice-manipulating powers with K-Pop style. In the debut trailer, it looks like Luna can team up with Namor to enhance his water-based skills in combat. Advertisement Scarlet Witch Another character who made a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance, the Scarlet Witch is a magic-wielding titan in Marvel comic books, film, and television. We're not certain what she can do just yet, but the official gameplay screenshots for Marvel Rivals suggest that she'll use her arcane powers to hex opponents. Advertisement Magneto The mutant master of magnetism is looking swole in Marvel Rivals, but beyond that, details on Magneto are scarce. From what we have seen so far, it looks like he'll be a defensive character in the same vein as Overwatch's Reinhardt, as he can generate magnetic shields to block projectile attacks. Advertisement The Punisher Between Asgardian gods, Avengers, and mutants, Frank Castle might seem like an odd fit for this superhero game. The vigilante is undeniably talented when it comes to using weapons, and it looks like he'll be the Bastion of Marvel Rivals, as he can use a gun emplacement to lock down a part of the battlefield. Advertisement Hela The most chilling duelist in the roster, Hela can summon the powers of Nastrond to conjure cursed crows and swords in battle. Advertisement Venom The slimy symbiote pounces onto the battlefield as a heavyweight Vanguard-class brawler in Marvel Rivals. Not only can Venom dish out massive damage, but he can also stay in the fight longer thanks to his health-siphoning abilities. Advertisement Adam Warlock Also known as the Golden Guardian of the cosmos, Adam Warlock is a strategist who can keep your team fighting fit thanks to his multiple healing and resurrection abilities. Advertisement Captain America Fittingly, Captain America is a beefy star-spangled tank in combat. As a Vanguard character, he can soak up damage, protect teammates, and smash through enemies. Advertisement Winter Soldier A Duelist type, the Winter Soldier excels at eliminating a cluster of enemies with his explosive rounds. Combined with his other abilities, this Cold War assassin hits hard from multiple ranges. Advertisement Thor The god of thunder is a great character for drawing enemy fire thanks to his high amount of health and powerful Thorforce abilities. A one-man army, he can easily throw himself into the middle of a superhero fracas and wreck the opposition. Advertisement Jeff the Land Shark He might look cute, but Jeff is an adorable monster in the hands of someone who knows how to use him properly. Able to heal and boost his allies, Jeff can also defy the laws of physics and swallow up the opposition with his powerful ultimate ability. Advertisement Psylocke She might be a bit of a glass cannon, but when you master Psylocke's ability to sneak her way behind enemy lines and slash her way back to her team, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Advertisement Moon Knight There's a high learning curve when it comes to Moon Knight, but mastering this Duelist-type character's various abilities is worth it as he's one of the best damage-dealers in the game. Not only does he have impressive mobility, but his skills also allow him to dish out pain across wide sections of a map as well. Advertisement Hawkeye Fittingly, Hawkeye is a rewarding character for skilled players to use. His bow allows him to dish out absurd amounts of damage with a single charged arrow, and even if enemies close the distance in an attempt to take him down, his close-range skills make him dangerous when he's backed into a corner. Advertisement Wolverine Wolverine hasn't been a popular choice since he debuted, but a recent update has fine-tuned the legendary X-Man and turned him into a lethal brawler. In the best scenario, you'll want to throw Wolverine into a mob so that he can chip away at them, as his healing abilities and close-quarters skills turn him into a mutant menace on the battlefield. Advertisement Iron Fist Few things in life are as terrifying as an Iron Fist player on a collision course for your Marvel Rivals character. The martial arts legend can demolish a health bar with ease, and in the right hands, he makes up for his low health with hard-hitting combos and impressive survivability. Advertisement Squirrel Girl She's beaten Dr. Doom with nothing but her furry friends, and in combat, Squirrel Girl is a beginner-friendly character thanks to her explosive primary attack and her ability to take out groups of enemies from a (relatively) safe distance. Advertisement Black Widow You'll need plenty of practice to become an ace Black Widow player, but once you do, you'll find that she's a cool sniper who can easily find tactical positions on the map to ply her deadly trade. Advertisement Cloak and Dagger The first duo in Marvel Rivals, Cloak and Dagger occupy the Strategist slot in the game's roster. The pair are at their best when they support their team with healing abilities and buffs, but they can also turn a battlefield into hostile territory thanks to their Eternal Bond ultimate ability. Advertisement Mister Fantastic At the time of writing, it's still early days for Mister Fantastic, the stretchy super-genius and leader of the Fantastic Four. What we do know so far is that he's a Duelist-type character who can absorb damage and bounce back from danger thanks to his rubber body. Advertisement The Invisible Woman While you'll never see her coming thanks to her signature powers, The Invisible Woman can also support her allies with healing orbs, force-fields, and an ultimate attack that can turn the tide of battle in her favor. Advertisement Human Torch The hot-headed duelist of the Fantastic Four, Johnny can take to the skies and hurl fireballs at enemies. Armed with a wide range of abilities, it looks like the Human Torch excels at corraling enemies and melting them with his flames. Advertisement The Thing It's clobberin' time! As you'd expect from the Thing, his rocky exterior allows him to soak up damage and deliver powerful knockout blows as soon as he closes the distance between himself and a target. Advertisement Ultron Fittingly, Ultron is a strategist-class character who can strike from a distance and send a swarm of drones in to get up close and personal with his foes. Advertisement Emma Frost The 38th hero introduced to Marvel Rivals, Emma Frost steps into the Vanguard role as a mid-range specialist who can armor up and dish out devastating psychic attacks. Advertisement Phoenix The Omega-level telepath of the X-Men, Phoenix is a Duelist-class character. Advertisement Blade was teased in the recent trailer for the next season, The Abyss Awakens, and while we don't know too much about the legendary Daywalker yet, it looks like he'll be a close-quarters combat specialist in his role as a Duelist. Advertisement Angela Raised in Heven, a realm that exists separately from the Nine Realms of the Marvel Universe, Angela is the daughter of Odin and one of the heirs to his throne. A Vanguard character who wields powerful melee weapons, her ultimate ability Heven's Retribution can deal massive damage over an area and can synchronize well with similar abilities. Advertisement Daredevil This isn't the man without fear you're used to! While Matt Murdock has always grappled with his darker side, an encounter with the demon known as "The Beast" left the vigilante with a literal demon inside of him. For Marvel Rivals, Daredevil excels in close-range combat as he burns stacks of Fury to empower his attacks. His ultimate ability, Let the Devil Out, makes all opponents take damage over time if they're caught in the area of effect. Advertisement Gambit The ragin' Cajun hits the battlefield as a Strategist hero who can synergize attacks with Magento and Rogue. An agile character with high healing and support utility, Gambit wields his trademark deck of cards that he charges with explosive kinetic energy. Advertisement Rogue Joining Gambit as a Vanguard hero is Rogue. A powerhouse who can quickly close gaps and weaken enemies, Rogue's ultimate ability also allows her to deal damage over time and drain Ultimate charges from enemies if they are above 80%. Advertisement Deadpool Can't decide between playing as a Vanguard, Strategist, or a Duelist? Deadpool can shift into all three of those roles, and he has a deadly arsenal of weapons to wield. Advertisement Elsa Bloodstone You called for a monster hunter, mate? Else Bloodstone steps into the arena, and as a master Duelist, she's armed with plenty of weapons, deadly traps, and the ability to summon monsters to aid her in battle. Advertisement Black Cat Black Cat will sneak into Marvel Rivals as part of the Season 7.5 update. Her abilities and skills haven't been revealed yet, but we'd wager that her "bad luck" powers and cat burglar talents will come into play to make her a unique and agile character. Advertisement White Fox Anyone looking to master a new Strategist character can grab White Fox and bring order to chaos. The South Korean super-agent can adapt on the fly to buff her teammates and charm enemies, or she can transform into a melee-focused fighter who can slash away at enemies while healing nearby allies. Throw in the ability to teleport teammates out of harm's way and an Ultimate that transforms her into her nine-tailed form, and White Fox has the potential to be a powerful all-rounder. Advertisement Devil Dinosaur The brawn to Moon Girl's brains, Devil Dinosaur brings prehistoric power to the Marvel Rivals battlefield. Serving as a Vanguard character, Devil Dinosaur specializes in charging headfirst into danger and is protected by a force field. Once he gets close enough, he can chomp down on targets, and his Ultimate turns him into an unstoppable brute.  Advertisement Cyclops Optic blast! The X-Men team leader might have only a single power at his disposal, but he knows how to make the most of it. As a Duelist, Cyclops can focus on a single target with his primary attack, ricochet optic blasts between enemies with his secondary ability, and quickly escape from danger with a propulsive blast. His Ultimate, Ruby Rage, is a massive blast of energy that can wipe out anyone caught in the beam. Advertisement Jubilee Get ready to see some fireworks once Jubilee enters the scene! An X-Man who steps into the Strategist role, Jubilee can use her energy plasmoids to damage foes and heal allies, while her Ultimate ability unleashes a massive fireworks display across the battlefield. Advertisement...

The Nintendo Switch and its successor, the Switch 2, is home to tons of great games, including dozens of titles you can only find on Nintendo's handheld hybrid systems. Many of these are published by Nintendo itself, since the company makes great use of its own hardware, but there are plenty of third-party and indie games exclusive to the Switch consoles as well. With such a strong catalog of games, narrowing down the standouts to the very best isn't super easy, but that's what we've attempted with our list of the best Nintendo Switch games. We aimed to include a mix of genres, franchises, and both AAA and indie games. The Switch era of gaming might be winding down now that its successor, the Switch 2, has arrived, but it looks like this groundbreaking hybrid handheld-console from Nintendo is going to have a lengthy retirement tour. Over the years we've seen Nintendo's biggest franchises reach new heights on the Switch, and the console has also established itself as a powerful platform for third-party releases. While some franchises nabbed multiple spots on this list--Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon--we tried to limit repetition where possible. The picks below aren't in any particular order, and to make things easier, we've listed them all in alphabetical order. For more Switch game recommendations, check out our lists of the best Switch games, the best multiplayer Switch games, and great Switch games for kids. If you're specifically looking for games from some of Nintendo's most famous franchises, we have roundups of every Zelda game and every Mario game on Switch. Advertisement Animal Crossing: New Horizons Animal Crossing: New Horizons remains one of the most popular and wholesome games on Nintendo Switch. Just as lockdowns began happening across the world, Animal Crossing: New Horizons invited players to a tranquil island for a relaxing loop of activities like fishing, bug-catching, and perfecting the layout of their virtual homes. Nintendo has steadily introduced new features to New Horizons, including plenty of free content as well as the massive Happy Home Paradise DLC. New Horizons also has robust customization features, including a new terraforming feature that gives you complete control over the terrain of your island. Whether you're conversing with your fellow residents, trying to finish your museum catalog, or visiting your friends' islands, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a constant charmer. Read our Animal Crossing: New Horizons review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Bayonetta 3 A showstopper of confident combat and demonic dance-moves, Bayonetta 3 gets action in a way that few other games do. A cocky blast of fun that caps the Bayonetta trilogy off on a high note, Bayonetta 3 isn't afraid to mix up its formula with the arrival of a new character who's a perfect contrast to the elegant anarchy of the titular witch. With a multi-dimensional storyline, full-scale kaiju battles, and even a Hollywood-level chase sequence, Bayonetta 3 doesn't forget why fans fell in love with the series in the first place. Read our Bayonetta 3 review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Celeste A wonderful platformer with an important message, Celeste feels right at home on Nintendo Switch. Madeline makes the trip to the treacherous Mount Celeste, a snow-covered mountain filled with perilous cliffs and interesting characters. Rendered in gorgeous pixelated graphics, Celeste plays like an old-school platformer and relies largely on well-timed jumps. It feels superb in motion, and the level design gradually grows more challenging as you acquire new abilities that cleverly expand the gameplay. It's a difficult game, but you can tweak the settings to fit your skill level to enjoy the story. Celeste tells a moving tale about finding yourself and overcoming self-doubt that creeps into your mind. It's one of the most poignant games in recent years as well as one of the best side-scrolling platformers on Switch. See our Celeste review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Cuphead Studio MDHR's Cuphead is a glorious ode to classic cartoons and a tremendous run-and-gun. Cuphead originally released for Xbox One and PC before being ported to Nintendo Switch. It made a smooth transition and runs flawlessly on the Switch hardware whether you're playing on your TV or in handheld mode. Cuphead's art style immediately stands out. The hand-drawn characters and animations look ripped out of a 1930s cartoon, giving Cuphead a visual style that will always look great. The jazzy audio design rounds out the presentation, transporting players to a different time. Essentially, it's a playable cartoon. Cuphead is far more than just a beautiful artistic triumph; it's also an aptly designed run-and-gun filled with exciting boss fights and cleverly made side-scrolling levels. If you're not afraid of a challenge, Cuphead is an absolute must-play game whether you play solo or cooperatively with a friend. The Delicious Last Course expansion only added to Cuphead's greatness by offering a brand-new playable character and some of the most impressive boss fights and animations across the whole package. See our Cuphead and Cuphead DLC reviews. See at Best Buy Advertisement Dead Cells Dead Cells is an amalgamation of rogue-likes and metroidvanias, and the result is an influential game that will likely be considered one of the best in both genres for years to come. Set in a procedurally generated castle, you play as a reanimated mass of cells taking hold of a prisoner's body. The labyrinthine castle is crawling with dangerous enemies and littered with secrets waiting to be uncovered. Each time you die--which tends to happen fairly regularly--you have to start over again. Critically, there are permanent upgrades, which allow you to make progress and see new areas with each subsequent run. With finely tuned and stylish action combat, an array of cool abilities and weapons, and an expertly designed map that changes each time you play, Dead Cells compels you to see it through to the end. And like all good roguelikes, Dead Cells makes you want to play through it again and again. Dead Cells has a bunch of great add-on content, including a great Castlevania-themed DLC, which really does feel like a perfect pairing. Read our Dead Cells review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Donkey Kong Country Returns HD As Nintendo prepares to launch the Switch 2, it's increasingly reaching into its back catalog for more games. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD goes back to the original Wii, reintroducing the first time Retro Studios brought back the beloved DKC side-scroller series. The game is still tough-as-nails, but it packages the quality-of-life features from the 3DS port that allow you a little more flexibility. With impeccable stage design that pays homage to the classic Super NES DKC games, this is a solid platformer that deserves its flowers. Read our Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake One of the most influential RPGs of all time has finally gotten the glow-up it deserves. Dragon Quest III was an incredible, genre-defining classic in its day, helping to break new ground with innovations like a robust job system and party recruiting. The HD-2D Remake recontextualizes this in the retro-modern aesthetic of games like Octopath Traveler or Triangle Strategy. The gameplay is faithful to the original, while packing just enough quality-of-life enhancements to make it smoother for current day play. It's the best way to enjoy a true classic. Read our Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. See at Best Buy Advertisement Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Square Enix's long-running Dragon Quest franchise has consistently stuck to its roots, and Dragon Quest 11 embraces its traditional JRPG identity. In an age where more and more JRPGs are injecting traditionally Western gameplay features into their systems, Dragon Quest 11 embraces what it has always done so well. It's simply a fantastic turn-based role-playing game filled with charming characters, a beautiful world, and a deeply satisfying combat system. On Switch, you can switch between two distinct styles: modern 3D visuals and a classic 8-bit top-down presentation. The latter is especially intriguing for handheld mode. Read our Dragon Quest 11 review. See at Walmart Advertisement Fire Emblem: Three Houses Relentlessly engaging and rife with variety, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the most impressive entry in the beloved strategy series. You play as a professor who oversees one of three houses at a mysterious monastery. There, you cultivate relationships and train your students to be prepared for the battles ahead. While recent Fire Emblem games have leaned more into social simulation, Three Houses takes this concept to the next level and includes some well-implemented management sim features. It strikes a wonderful balance between storytelling, preparation for the next battle, and the always-wonderful tactical combat scenarios the series is known for. With deftly written characters, an exceedingly good tale, and smart tweaks to the layered combat system, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an astonishing experience from start to finish. And more than any other Fire Emblem game before it, Three Houses encourages multiple playthroughs to see the whole story, and each playthrough is different. Read our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Hades 2 Any follow-up to a critically acclaimed game is going to have its work cut out for it, as developers have to tread a fine line between familiar gameplay and enhancing it with new ideas. The original Hades already felt like a complete and superb dive into the Greek underworld, but Hades 2 builds on that foundation to deliver not just a beautifully polished experience but also one that feels fresh and exciting. Combining a captivating narrative with best-in-class roguelite gameplay, Hades 2 improves on its predecessor meaningfully and in every way possible. Not only does it feel better than ever to play, but new weapons, abilities, and an impressive amount of content will keep you hooked to your Switch screen for a very long time as you attempt yet another perfect run in the underworld. Read our Hades 2 review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Hollow Knight It's a good thing that Hollow Knight is such a good metroidvania that you can comfortably hop into whenever the fancy strikes you, because it makes the wait for its sequel Silksong that much more bearable. The original game had some rough edges, but these were smoothed over in time and the bug's life adventure that came out of this was nothing short of exceptional. Hollow Knight is haunting and elegant: an aggressive collection of combat and exploration that feels right at home on the Switch. This version also contains all of its DLC, a sizable chunk of content that expands on the game massively and is enhanced by its gorgeous visual design. Read our Hollow Knight review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Hollow Knight: Silksong Years of development behind locked doors lent a mythic quality to Hollow Knight: Silksong, but the wait was more than worth it for this confident sequel. Doubling down on everything that made 2017's Hollow Knight a smash hit, Silksong is a masterfully crafted game full of deep character-building options, challenging combat, and beautifully designed levels. It's undeniably frustratingly difficult at times, but few games can elicit a sensation of triumph as powerful as the fist-pumping moments you'll regularly find in Silksong when you overcome deadly challenges. It doesn't reinvent the metroidvania formula, but it does perfect it. Read our Hollow Knight: Silksong review. Advertisement The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy There's no shortage of great tactical-RPGs on the Switch, and you can add The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy to that list. The fourth game from developer Too Kyo Games, The Hundred Line offers a rich narrative full of mystery and intriguing characters, relationship-building diversions, and strategic action that carries a high sense of risk and reward. If it sinks its hooks into you, expect to spend a lot of time playing The Hundred Line, as it features strong performances and dozens of potential endings to unlock. See at Best Buy Advertisement Into The Breach Subset Games' Into the Breach is a rare type of game that feels and plays like nothing before it. Developed by FTL studio Subset Games, Into the Breach is a roguelike tactics game that takes place on tiny grids. In the distant future, the monstrous Vek are threatening humanity. To save the world from monsters, you assemble a team of three mechs who take on the Vek in small-scale battles on eight-by-eight grids. Each battle only lasts several turns, and the goal isn't to overpower the Vek; instead, you're trying to deter their attacks and limit damage on critical infrastructure. You can also see a preview of each Vek's next move at the start of every turn, allowing you to strategize for the best possible outcome. Into the Breach is more like chess than a traditional tactics game, and you'd be surprised at how involved the matches can get. Into the Breach innovates on the form more than any other game in recent memory. See our Into the Breach review. See at Walmart Advertisement Kirby and the Forgotten Land Simply put, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the best game in series history. As Kirby's first 3D platforming adventure, Forgotten Land offers remarkable variety and depth compared to earlier entries in the series. Kirby's iconic Copy ability works incredibly well in 3D, adding depth to both puzzles and combat. With six unique worlds that each contain levels that are littered with secrets and novel design quirks, Kirby and the Forgotten is one of those platformers that constantly surprises. Kirby's new Mouthful Mode ability is a charmer and spices up gameplay even more. The lengthy mainline stages are complemented by short and sweet time trials dubbed Treasure Road. These optional levels utilize Kirby's Copy and Mouthful abilities in fun and interesting ways, and completing them feeds into the overall loop that compels you to upgrade Copy abilities to make them even cooler. