Top picks for 2026

WE ROUND UP THE BEST TITLES COMING YOUR WAY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

- CHERYL MULLIN

AFTER a lacklustre 2024, video games redeemed themselves with a stellar 2025.

As I've previously said, the last 12 months have been incredible for indie studios, who have outshone the big AAA+ behemoths at every turn. I'm pleased to say that 2026 is shaping up to be just as packed - and that's not even taking into account the (hopeful) release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November.

There are some great remakes on the horizon, with Deus Ex Remastered, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remastered and Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake all set for release in the first quarter of the year.

There's also the highly anticipated final part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake - Intergrade - which is due out at the end of January.

Other titles to get excited about include the new 007 game First Light, the ninth major instal-ment in the Resident Evil series, Requiem, and Marvel's Wolverine.

It goes without saying that these are just a drop in the ocean of games that are due to be released in the coming 12 months, so with that in mind, here are just eight titles you should be aware of for 2026.

BRIGHT FUTURE? Remaster

Deus Ex Remastered (PEGI 18) Platforms: PSS, Xbox X/S, PC Release: February 5

Deus Ex felt like a bit of a game changer on release in 2000.

Set 52 years in the future, it told of a dystopian cyberpunk future beset by terrorist acts, economic inequality, and a plague dubbed the Gray Death.

This remaster drags the game into the modern day, adding quality-of-life improvements like autosaves, faster loading and achievement tracking.

When a trailer debuted in September, it was not well received. The graphics looked dreadful, oddly shiny, almost bloated and far too smooth.

One disgruntled fan summed it up perfectly, saying they'd managed to “turn 1999 graphics into 2003 graphics”.