Best Games of 2026 So Far: Control Resonant, Cairn, Pragmata and More Top the List

Nearly nine months into 2026, the year already has a crowded field of game of the year contenders. GameSpot's running list of its highest-scoring reviews now includes 15 games rated 9 out of 10, with dozens more landing an 8.

The 9s cover a wide range. Remedy's Control Resonant is praised as the studio's most gripping action game and possibly the best pure gameplay experience since Max Payne. Pragmata stands out as a fresh original IP in a year heavy on sequels and remakes. Housemarque's Saros builds on Returnal with a rush of bullet-hell roguelite intensity, and Team Ninja's Nioh 3 is called the best in its series.

Several smaller and more unusual projects made the top tier too. Cairn is being held up as a new high point for mountain-climbing games, mixing wonder with real peril. Big Walk, from the Untitled Goose Game developers House House, is a co-op wander through an Australian outback-inspired wilderness. Mewgenics, from Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, pairs deep cat-breeding management with "one more run" roguelite appeal. Esoteric Ebb, which blends tabletop Dungeons & Dragons with Disco Elysium, and Mixtape, a music-driven coming-of-age story, round out the indie standouts.

Established franchises delivered as well. Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is compared favorably to the series' best expansions, adding Warlock and Paladin classes. Marathon, Bungie's extraction shooter, earned a 9 for its art direction, gunplay and tactical depth, though the long-term picture is still open. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is named the best fighting game of the year, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is called an all-time classic for the series, and Pokemon Pokopia celebrates the franchise's 30th anniversary as a cozy life sim. Mina the Hollower, from Yacht Club Games, mixes Game Boy-era Zelda visuals with souls-like combat.

The 8s are just as deep. They include 007 First Light, Forza Horizon 6, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Resident Evil Requiem, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Reanimal, Splatoon Raiders and Vampire Crawlers. Nintendo's Switch 2 also did well, with Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Mario Tennis Fever and Rhythm Heaven Groove all making the cut. World of Warcraft: Midnight, Silent Hill: Townfall, Star Wars Zero Company and Zero Parades: For Dead Spies are among the other games GameSpot singled out.

Not everything landed. Games such as God of War: Sons of Sparta and Romeo is a Dead Man scored a 5, while Crimson Desert, Marvel's Wolverine and Star Fox landed in the 6 to 7 range. GameSpot notes that anything below an 8 can still be worth playing if you can look past its flaws.

The outlet also flags a few games it didn't formally review but recommends from personal play. Denshattack is an anime-inspired rail-grinding rush, Fields of Mistria has grown from early access into a strong Stardew Valley rival, and ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs is a cozy repair sim with a mystery at its center.

For comparison, 2025's standouts included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Silent Hill F, Dispatch and Blue Prince. With the fall release season still ahead, this year's list is likely to keep growing.