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an absolute delight from start to finish whether you're playing solo or alongside a friend or loved one in local co-op. Read our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review. See at Best Buy Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a Switch launch title, but it remains one of the best games on the platform all these years later. Many fans have called it the best game in the entire franchise--though the next game on this list has a strong argument, too. Breath of the Wild was Nintendo's first real foray into open-world games, and it's easily one of the best in class. Breath of the Wild provides a sense of exploration never before seen in the series. The sprawling open world of Hyrule is gorgeous and serves as Link’s personal playground. He can climb virtually anything, which creates an incredible sense of scale and freedom. This overarching change extends to the central progression as well. Replacing elaborate dungeons with tons of small-scale Shrines allows you to approach the adventure in your own way. Breath of the Wild is one of the few open-world games that isn't littered with extraneous systems and objectives. It prides itself on offering a slower pace and a more scenic, desolate world that's ripe for exploring, whether you're on foot, horseback, or scaling a cliff searching for a new discovery. Breath of the Wild is a stunning, brilliant adventure. Read our The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review. See at Best Buy Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom After decades of playing the damsel in distress or a sidekick to Link's heroism, Zelda is now finally taking center stage in her own adventure. Echoes of Wisdom looks remarkably similar to the Link's Awakening remake for Switch, with the same playfully animated aesthetic. But Zelda takes the lead this time with her own distinct mechanics. Using a special wand, she can summon "Echoes" of the objects and enemies she encounters, using them to cleverly solve puzzles and fight in combat encounters. While Zelda can take the form of a swordfighter like Link, her combat hooks are different enough to set this game apart and let Zelda forge her own path at last. Read our The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review. See at Best Buy Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Six years after the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo captured lightning in a bottle again with its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Building on the foundation of the groundbreaking Switch launch game, Tears of the Kingdom hits all the right notes for a sequel. It's bigger, bolder, and even more ambitious than the first game, and at the same time, it makes great strides towards addressing some of the more lingering issues from Breath of the Wild. The Legend of Zelda at its very best, Tears of the Kingdom links to the past by borrowing the best elements from older games in the franchise, and delivers a rewarding experience that's endlessly captivating. The end result is a masterpiece of intelligent engineering and fun gameplay that will become a new gold standard for future Zelda games. Read our The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Who would have thought that a tag team of Mushroom Kingdom superstars and Ubisoft's Rabbids could produce such a gem? Following up on the absurd strategy of 2017's Kingdom Battle, Sparks of Hope refines the turn-based strategy formula with genuinely clever improvements. It's a game that the rest of the genre should pay attention to, as Ubisoft Milan and Paris make big changes that help create a better game with an even better sense of pacing. It's also just a hoot to play, with the sheer joy woven into every pixel shining in this sequel. From Luigi's barely contained cowardice to the hilarious silliness of the Rabbids, Sparks of Hope is a chaotic but clever little masterpiece on the Switch. Read our Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Mario Kart 8 Deluxe An expanded port of the excellent Wii U game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best racing game on Nintendo Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe currently contains more than 40 racers and 48 tracks, including many of the best courses from Mario Kart history. Deluxe adds several notable features, including driving assistance settings for new players and two item slots. It also has an extended Battle mode, which winds up making Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the most content-rich and well-rounded entry in series history. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe released during the Switch's launch window, but it remains one of the most popular multiplayer games on the console for good reason. It should be in every Nintendo Switch owner's library. See our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Metroid Dread After a nearly two-decade wait, Metroid returned to its side-scrolling roots for an adventure that closed out the current Metroid saga. Remarkably, Metroid Dread lives up to the high expectations set by longtime fans. Developed by Mercury Steam (Metroid: Samus Returns), Metroid Dread is a wonderful adventure that sticks to its roots. Dread shines mechanically, with fast-paced combat, a wide range of upgrades to acquire, and a stable of bosses that test your fortitude and counterattack skills. Dread also introduces the EMMI, creepy robots who patrol designated zones and cause instant game overs if you're caught. It's an absolute joy to explore the maze-like locales, and Dread's huge swath of secrets to uncover encourages multiple playthroughs. Metroid Dread is easily one of the best side-scrollers on Switch, and it's a reminder that going back to your roots can be a truly excellent idea. Read our Metroid Dread review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Metroid Prime Remastered Few games stand the test of time, but Metroid Prime is one of the select few titles from a bygone era that still feels as good to play today as it did on the GameCube back in 2002. More than two decades later, it's even better as this first-person shooter got a massive facelift for Nintendo's hybrid console. Looking better than ever, Samus Aran's shift to the third dimension is a great example of evergreen gameplay design that influenced an entire generation of action games in its wake. It's still Metroid right down to its first-person bones, but the slick action and well-paced exploration can be enjoyed without needing to don some nostalgia-goggles. Read our Metroid Prime Remastered review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Metroid Prime 4: Beyond can be an uneven game at times, as the focus on creating a character-driven story while introducing a few open-world elements to the formula results in highs and lows. To its credit, any issues in Metroid Prime 4 are quickly forgotten once the classic formula kicks in. Atmospheric locations, the joy of solitary exploration, and breathtaking action feel better than ever in this polished adventure, while new abilities and outstanding performance make for a Metroid Prime game that was worth waiting so many years for. Read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch 2 $70 See at Best Buy View at other stores See at Amazon See at Walmart See at GameStop See at Target Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch $60 See at Best Buy View at other stores See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Target See at GameStop Advertisement Mina the Hollower It might have taken a few extra months to see the light of day, but the wait for Mina the Hollower was worth it. Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games has proven that it's no flash-in-the-pan studio, as Mina the Hollower is a masterful adventure from start to finish. Set in a beautifully hostile world that feels like it was ripped straight out of a punishing NES game, it combines the open-world flow of classic The Legend of Zelda games with souls-like combat that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The end result? A magical tour through a haunting world, enhanced by catchy chiptune tracks, secrets around every corner, and combat that tasks you with being creatively cunning. Read our Mina the Hollower review. Advertisement Monster Hunter Rise The Monster Hunter series has a long history on Nintendo platforms dating back nearly a decade, and though Monster Hunter World didn't release for the Switch, Capcom rectified that with the excellent Monster Hunter Rise. Though it started as a Switch exclusive, Rise has since been ported to other platforms and received a massive DLC, Sunbreak, that makes it all the more enjoyable. Rise adds a level of verticality through the Wirebug tool. Though perfect for shorter gameplay sessions, it also fits comfortably as a mainline entry with a big map, online multiplayer action, and a ton of depth in the various weapon types for players looking to experiment. With a mix of classic monsters and newcomers, it's a great entry point and perfect for the series' veterans. Read our Monster Hunter Rise review. See at Amazon Advertisement Mouse P.I. For Hire How does a boomer shooter stand out in a crowded genre? In the case of Mouse P.I. For Hire, going very retro is one way to make an impression. Combining old-school rubber-hose animation with satisfying shoot-'em-up action, Mouse P.I. For Hire hits a sweet spot between riveting gunfights and absurd comedy that's bolstered by its polished animation. Presented as a cartoon caper with film noir aesthetics, the retro-style shooter offers plenty of style and substance inside of a charming package. Read our Mouse P.I. For Hire review. Advertisement Octopath Traveler 2 The Switch has become a hub for classic JRPG goodness, and Octopath Traveler II is a prime example of this. Square Enix's follow-up to the original game retains all the classic charm of the SNES era, mixed with graphics that blur the line between modern and retro gaming. Not just a good-looking game, Octopath Traveler II is satisfying to play thanks to its combo of non-linear storytelling, freeform exploration, and strategic combat, all of which serve to deliver a challenging adventure told across multiple viewpoints. Like the best sequels, it builds on the ideas that the original game pioneered, improving and iterating on its unique elements. If you're looking for a cozy JRPG that'll easily consume dozens of your hours, Octopath Traveler II is worth picking up. Read our Octopath Traveler 2 review. See at Amazon Advertisement Opus: Prism Peak Fans of Opus: Echo of Starsong were in for a long wait--and a few delays--with Opus: Prism Peak, but it was worth it. Like its predecessor, Opus: Prism Peak is the kind of game that pulls at the heartstrings, delivering an emotional story and fusing it with gameplay that perfectly complements it. A bittersweet narrative adventure about a world-weary photographer and an amnesiac girl, it's the kind of game that's perfect for anyone who feels jaded by life, as it's a story of loss, hope, and perseverance told through a camera lens. Advertisement Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Perhaps the most beloved of Mario's many RPG incarnations, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door received an excellent and loving remake on Nintendo Switch this year. The bright, colorful visuals look better than ever thanks to an HD remaster, the heartfelt and often funny dialogue still shines through years later, and the turn-based battle system still feels dynamic and incredibly balanced. In addition to remastering a beloved game, a new fast-travel, hint, and training options help streamline the experience and make it more approachable for newcomers. This is the definitive way to experience a classic all over again, or for the first time. Read our Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo plays--and looks--like a love-letter to the Zelda-likes of the Game Boy Advance era, but with some neat twists on the formula. Like the best games in this genre, there's a satisfying sense of reward for exploration and experimentation, and when combined with a novel gameplay system that asks you to take on some "debt" and clear it, Pipistrello shines. It's a quirky tribute to a bygone era of gaming, all wrapped up in a package of energetic visuals and catchy music. Advertisement The Plucky Squire At first glance, The Plucky Squire appears to be another indie Zelda-like, albeit one with a particularly lovely storybook art style. But it takes a turn when the hero of the story is thrown out of his book, and into the real world of a fan's bedroom, by the villain. The adventure then has you jumping in and out of the book at will, manipulating the words on the page, and even opening and closing the book to slide objects around for puzzle-solving. It's an inventive hook with loads of cool applications, and on top of that, The Plucky Squire keeps you on your toes with an impressive level of variety. Read our The Plucky Squire review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Pokemon Sword & Shield Pokemon Sword & Shield ushers in the Galar region, an expansive locale filled with new Pokemon and a familiar but refined loop. Once again, you're working to be the best that ever was, starting off with one Pokemon and no badges and slowly working your way to filling out your Pokedex and becoming the Pokemon League Champion. The Galar region has several Wild Areas (including DLC areas), new open sections filled with different species of Pokemon roaming in plain sight. These sections offer a nice change of pace to the streamlined journeys of previous games, and the new Dynamax mechanic and rotating raids add more continuous content to enjoy. With a great collection of new Pokemon, more customization options available at your fingertips, and a wealth of content that only gets more substantial when you factor in the pair of expansions, Pokemon Sword & Shield is a worthy addition to the beloved franchise. Read our Pokemon Sword and Shield review. See at Walmart Advertisement Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokemon Legends: Arceus sits somewhere between a mainline game and a spin-off. Taking place well before the events of any other RPG entry in the series, Arceus sends players to the Hisui region (Sinnoh) to complete the first Pokedex. Arceus' core gameplay revolves already scouring the land in search of Pokemon, which can be caught by simply lobbing Poke Balls. Arceus also has the familiar turn-based battle system, which makes it feel like a mainline game in many respects. Mainline story missions take place in sprawling areas, which gives Arceus an open-world feel, and with plenty of optional missions as well, Arceus boasts a surprising amount of compelling content. Crafting systems and resource management incentivize exploration, and it's pretty easy to lose hours simply exploring the locales in search of new Pokemon and resources. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a must-play for Pokemon fans, and even lapsed fans might enjoy the refreshing loop. Read our Pokemon Legends: Arceus review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Admittedly, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on Switch is a game where its best features are often overshadowed by poor technical performance. But beneath the performance gripes, this is a Pokemon adventure that shines with frictionless gameplay, a surprisingly touching story, and a world that's teeming with life. The Spanish-influenced locales and punchy soundtrack combined with dozens of new Pokemon to catch and secrets to uncover make for a thrilling adventure, one that's hard to put down once the signature "gotta catch 'em all" gameplay sinks its hooks into you. Read our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown The classic platformer series made a return as a metroidvania, and the results are stellar. This new Prince of Persia revolves around Sargon, the youngest member of a specialized Persian royal guard called the Immortals, who gets caught up in a web of intrigue and betrayal when one of their own kidnaps the kingdom's prince. That leads his band to the mysterious and cursed Mount Qaf, where the adventure takes place. With fine-tuned combat, nail-biting platforming, and excellent new metroidvania quality-of-life features, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is both a leader in its genre and a triumphant return for the classic franchise. It's definitely worth checking out, and the handheld nature of the Switch makes it easy to explore while lounging with your favorite baking show. Read our Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Schrodinger's Call Visual-novel games might not be to everyone's taste, but when the genre gets imaginative, the experience is incredibly unique. Set 21 nanoseconds before the moon collides with Earth and ruins everyone's day, players step into the shoes of Mary, the Last Confidant. Sitting in a dark room where her only company is a talking cat and a telephone, Mary has to answer their calls and help them find peace in a game that is full of touching character moments, beautiful artwork, and a haunting atmosphere. Advertisement Shin Megami Tensei V The Shin Megami Tensei mainline series may not be as popular in North America as the Persona series, but JRPG fans shouldn't miss out on Shin Megami Tensei V. This Nintendo Switch exclusive captures the unique atmosphere that the series is known for and complements it with brilliant battles that require players to be strategic with their decisions. The story is a slow burn, but it's filled with interesting characters and choice-driven plot points that make it engaging throughout. If you're looking for a JRPG on Switch that you can sink dozens and dozens of hours into, Shin Megami Tensei V is a great choice--and you don't need to have played previous entries to enjoy it. Read our Shin Megami Tensei V review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Shotgun Cop Man A platformer game without a dedicated jump button sounds like heresy, but Shotgun Cop Man runs wild with that idea thanks to its gung-ho energy, clever level design, and cartoonish action. It's a short-but-oh-so-sweet experience as well, as you chase after the devil and use the titular Shotgun Cop Man's trigger-happy set of skills to deliver a ballistic kiss of death to anything that gets in your way. Advertisement Splatoon 3 Splatoon 3 isn't as novel an experience the third time around, but this squidtastic game still knows how to make a splash. Family-friendly action in a colorful world, Splatoon 3 refines its formula and creates a highlight reel of fun zone mechanics in online competition, a single-player mode that is delightfully challenging, and clever multiplayer maps. With a massive amount of multiplayer modes and options on offer, Splatoon 3 is a buffet of content that you won't run out of anytime soon. Veterans to the series might need some more convincing before they hop back into familiar territory, but for anyone who has yet to play a Splatoon game, Splatoon 3 is the perfect entry point. Read our Splatoon 3 review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Stardew Valley Tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, you move to your grandfather's farm in Stardew Valley, a picturesque rural community where life moves slower than you're used to. Stardew Valley is both a relaxing farming sim and a wonderful social sim filled with relatable characters. Though it lets you make your own fun, Stardew Valley does have a clever loop that slowly builds as you develop relationships, acquire new gear, and uncover the game's many secrets. It's easy to pour hundreds of hours into Stardew Valley. There's so much to see and do, and after a while, Stardew Valley has the familiarity of home, one that's always a pleasure to return to. Read our Stardew Valley review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Super Mario 3D World was one of the best Wii U games, and the recently released expanded port takes the platforming magic to new heights. Super Mario 3D World is a great blend of 3D Mario platforming and the classic Mario course structure. The sheer inventiveness on display across its 12 worlds (including four challenging bonus worlds) is enough to make this one of the better modern Mario games, and the fact you can play the entire campaign with up to four players makes it a great pick for families. Bowser's Fury brings something entirely different to the table with an open-world design with a series of mini levels that gradually unlock as you collect Cat Shines and square off against a very large and angry Bowser. Overall, the package includes a staggering amount of variety and demonstrates how Nintendo's trusty mascot still has tricks up his sleeve all these years later. Read our Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Super Mario Bros. Wonder Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first new 2D Mario in years not under the "New Super Mario" brand, and the reason why couldn't be clearer. While the New SMB series was well-made as a retro throwback, Super Mario Wonder is a true evolution of Mario mechanics that pushes the series forward in ways that we haven't seen for years. The marquee Wonder effects imbue every stage with wild, unique mechanics, while a new Badge equipment system lets you experiment with different powers. New stage types and power-ups abound as well, making this an absolute delight. Read our Super Mario Bros. Wonder review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Super Mario Odyssey Super Mario Odyssey is a relentlessly joyful 3D platformer that gives players far more freedom than they've had in previous 3D Mario games. Super Mario Odyssey has a series of large, open levels, each of which is chock-full of Power Moons to find by completing tricky platforming sequences, besting foes, and solving puzzles. It also introduces a new array of moves thanks to Mario's sentient hat Cappy. If you're playing Super Mario Odyssey with young children, the cooperative mode is excellent, as it allows one player to take control of Cappy, who can't take damage. Super Mario Odyssey is Mario's biggest adventure yet, with more to see and do than ever before in a 3D Mario game. Read our Super Mario Odyssey review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Super Smash Bros. Ultimate With more than 80 fighters so far, more than 100 stages, and a wide variety of content whether you're playing multiplayer or refining your skills against the CPU, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the most comprehensive and plentiful brawler in franchise history. The expansive roster of characters with totally different playstyles is impressive enough to keep you playing for the long haul, but Smash Bros. Ultimate is far more than just a collection of Nintendo characters and anime characters with swords hitting each other repeatedly; it's a deeply satisfying brawler that refines the overall gameplay to make the most technically sound Smash Bros. to date. It's full of video game history, too, from unlockable trinkets to iconic music. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the best fighting game on Nintendo Switch. We'd also recommend the Fighter Passes, which grant access to additional characters and stages. Read our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Tetris Effect: Connected Tetris and the Nintendo Switch are a perfect match, so it's no surprise that the best iteration of the classic puzzle game has found its way on this list. Tetris Effect: Connected has been around for a few years, delighting fans with its jaw-dropping mix of special effects, catchy music, and block-stacking, but it only just arrived on Switch in 2021. This is pure Tetris, but it adds heaps of style that creates an entrancing experience that's easy to get captivated by. Tetris Effect has a great single-player campaign mode as well as a slew of game variants in its Effects mode. The "Connected" portion of the experience lets three players join up to fight increasingly challenging CPU-controlled bosses. Whether you're primarily playing solo or dropping garbage blocks with friends, Tetris Effect: Connected is the best way to play Tetris. Read our Tetris Effect: Connected review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Nintendo's social life sim revels in absurdity, offering a digital break from reality that is exquisitely strange. Whether you're going wild with the character creator or using the game's tools to create all kinds of famous Miis, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream feels empowering, and it doesn't judge you for getting up to shenanigans with the citizens on your console. At the same time, there's a cozy charm to the game, as relaxing activities and lighthearted fun provide a perfect avenue of escape from reality. See at Amazon Advertisement UFO 50 UFO 50 might just be the best deal in gaming right now. Not only are you getting 50 games rendered in a retro-flavored style from a group of all-star developers, but each one is a showcase of creativity and experimentation. Familiar genres get a fresh twist, there's an engaging narrative behind the development of these games that ties into a fictional studio, and the entire experience is a nostalgic treat. See at Best Buy Advertisement Vampire Crawlers Vampire Survivors popularized a new genre of roguelike bullet-heaven games, but could developer Poncle recapture that magic by shifting to the world of deckbuilding games? The answer is a resounding yes, because Vampire Crawlers combines the simplicity of the developer's breakout game with the engaging "just one more turn" energy of assembling a deck of cards to take down legions of monsters. That makes for a tight and focused experience, one that rewards you after every run and smartly incorporates Vampire Survivors characters and lore to give that game a fresh perspective. If you're looking for a roguelike deckbuilder that isn't too complex and offers a lunchtime distraction, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better game than this in 2026. Read our Vampire Crawlers review. Advertisement Wax Heads 2026 might go down as one of the coziest in years of gaming, as the genre expanded with new themes and ideas throughout the year. One of the highlights was Wax Heads, a strong reminder that Spotify's algorithm will never be a match for a record store employee who's ready to broaden your tastes. Part puzzle game, part store-management simulator, Wax Heads does a brilliant job at not only making you feel like a record store employee, but a part of the conversation as you dish out recommendations for your customers and help new shoppers discover the magic og music. Advertisement Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy Between Mario and Zelda, it's a shame that Xenoblade Chronicles doesn't get more love on Nintendo platforms. But for anyone looking to see superstar developer Monolith Soft at its very best, the trilogy of Xenoblade Chronicles games available right now are masterpieces of JRPG design, worldbuilding, and incredible visuals. Make no mistake, these games are incredibly deep and have steep learning curves, but stick with them and you'll find a rewarding experience waiting for you at the end. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is easily the best of the bunch, a lengthy and stunning adventure that can keep you occupied for the rest of 2023. A testament to just what the Switch is capable of when a developer is firing on all cylinders, each Xenoblade game is worth investing your precious time and delivers a unique magic that you'll only find on Nintendo hardware. Read our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review. See at Best Buy Advertisement...

