2026 Is A Shockingly Big Year For Video Game Anniversaries

Turns out, 2026 is a huge year for video games. Part of this, of course, is because of all the games coming out this year. From Resident Evil: Requiem to Grand Theft Auto: 6, we’ve got a lot to look forward to. However, there’s another thing to consider when looking at the year ahead: the staggering number of series with major anniversaries.

It’s hard to believe the first Donkey Kong game was released 45 years ago, and I swear I heard my knees crack as I realized that Pokemon is officially 30 years old. Nintendo in particular has a lot to celebrate this year, with big anniversaries for The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Kid Icarus, and Animal Crossing coming in addition to the games I mentioned previously. That said, both Sony and Xbox have reason to celebrate as well, as Tomb Raider turns 30 and Halo–and Xbox as a brand overall–hit 25.

But perhaps the most exciting thing to consider in light of all these anniversaries are the announcements that could be lingering just around the corner. Though we’ve already received confirmation that a remake of the original Tomb Raider is in the works, and other series such as Donkey Kong, Pokemon, and Resident Evil all have new or upcoming entries, there are a few games on this list that have been dormant for some time. Could 2026 be the year we get a new Kid Icarus or Castlevania? No clue, but a girl can hope, right?

So without further ado, is a round up of all the series with milestone anniversaries in 2026: