As a PC gamer, I am one of the many who will be personally affected by the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI in 2026 with the highly anticipated title only arriving on console at first.
However, it is not all doom and gloom as 2026 will also be the year that welcomes heaps of incredible games that arrive to PC either exclusively or alongside launch on the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.
If, like me, you want to make the most out of the PC setup you put way too much money into, then you will be pleased to hear that I have compiled a list of eight upcoming 2026 games which will see you sink countless hours into.
Some may be exclusives whilst others will be multi-platform launches but they are all guaranteed to be big hitters for the upcoming year.
Highguard
Ok, so this one has already been soured for quite a lot of people considering it was The Game Award 2025’s “big surprise” announcement.
With gamers expecting a lot more, it is safe to say that we got off on the wrong foot.
However, with this upcoming PvP raid shooter coming from the creators of Titanfall and Apex Legends, there is no denying that it could revolutionise the genre once more.
Set to launch on 26 January, Highguard will see players take on the role of Wardens, a group of arcane gunslingers who are sent to fight for control of a mythical continent.
Ride, fight and raid and go head-to-head with other players as you fight for control, top the leaderboard and eliminate the competition.
Better yet? It will be completely free to play.
Reanimal
From the creators of the Little Nightmares series comes Reanimal, a horror adventure game which follows a brother and sister duo who must go through hell in order to rescue their missing friends and escape the island which they used to call home.
Said to be even darker and more terrifying than Little Nightmares, this horror game litters darkness with hope as our two orphans search for redemption in the direst of circumstances.
Set to launch on 13 February, players will embark into a dark and twisted world in either single player or local and online co-op.
FATAL FRAME II: Crimson Butterfly REMAKE
This may not be a brand-new release but it is a remake of one of the best horror games of all time (in my humble opinion).
First released back in 2003, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly continues in the survival horror franchise (although this second instalment can be played as a standalone title).
Crimson Butterfly follows the story of twin sisters Mio and Mayu Amakura who become lost in an abandoned village haunted by vengeful spirits.
Set to launch on PC on 12 March, this Japanese-style horror adventure will feature all the magic and terror of the original whilst bringing it up to date with more modern technology.
Crimson Desert
Beginning its life as a prequel to Black Desert, Crimson Desert has turned into its very own major IP, offering players the chance to dive into a brand-new open-world filled with fresh characters and action across the brutal continent of Pywel.
Launching on 19 March, Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game which will see you embark on a journey as the Greymane Kliff.
It is your job to restore what has been lost by exploring uncharted lands, fighting any threats that stand in your way and discovering what the magical world has to show you.
Despite a long development phase, Crimson Desert remains one of the most anticipated launches in 2026 so we hope that it can live up to it.
Pragmata
Developed and published by Capcom, Pragmata is an upcoming action-adventure game set on a lunar research station.
The game follows the story of spacefarer Hugh and android Diana as they team up to battle the hostile AI controlling the station and ultimately return to Earth.
In this all-new sci-fi story, players will control both Hugh and Diana with Hugh offering high-octane, hostile gameplay whilst Diana can hack into robot’s defence systems, unlocking weak spots for Hugh to target. With both puzzles and hard-hitting gameplay to master, Pragmata is guaranteed to offer something for everyone when it launches on 24 April.
Paralives
Arriving into early access on 25 May, Paralives has been hailed as the next The Sims with the life simulation title tasking players with building homes, lives, and bonds.
This sandbox simulation title will see you explore a vibrant open-world which you can make your own.
With various Townies to meet, you can do everything from choosing your career, finding love or even becoming the richest person in town.
The only question is: what legacy do you want to leave behind?
Create your very own Parafolks and explore a town full to the brim with restaurants, shops, parks and museums or find a job and max out your career track.
The options are endless when Paralives launches this May.
Phantom Blade Zero
Would a year be complete without a soulslike? Well, fortunately, we will never have to find out as Phantom Blade Zero arrives on 9 September.
In this wuxia action RPG, players will take on the role of Soul, an elite assassin in the service of an elite organisation known as The Order.
Set in the Phantom World, Soul will soon embark on a mission to discover who murdered The Order’s patriarch.
Combining classic wuxia storytelling with exhilarating action powered by Unreal Engine 5, players will take on the role of Soul after they discover he has just 66 days left to live.
Now with a timer on their mission, Soul will have just a few weeks to fend off assassins, unravel world-ending conspiracies and defend their values with their life.
Blood of Dawnwalker
Set to launch some time in 2026, Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world dark fantasy RPG set in 14th century Europe. Players will take on the role of Coen who is capable of becoming a human by day and a vampire by night as a Dawnwalker.
In a bid to save his family, Coen must make use of both of his identities in order to infiltrate locations and choose how he decides to shape his fate. Will he listen more to his human instincts and save his soul or will he give into his deadlier side?
In a story shaped by your decisions, Blood of Dawnwalker tips the entire vampire genre on its head and yet one question remains:
“Whatever your choice, the question stands: is your soul worth the lives of those you love?”
These are just some of the incredible titles which are expected to launch throughout 2026 on PC and is by no means an extensive list. Nevertheless, we can already tell that it is shaping up to be another incredible year of gaming.