What games should you play on Xbox Game Pass? With so many options to choose from, narrowing down the best Xbox Game Pass games currently available can be a challenge. The subscription service has grown in size, offering a massive library of big AAA games, new day-one releases, and even overlooked gems--like one of 2025's best games, Blue Prince. The library is so expansive that you're almost guaranteed to find at least a few games you'll love and classics from yesteryear, thanks to the recent addition of Retro Classics. To help you navigate the ever-shifting landscape, we've rounded up the very best Game Pass games available now. There are plenty more excellent games on Xbox Game Pass than the ones we’ve listed below--the service is loaded with worthy games. These are just the games we think every Xbox owner should play, and we regularly review this list to make sure we stand by our choices and rotate in newer releases. We'll continue to update this list as the Game Pass library adds new selections. Every month brings new games as well, and in case you missed it, here's what you can download and play in December. More Xbox best lists Best Xbox Series X games Biggest upcoming Xbox games Best Xbox controllers Best Xbox headsets Keep in mind that Xbox Game Pass has undergone some changes since November 2025. After the price of Game Pass Ultimate rose to $30 a month in late 2025, the monthly price dropped down to $23--but with a catch. New Call of Duty games will no longer be included at launch, and they'll only be added to the library around a year after they're first released. Game Pass Essential will continue to offer a catalog of 50+ games and online multiplayer, while Premium bumps the number of playable games to 200. Game Pass Ultimate is the top-tier service that provides access to all games on day one, cloud streaming, and several more perks. Game Pass Essential -- $10 per month Game Pass Premium -- $15 per month PC Game Pass -- $14 per month Game Pass Ultimate -- $23 per month For the purposes of this list, we looked at the whole Xbox Game Pass library available in the Ultimate tier, so if you're subscribed to one of the other tiers--especially Essential--not every recommendation may be available. And while this list is a good place to get started, the library of games is even more expansive, and more games will be added throughout the year. Be sure to check back for updated recommendations. Stack Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-Month Codes $55 (was $60) See at Amazon Advertisement Absolum One of GameSpot's favorite games of 2025, Absolum is a roguelite beat-'em-up brimming with personality. It looks like a Saturday morning cartoon and it hits like a freight train, while its incredible soundtrack makes you feel the energy of every cracklin' spell cast and fist thrown. It's no surprise that the core retro-inspired gameplay of Absolum feels great--developers Dotemu and Guard Crush Games did resurrect Streets of Rage for a new generation--and the roguelike twist adds tons of inventive build combinations to try out. Advertisement The Alters Some of the best games on Game Pass are the ones that push the limits on what a genre is capable of, letting you sample ambitious ideas for the cost of your subscription. In the case of The Alters, you're getting a fascinating blend of survival, base-building, and resource management. The catch here are the human resources you have to work with, as protagonist Jan Dolski's mission to escape an inhospitable planet is aided by his alternate selves, reflections of who he could have been if he'd made a different choice in life. The end result is both mechanically and narratively fascinating in this ambitious fusion of ideas from the studio behind This War of Mine. Read our The Alters review. See at Amazon Advertisement Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Ubisoft's dive into an alien landscape dreamt up by James Cameron doesn't stray too far from its established open-world formula, but Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a remarkably faithful recreation of those billion-dollar blockbusters. As a native of Pandora who was abducted, trained, and molded by the human militaristic corporation RDA to serve its interests, it's up to you to reconnect with your heritage and discover what it truly means to be Na'vi in this first-person adventure. Read our Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora review. Advertisement Avowed Following a dip into sci-fi with The Outer Worlds, Obsidian's return to an RPG fantasy setting is one of this year's biggest surprises. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, you play as a godlike--one who has been touched by a god leaving you marked in a way that's visually distinct to everyone around you. Your journey through the Living Lands makes a point to streamline some classic RPG systems, while giving you an incredible amount of flexibility in others. Combat is a particular standout, as you can mix and match just about any variety of weapons and abilities, and easily respec to experiment with new combinations. Advertisement Balatro Balatro was a breakout release last year--in fact, it was one of our favorite games of 2024--and the one-more-round roguelike poker game has only gotten better with subsequent updates. It's now available on Xbox Game Pass, and came alongside a new Friends of Jimbo pack that lets you change the face cards to crossovers with games like Civilization VII, Assassin's Creed, Fallout, Bugsnax, and more. If you've never caught up with the incredibly compelling and clever game, now is the time. Read our Balatro review. Advertisement Batman: Arkham Knight More than 10 years have passed since Rocksteady ended its Arkham trilogy, and Batman: Arkham Knight still represents the studio at its best. It somehow still looks like a billion bucks, and its gameplay doesn't just fine-tune the established gameplay; it pushes it to the extreme to create the ultimate Caped Crusader simulator. Throw in the perfect merger between man and machine with the introduction of the Batmobile, the hard-hitting story revolving around the titular Arkham Knight, and one of the best plot twists in gaming, and you've got a superhero adventure that has stood the test of time. Read our Batman Arkham Knight review. Advertisement Blue Prince You've never played a game quite like Blue Prince. The first-person puzzle game has you exploring an empty mansion, but this particular manor house has a special quality: It's never the same from day to day, as the rooms appear as you "draft" them from a selection whenever you come to a door. The ultimate goal is to explore the mansion and reach the hidden Room 46, but the game's many puzzles and mysteries unfold and interlock in ways that feel constantly enthralling. And since it's on Game Pass, it's easy to recommend with your existing subscription. Read our Blue Prince review. Advertisement Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 The Call of Duty series has been among the top sellers for years, but some CoD games are clearly better than others. This year's iteration, Black Ops 6, is the best the series has been in some time, and the first time that a new Call of Duty game has been available on Game Pass at launch. The campaign is a smart and varied action spectacle that keeps you on your toes as it explores paranoid thriller tropes set against global events in the 1990s. Meanwhile, the multiplayer's new omni-movement makes matches feel fast and fluid, especially with the addition of inventive new maps that let you explore the space in a variety of ways. A revision to the perks system helps you specialize in interesting ways. Call of Duty has earned its reputation for a reason, and this latest release shows why. Read our Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 campaign review and multiplayer review. See at Amazon Advertisement Celeste An impeccably crafted indie platformer, Celeste is known for its tough-but-fair difficulty and surprisingly emotionally engaging story. As you climb the mountain you'll come face to face with devilish platforming challenges that will test your skill, all while discovering a subtle story of self-discovery and overcoming depression. It has a stellar 94 score on Metacritic, so don't sleep on this one. And don't worry if you aren't a platforming pro, as Celeste has a full suite of difficulty modifiers that let you experience the climb on your own terms. Read our Celeste review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Cyberpunk 2077 Several years after its disastrous launch, Cyberpunk 2077 is now a legendary story of redemption in the video game industry. Years of improvements and free updates have transformed Cyberpunk 2077 into an all-time classic, allowing this masterpiece of design and action to truly flex its muscles as you explore the dangerous streets of Night City. Advertisement Death Stranding: Director's Cut Hideo Kojima's first game following his exit from Konami in the mid-2010s can be polarizing. Still, once it sinks its hooks into you, this tale of post-apocalyptic deliveries never lets go. The Director's Cut improves on Kojima's vision, introducing major quality-of-life changes, new storylines, and more gadgets to help you out during deliveries, deal with bandits, and keep a close eye on ghostly entities as you explore a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction. Read our Death Stranding: Director's Cut review. Advertisement Diablo IV When Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it seemed like only a matter of time before the studio's massive library started to come to Game Pass. We're still waiting on a lot of the catalog, but it started with a big one. The latest in the beloved dungeon-crawling RPG series Diablo, Diablo IV, lets you delve into the deep and macabre world of Sanctuary to protect it from Lillith, the demon mother. With deep and immersive character building and a regular cadence of seasonal content to let you further expand your characters with new abilities, Diablo IV is not to be missed. Read our Diablo IV review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Doom: The Dark Ages Doom: The Dark Ages feels like a return to form for id Software's iconic series. While Doom Eternal would regularly leave you breathless with its hyper-kinetic gameplay and resource-juggling, The Dark Ages keeps the action grounded by transforming the Doom Slayer into an overpowered engine of destruction. The stand-and-fight mantra guiding this prequel works wonders, while the bullet-hell challenge and shield-bashing gameplay makes ripping and tearing through demonic hordes feel more satisfying than ever. Read our Doom: The Dark Ages review. Advertisement FBC: Firebreak FBC: Firebreak takes a while to get going, but once all of its pieces fall into place, this co-op first-person-shooter is an exciting stab at the live-service genre. The Control spin-off also makes a statement to the current hamster wheel of FOMO that live-service games attempt to force players to run on, making it a breath of fresh air in an industry where your attention span has become a valuable commodity. Read our FBC: Firebreak review. Advertisement Final Fantasy 6 Look at any list of the best Final Fantasy games of all time, and there's a good chance that Final Fantasy 6 will be at the top. A timeless masterpiece and the final 2D game of the original NES and SNES era, Final Fantasy 6 isn't just a thrill to play, it's incredible to experience as well. With a massive ensemble cast uniting to face off against one of the greatest villains in the franchise, Final Fantasy 6 is an infamously dark game full of mature themes and devastating moments, all set in a world full of steampunk technology and magic. You can also find several of its predecessors on Game Pass, but Final Fantasy 6 is an essential game for any JRPG fan. Advertisement Forza Horizon 6 The Forza Horizon playbook is well-established by now, and for its sixth entry, Playground Games has fine-tuned the experience into a well-oiled machine. Everything about Forza Horizon 6 is a celebration of cars and speed, a gorgeous tour of Japan that purrs like a kitten and roars like a kaiju when you put your foot down. A joy to play and also a terrific third place to visit when you dive into its car meets, this is digital car culture at its very best. Read our Forza Horizon 6 review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Gears of War: Reloaded The original Gears of War landed on Xbox 360 almost 20 years ago, and in a testament to its enduring popularity, this updated version of the classic still feels as fun to play today as it was in 2006. The game is still a tightly constructed shooter with plenty of blockbuster moments and one of the best weapons in gaming history, the Lancer chainsaw-rifle. This version polishes it up for modern-day hardware, but the gameplay remains as polished as ever while you work your way through encounters with the Locust army. Or as protagonist Marcus Fenix would say, nice. Advertisement Gears Tactics Gears Tactics cleverly applies the aesthetic and atmosphere of the franchise to a tactics game. Despite being a totally different genre, Gears Tactics still feels like a natural addition to the iconic franchise thanks to sound mechanics and great level design. Many of the notable Gears of War gameplay systems and quirks are adapted into the top-down tactical spin on the genre. With a meaningful progression system, deep but approachable tactical encounters, and a number of great boss battles, Gears Tactics is a can’t-miss experience for Gears aficionados and strategy game fans alike. Read our Gears Tactics review. See at Xbox Store Featured in this image Gears Tactics View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Grounded 2 Obsidian's survival-crafting sequel builds on the strong foundation established by the first game to deliver a vibrant alternative to all of the gloomy survival games on the market today. It's still in an early access phase, but if history repeats itself, we're expecting Grounded 2 to be a bigger and better sequel that remains fun to play while Obsidian continues to fine-tune it. Read our Grounded 2 review. Advertisement Halo: The Master Chief Collection If you’ve never played the Halo franchise before, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the perfect place to start. The Master Chief Collection comes with six Halo games, including remastered versions of the first two original Xbox entries. Halo features some of the very best single-player campaigns in the genre as well as extremely solid online multiplayer, at least after years of fixes and improvements. Back when the collection was originally released, the online multiplayer was spotty to say the least, but it has come a long way. Halo: The Master Chief Collection offers the best way to play some of the most heralded first-person shooters ever created. Read our Halo: The Master Chief Collection review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Hi-Fi Rush Hi-Fi Rush is a bright, popcorn animated adventure from the studio that brought you… The Evil Within? As surprising as that is, what may be even more impressive is that this is an absolute gem of a rhythm-action game. The original IP follows Chai, a good-hearted doofus who signs up for free cybernetic surgery and ends up with a Zune grafted into his chest. He comes out of the other side with the power to defeat corporate ne'er-do-wells to the gyrating beat of the world. It's like Elite Beat Agents mashed together with Devil May Cry. Read our Hi-Fi Rush review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition Enchanting and utterly engrossing, Hollow Knight is one of the best metroidvanias ever made. Team Cherry’s adventure stars a nameless knight armed with a nail who explores a labyrinthine world known as Hallownest. With a gorgeous art style and an incredible amount of variation in the environments, Hollow Knight’s expansive world is a constant joy to explore. Challenging combat rewards those with patience and perseverance. Hollow Knight truly stands out in a fairly crowded genre. If you haven’t waded through Hallownest yet, now’s a great time to slay some insect ahead of the sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Read our Hollow Knight review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Hollow Knight: Silksong After years of waiting--and several summoning circles--Hollow Knight: Silksong has finally arrived and it's turning out to be an overwhelming follow-up to its predecessor. Team Cherry's Hollow Knight follow-up builds on a successful formula, evolving it to a near-perfect state where you get to explore labyrinthine worlds, challenge powerful foes, and master a nuanced combat system as the protagonist, Hornet. Advertisement Indiana Jones and the Great Circle MachineGames' take on Indiana Jones is a masterful take on the famous relic hunter. The action is a tightly designed clockwork of action, stealth, and immersive-sim elements that capture Indy's famous improvisational style. The story is rich and engaging and belongs right on the shelf next to some of Indy's other great adventures. And the character and worldbuilding are all top-notch, which helps to sell Troy Baker's take on the famous character popularized by actor Harrison Ford. It's the complete package, and a great reason to subscribe to Game Pass. Read our Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review. See at Amazon Advertisement Keeper Keeper is exactly the kind of game that Game Pass needs. A weird and experimental title from Double Fine, Keeper is an artistic triumph with a heartfelt tale at its core. Constantly interesting on a visual level and frequently reinventing itself with new gameplay hooks, Keeper is a strong example of why video games can be considered art. Read our Keeper review. Advertisement Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Set in Bohemia during 1403, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an incredibly immersive adventure. Full of complex quests and improvements that leave its predecessor in the dust, the open-world RPG offers varied quests, streamlined combat with plenty of depth, and plenty of consequences for your actions. Advertisement Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth doesn't just offer a greatly improved turn-based RPG system; it also serves as a swansong for longtime protagonist Kiryu Kazuma. A tale of redemption and family, Infinite Wealth plays like a greatest hits compilation between the past and the future of the franchise. Dropping players right in the middle of another gangland soap opera, it's an absurd and action-packed game that wears its heart on its sleeve. Advertisement Manor Lords Though it's still in early access, Manor Lords has quickly gained a following as a deep and engrossing strategy game that encompasses several different types of strategy at once. You'll build a city with complex social and economic systems at play, as well as take part in huge tactical battles against rival lords. Building your civilization from almost nothing and helping it manage trials like an unforgiving winter is so satisfying, and the depth of the game is made even more impressive by it being the work of just one developer. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Minami Lane Management sims are--by design--a stressful time. Sure, the sense of victory that comes from braving an administrative adventure is second to none, but Minami Lane puts a cozy spin on this genre so that your blood pressure doesn't spike. It's a digestible city-builder with a wholesome vibe that is worth checking out. Advertisement Minishoot Adventures The next best thing to a classic top-down Legend of Zelda adventure, Minishoot Adventures is an adorable adventure that adds some twin-stick shooter gameplay to that classic Hylian formula. Packing a delightful sense of exploration with an approachable level of challenge, it's an indie gem that doesn't outstay its welcome. Advertisement Monster Train 2 Save the Spire saw a new wave of roguelike deckbuilders follow in its wake, and Monster Train was easily one of the best. The bar was set high for the sequel, but Monster Train 2 is a confident follow-up to the first game that builds on its solid foundation and adds a few new twists and a tremendous amount of replayability. Advertisement Nine Sols Hollow Knight: Silksong is dominating the metroidvania charts right now, but don't sleep on Nine Sols. Beautifully crafted and featuring a rich hand-drawn art style, the game combines its metroidvania influences with Sekiro-inspired combat to create tense and exciting moments in every level you explore. The smooth animation combined with the responsive controls makes for a winning formula, while the "Taopunk" setting gives the game a unique look and feel. Advertisement Ninja Gaiden 4 When all the pieces fall together, Ninja Gaiden 4 offers an intoxicating blend of action and challenge. The first mainline entry in many years, Ninja Gaiden 4 is focused purely on gameplay and over-the-top boss fights that'll push you to the very edge of your seat. It's the purest lean-forward game out there, a fast-paced meat-grinder that requires your utmost concentration, but being in the zone with this game is an absolute treat once you start dishing out gruesome combos. The story and its lead protagonist are instantly forgettable, but the experience of scraping through battles against ultra-aggressive enemies and tanky bosses will stay with you long after the credits roll. Read our Ninja Gaiden 4 review. Advertisement Ori series Both games in Moon Studios’ incredible Ori series are worth playing. Ori and the Blind Forest and its 2020 sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps are two of the best platformers available on Xbox. Both have stunning visuals and tell emotionally gripping stories that feed off of the atmosphere and well-drawn characters. While they are similar in terms of aesthetic and feel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is more action-oriented, whereas the Blind Forest largely focuses on platforming and exploration. The Will of the Wisps gives Ori new abilities that help them square off against daunting bosses. Both games are brilliant in their own right, and are must-play platformers on Xbox. You should play them in order to get the full emotional weight of the story. Read our Ori and Will of the Wisps review. See Ori and the Blind Forest at Xbox Store See Ori and the Will of the Wisps at Xbox Store Featured in this image Ori and the Will of the Wisps View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Outer Worlds 2 Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds was introduced as a spiritual sci-fi successor to Fallout, but the studio has successfully crafted an identity for its spacefaring action-RPG. Combat has been polished up, and choices feel more meaningful than ever, but the real hook is in how you approach the game and build your own legend. Whether you're a bumbling adventurer who fails upwards or an operative who wields sharp blades and even sharper wit, it's all up to you to figure out who you want to be in a solar system ripped apart by factional wars and corporate takeovers. Read our The Outer Worlds 2 review. Advertisement Pentiment One of the most unusual games on Game Pass, or anywhere, Pentiment is an adventure game set in 16th century Bavaria. As a manuscript illustrator sent to an Abbey, you're caught up in a series of murders. The decades-spanning story explores the idea of historical narrative and how truth is recorded and remembered across generations. It's really unlike anything else. Read our Pentiment review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Persona 5 Royal It's going to be a while before Persona 6 or the Persona 4 Remake land, but until then, Persona 5 Royal is the best version of one of the best games in the series. While the original game was a stylish blend of dungeon-crawling action and relationship-building downtime, the Royal version improves on it with extra content, quality-of-life upgrades, and gameplay adjustments. Advertisement Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire The first Pillars of Eternity was a thrilling study in old school RPG gameplay with a modern makeover, but its sequel outdoes the original in almost every way possible. A more confident follow-up that doubles down on its strengths while further refining its formula, Obsidian Entertainment's sophomore effort is an