Mixtape isn’t 2026’s only great music game

Some video game trends are easy to trace back to their source. When we got a wave of battle royale games in 2018, there was no question that they sprung up around the popularity of PUBGand Fortnite. Other trends are harder to pin down. For example, I can’t figure out why we’re getting so many video games about music this year. I’m not complaining, though, because that trend frankly rocks (and rolls). Not only does it mean 2026 has had some fantastic soundtracks, but it has also offered some poignant reflections on how important music is to our daily lives.