entertaining game filled with rich writing and easily-accessible gameplay for newcomers to the genre. Read our Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Psychonauts 2 It's safe to say that there's no game like Psychonauts 2 on the market, as Double Fine's return to the cult-classic world of Razputin Aquato and the titular psychic peacekeeping agency is an absolute mind-blast of imaginative design. Fun to play and packing an emotional wallop with its exploration of several characters and a deep dive into their respective psyches, Psychonauts 2 is both a hilarious and heartfelt effort. Read our Psychonauts 2 review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement A Plague Tale: Requiem The first Plague Tale was an unexpected hit from a relatively small developer punching above its weight. The sequel could have expanded its scope, but instead, Asobo Studio kept its narrative tightly focused on telling a human story set in an alternative French history. Though the rat-controlling mechanics have been expanded, the story is still concerned primarily with the family dynamics between Hugo and his protective older sister, Amicia. It's also a downright beautiful game, with lush environments that rival those from the biggest AAA studios. Read our A Plague Tale: Requiem review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Arguably the most important game in the history of the franchise, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard helped turn the franchise around and is regarded as one of the triggers for Capcom's Renaissance as a powerhouse game developer and publisher. How did it do that? By doubling down on the fear and tension that made Resident Evil so memorable in the first place, stripping the suspense down to the bone, and containing all of that terror within a spooky location. Advertisement Rematch Football fans don't have much to choose from in the genre, thanks to EA dominating the scene with its annual EA Sports FC series. But in 2025, Sifu developer Sloclap hit the field with a game that felt and played like the polar opposite of EA's franchise. A refreshing skill-based approach to football, Rematch keeps things simple, engaging, and exciting with every footie match. Fun to learn and satisfying to master, recent improvements have addressed the rougher parts of the game, transforming it into a thrilling spectacle of five-a-side football. Read our Rematch review. Advertisement Resident Evil Village Using the momentum from Resident Evil 7 to push the franchise to gory new heights, 2021's Resident Evil Village continues the terrifying journey of protagonist Ethan Winters. Venturing into a mysterious European village teeming with all manner of new bioweapon horrors, Resident Evil Village plays like a highlight reel of the series with its grotesque monster designs, action-packed horror gameplay, and suspense-fueled design that keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times. Read our Resident Evil Village review. Advertisement The Rogue Prince of Persia It's a great time to be a Prince of Persia fan, as not only have we gotten the superb metroidvania The Lost Crown, but also Evil Empire's fun roguelike The Rogue Prince of Persia. After spending several months in Steam Early Access, the full game is a terrific love-letter to classic Prince of Persia action, mixing the influences of the older platforming games with plenty of Dead Cells DNA. Where The Rogue Prince of Persia sets itself apart is in its movement and storytelling, as the game is at its best when you're using parkour to smoothly dodge traps and acrobatic combat to weave between enemies as you build up strength for a glorious run. Advertisement Sea of Thieves A live-service game that's not all about the shooting, Sea of Thieves is Rare's quirky take on a pirate simulator. It's gone through a lot of iterations since it was first released in 2018, so nowadays it's a full-fledged pirate simulator. You can crew your ship and sail the high seas, plunder other ships, find hidden treasure, and even deal with otherworldly pirate ghosts. Read our Sea of Thieves review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement Slay the Spire Slay the Spire marries deck-building with roguelike systems to create one of the best indies in recent years. Throughout your journey up the Spire, you square off against monsters, uncover treasures, and expand your deck of cards. Slay the Spire's card-based combat is easy to get the hang of but requires trial and error to find success. While you have to start back at the beginning each time you die, you gradually earn new cards, which help you advance further the next time. It’s an intoxicating loop that makes it easy to want to try “one more time” before putting down the controller. Each of Slay the Spire’s four playable characters have unique decks, adding a ton of incentive to brave the Spire for subsequent runs after the credits roll. Read our Slay the Spire review. See at Xbox Store Advertisement South of Midnight Compulsion Games has repeatedly designed incredible worlds that are rich in atmosphere and intrigue, and South of Midnight is no exception. Set in the American Deep South and inspired by the myths told by the people who live there, South of Midnight encapsulates the sights, sounds, and culture of a place rarely explored in video games and doesn't shy away from delving into the community's hardships and traumas to weave together a fantastical and oftentimes chilling gothic horror tale. The whole experience is brought to life with superb voice acting and a poignant soundtrack, transforming otherwise ordinary moments of combat and platforming into a cinematic experience that's well-worth experiencing. Read our South of Midnight review. Advertisement Star Wars Outlaws Star Wars Outlaws might be a one-and-done game, but Ubisoft's dive into the seedier underbelly of that famous sci-fi franchise is a thrill ride. Ditching lightsabers for blasters and a shoot-first attitude, Outlaws succeeds in making you feel like a scoundrel as you explore planets, double-cross crime cartels regularly, and do your best to stay off the radar of the Galactic Empire and its seemingly limitless supply of Stormtroopers. Come for the interstellar adventure and stay for the high-stakes Sabacc table in this open-world gem. Read our Star Wars Outlaws review. Advertisement Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 What's old is new again, as the best Tony Hawk games are kick-flipping their way back into relevance. While we're still not sold on the changes made to THPS4 in this two-for-one special, there's no denying that the subtle changes under the hood and the new coat have paint have helped to successfully bring the series into the modern age of gaming. There's also a healthy amount of new content here that doesn't detract from the nostalgic appeal of these games, making it a must-play for veterans and newcomers alike. Read our Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 review. Advertisement Vampire Crawlers Do you normally avoid deckbuilding roguelikes? Then you might want to check out Vampire Crawlers, as this Vampire Survivors spin-off captures the best part of that genre and boils it down into an approachable and highly engaging experience. Where Vampire Crawlers shines is in its deceptive simplicity, as the idea of comboing cards and steadily gaining power makes for an approachable game. A few runs in, and the depth behind each set of cards you're dealt, the Crawlers you take along with you for a fresh go at a demon-infested dairy plant, and the satisfying thrill of playing a winning hand all combine to create one of the best "just one more turn" games of the year. Read our Vampire Crawlers review. Advertisement Wheel World When it comes to gaming, there's nothing in the rulebook that says a cycling game can't cover topics like the apocalypse and ghosts. Wheel World is a prime example of this, as developer Messhof's delightful tour across a colorful world features multiple elements that mesh together well, like gears on an obscenely priced bicycle. Not only does the cycling feel great, but you're given a chance to pedal your way through gorgeous realms with it, ignite your competitive spirit, and trick it out before you save the world from total ruin. Advertisement The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition A decade later, CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is still considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time. You can find out for yourself why it remains critically acclaimed to this day, as the dark fantasy adventure sees Geralt of Rivia embark on a sweeping quest to find his daughter. The Complete Edition also includes the two expansions and plenty of DLC, more than enough content to keep you occupied in the Continent for several weeks. Read our The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review. Advertisement...

These are our selections for the very best PC games. Without a generational divide, the PC gaming library just keeps growing, so we focused on the best PC games to play right now. Some of these games are recently released gems. Others are live-service games or multiplayer favorites that have stood the test of time. Our list of the best PC games spans across a wide variety of genres, so at least a few of these games will pique your interest. We regularly reevaluate and update this list to make sure our recommendations are current, and you can find previously removed games--which still come highly recommended--at the bottom of the list. PC gaming is quite different from consoles, as your mileage with each game on this list will vary based on your rig. That said, many of the games on this list don't require the latest and greatest graphic cards--they merely help these great games look even better. And if you happen to have a Steam Deck, a lot of these games are playable on Valve's impressive handheld PC. We have a separate list of Steam Deck recommendations for games that play great there. We regularly reevaluate and update this list, so you can always use it as a resource to find some fresh recommendations. We've linked to Steam listings where possible for these games, but it's worth noting that you can often find better deals on storefronts such as Fanatical and GOG. We've included links to those stores, too. Also, some of our picks are available on PC Game Pass, Microsoft's subscription service. If you're thinking about upgrading your PC or starting a new build to play some of these games at higher settings, make sure to check out our step-by-step guide for building a gaming PC. If you're looking for accessories for your rig, check out our roundups of the best gaming keyboards, gaming mice, and PC gaming headsets. Advertisement Alan Wake 2 Another chapter in the mind-bending Remedy universe, Alan Wake 2 picks up right where the cult classic left off more than a decade ago. Alan is trapped in the Dark Place and his only way out is to write his own story. His campaign takes place alongside a concurrent one with FBI agent Saga Anderson, and the two complimentary campaigns can be played together in any order. The lightly spooky elements of the first game turn much darker here, for a horror experience full of unforgettable moments. Read our Alan Wake 2 review. See at Humble Featured in this image Alan Wake II View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Arc Raiders Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter quite unlike anything you've played before. It relies on player interaction to forge its deepest stories, with decisions on whether to trust or betray other Raiders made by the second. The world as you know it has ended, replaced by AI overlords and a catastrophic climate. Humanity now resides in Speranza, where some citizens choose to become raiders, returning to the dangerous overworld to scavenge for life-saving and life-enhancing resources. From a third-person perspective, you'll suit up with weapons and items of your choice before dropping into a PvPvE landscape to seek out quests, challenges, and then return safely. Or not. Enemy robots attack on sight, and other players can choose hostility. It's up to you whether you help or hinder your fellow raiders. Read our Arc Raiders review. See at Fanatical Featured in this image ARC Raiders View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Balatro A deceptively simple concept with an incredible degree of replay value, Balatro is based around the familiar rules of poker. You'll build a hand of pairs or a flush and then accrue points based on it. But using that simple framework as a jumping pad, the roguelite card game lets you edit the rules of the game on the fly using special Joker cards, Arcane spells, and Planet cards that boost your multipliers. Building out a strategy as you work your way through increasingly difficult "blinds" with higher points requirements is satisfying for how it lets you feel like you're breaking the game in half, only to have the game come back at you that much harder the next time. When that inevitably happens, you need to think on your toes and modify your deck throughout the run to deal with new challenges. Jokers that may have seemed useless before can result in a sudden ah-ha moment of recognition as you take advantage of their unique strategies. And every time you make it to the end--or more likely, fail--it's hard not to start up another hand and do it all again. Read our Balatro review. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Balatro View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Baldur's Gate 3 The triumphant return of a legacy CRPG series is also one of the best games of 2023. While Baldur's Gate 3 is also available to play on PS5, the PC version is the clear leader thanks to its intuitive keyboard-and-mouse controls--and it's a welcome return to form for longtime Baldur's Gate fans. This fantasy tale is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, but the most incredible part is how it approximates actually playing a game of D&D, with all the freedom that entails. You can tackle problems and navigate the world with an almost overwhelming amount of choice and agency, making it easy to get lost for hours and then start all over again with a new character. Read our Baldur's Gate 3 review. See at GOG.com Featured in this image Baldur’s Gate 3 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Blue Prince Blue Prince is one of 2025's most acclaimed games, and for good reason. The roguelike adventure is unlike anything else, presenting a series of interlocking puzzles to solve. It all revolves around exploring a shape-shifting mansion that never carries the same layout twice. Rooms manifest into existence as you explore, and over time you come to learn the patterns of the manor as you unlock its many mysteries. Mount Holly calls. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Blue Prince View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks like a million bucks thanks to its lavish design powered by Unreal Engine 5, but at its core, it's a love-letter to JRPGs that aims to keep you engaged at all times. There's still plenty here for fans of old-school turn-based RPGs to sink their teeth into, but the combination of souls-like influences and riveting storytelling will keep your eyes glued to the screen as you experience one of the best games of 2025. Read our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Cyberpunk 2077 Cyberpunk 2077 had a divisive launch that by all accounts failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed on it. But CD Projekt Red didn't abandon the game, instead issuing a steady stream of updates culminating in September 2023's massive 2.0 update that overhauls many major systems, while also integrating the new Phantom Liberty DLC. The Cyberpunk of today is a sharper, more focused action-RPG with a greater variety of skills that let you navigate Night City your own way. The Phantom Liberty expansion received a 10/10 in our review, adding new systems and a compelling new story featuring Idris Elba. Best of all, it's still a gorgeous showpiece for your PC rig. Read our Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review. See at Humble Advertisement Death Stranding 2: On the Beach It might be the final PC port from Sony, but Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is ending that initiative with a bang. Gorgeous to look at, fun to play, and incredibly weird when you think about it, Hideo Kojima's tale of a post-apocalyptic deliveryman exploring a ravaged Australia is still one of the more unique experiences out there. Improving on its predecessor with dozens of small and notable enhancements, Death Stranding 2 also tells an intimate tale of fatherhood at the end of the world. Read our Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Every Diablo game has that one expansion that has truly defined it for decades to come, and Lord of Hatred more than delivers a thrilling conclusion to a long-running storyline. Not just a narratively stunning finale to the Age of Hatred saga, Lord of Hatred revolutionizes multiple aspects of Diablo 4, sharpening it and honing the experience to bring out the best of Blizzard's grimdark series. Read our Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred review. See at Steam Advertisement Disco Elysium When it comes to writing, Disco Elysium is perhaps unrivaled. Developed and published by ZA/UM in 2019, Disco Elysium places you in the role of a detective suffering from amnesia and a serious bout of alcoholism. His quest to unravel a baffling murder and the details of his life that he's forgotten takes you on an absolutely stunning adventure that thrives on its choice-based gameplay and exquisite dialogue. Disco Elysium balances humor and serious life dilemmas with astounding grace, and the freedom it gives you to shape the narrative and your interactions with its many colorful characters you meet allows you to make this detective story your own. Its gorgeous world is teeming with life, and viewing it from the eyes of a nameless cop with memory issues makes it all the more immersive. It earned a rare 10/10 from GameSpot, and we can safely say there's nothing else exactly like it in modern PC gaming. See our Disco Elysium review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Dispatch One of the big success stories of 2025, Dispatch nailed the idea of fusing a superhero workplace comedy with a Telltale-style adventure game format. In an era of cynical superhero TV series like The Boys and general apathy toward upcoming projects like Avengers: Doomsday, Dispatch is a breath of fresh air in this genre. An original cast of well-rounded do-gooders and supervillains is brought to life with stellar voice acting; the episodic structure keeps the story flowing smoothly; and the actual dispatching of heroes to save the day adds a delightful role-playing element to the experience. See at Steam Advertisement Echo Point Nova Echo Point Nova is also on our list of best first-person shooters, and with good reason. It's an ultra-satisfying blend of speed and first-person action that will appeal to fans of classic shooters like Tribes. As you explore its many floating islands, you'll accumulate more weapons and abilities, including a number of options for getting around--you can use a grappling hook to pull yourself up and around the environment or send yourself flying through the sky, or leverage your hoverboard to zoom along the ground at high speeds. However you choose to approach a given situation, the movement is the real highlight here, making every moment feel like a thrill. See at Steam Advertisement Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Elden Ring was our Game of the Year in 2022, and ever since we've been waiting to explore even more of The Lands Between. From Software delivered with Shadow of the Erdtree, a massive expansion that almost overwhelms with its sheer scope. Elden Ring's lore has been expanded in thoughtful and surprising ways, letting you dive as deep into the story as you care to by exploring a world rife with secrets to uncover. Combat is just as difficult as ever, with an inventive balance system that lets you continue to play with your current character without being immediately overpowered. That lets you experience the thrill of overcoming new obstacles all over again, with a wide array of new weapons to master. See our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review. See at Fanatical Advertisement The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim It's true that since its release in 2012, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been ported to just about every platform that can play games, including Amazon Alexa speakers and smart refrigerators. But the king of all Skyrim versions is the one on PC, and it's not even close. That's because the PC version gives you access to years of mods created by the Skyrim community. From adding serious RPG story content to providing ridiculous possibilities like replacing all dragons with Thomas the Tank Engine, the PC version of Skyrim adds nearly endless options to an already expansive, enormous game. You absolutely should play Skyrim on PC if you haven't, and you absolutely should mod it to see how the game has become so much more than it was when it was released. Skyrim is also available with Xbox Game Pass for PC. See our The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Forza Horizon 6 Over the years, the Forza Horizon series has excelled at being a sandbox of fun for you to race absurdly expensive cars in. Forza Horizon 6 doesn't stray from that formula of open-world racing and collecting a garage full of hotrods, but what it adds to that experience is what makes it feel so special. Shifting the action to Japan and embracing car culture with online meet-ups makes for a magical time, while the core driving feels better than ever in this celebration of V8 engines and unrestrained speed. Read our Forza Horizon 6 review. See at Steam Advertisement Final Fantasy 14 Online The Final Fantasy series is known for having a strong focus on storytelling with colorful characters who get into over-the-top battles, and the MMO Final Fantasy XIV manages to stay true to what the series is all about. Though you might assume the familiar Final Fantasy tenets of storytelling and strong character moments would be absent in an online game, FFXIV is one of the more story-driven MMOs out today. Final Fantasy XIV is the franchise's second crack at an MMO, and it features a sprawling story about rebellion, equality, and friendship that manages to hit the same highs of the franchise's best single-player games. Though MMOs have a reputation for being inaccessible and time-consuming, Final Fantasy XIV offers an excellent gateway for lapsed and new MMO players to jump into--and it's also a fantastic Final Fantasy game in its own right. See our Final Fantasy 14 reviews for A Realm Reborn and its expansions. See at Humble Advertisement Hades 2 Hades 2 builds on everything that Supergiant established in the first game, offering an experience that is both familiar and new at once. You play as Melinoe, sister of former protagonist Zagreus, as you attempt to destroy Chronos, the Titan of time. New weapons and abilities, combined with a new resource management system, make it a joy to experiment with new combinations as you attempt your runs over and over. See our Hades 2 review. See at Steam Advertisement Hell Clock Many games offer their own spin on roguelikes and Diablo-style ARPGs, but Hell Clock does both of those in one go. It's an isometric ARPG in the mold of Diablo, but one that takes place within the context of a roguelike where you have a ticking clock for each run. That provides a decidedly different feel to it from the average ARPG; you'll still gather new loot and become more powerful, but items are automatically equipped (with time pausing occasionally to let you pick from several potential upgrades that can meaningfully impact your play style). Every decision to fight enemies or wander down a corridor thus takes on new weight, as you try to rapidly evaluate whether it's worth it to take a risk that might further power you up but reduce how much time you have to deal with the next boss. See at Fanatical Advertisement Helldivers 2 This follow-up from Arrowhead Game Studios was a surprising success, not least because it was so different from the original game that inspired it. Helldivers 2 takes the hordes of enemies from the top-down first game and makes it a third-person shooter, and the new perspective works beautifully. Squadding up with your friends leads to tense survival moments and hilarious mishaps in equal measure as you fulfill objectives and call down Stratagems on your foes. And like the first game, there's a galaxy-sprawling meta-game at play, as you and every other Helldiver fights to free territory controlled by vicious bugs and robots. This was also a rare Sony Interactive game published simultaneously on PC alongside its PS5 release, with optional cross-play, which likely helped it find and sustain an active player base. Read our Helldivers 2 review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Hitman: World of Assassination IO Interactive's grand World of Assassination trilogy reached its final chapter in 2021, as Hitman 3 built on the efforts made by its predecessors to create a perfectly executed experience. Bigger, bolder, and more cunning than ever, Agent 47's journey around the world saw him explore an opulent Dubai skyscraper, solve a murder mystery in an ancient British mansion, and turn a train into a slaughterhouse as he worked his way through each cabin. Each destination offers not only some devilishly delicious ways to eliminate targets, but also plenty of room for experimentation that leads to hilarious and grim demises for anyone who gets in your way. See our Hitman 3 review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Hollow Knight: Silksong The long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight has finally arrived and as expected, it's a fast-paced, tough-as-nails and impeccably polished metroidvania. The long wait for the sequel caused some consternation among fans, but Team Cherry has delivered, as Hornet's adventure feels like a worthy successor to the original and highly-regarded Hollow Knight. After eight long years, it's safe to say that Silksong was worth the wait. See at Green Man Gaming Advertisement The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy The team behind Danganronpa and Zero Escape are incredibly skilled at subverting expectations, and in The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, this talented crew fuses ideas from those franchises to create a story-rich experience full of strategy, style, and dozens of paths to explore. See at Steam Advertisement Inscryption At first glance, Inscryption looks like a mixture of tabletop card games with a healthy dose of deckbuilding thrown in for good measure as you risk your very life in a high-stakes game of survival. Throw in some roguelite progression, mystery, and a creepy art direction, and you've got the perfect mix for a game that hides more mesmerizing content beneath its surface. Absolutely strange while it deals out its ideas, that weirdness makes Inscryption the type of game that'll stay in your head long after you've played your last card. Read our Inscryption review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Kingdom Come: Deliverance was a surprise hit in 2018, and its direct sequel now expands upon the world in significant ways. Like the original, KCD2 carries an acute emphasis on actually playing a role, thanks to a great deal of flexibility and choice in both the combat and conversation systems. Combat in particular has been streamlined to feel more fluid, without sacrificing what made the original feel so special to fans. Read our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Lorelei and the Laser Eyes defies easy categorization. While it is clearly a puzzle game, it frequently twists the medium on its head. It encourages you to use a notebook in real life to help track its many secrets and interlocking pieces, which all unfold into a marriage of design and narrative that need to be seen firsthand. The puzzles can be challenging, but they're consistently satisfying and help drive you forward to the next one. This is a can't miss. Read our Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review. See at Green Man Gaming Advertisement Metaphor: ReFantazio Persona series director Katsura Hashino has returned with his first new game since 2016, and it's a fantastic one. Metaphor: ReFantazio features a new original storyline set in a fantasy world, and a wide array of characters to find and classes to unlock. The turn-based RPG combat unfolds beautifully into deep layers of strategy, and the story is an affecting meditation on the power of storytelling. It will seem familiar to fans of the Persona series, but the new setting and mechanical wrinkles make it feel very new as well. Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the few games in our history to earn a 10/10 review. Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Mewgenics Cats are great, but an army of them that have been genetically modified to survive the harshest environments and set loose inside of a tactical roguelite game? Now those are some good kitties. Mewgenics is an ambitious blend of cat breeding and strategy, all wrapped up in an experience with more layers than a Hulk-sized onion. It makes for an endlessly replayable game, full of dark humor, ridiculous enemies, and cathartic chaos. Read our Mewgenics review. Mina the Hollower Mina the Hollower might be a game that's playable on a multitude of devices, even being impeccably well-supported on handhelds, but it belongs on our list of the best PC games too. Brought into reality by Yacht Club Games, the developer of Shovel Knight, Mina is a masterpiece that fuses classes Game Boy Zelda aesthetics with modern souls-like design to create something entirely its own. Read our Mina the Hollower review. See on Steam Mixtape A short and sweet look at youthful rebellion, Mixtape is the equivalent of a defining coming-of-age movie from your childhood. Featuring an imaginative art direction and a soundtrack that will make you blast a hole in your floor with its foot-tapping needle drops, Mixtape leaves a lasting impression as it encourages you to make the most of life. Read our Mixtape review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Monster Hunter Wilds Monster Hunter Wilds is the new hotness in the Monster Hunter space, streamlining various aspects and placing more of the focus on both narrative and combat. Tracking monsters is simpler than in the past, letting you get into fights more quickly, while a new wound system allows you to more easily have miniature goals during the extended battles and better track your progress at taking down the wonderful array of monsters you'll go up against. It's a terrific action-RPG experience that's worth playing on any platform, although a disclaimer is warranted: The PC performance can be a struggle, particularly without high-end hardware to brute-force a decent frame rate and great visuals. Monster Hunter has never been known for cutting-edge visuals or stellar frame rates, so this isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, depending on your exact hardware (Steam's refund policy can come in handy here). It's disappointing to see the poor performance, but if you can tolerate it, you shouldn't pass up what is otherwise a terrific game. See at Fanatical Advertisement Nioh 3 Team Ninja has established itself as one of the best studios in the souls-like genre, and Nioh 3 shows just how good the developer has gotten at cracking out these games. Nioh 3 builds on an already successful foundation of fast-paced combat and challenging enemies, refining it into a brutal power fantasy that's surprisingly approachable for newcomers to the series. Read our Nioh 3 review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Ooo Ooo is a retro-style Metroidvania where you'll control an adorable little caterpillar with a penchant for explosives. He's been swallowed by a bird and is frantically trying to use bombs to escape his newfound containment. Starting with just one bomb, you'll soon be granted more, and the puzzles will grow increasingly complex. Some of the solutions won't be obvious, and some will be downright ludicrous, but it's this thinking outside of the box mentality that grasps you as you play. You can complete Ooo in a single sitting too, so it's perfect for a cozy afternoon gaming session. See at Steam Advertisement Opus: Prism Peak After several delays, Opus: Prism Peak finally hit the scene in 2026. Was the wait worth it? Absolutely, as this delightful narrative adventure is a touching story full of relatable themes and emotions. The photography gameplay mechanic makes you feel more involved with the magical world around you, as you use it to discover secrets and solve mysteries along the course of a heartfelt journey. See on Steam Advertisement Pacific Drive On the list of great PC games, Pacific Drive is both fairly new and quite weird, which is funny since it's also firmly planted in the New Weird genre alongside stuff like Welcome To Night Vale, The SCP Foundation, and Remedy's Control. Built as a rougelite at heart, Pacific Drive has you going on numerous runs through the Olympic Exclusion Zone, a sectioned-off mass of forest roads in the Pacific Northwest, all while you dodge head-scratching (and often spooky) supernatural elements like crash test dummies that move when you aren't looking at them and buzzsaws that skim the roads like the shark skims the waters in Jaws. Its super-deep systems, intoxicating atmosphere, and incredible audio design combine to create a one-of-a-kind survival game. Read our Pacific Drive review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Promise Mascot Agency There's a good chance that you've never played a video game with a similar premise to Promise Mascot Agency. We're pretty confident that the tale of a disgraced yakuza being sent to a backwater town to manage the careers of creatures that resemble cutesy mascots is pretty unique. Beneath that intriguing setup is a compact open-world game full of interesting tales, lovable characters, and lots of things to collect. See at Humble Advertisement Resident Evil 4 Capcom's venerable Resident Evil series has been progressively producing remakes of its classic library, but none of them held the expectations and weight of Resident Evil 4. It's long been regarded as one of the best survival-horror games of all time, and a trendsetter for the action-focused style of the genre. Capcom approached this remake especially cautiously, giving it a light touch of upgrades that make the whole experience feel modern without losing its soul. It's also never looked more beautiful, so you can see the horrific monstrosities of Las Plagas with newfound fidelity. Read our Resident Evil 4 review. See at Fanatical Advertisement Resident Evil Requiem Survival-horror? Check. Survival-action? Double-check! Bringing together the best that Resident Evil has to offer, Capcom's new entry in the gruesome franchise keeps you scared and excited at all times. An engrossing chimera of thrills and suspense, Resident Evil Requiem is a love letter to the horror franchise, a masterclass in dread and tension that's hard to beat. Read our Resident Evil Requiem review. See at Fanatical Advertisement The Rise of the Golden Idol The Case of the Golden Idol was an ingenious deductive puzzler that challenged players to carefully examine scenes of grisly incidents and piece together the details of what occurred. It was a meticulous series of visual riddles, which led to a series of Golden Idol Mysteries as DLC spin-offs. Rise of the Golden Idol brings another array of brain-boggling mysteries to uncover, this time set against the backdrop of the 1970s. The setting is semi-modernized compared to the antiquity of the first game, but nothing has been lost in the translation. The mysteries are just as tricky as ever, letting you pore over the evidence until the answer suddenly clicks. Read our Rise of the Golden Idol review. See at Fanatical Advertisement The Roottrees Are Dead A PC-only investigation game, The Roottrees Are Dead has you combing through a browser-like interface as you investigate a mysterious family tree. The interface will feel familiar to anyone who's accustomed to browsing the Internet--aka literally everyone--and it uses that premise to delve deep into an intriguing puzzle and uncover the family's secrets. See at Steam Advertisement The Séance of Blake Manor The Séance of Blake Manor sees you, a supernatural detective, head to rural Ireland to solve a mystery taking place at the haunted Blake Manor. Here, a gathering of fanatics claiming to possess magical powers have gathered for a high-profile séance in 1897. Investigate the disappearance of Evelyn Deane by exploring the remote hotel, talking to the guests, and finding out secrets. You'll feel supremely clever as you inch towards solving the mystery, and you'll even learn a lot about Irish history along the way. See at Fanatical Advertisement Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Sega's revival of Shinobi from Streets of Rage 4 developer Lizardcube is a visual stunner, but it's also much more than just a pretty face. This is a stellar action platformer that will have you feeling like a real ninja yourself. The stages blend quick, kinetic platforming with rich combat that feels immensely satisfying as you chain one deadly move into the next. And while stages are mostly traditional and linear in structure, they also reward exploration, as the new abilities and moves you find in later stages will let you reach new areas in the ones you've already conquered. See at Fanatical Advertisement Shotgun Cop Man Any game that starts with Satan flipping you off is worth paying attention to, and Shotgun Cop Man maintains that momentum as you blast your way through hell. An action-packed platformer where you're required to master high-level precision gunplay to propel yourself through the air, Shotgun Cop Man keeps you engaged with every pull of the trigger. See at Fanatical Advertisement Silent Hill F Not just one of the best survival horror games of the year, Silent Hill F is a turning point for Konami's long-running franchise. Dethroning Silent Hill 2--and its brilliant remake--as the gold standard for the franchise, Silent Hill F isn't bound by the lore or settings of the wider franchise. Instead, it's a deep and grisly dive into new territory, exploring heavy themes like generational trauma. Throw in grotesque horror, an atmospheric recreation of 1960s Japan, and gut-wrenching performances from the cast, and you've got a bold entry in the series that doesn't pull any punches with its subject matter. See at Fanatical Advertisement Skate Story Arriving right at the end of 2025, Skate Story might have kickflipped its way under your radar as the year began to wrap up. A game about a tormented demon aiming to eat the moon so that it can get some much-needed sleep, Skate Story is an absurd and visually striking leap into skateboarding. More importantly, it's a game that wants you to feel something as you use your arsenal of ollies and pop-shove-its to move the granite hearts of stoic--and disembodied--philosophers. With deliciously tactile gameplay and an aesthetic that looks like a highlight reel of early 2000s heavy metal album covers, Skate Story shoots for the moon and gobbles it up with style. See at Fanatical Advertisement Skin Deep Space, the final frontier…for high-stakes action where you play as an insurance agent tasked with keeping a spaceship full of cats safe from pirates, that is. While the premise sounds silly, Skin Deep does a fine job combining its absurdity with levels where--in the fashion of a quality immersive sim--you're encouraged to think outside of the space-box and rid your starship of its criminal infestation using delightfully creative methods. Read our Skin Deep review. See at Fanatical Advertisement The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Only The Stanley Parable, a nearly unexplainable game where things get regularly weird and meta, could get away with hiding what amounts to a sequel within the frame of an expanded re-release of the original game. Like the original title, the strange and hilariously distracted nature of The Stanley Parable is something that you have to experience for yourself, as words simply do not do it justice. With the Ultra Deluxe edition, you're getting an experience that feels like a game within a game, adding the illusion of freedom and other surprises along the way. It's nothing short of a clever and thought-provoking examination of video games and the relationship that we have with them. See our The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe review. See at Steam Advertisement Stardew Valley It starts with an old broken-down farm and a handful of seeds. You clear out the weeds and rocks until you get tired, and then you do it again. You get into the rhythm of daily life--visiting friends, watering crops, occasional light spelunking. Before you know it, it's been 75 hours and you're mostly managing your complex irrigation system and planning for next season's harvest. Stardew Valley is a friendly, relaxing experience that also somehow manages to be endlessly addicting. Fans know the feeling of assuring themselves they'll play just one more day before bed. And while it's appeared on just about every platform, PC often gets the first chance to test all of the little quality-of-life tweaks and new features that come with patches. Most recently, the massive Stardew Valley 1.6 update put a nice bookend on the game while developer ConcernedApe prepares for the next project, The Haunted Chocolatier. See our Stardew Valley review. See at Humble Advertisement Starless Abyss Starless Abyss is a tactical space strategy game melded with a deckbuilder, as if someone mashed up FTL, Slay the Spire, and Into the Breach. If you're a fan of those games, that's probably enough to sell you on it. You're presented with a hex-based grid and equipped with a few ships, and your deck of cards dictate the abilities you can use to defend yourself and fight off hideous, Lovecraftian horrors. As a roguelike, repeated failure is all but assured, but along the way, upgrading your ships, finding fun combinations of cards, and pulling out victory by the skin of your teeth make for a fun ride. See at Steam Advertisement Sylvio: Black Waters The third in a series of underappreciated horror game gems is another haunting entry perfect for fans of the genre. As the ghost hunter Juliette, you explore a surreal and shifting alien-like landscape that adds an otherworldly spookiness to the prior two games' more grounded horror. It largely retains and refines the mechanics of those earlier games, while also including their panache for incredible sound design that enhances the frights. Be sure to play with your headphones on, and the lights off. And if you need even more horror recommendations, especially for spooky season, check out our favorite horror games. Read our Sylvio: Black Waters review. See at Fanatical Featured in this image The Talos Principle 2 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Talos Principle 2 The follow-up to the philosophical first-person puzzle game is once again a contemplative experience that raises big questions even as you stay occupied with a series of clever puzzles. The philosophical underpinnings create a sense of expansive mystery as you explore deep existential questions and unravel the nature of the world. The first game was an unexpected treat but The Talos Principle 2 shows that developer Croteam can still create a delightful puzzle box even when we think we know what to expect. Read our Talos Principle 2 review. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Tactical Breach Wizards View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Tactical Breach Wizards Despite the name, Tactical Breach Wizards doesn't play very much like a tactical game like XCOM. Instead, this brain-tickling strategy game has distinct puzzle-like qualities, letting you glimpse ahead at possible outcomes and plan your perfect turn. The result is something along the lines of Into the Breach, albeit with a much funnier premise: You're a team of Operator-like wizards, each imbued with special powers. Those powers manifest both in the tactical gameplay and in a wide array of impactful upgrades, and the fantastical premise makes for some genuinely hilarious story moments. Read our Tactical Breach Wizards review. See at Steam Featured in this image Tempest Rising View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Thank Goodness You're Here A rare comedy game that's actually funny, Thank Goodness You're Here takes the absurdism of good comedy improv and merges it with the interactivity of an adventure game. The animated adventure is on the short side--just around two hours by some estimates--but it uses that time to the fullest with surreal humor and an animated style that recalls great British comics like The Beano. Its sense of humor won't be for everyone, but it's a game that does what so few manage, even when they're trying their best: making us laugh. Read our Thank Goodness You're Here review. See at Steam Featured in this image Valorant View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Timberborn Who doesn't love a good city-building game? All the thrill of bureaucracy mixed with municipal planning and seeing your metropolitan creation come to life makes for a fun time, and once you add beavers to the mix, it only gets better. Lumberpunk game Timberborn offers all of that architectural fun, but with an organic twist as you choose from one of two beaver factions and rebuild society in the wake of human extinction. Can a city built on the back of sturdy timber technology survive a harsh new world? You'll need to face the post-apocalyptic elements and find out for yourself. See on Fanatical Advertisement Titanium Court Nothing beats a little absurdity in your life, and Titanium Court offers plenty of that along with a surprising mesh of gameplay systems. A mix of roguelike runs with strategic planning and match-three "just one more turn" energy, Titanium Court wraps all of that up with a delightfully nonsensical narrative. Imaginative and well-written, it's easily one of the cleverest games of 2026. See at Humble Advertisement Valorant The initial response to Valorant was that it's basically a mashup where Overwatch meets Counter-Strike--and yeah, that's pretty accurate. That's also a good thing, because Valorant draws on many of the strengths of those games to make something unique. It focuses on the round-based demolition-style game mode with two teams of five (attackers and defenders) on balanced maps with specific lanes and sightlines and an extremely fast time-to-kill. However, each agent (or character) has their own unique abilities that add another strategic layer to combat. Team composition plays a major role, and each agent affects what the team is capable of in each high-stakes situation. It's intense and demanding, but so rewarding. Valorant is still early in its lifespan. But we've seen content updates and changes in its first year and it's been quite successful, so you can expect the game to get more support moving forward. If a competitive FPS with layered tactics, precise gunplay, and intense moments is your thing, Valorant is worth a try. See our Valorant review. See at Riot Games Featured in this image Wanderstop View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Wanderstop Everyone needs a break sometimes, even badass heroes. That's the idea behind Wanderstop, a relaxing narrative game that deals with mental health and burnout. As a sword-wielding hero, you find yourself unable to go on or even lift your sword, when you encounter a zen tea master who teaches you how to slow down. It's a smart look at a modern issue through the lens of video game heroism, and may just teach you a thing or two about slowing down yourself. See at Green Man Gaming Featured in this image Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine was a cult classic when it released more than a decade ago, and at long last, its sequel has delivered just what fans of the bone-crunching action series have been waiting for. That means a return to the bloody, brutal combat from the first game, but with refinements that make it feel more fluid than ever. And as fans can attest, it uses the Warhammer tabletop license to great effect for world-building and a massive sense of scale, which goes nicely hand-in-glove with the crunchy combat that should appeal to fans and newcomers alike. Read our Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 review. See at Fanatical Featured in this image The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Wax Heads Games like Wax Heads are a fascinating time capsule into a world that was, before the digitization of everything introduced a seismic shift in our shopping habits. A cozy tale about a struggling record store, Wax Heads is a puzzle game with a hard-rocking attitude. Solve problems by chatting to co-workers, keep the store shelves stocked with fresh vinyl, and keep your customers happy in this tribute to the record stores that served as a third space for music fans. See on Steam Advertisement The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt One of the best RPGs of all time, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt brings the incredible story of Geralt of Rivia to a close. The Witcher 3 puts Geralt on a quest to find Ciri, a witcher in training who's like a daughter to him. He reconnects with old flames, friends, and adversaries as he searches far and wide for her. Of course, there's an abundance of side quests and characters to meet along the way, which will undoubtedly keep you busy for hours. Many of these quests require you to slay monsters, a witcher's main trade, and you'll have to prepare accordingly to defeat them by sword, witcher magic, and potions. All this--and we didn't even get into the two excellent expansions--makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt an essential PC game. See our The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review. See at Humble Featured in this image World of Warcraft View Game Hub Follow Advertisement World of Warcraft: The War Within The start of a new story arc is often the most exciting time for World of Warcraft, and the new War Within expansion is no exception. As the start of the Worldsoul Saga, War Within feels like a fresh start in many ways for the extremely long-running game. It's more approachable than ever, letting players engage as much or as little as they want to while still having an enjoyable experience. At the same time, WoW veterans will find all of the staples like Mythic dungeons and world quests intact, along with game-changing new features like Warbands and Delves. Read our World of Warcraft: The War Within review. Featured in this image WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Removed Games In our effort to curate the very best in PC games, sometimes we trim older games to make room for our latest recommendations. We don't want to forget those entirely, so this is where you'll find all of our previously removed games. All of these come highly recommended as well. 0 6/18/2026: Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Level Devil, The Case of the Golden Idol, Sunderfolk, Stellar Blade, Baby Steps 9/8/2025: Assassin's Creed Shadows, Before Your Eyes, Dune Awakening, Destiny 2, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 5/7/2024: Cocoon, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Loop Hero, Pizza Tower, Project Zomboid, Viewfinder 7/1/2024: Apex Legends, Civilization 6, Control, Counter-Strike: GO, Deathloop, Dota 2, League of Legends, Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo Infinite, Minecraft, Portal 2, Rainbow Six Siege, Red Dead Redemption 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Starfield, Tunic, XCOM 2 9/9/2024: Forza Horizon 5, God of War, Return of the Obra Dinn 5/15/2025: Children of the Sun, Monster Hunter Rise 1/7/2026: The Rogue Prince of Persia, Silent Hill 2, and Echo Point Nova 3/2/2026: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Killing Floor 3 18/5/2026: Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Level Devil, The Case of the Golden Idol, Sunderfolk, Stellar Blade 7/7/2026: Tempest Rising, Luto, and Fumes Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. 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With thousands of games on the platform, it can be tricky to find the best Roblox games without searching through pages upon pages of entries. Sure, the charts in the client can give you a general idea, but many are flash-in-the-pan compared to the ones that truly deserve to be at the top of the podium. The majority of these games fall into categories commonly found within the typical gaming space, such as shooters, party games, or more obscure genres like tower defense. However, there are a few that you typically only find on Roblox, so if you want a breakdown of what exactly some of the exclusive genres are, such as Obbys, then you can find everything you could need to know in our Roblox beginner’s guide. Here is a list of the best Roblox games you can play right now. Advertisement Jailbreak As one of the original crime-based Roblox games, Jailbreak is the closest to cops vs robbers you’re going to get. Team up with friends to orchestrate the most daring criminal heists or a police raid on a villain’s base of operations. While it’s a lot more freeform compared to GTA Online, there’s still plenty of places to rob or criminals to apprehend and prevent from escaping from their cells. New heist locations appear in every major update, each one challenges criminals to navigate traps and obstacles to reach the vault, while the cops must stop them before it’s too late. With over 27 seasons' worth of content, this crime game has been around for quite some time, boasting a healthy player base. Whether you choose to be a villain or an officer of the law, you’ll have a blast with Jailbreak. Featured in this image Jailbreak (2017) View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Epic Minigames Epic Minigames is a massive collection of 131 short games that have a great amount of variety. It’s the constantly changing types of minigames that keep us coming back. One second you’re scaling a wall in a platforming challenge or avoiding lava, the next you’re in a good old-fashioned team shootout in a western town. If you’re a fan of the minigames of Mario Party, these will tread some similar ground. Every win gives you coins that you can spend on pets and titles, as well as level-ups that get you more stuff to show off to everyone around you. Just be sure you’re ready for the next minigame as they come thick and fast. On top of that, the hub area has plenty of distractions, including its own Obby, in which you can earn coins for finishing the course. However, it’s the huge number of minigames that are the star attraction and this one doesn’t disappoint. Advertisement Adopt Me! Those who like the idea of raising small creatures will love Adopt Me! It’s all about taking care of virtual furry babies by responding to their individual needs, such as feeding, cleaning, playing, and providing a safe space for them to rest their weary eyes after a long day. As your skills as a caregiver increase, you’ll get the chance to adopt more elaborate critters, from rare cat breeds and exotic animals like capybaras, to mythical beasts and costumed gorillas. New seasons bring activities you can participate in to get prizes, the value of which is based on your performance. There are also freshly designed hub areas packed with features to explore, while existing mechanics have been updated to improve the user experience, so if you’ve not played in a while, it may be worth seeing what’s new. Featured in this image Adopt Me! View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Blox Fruits Often imitated but never truly outdone, Blox Fruits is the most popular of the anime-based games on Roblox. By eating fruits, you can gain one of 40 different powers that range from being able to summon flames from your hands to becoming a T-Rex. With your newfound abilities, you can complete quests to gain gold and train your abilities to unlock more attacks for your fruit powers. There are some similarities between this and Jailbreak in that the teams are divided between law-enforcing marines and treasure-plundering pirates, but this plays a little more like an MMORPG, with its PvP combat and quests that involve defeating a quota of enemies. No matter which faction you choose, there’s a plethora of islands to explore, coins to open via chests, and bosses to beat up. If you’re a fan of One Piece, this is the closest to an MMO based on the anime as it gets. Advertisement All Star Tower Defense X Speaking of anime-based games, All Star Tower Defense X has you collect a bunch of your favorite heroes and villains from various Shonen Jump manga and use their powers to defend your tower against marauding foes seeking to destroy it. You can then use the gems earned for beating each level to play the gacha machine to get new units, and coins to upgrade and evolve them to more powerful forms. With regular updates and a healthy player base, there’s always something new to find whenever you return. Events keep things fresh by issuing battle challenges to test your tower-defending skills, while themed minigames reward players for participating in the festivities. The units in the gacha also constantly change, meaning that there’s always someone cool and rare to pull. It also has a rather fitting tribute to the late Akira Toriyama in the lobby, which shows the care and respect the developers have for the source material. Advertisement Tower of Hell Obbys are dime a dozen in Roblox, and the most infamous has got to be Tower of Hell. When you enter, there are two different challenge towers to choose from, with the Noob Tower being the simplest to complete and the Pro Tower providing a significant challenge. Even though each level has glowing kill zones and massive drops to contend with, there’s a timer counting down the seconds you have to finish before it all changes. However, should you decide to take on The Tower, you’ll be faced with a daunting skyscraper that is hundreds of levels high. Luckily, you have all the time in the world to complete this ascent, but one wrong move could see you plummet to the very bottom in the blink of an eye. Our only advice is to watch your step and time your jumps well. Featured in this image Tower of Hell View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Loomian Legacy Fans of Nintendo’s Pokémon might want to try the somewhat legally distinct Loomian Legacy. The spiritual successor to Brick Bronze, the game follows your character as their town is hit by a mysterious storm that rearranges the letters on an ancient tablet before shattering it and scattering the pieces. Your scientist parents trust you to investigate with your chosen Loomian, while also knowing you face the Battle Theaters. The similarities found within the battle system to Pokémon in this single-player RPG make it a comfortable experience for newcomers. The major difference is that, instead of PP, moves now have a set stamina they use. Should you run out, you can wait or rest to recharge, but this skips a turn. Of all the games on this list, this has a ton of effort put into it as its camera is fixed for the most part, and the characters aren’t the typical Roblox-shaped people. For a free game that anyone can play, it’s a great alternative to Nintendo’s juggernaut RPG series. Evomon Those who find Loomin Legacy a little too far from the Pokemon formula and lacking a little in the visuals should consider Evomon. Featuring a fully fledged story and well over 200 catchable creatures, Evomon also has a more familiar battle system, complete with an easy-to-decipher type chart that gives the player on-the-go information. Battles are quick, mostly decided by a monster’s ultimate attacks, which charge as you fight. On top of that, you as a trainer also have some room to grow, with ascension rankings that increase your bond with your Evomon and spins to earn new suits with permanent perks. Divided into different areas, each one has an assortment of chests with treasure hidden across the map, trainers to fight, monsters to capture, and bosses to defeat. When you’ve reached higher levels, new features will unlock, such as World Bosses, PVP, and Daily Challenges. There are also Tower challenges with 200 floors that get progressively harder as you ascend, culminating in 3v3 fights every so often. Featured in this image Loomian Legacy View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Murder Mystery 2 While some still lament the passing of the original, Murder Mystery 2 is a decent social deduction game. Players are split into three different roles: Innocents, the Murderer, and the Sheriff. Innocents can decipher who the murderer is, but must avoid being killed by them. The Sheriff can work with innocents to take down the Murderer and is the only one with the means to stop them in their tracks. Meanwhile, the Murderer must eliminate everyone to win. With a ton of maps to pick from, including a yacht, a bio lab, and several hotels, houses, and hospitals, there are plenty of hiding spots for a murderer or sheriff to ambush their foe. You can also collect coins to gain bonus experience after every match, but your footsteps can give your position away, so exercise caution lest you meet an untimely end! Featured in this image Murder Mystery 2 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Brookhaven If you just want to settle down, build your dream home, and live your best life in a roleplay sim, Brookhaven is one of the best out there. This game will require players to interact with each other, but the general idea is to cooperate and live a normal life by hanging out with friends. This means that you can choose a career, including actor, athlete, detective, or more specific ones, such as a veterinarian. The world is your oyster, and so long as you keep to your role, you should get the most out of this experience. Given its roots in immersive role-playing and its reputation as the very best among the entirety of Roblox, it’s worth noting that this game does include real-world products appearing within the in-game advertising. One recent example was that the billboards heavily publicised The Bad Guys 2 in the weeks up to its release. However, it’s also great for in-universe ads, such as Club Brooks’ opening times. Featured in this image Brookhaven View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Doors Everyone loves a horror game during Halloween, though Doors can be too scary for younger audiences. Each run, the idea is for you and some friends to run through an ever-increasing number of doors. Every new level leads to the possibility of having to solve a puzzle to find a key to progress, or a new horrible monster that can chase you. Played entirely in the first person, each bang you hear may put you so on edge, you have no choice but to hide under a bed or inside a wardrobe until the coast is clear. Fair warning, the cryptids you’ll face are kinda horrific, with somewhat inventive ways of getting rid of them. For example, one of them will hide from you until you find it, and jump scare you if you don’t do it in time. The designs for each one are a bit more creepy than other popular horror games for younger audiences, such as the many animatronics in the Five Nights at Freddy’s series. With the brand new update, known as The Great Outdoors, looming on the horizon, there’s no better time to check out this Roblox horror classic. Featured in this image DOORS View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Natural Disaster Survival Sometimes, you just want a bit of a challenge, and Natural Disaster Survival certainly scratches that itch. The aim is to avoid impending disasters such as flash floods, volcanic eruptions, fires, lightning strikes, and deadly viruses, and emerge relatively unscathed at the other end of the round. This bears a small resemblance to Epic Minigames, but there are a handful of maps, and the disaster chosen is always random. Unlike a lot of Roblox games on this list, this one doesn’t feature any kind of commitment to play beyond the leaderboard that shows a total number of disasters survived by each of the top players. Therefore, it’s the perfect experience if you just want to spend a few minutes playing without having to commit too much. Featured in this image Natural Disaster Survival View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Dress to Impress For those fashionistas among you, Dress to Impress has you strutting your stuff on the catwalk in contests where your outfits must match a prompt. It’s then up to the other players whether your outfit slays or you should just sashay away. You pick star ratings based on how well the clothes and patterns they chose match the requirements. It’s a relatively simple premise, but with so many accessories, skin tones, tops, and makeup options to select from within a short timeframe, it can be daunting. Seasonal events and limited-time modes, such as Style Showdown, also help mix things up so you don’t get bored with the same lobby for hours on end. There are occasions where just the best outfit wins, rather than the one that best matches the theme, and that’s okay. Creativity is encouraged from the Dress to Impress community, which, on the whole, is lovely and supportive. So if you want to become the new talk of the town, you’ll need to brush up on the latest trends and styles to look fabulous. Incidentally, there are some Dress to Impress codes you can redeem to help you in that goal. Featured in this image Dress To Impress View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Grow a Garden For a time, Grow a Garden was the most popular game on Roblox and for good reason: you didn’t need to play it to make significant progress. Sure, you need to plant your crops at least, but as soon as you’ve got things going, you can leave it to do its thing. The idea is to plant seeds, wait for the Grow A Garden weather events to mutate your crops, then sell the fruit, and use the profits to buy more expensive stuff. Eventually, you’ll end up with a paradise full of plants and trees and a significant amount of cash. You can also hatch pets from eggs and feed them your plants to keep them healthy. Do consult our Grow A Garden Beginner’s Guide to help you get settled in. What keeps players coming back, much like many other experiences, is its variety of seasonal events. You can always find out when the next Grow A Garden update will be a week in advance, and participate in the invaluable ‘Admin Abuse’ events to snag the rare Grow A Garden mutations. It may be one you don’t play for long at any given point, but cultivating a real garden also takes time, so it’s good practice. At least this one has a bunch of Grow A Garden pets to roam your plot, with the top-tier ones making your crops far more valuable with their utterly busted abilities. While its time in the sun may be waning, the events are more substantial and better quality than they were a few months ago, so it might be time to see how much your garden has grown if you've not tended to it in a while! Grow a Garden 2 While the original Grow A Garden still exists, it’s a shadow of its former self and has been superseded by Grow A Garden 2. The idea is almost the same: plant fruit and veg into your garden and sell the crops for profit. You can still get pets to buff your garden, though they seem to appear in and around the hub area for a limited time rather than in crates or shops. There are many improvements compared to the original. For example, the animations have a tad more flourish, and there are quality-of-life updates such as a timer showing how long you need to wait for a plant to grow and which pets are active in your farm. While the game still has weather effects, they are far more uncommon, and some are exclusive to different parts of the day cycle. The big new feature is that players can now steal fruits from other farms at night. While you can stay safely in your farm to protect your plants from pilfering plunderers, you can also venture into a neighbor’s plot and partake in a bit of fruit larceny. Other weather events can tempt you to leave the safe confines of your farm. Just don’t get caught on the other end of a rival’s shovel or a slingshot round as you bring your ill-gotten gains back to your plot. Featured in this image Grow a Garden View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Prospecting Prospecting is all about digging through sand and sifting it in rivers to find the most valuable jewels. With every treasure you unearth, you can convert it into items that buff your overall stats, or sell it to merchants for cash that you can use to upgrade your equipment. New areas are progressively unlocked depending on the quality of your spade and tray, each with its own quests for you to obtain more upgrades. We hear that Prospecting Fire Opal is especially tricky to find because of its very low drop rate. Updates often include new limited-time events where you can mine rare minerals, as well as permanent additions that help boost your stats. It’s also a multiplayer game with free private servers, so you can invite your Roblox party for some cooperative mining and share bonuses from the various stat-buffing totems you can deploy. Just know that even with all the odds stacked in your favor, you may be digging for a while for those rare gems. Featured in this image Prospecting! View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Restaurant Tycoon 3 If you fancy cooking up a storm with friends, Restaurant Tycoon 3 is the latest and possibly best of developer Ultraw’s cooking simulators. You start with two tables, a basic kitchen, and just one dish. However, as you increase your skills, hire staff, and build out your restaurant into a fully kitted-out establishment, you’ll unlock bonus items to make a little more money to invest in your business. This new version includes a fully redesigned user interface, making the building part easier than ever to get right the first time. The main new feature is farming, which enables you to grow your own crops for use as ingredients. There are also other facilities on offer, such as fridges where each item purchased from shops that’s stored inside will elevate the quality of your dishes and the value you can charge per dish. Featured in this image Restaurant Tycoon 3 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement 99 Nights in the Forest Sometimes, you only need a little bit of folklore to create a creepy atmosphere. 99 Nights in the Forest is another Roblox horror game that pits you and a team of fellow survivors in the middle of the woods. You must find four missing children, while also battling hunger and keeping the fire lit at all times throughout the 99 days, especially when the monsters come out during the night. Critters such as wolves, geographically out-of-place polar bears, and even hostile frogs will harm you. There is also a horrifying deer monster that will gore you to pieces if it catches you, as well as cultists armed to the teeth with crossbows and maces, donning the same threatening antlers of their bipedal god. To fend them off, you’ll need to use your class’s perks and craft items with chopped-down tree logs and other materials. Eventually, you’ll be able to expand your search beyond the camp, but with a nasty surprise lurking behind any tree, it’s best to keep your wits about you. Featured in this image 99 Nights in the Forest View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Fisch There was a time when Fisch was one of the most popular games on Roblox. The idea is simple: fish for aquatic creatures and sell them to meet quest quotas. To do so, you will lay traps to capture crustaceans and cast out a rod to snag the fish in the rivers and seas of its many biomes. The fishing minigame involves clicking or tapping on a screen in precise spots, before mixing both holding and letting go of the screen to reel in your catch. If you’re playing on mobile, you might have a slightly easier time with this. It’s a little primitive visually, with some fairly rough angles on the trees, but don’t let that deceive you. While derivative games, such as Fish It, might have a lot more polish, they’re also full of in-game microtransactions designed to prey on your wallet. Fisch is not only a lot fairer in terms of how much it sells to the player, but it’s also a far more engaging gameplay experience, where fishing actually requires a degree of skill. It also has pleasant acoustic guitars strumming away as you sail across the sea, giving it somewhat calming qualities found nowhere else among the hustle and bustle on the platform. Featured in this image Fisch View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Plants vs. Brainrots No, Steal A Brainrot is not making this list, even if it is the origin of this Roblox trend, because it’s not a game: it’s a playground that’s fun for five minutes or until the appeal of ragebaiting younger kids wears off. No, instead we’re recommending a different game made by former Grow A Garden owner Jandel (under a different studio name) called Plants vs. Brainrots. You might have no idea what we’re on about, so for those in the back who don’t know what a Brainrot is in this context, they’re creatures with a nonsensical design, such as a piece of fried tofu in a ninja costume, or a rat in a suit with sunglasses, with fake Italian-sounding names. If you’re familiar with the incredibly popular Vampire Survivors and its “original” cast, then you should have a good idea of the naming contentions. Here in Plants vs. Brainrots, you have the gameplay of PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies, where you need to defeat these abominations. Once you have a Brainrot, you can sell it or utilize it to generate money, allowing you to afford upgrades and higher-damaging plants. After a while, you’ll discover there are more original features, such as fusing plants with Brainrots to get new variants that give you more money per second. It’s a winning formula, and while it’s not exactly wholly original, its appeal will last a lot longer than the Roblox game it has taken some inspiration from. Advertisement Rivals Of all the main game genres, it’s surprising that Rivals is the first FPS that feels fun enough to warrant a recommendation. That’s not to say that shooters aren’t popular on Roblox; it’s just that they have an element of jank about them for the most part. However, if you’re a fan of the good online multiplayer shooting experience the likes of Call of Duty or Halo would cater to, then Rivals has plenty of fun modes on offer. These range from many configurations of Team Deathmatches, as well as the wonderfully chaotic ‘Gun Game,’ where your weapon changes after every KO you get. Your progress and unlockables are dependent on skill and play time, rewarding you with keys. With this in-game currency, you can unlock some of the many weapons, like sniper rifles or katanas, or more exotic gadgets, including Distortion Guns and Warpers. On top of that, with each event, there are unique weapons you shouldn’t miss out on, as well as limited-time game modes, such as a cooperative ascent of a zombie-filled tower or a deathmatch where all players can dual-wield weapons at the same time. It may not quite have the depth a full-priced multiplayer shooter offers, but to scratch that competitive itch, you could do a lot worse. Featured in this image Rivals View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Sonic Speed Simulator Yes, you heard us right: Sonic Speed Simulator is one of the best Roblox games for the simple reason that it’s not just a typical Roblox gacha game. What’s remarkable is that, despite being created using Roblox, which normally has a limited moveset, Sonic Speed Simulator’s controls are about as tight as one of Sonic’s 3D adventures. Coupled with the fact that this is an officially endorsed Roblox game by Sega, this is the closest you’ll get to a full-blown Sonic game that’s free to play. That said, you might feel a bit slow at first, but as you collect Chaos Orbs, rings, and other goodies hidden throughout each hub world, you’ll speed up not just your boost speed, but also your basic run can reach astronomical levels. Completionists will also find a bunch of hidden characters, music, and other unlockables as you explore each world. We recommend that you play this one with a controller where possible, as it's the most one-to-one with a conventional Sonic game. However, and we can’t stress this enough: you don’t need to engage with the monetization to enjoy Sonic Speed Simulator fully. Many spinners in the game are just not worth the Robux, even though there are a huge number of characters to get. However, it gets shadier when the characters are either hidden away via long, tedious quests or rolled for in the gacha systems, available to only a limited number of players in total. If you stay away from the in-app purchases, you'll still find plenty to enjoy in Sonic Speed Simulator. Featured in this image Sonic Speed Simulator View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Dandy's World Fans of mascot horror games like Five Nights at Freddy’s or Poppy Playtime will find many familiar influences in Dandy’s World. Set in what is billed as an education hub and museum, the Gardenview Center is also likely where the Toons and the company that made them created the TV show you see advertised on the various posters around the complex. However, this rundown building is locked away from prying eyes, as the Twisted now roam its halls, addicted to the ichor that created them and seeking out Toons to devour. To progress through each floor, your team of Toons must drain the ichor from various receptacles, all while keeping an eye out for the horrors that lurk around every corner. Just make sure you don’t mess up the button prompts as you do so, or the monsters will hear you. Each Toon has a unique ability that can be helpful, such as Boxten, who can extract ichor faster depending on the remaining number of players. However, the Twisted also have powers, such as increasing the chance of hazardous rooms with slippery floors, hiding as a Research Capsule to catch unsuspecting newer players off guard, or summoning two ichor hands around the map to swat at nearby Toons. It can be tricky to find a group that survives much longer than a couple of rounds due to the relentlessness of the Twisted. However, with a dedicated team of distractors luring enemies away from those completing objectives, there’s no cutesy mascot horror experience quite as polished on the platform. Featured in this image Dandy’s World View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Forge Those who love the quest-filled beginning of MMOs will probably get a kick out of The Forge. You begin by completing quests for your Sensei to learn how to mine and the basics of forging weapons and armor. While mining is a simple affair, the forging minigame affects the quality of the item you’re crafting and, therefore, how much it will be worth when you sell it. New worlds appear in every major update, meaning more quests to complete and dungeon-like mines to explore. It seems like a rather simple game, but there are some nuances. You can consult The Forge tier list to get a heads-up on the best pickaxe you can buy, the races that give the best passive bonuses, and construct the types of weapons when it comes to speed and damage. Occasionally, there are also some The Forge codes to accelerate your progress or give you more rerolls to get the S-tier races, such as Angels or Demons. Advertisement Knockout! Knockout! has a deceptively simple concept: knock all the other penguins off the ice and be the last one standing. However, the catch is that everyone plans their moves simultaneously, meaning that each move is only revealed once the time has run out and they've all locked in. Because the aim is easy to understand, it's actually quite tricky to gauge just how hard you need to push your penguin into an opponent. Sometimes, they may decide to dart out of the way, potentially sending your critter into the freezing waters below. So far, there are a handful of map types, ranging from Classic: a single square block that shrinks in every round, to Color Blocks: where you must stand on the correct one to survive. Polar Portals is probably the most fun, as it has a portal on each corner that is linked to the opposite corner, allowing you to juke your rivals for the first few rounds. For every knockout, assist, or match won, you'll earn ice blocks that you can use to buy eggs that hatch into new skins. You can also participate in an Obby between rounds, earning 50 ice blocks every time you finish. Players can also complete quests ranging from fairly easy daily quests (for example, getting two knockouts) to trickier long-term weekly goals (winning 12 games). While it's fairly barebones right now, there's definitely scope for this one to expand, perhaps with more victory dances and custom arrows to unlock. It would be even more fun if the island had a larger amount of stuff to do in between rounds, giving it plenty of potential in the future. Advertisement Escape Tsunami For Brainrots! Escape Tsunami For Brainrots! has players run the gauntlet of killer waves in a rush to collect Brainrot creatures and return them to the safe area. Each zone has multiple Brainrot characters to collect and boxes that can reward players with exclusive critters. The further in you get, the rarer the Brainrots are. Once you've returned a Brainrot to the safe area, you can put them to work to earn money, which is spent on upgrading your character's speed stat, allowing them to make it to the coveted Celestial area. Where it stands out from the rest of the Brainrot ilk is not in its character designs or its economy. In fact, it borrows a fair bit from Steal A Brainrot with the ability to interrupt a player's run with a swift bat to the face. Griefing in this type of game is not an uncommon occurrence, and here you also have the option to activate lethal waves to get revenge on an opposing player. No, the concept that elevates it above all the others is the constantly shifting arenas. The Gold event challenges players with hidden Obbies that reward those who complete it with bonus gold bars, while the Arcade event scatters gamepads that players can redeem at the secret basement arcade for tokens. This is a relatively new game, but it managed to earn 1.7 million concurrent players, thanks in part to the developer holding an in-game party to celebrate the game's latest update. During this, they allowed players to upgrade their lucky boxes with multiple storm effects, as well as explaining new features and debuting new Brainrots. Giveaways of exclusive Admin-type Brainrots were also distributed to those quick enough to snag them. The future looks healthy for this fledgling Roblox game, and with a few more unique zones to explore, it's shaping up to be a must-try experience. Advertisement Armless Detective In Armless Detective, you are tasked with gathering evidence in crime scenes to determine who the culprit is in each case. However, due to an accident at a construction site, you lost your arms. Your chief gives you a hat that comes equipped with multiple gadgets: a magnifying glass and a blacklight to uncover stray hairs and fingerprints, respectively, as well as a magnet that only attracts cash and a grabber for manipulating the environment. Each case has many potential suspects, but only one will match three pieces of evidence as shown in the journal. The sharp-eyed among you may notice that some pieces of evidence require a little bit of lateral thinking. If you see ruffled sheets, that doesn’t necessarily mean there was a disturbance, but it may mean the clue you’re looking for is that the lead suspect must clean up after themselves. Ripping off the thermometer may help rule out anyone who relies on warmer temperatures to stay snug. Where you find a key can mean the difference between suspects who prefer to hide evidence and those who prefer to keep it out in the open. With a decent handful of cases to solve, which are randomized each time, and a decent selection of hats, suits, faces, and other cosmetic items to collect, there’s plenty for a sleuth to get their curious mitts on. You can also participate in events, as well as play with friends, to come to a consensus on which NPC committed the crimes. Just make sure you are thorough in searching; otherwise, you could be fired from this lucrative job offer before you know it. Advertisement Animal Hospital (Anomaly) Animal Hospital is a dystopian Papers Please-like simulation game where your main job is to treat patients of their ailments and send them home healthy. However, some weird goings-on in this clinic are naturally going to put players on edge, particularly if the patient is sporting massive teeth or gloomy eyes. This horror game is best played with others, as up to four players can help triage patients, treat their conditions, and prevent anomalies from harming those in your care. While the enemies can’t harm you specifically, they can and will kill your patients or generally creep you out, both of which affect your sanity. When it reaches zero, it will send you mad and end your medical career. There are ways to recoup your sanity; drinking coffee or eating snacks gives you a short-term boost, while classes such as the Doctor, Surgeon, and Secretary can get small buffs for simply doing their job. It may take a while for you to get used to the medical procedures, distinguish between the anomalies, and resolve anomaly-related emergencies, but learning on the job is crucial to successfully keeping the clinic open for patients in need. It's still relatively new, but updates add more anomalies to thwart and deepen the mystery surrounding the hospital and your supervisor, Dr. Harlow...

For those who loved the original, Slay The Spire 2 offers more of the same card-collecting, monster-slaying action. Some of the gameplay hits a similar note, but with a new tower to scale, which also means there are a whole host of new bosses to overcome on each floor, each with their own tactics that will stretch even the most robust builds. During the first phase of early access, there are two first acts, one second act, and one third act available to play. This means that there are 12 bosses in total for you to fight, of which you'll fight three at a time. However, given that this is a Roguelike game with random perks, classes, and cards in every run, you'll probably want to know ahead of time what the best ways to deal with them are. A big part of this is the cards, classes, and perks you'll earn by unlocking the Slay The Spire 2 Epochs, with some of the stuff hidden behind these goals being essential to making even the toughest boss battle far easier. Advertisement Vantom (Act 1 Overgrowth) Found in: Act 1 Overgrowth Enemies: Vantom (173 HP) The Vantom has nine charges of Slippery at the start of the fight. For each hit, one charge is spent, but you only deal one point of damage. Its tail will also slowly rise up and over your character, doing one or two attacks each turn. When it dangles above you like the Sword of Damocles, it has a huge boost to the amount of damage it deals. It also adds three Wounded status cards to your deck, which are unplayable and only serve to clog up your hand. It then buffs its strength before starting the cycle again. Advertisement The Kin Found in: Act 1 Overgrowth Enemies: Kin Priest (190 HP), Kin Follower x2 (58/59 HP) The Kin Followers will buff their strength and attack, while the Kin Priest simultaneously attacks and debuffs you with Frail or Weak, or buffs its own strength. It’s best to try to kill the followers first, as they have lower HP, but still deal a similar amount of damage with their melee attacks. That said, if you manage to kill the Kin Priest first, the Kin Followers will flee as they are minions, so it depends on whether you think you can withstand the Followers' attacks. Advertisement Ceremonial Beast Found in: Act 1 Overgrowth Enemies: Ceremonial Beast (252 HP) At the start of the fight, the Ceremonial Beast will use Plow. This increases its attack by two every turn, but will leave it vulnerable to being stunned when its health reaches 150 or below. Once it reaches this threshold, it also loses its health. After its turn being stunned, it will alternate between attacking and trying to debuff with the Ringing effect, which means you can only play one card per turn. Its attacks in this phase are weaker, but so is the potential for you to defend against them, so hit it as hard as you can while you're able to. Advertisement Waterfall Giant Found in: Act 1 Underdock Enemies: Waterfall Giant (250 HP) At the beginning of the fight, the Waterfall Giant will buff itself with Steam Eruption, which adds damage it will deal to you when you kill it. The next turn, it deals damage, casts a Weak debuff on you, and a strength buff on itself, increasing the Steam Eruption damage. It can also heal. When you reduce it to 0 HP, you have one turn to surpass the defensive requirements before it blows up. Advertisement Soul Fysh Found in: Act 1 Underdock Enemies: Soul Fysh (211 HP) The Soul Fysh begins by adding a copy of Beckon to your deck and discard piles, respectively. If they are in your hand at the end of your turn, you lose six health. Thankfully, you can pay one of any resource to play it, but it stays in your deck until the end of the fight. As the fight progresses, it’ll buff itself with the Intangible stat buff, which reduces all damage taken and HP loss to one. It also attacks, casts the Vulnerable debuff, and adds more Beckons to the draw and discard piles. Advertisement Lagavulin Matriarch Found in: Act 1 Underdock Enemies: Lagavulin Matriarch (222 HP) Lagavulin Matriarch starts the fight asleep with 12 armor. If you eliminate her armor while asleep, she will be stunned for the turn. After that, she will attack regularly. Occasionally, she’ll shore up her defences, then apply debuffs to decrease your strength and dexterity, while also buffing her own strength. If you know you’re up against this boss, your best bet is to focus on poison, doom, and other status ailments that aren’t affected by strength or dexterity. Advertisement The Insatiable Found in: Act 2 Hive Enemies: The Insatiable (321 HP) During the first turn, it casts Sandpit. This will start a countdown, and in 4 turns, you die. That said, it will still attack you every turn, but you can extend this countdown timer with the Frantic Escape cards it adds to your deck. However, each copy of Frantic Escape increases the cost to play it by one whenever you use it. You’re essentially racing to dish out enough damage before it eats you, while also micromanaging remaining turns and so forth. Thankfully, The Insatiable doesn’t really do anything else in the fight, but its high health pool is problematic. As for what the best strategies are: cards and perks that increase the number of base resources you generate or going into cost-reducing builds will make you have an easier time of it. High blocking also helps a lot with the giant worm's damage output, prolonging the time it takes for it to kill you. Effects like poison and Doom are also very helpful in whittling down its health. Advertisement Knowledge Demon Found in: Act 2 Hive Enemies: Knowledge Demon (379 HP) Whenever the Knowledge Demon casts a debuff on you during the fight, including the very first turn, it will give you a choice between two negative effects. Disintegration: At the end of your turn, take damage (this is always an option and increases by 1 damage each time it appears) Mind Rot: Draw 1 fewer card each turn. Sloth: You cannot play more than 3 cards each turn. Waste Away: Gain 1 less primary resource per turn. In addition to this effect, the Knowledge Demon can buff its attacks, hit relatively hard, and even heal itself in a pinch. You want to have either a heavily defensive or a brutally offensive strategy with plenty of focus. Combos that do one thing incredibly well are the key to overcoming this fight, whether it's the Sinner with poison strats or a Necrobinder Doom deck. The Defect can set up multiple orbs, finishing the job quickly, while the Regent and Ironclad need to have a bit of luck on their side when drawing cards that end the fight quickly, as they're unlikely to win a war of attrition. Advertisement Kaiser Crab Found in: Act 2 Hive Enemies: Crusher (199 HP), Rocket (189 HP) This hulking monstrosity has two pincers, with the Rocket (right) one being able to dish out major damage. Both claws can deal extra damage with back attacks, and they gain five additional strength and 99 block if the other claw dies. It sounds scary, but as it only lasts that turn, all it really means is that it’s unlikely you’ll kill both claws in the same turn. When Rocket uses its launching attack, it will not attack the following turn, giving you time to breathe. The Crusher (left) is more tanky, as it’s able to buff its defense, so focus on Rocket first. Moves that target both claws are ideal, as the fight will go quicker, but the Rocket has the more powerful attacks, so it should be dealt with first. Once both claws are dead, the Kaiser Crab in the background will flee, giving you the victory. Advertisement The Queen Found in: Act 3 Glory Enemies: Queen (400 HP), Torch Head Amalgam (199 HP) The Queen can add Afflictions to your cards, which are debuffs in addition to your card’s standard effect. In this case, she inflicts Chains of Binding, which gives the Bound status ailment to the first three cards you draw, restricting you to only being able to use one of the three that turn. This is not permanent, as the effect disappears at the end of the turn. She also inflicts 99 Frail, 99 Vulnerable, and 99 Weak as a debuff, and bolsters her own strength and defense. The Torch Head Amalgam is a minion and will flee once the Queen dies, but it’s the primary damage dealer, able to inflict up to three hits at a time. It’s not worth focusing on the Queen as the Amalgam is likely smacking you around, so try to mitigate its attack power where possible and take it down first, before focusing on the Queen. Advertisement Aeonglass Found in: Act 3 Glory Enemies: Aeonglass (512 HP) While the third boss was originally the Doormaker, this multi-layered boss was proving far too tricky compared to the rest of the Act 3 bosses. In its place now is the Aeonglass, and it has a similar amount of health to its peers. However, it also exploits its rather dangerous gimmick, which it has called Withering Presence. Every time you play six cards, the Aeonglass will give you a Wither status card. This effect carries over across turns, so you can’t really mitigate this by limiting the number of cards played each turn. So what is Wither? Well, it’s an unplayable status card that deals three damage if it’s still in your hand at the end of your turn. However, Wither is upgradeable, shown as “+X” in the card name based on how many times the Aeonglass has buffed it, which adds another three damage to the total dealt. Wither+2, for example, would hit for nine damage. This will upgrade all copies in your deck, as well as any newly created Withers, making the fight harder the further it goes on. On top of this, the Aeonglass hits hard, dealing at least 20 damage per turn if unblocked, but often more. It can also permanently buff its strength. Speed is, therefore, of the essence with this fight, but some Slay The Spire 2 classes and builds will have a far easier time than others. The Necrobinder and the Silent might have an easier time with both Doom and Poison builds, respectively, as both quicken the fight in their own way and have cards that can accelerate their status effects for very few cards. The Defect’s orbs can also do damage over time, but it might be tough to reach the amount needed to kill the boss. As for the Regent and Ironclad, defensive plays might be the best strategy, as you will likely need to block lots of oncoming damage per turn. Advertisement Test Subject #C8 Found in: Act 3 Glory Enemies: Test Subject #C8 (100 HP, 200 HP, 300 HP) The low HP you see at first is, rather predictably, deceptive. Test Subject #C8 has the Adaptable ability, an annoying perk that enables it to revive itself, coming back even stronger each time. In the first phase, it also has Enrage, which makes it gain two strength every time you play a Skill-type card, while also attacking and inflicting the Vulnerable debuff. During the second phase, it replaces Enraged with the Painful Stabs ability, which adds Wound cards every time you get hit by unblocked damage. It will also hit harder, potentially multiple times in a turn, but aside from an increased health pool, the strategy is the same. In the third phase, you see Adaptable and Painful Stabs phase out, but in its place, it gets Nemesis, a disgustingly powerful ability that grants it Intangible every other turn. This reduces all damage done to it by an attack to 1 HP while it’s active. This slows you down considerably and also hinders the potency of effects such as poison. In addition to the usual buffing strength and attacking, it also adds Burn cards to your discard pile, which are unplayable cards that each deal two damage if in your hand at the end of your turn. Advertisement...

What to play on Switch 2 right now The Nintendo Switch 2 quickly set new sales records after launch, but exciting as new hardware is, it's ultimately all about the games. The best games to play on Switch 2 games so far include a lot of familiar names, including some games from Switch 1 that have either received paid upgrades or just run better with the increased horsepower. Mario Kart World gave the Switch 2 a well-deserved boost as its marquee launch game, and Donkey Kong Bananza is a superb single-player adventure that takes inspiration from Super Mario Odyssey and even recent Zelda games. For now, here are what we feel are the best Switch 2 games to play right now, listed in alphabetical order. With most Switch games also being supported through backwards compatibility (even if they aren't getting Switch 2 Editions or free updates), you can also consult our picks for the best Switch games to play in 2025. Advertisement Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster A remaster of a great RPG from 2013, Flying Fairy HD Remaster looks promising based on our time with it so far. This version rescues the original from being solely available on 3DS and gives it a great-looking new coat of paint, while maintaining the excellent combat system. There are some modern conveniences added and some new minigames that leverage Switch 2 mouse controls, but all of that takes a backseat to HD Remaster simply providing a better-looking, easier way to spend some time with a quality RPG. See at Walmart Featured in this image Bravely Default: Flying Fairy View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Cyberpunk 2077 overcame its initial, rough launch through numerous updates and improvements to become a terrific game--one made even better with the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion. Both that DLC and the original game are packed into Switch 2's Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which also introduces motion and mouse controls for those looking for a different style of experience (you can even use a keyboard, apparently). Based on our time with Cyberpunk on Switch 2, it runs very well, and with the ability to play in handheld mode, that makes this a great way to experience an RPG you shouldn't miss. See at Amazon Featured in this image Cyberpunk 2077 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Deltarune: Chapters 1-4 There's nothing quite like Deltarune, a game that gives you all the tools you need to fight back against anything in your way and then encourages you to find a better way to solve problems. The spiritual prequel to Undertale is surprisingly earnest with the themes and emotions it tackles, while also managing to constantly surprising with how it approaches these topics. It's one of those games that you want to go into as blindly as possible so that you can savor its brilliant surprises in this elegant RPG. Advertisement Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo's first big single-player adventure on Nintendo Switch 2 isn't a Mario game, but a fresh start for classic mascot Donkey Kong. Though Donkey Kong Bananza has a lot in common with Super Mario Odyssey, it sets itself apart with an inventive terrain deformation mechanic. The mighty Donkey Kong smashes his way through solid rock to find hidden secrets and delicious bananas, accompanied by the aspiring young singer Pauline. With the help of animal elders, DK unlocks "Bananza" forms that give him new powers to augment your exploration and puzzle-solving abilities. The central hook of smashing your way through layers of the planet core never gets old, thanks to a huge array of delightful surprises, so this one is not to be missed. Featured in this image Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Yakuza 0: Director's Cut While there is some room for improvement, there's an undeniable charm in Yakuza 0 on Switch 2. It's still the best game in the entire Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, as it deftly combines gangland drama with hard-hitting action and absurd diversions off the beaten path. It's that heartfelt approach to being both silly and emotionally gripping that makes it stand apart from its competitors, and with new features like English voice-overs and expanded cutscenes, it's also the perfect starting point for newcomers to the series. See at Walmart Featured in this image Donkey Kong Bananza View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Stole Time The Switch was the perfect platform for cozy games, and with Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Stole Time, that trend continues on the Switch 2 with an engaging combo of action, exploration, and crafting. Playing like a mash-up between classic The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing, Fantasy Life I is a relaxing RPG that lets you set your own pace inside of its magical world. Advertisement Fast Fusion At $15, Fast Fusion is an easy recommendation for Switch 2 owners who enjoy a good racing game. Yes, players already have Mario Kart World, but Fast Fusion offers a no-frills, pure racing experience akin to the iconic Wipeout series. However, the one frill Fast Fusion does include is a smart one, offering players the ability to fuse different vehicles into one design to mix and match stats. It's also one of the few Switch 2 games to offer different graphics options. And don't worry; while the game currently looks very overprocessed with Nintendo's DLSS upscaling, developer Shin'en has promised that the game's slight visual hiccups will soon receive a patch. That one foible aside, Fast Fusion's design feels like a natural evolution of the Wipeout style. Featured in this image FAST Fusion View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Hades 2 Hades 2 has raised the bar for what a roguelite game can be, as this masterclass of design expands on the original game and improves it in virtually every department. The narrative is darker, the gameplay is beautifully refined, and the soundtrack is catchy enough to make you leave a hole in your floor thanks to several foot-tapping beats. Sequels often run the risk of being iterative improvements on the first game, but Hades 2 deftly dodges that comparison by pushing the ideas of its predecessor to glorious new heights. Roguelite action simply doesn't get better than this, and thanks to an early access development period, Hades 2 emerged as a finely-honed and deeply engaging trip through Greek mythology. See at Amazon Advertisement Hollow Knight: Silksong Just how do you improve on a game that many call the gold standard for metroidvanias in the modern age? Hollow Knight: Silksong had its work cut out for it, as Team Cherry's sophomore effort needed to match the expectations of a ravenous fanbase after spending a lengthy period of time in development. Silksong doesn't just stick the landing; it takes everything that made Hollow Knight so memorable and makes them feel better than ever with its absurdly polished gameplay and elegant animations. On a technical level, it's superb, challenging, and invigorating whenever you overcome its deadly design. But as the sum of years-long anticipation and hype? It's a game that truly was worth the wait as you delve deeper into a haunted world. It's a ruthless return to edge-of-your-seat action and platforming, but when the end result feels this good, it's hard to pull yourself away from the screen when you feel that victory is just around the corner. See at Amazon Advertisement Kirby Air Riders Kirby Air Riders looks deceptively simple when you first boot it up, but under the hood, the game is a masterclass in speed told through straightforward races that encourage you to find the perfect line amidst all the chaos around you. A rock-solid karting experience, Kirby Air Riders is also a game that won't get--and doesn't need--any post-launch content, as it's packed to the gills with diversions and activities. Each mode offers a ton of content to explore, while the comprehensive multiplayer feels rich and well fleshed out. Read our Kirby Air Riders review. Kirby Air Riders for Nintendo Switch 2 $69 | Releases November 20 Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Advertisement Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess An underrated gem from 2024, Kunitsu-Gami is a clever blend of action and strategy games, with its varied gameplay helping to keep things feeling fresh throughout. The boss battles, in particular, are a real highlight. The day/night cycle splits the game into two halves: Days see you planning the strategy side of the game, scouting out an area, making decisions about how to prepare for the battle ahead, and assigning jobs to rescued villagers. At night, you'll shift to hack-and-slash action as you battle against enemy hordes. What distinguishes the Switch 2 version of Kunitsu-Gami are its mouse controls: Tilt the Joy-Con to the side and you're able to control gameplay in a way that works far better than standard gamepad controls. That makes this the best way to play the game on a console, which could very well become a recurring trend with other Switch 2 ports. Featured in this image Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition Breath of the Wild presents a similar argument to Tears of the Kingdom. All of the same improvements to Tears of the Kingdom 2's Switch 2 Edition are present here (save for the Autobuild sharing, given the building feature is exclusive to the sequel), providing even die-hard players a reason to re-explore Hyrule with the new commentary. The frame-rate improvements also stand to be a meaningful enhancement here--just imagine if you can finally visit the Korok Forest without the frame rate tanking. While Tears of the Kingdom introduced a number of steps forward for the foundation BotW built, the older of the two games is still very much a worthwhile experience. It has a demanding combat system that forces you to constantly weigh the choice of what weapons to use, rewarding exploration, and creative tools to use to solve puzzles. Both of these Zelda games received a rare 10 in GameSpot's respective reviews, and with good reason. See at Walmart Featured in this image The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Borrowing the Link's Awakening visual style for a new adventure, Echoes of Wisdom has the distinction of letting you play as Zelda herself. Yes, Zelda finally gets to be the hero of her own story, as she seeks to clear her name after being falsely imprisoned for causing deadly rifts all over the kingdom. This being Zelda's first game, she isn't just a duplicate of Link with his sword-slashing h'yahs. Instead, Zelda uses a magic wand to summon copies of hundreds of things she encounters in her journey--traps, rocks, enemies, and more. This summoning power is used as both a flexible way to solve the game's many puzzles, and as a combat tool to summon creatures to your defense. As your summoning power increases the puzzle and combat challenges ramp up as well. Like the Link's Awakening remake on the original Switch, Echoes of Wisdom sometimes struggled on the original Switch, so the upgrade to Switch 2 just makes for a better experience, smoothing out rough patches and improving the frame rate overall. A free Switch 2 update also adds HDR support and optimizes it for high-resolution displays. See at Amazon Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening The beloved Game Boy classic Link's Awakening got a modern remake on Switch, but it seemed at times to be pushing the hardware just a little too hard. That's not a problem on Switch 2, which has the horsepower to handle it and then some, making the remake run smooth as butter. That means you get to soak in the lovely art style that makes Link and the inhabitants of Koholint Island look like little maquette dolls without compromising on frame rate. A free update also optimizes it for the Switch 2 with improved visuals and HDR support. Link's Awakening was a trailblazer on Game Boy, squeezing a Zelda-sized adventure onto the modest portable cartridge. Its standalone story follows Link to a mysterious island being terrorized by Nightmare beasts, as he collects the sacred instruments to wake the Wind Fish. The gameplay is modeled largely after the Super NES Link to the Past but adds new elements like an item that enables jumping, and served as the template for later portable Zelda games. It's considered a classic for a reason, and the Switch remake largely didn't mess with success. This version also includes the Color Dungeon that was added for the Game Boy Color release. See at Amazon Featured in this image The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition Arguably the best game on Nintendo Switch will be even better on Switch 2. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom both looks better (including HDR support) and runs better on Switch 2--the smoother frame rate really jumps out the moment you boot into gameplay. Load times are faster, too, helping to keep you in the action. Both Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild's Switch 2 Editions incorporate support for the Zelda Notes section of the Nintendo Switch mobile app (formerly known as the Switch Online app). This includes a bunch of new features: progress-tracking and voice guidance for hunting down things like shrines and Koroks; the ability to share Autobuild blueprints or items with other players; commentary from characters (including Zelda) when visiting certain locations; and more. Beyond what's new, Tears of the Kingdom is also just a spectacular experience that you can sink a huge amount of time into as you explore its expansive open world, which takes the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild and adds new underground and sky areas to venture through. See at Walmart Featured in this image The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Mario Kart World Even prior to launch, we had spent some time with Mario Kart World and were struck by it being such a bold sequel, especially given how Switch 2 itself feels like a conservative, iterative follow-up to its predecessor. It was also just plain fun in our time with it, and if there's a safer bet in gaming than "a new Mario Kart game will be enjoyable," we'd like to see it. The inclusion of Cow as one of Mario Kart World's characters might be reason enough to put the game on this list, but the new open-world format is a breath of fresh air for the series without jeopardizing the core experience. The racing itself feels largely unchanged from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, albeit with some new forms of variety like the ability to race across water, a day/night cycle, an increase to the number of competitors in a race, and a Free Roam mode that lets you explore. There look to be a ton of tracks and new items, too. But, again: Cow. 'nuff said. You can check out our Mario Kart World review for a more in-depth analysis. See at Walmart Featured in this image Mario Kart World View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Mario Tennis Fever Mario Tennis games have been delightful spin-offs over the years, but fairly predictable due to their straightforward gameplay mechanics. Fortunately, Mario Tennis Fever doesn't suffer from that problem, as its polished gameplay is enhanced with a layer of unpredictability thanks to the new Fever rackets. A wide selection of special rackets that add game-altering effects to every match makes for a wild time, while other ideas like a punchy campaign, clever boss fights, and a plethora of modes make for a grand slam champion on the courts. Read our Mario Tennis Fever review. Mario Tennis Fever for Nintendo Switch 2 $69 | Releases February 12 Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Target Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at GameStop Advertisement Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Metroid Prime 4: Beyond arrives with years of expectations behind it. Seemingly stuck in development hell for an eternity, the game has miraculously made it out of the trenches and onto Switch consoles. Does it live up to the hype after all this time? Not entirely, as the game can feel dated, with its AI-controlled teammates and a barren open-world that offers little. But at its core, this is still a Metroid Prime experience that feels impeccably polished, thanks to finely crafted levels, boss battles that require you to use every tool in Samus' arsenal, and a sense of discovery that's hard to beat. Read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch 2 $70 See at Best Buy View at other stores See at Amazon See at Walmart See at GameStop See at Target Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for Nintendo Switch $60 See at Best Buy View at other stores See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Target See at GameStop Advertisement Mina the Hollower Just how do you follow up on a landmark game like Shovel Knight? If you're Yacht Club Games, the answer is to look back at the past, pull inspiration from it, and see if a few modern-day gameplay ideas can mesh well with an established formula. Thankfully, Mina the Hollower excels at blending various gameplay influences and genres together, as this killer combo of Souls-like combat and classic adventuring from the NES era. Read our Mina the Hollower review. See on Switch eShop Advertisement Minishoot Adventures Another great game that borrows liberally from The Legend of Zelda's NES expeditions, Minishoot Adventures adds some twin-stick shooting to the formula and feels brilliant thanks to how organic the fusion feels. It's consistently fun to play, undeniably adorable, and its simplistic design makes it fun for all ages. See on Switch eShop Advertisement Pokemon Pokopia There's no mainline Pokemon game to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary in 2026, but this delightful spin-off from Koei Tecmo's Omega Force is more than just a consolation prize. It's an unexpectedly endearing dive into the world of Pokemon, a sweet and cozy combination of the design sensibilities of Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders that captures the heart of the franchise. It's a super effective tribute to the series that gives you the space to enjoy living among your Pokemon friends while you build the perfect habitat for them. Read our Pokemon Pokopia review. Pokemon Pokopia (Game Key-Card) $70 See at Amazon View at other stores See at Walmart See at Best Buy See at Nintendo Store See at GameStop Advertisement Pokemon Scarlet & Violet The original launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was maligned for its underwhelming visuals and even worse performance. While the duo haven't received any new gameplay features or changes on Switch 2, they do benefit from one of the aforementioned free updates, making it both look better and--more importantly--run far more smoothly, with a more consistent and much higher frame rate than on Switch. While it's not the best-looking game around by any means, the improved performance is transformative, making it feel like a brand-new game. That means those of us who held off playing due to that issue can now enjoy what we called the best new mainline Pokemon game in years. Pokemon battles are deeper than before thanks to the new Terastallizing mechanic, while hardcore players into shiny-hunting and egg-hatching will find welcome improvements. Its open-world format and non-linear progression also breathe new life into the series, making this the best opportunity to jump into Scarlet and Violet. See at Walmart Featured in this image Pokemon Scarlet / Pokemon Violet View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Resident Evil Requiem Like a handful of other developers, Capcom has managed to squeeze every ounce of power out of the Switch 2, allowing Resident Evil Requiem to shine on the hardware. Whether you're plugged into your TV or you've decided to be brave and play Requiem in bed with the lights turned off, the Switch 2 version runs surprisingly well, barring a few of the busier moments in the game when the frame rate starts to dip. Those moments are rare, and most of the time, you'll be absorbed by the game's brilliant balance of horror and action, high level of replayability, and dozens of Easter eggs that reference 30 years of Resident Evil's signature blend of survival-horror. Read our Resident Evil Requiem review. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller - Resident Evil Requiem $100 | Releases February 27 Preorder at Best Buy View at other stores Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Nintendo Preorder at GameStop Advertisement Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Streets of Rage 4 developer Lizardcube is quickly becoming the go-to studio for resurrecting Sega classics, as the developer just delivered another killer game with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Combining its eye for crafting engaging combo-laden 2D action with a beautifully illustrated art direction, Lizardcube brings Joe Musashi into the modern age with a rip-roaring adventure. The game is at its best when you nail its flow-state, as a killer combo of acrobatics, attacks, and ninja arts makes for a joyful homage to the classic Shinobi games. See on the Switch eShop Featured in this image Shinobi: Art of Vengeance View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Street Fighter 6 The Switch 2 port of Street Fighter 6 has two big things going for it. First, it includes all of the extra DLC characters from the first two years of the game's life on other consoles, so characters like Akuma, Rashid, Bison, and guest characters Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui are available from the start. Secondly, it's a damn good port of what was already a damn good fighting game, with impressive visuals, smooth gameplay, and a serviceable online experience. What's more, the portable nature of the Switch 2 lets you take SF6 with you wherever you go, which was technically possible on portable PCs, but Nintendo's console makes it easier for non-PC players to enjoy. Street fighting on the go has never been easier, as SF6 is a perfect fit on Switch 2. Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition $60 | Releases June 5 Preorder at Walmart View at other stores Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Luke Amiibo $40 | Releases June 5 Preorder at Walmart Jamie Amiibo $40 | Releases June 5 Preorder at Walmart Kimberly Amiibo $40 | Releases June 5 Preorder at Walmart Street Fighter 6 Amiibo Card Character Set (GameStop Exclusive) $40 Preorder at GameStop Featured in this image Street Fighter 6 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement...