1PragmataSci-fi action adventure - Capcom - 17/04/2026 - PEGI 16An astronaut and a mysterious android girl must survive and uncover the truth on a lunar research station, blending third-person shooting with a unique real-time hacking system in a story about their deepening bond.After a long development, Pragmata, Capcom's new IP, finally arrives in 2026, meeting expectations with a top-tier third-person action game. Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, the game follows the story of soldier Hugh and the sentient android Diana as they confront the robotic army of the AI IDUS inside the lunar station, the Cradle. The heart of the experience lies in the revolutionary dual combat system, which masterfully blends traditional gunplay with a real-time hacking minigame managed by Diana, creating a fluid and original gameplay style. This is complemented by outstanding technical performance, thanks to the RE Engine, which delivers impeccable graphics, animations, and optimization, especially on PC and PS5 Pro. While the plot draws on classic sci-fi themes, the father-daughter relationship between the two protagonists, delicately crafted and supported by high-quality Italian voice acting, emerges as the true emotional engine of a linear, dense, and memorable adventure, positioning it among the best titles of the year.see full review ▶ amazon.com
11votesvote
2Resident Evil RequiemSurvival horror, Action, Adventure, Shooter - Koshi Nakanishi / Capcom - 27/02/2026 - Mature 17+The ninth mainline entry follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and agent Leon S. Kennedy as they investigate a series of deaths tied to a mysterious hotel and the legacy of Raccoon City, blending survival horror with action and offering gameplay in both first and third person.Resident Evil: Requiem, the ninth main installment in Capcom's survival horror saga released in February 2026, presents itself as an ambitious work that seeks to merge the two souls of the series. The plot alternates between the events of FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, grappling with a personal investigation in a Midwestern hotel, and those of a now-veteran and scarred Leon S. Kennedy. This narrative duality is reflected in the gameplay: the sections with Grace offer a pure survival horror experience, often in first-person, with tension, scarce resources, and a crafting system, while those with Leon propose more frenetic and spectacular third-person action. Technically, the game, based on the RE Engine, is praised for its visual rendering and performance solidity, although some reviews note a script that is uneven at times and an excess of fan service that undermines narrative cohesion. Overall, Requiem is seen as a solid and entertaining title, capable of engaging both long-time fans and newcomers, even if it fails to reach the excellence of the more acclaimed recent installments.see full review ▶ amazon.com
10votesvote
3Crimson DesertAction Open World - Pearl Abyss - Pearl Abyss - 19/03/2026 - 18+ - PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|SAn action open world from Pearl Abyss, set on a war-torn fictional continent. Physical, spectacular combat, large-scale exploration and settlement management combine in a mature-toned action adventure.Crimson Desert is the most ambitious project Pearl Abyss has ever attempted, a South Korean studio best known for the MMO Black Desert Online, arriving after an extraordinarily long development cycle that began with announcements quite different from what the game ultimately became at launch. At the heart of the experience is a close-quarters, physical combat system built on elaborate combos that blend bare-handed strikes, grapples, kicks and bladed weapons, with the ability to chain timed counters, aerial dashes and full-on wrestling moves against larger foes. Weapons can be enhanced with elemental effects such as fire and ice, adding a layer of tactical depth that encourages players to vary their approach depending on the type of enemy faced. The game world is vast and vertical, explorable thanks to a flight ability and a Spider-Man-style grappling hook that let players clear elevation changes and reach otherwise unreachable spots, making free exploration as central to the experience as combat itself. Around these mechanics revolves a mature-toned narrative set on a fictional continent scarred by factional conflict, in which players alternate between main missions, settlement management and large-scale battles involving entire armies. That said, the game has some notable shortcomings: an environmental interaction system several reviewers found overly fiddly, a protagonist perceived as less charismatic than the rich world surrounding him, and difficulty spikes that are not always finely calibrated, leaving the pacing somewhat uneven. It nonetheless remains a title that stands out for its technical ambition and for art direction that renders a dense, believable world. Helped along by the years-long anticipation that preceded its release, Crimson Desert has been among the most talked-about launches of recent months, repeatedly returning to the center of conversation among action open-world fans.see full review ▶ amazon.it
9votesvote
4Nioh 3Action RPG - Team Ninja - Koei Tecmo - 06/02/2026 - 18+ - PS5 / PCA soulslike action RPG from Team Ninja set in feudal Japan, now built around an open-field structure. Two combat styles, Samurai and Ninja, sit alongside a deep progression system and the punishing difficulty that remains the series' trademark.Nioh 3 represents the most mature point the Team Ninja series has reached so far, managing to preserve the identity that made the franchise a benchmark for soulslike fans set in feudal Japan while also introducing the most significant structural transformation since the first game. In place of the self-contained, strongly linear missions of previous entries, the third installment adopts an open-field structure divided into freely explorable macro areas, each enriched by an exploration level that grows as players discover shrines, chests and enemy outposts to clear, gradually revealing new points of interest on the map. On the combat side, the dual-style system remains the heart of the experience and is enriched with two alternative approaches selectable at any time: the Samurai style, closer to the classic formula built around Ki Pulse and stamina management, and the Ninja style, more agile and mobility-focused, which trades away Ki Pulse for dedicated tools such as kunai, smoke bombs and elemental shuriken. This dual identity lets players approach the same encounters in radically different ways, meaningfully increasing replayability and tactical variety compared to earlier entries. Difficulty remains extremely high and punishing, fully in keeping with the series' tradition, demanding careful study of enemy patterns, judicious resource management and a steep learning curve that discourages less patient players while rewarding those who persevere with a deeply satisfying sense of progression. Some technical issues, particularly frame-rate drops in certain configurations, have been flagged by several outlets as the only real blemish on an otherwise very solid package. In the weeks following launch, Nioh 3 was repeatedly compared to the genre's finest examples, a comparison that renewed its visibility with audiences even months later.see full review ▶ amazon.it
8votesvote
5007 First LightAction-Adventure - IO Interactive - IO Interactive - 27/05/2026 - 16+ - PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Switch 2A James Bond origin story from IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman. Freeform infiltration, iconic gadgets, car chases and action set pieces alternate across missions set in a range of international locations.007 First Light marks James Bond's return to AAA gaming after more than a decade's absence, and it hands the job to IO Interactive, a studio that brings the experience built on the Hitman series into the project without simply repackaging that formula. The game recounts the early days of a young James Bond, before he even earns his license to kill, alternating strongly linear, cinematic missions, closer in pacing to action-adventure productions like the Uncharted series, with more open levels that give players considerable freedom of approach, in classic Hitman-style sandbox fashion. In those sections, players can improvise, move stealthily, manipulate guards or use the character's iconic gadgets in creative ways, letting a mission spiral into chaos only if they choose to. The gunplay is tight and satisfying, melee combat is solid, and driving sections break up the pace with rather spectacular car chases. Rounding out the package are internationally varied settings crafted with real attention to detail, a strong supporting cast, and a TacSim mode built for replayability, complete with an in-game currency to spend unlocking weapons and cosmetics and online leaderboards for comparing performance between players. This variety of situations ensures the experience never grows monotonous, but it also creates some pacing issues, since the constant shifting between registers does not always flow smoothly. Overall, though, the game manages to deliver a convincing reinterpretation of the Bond universe, distinct enough from Hitman's assassination sandboxes to stand firmly on its own two feet, while still rewarding the kind of experimentation the studio built its reputation on. Arriving after years of anticipation from fans of the long-running film franchise, the release has brought renewed critical and public attention to a character that had been largely off the gaming radar for a long time, prompting fresh discussion about where the young franchise could head from here.see full review ▶ amazon.it
7votesvote
5Resonance: A Plague Tale LegacyReleased 27/08/2026. First action-oriented chapter in the series, critic score 80/100. Source: TechTimes.Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy by Asobo Studio represents a bold and successful shift for the series, abandoning the stealth gameplay of previous chapters to embrace an action-adventure soul. This prequel, set in Venice and later on a Mediterranean island in the 1300s, follows the young Sophia on a journey linked to Minoan mythology and the Macula. The combat system is now dynamic and focused on direct melee fights, parries, and dodges, accompanied by environmental puzzles and large areas to explore. Despite some minor flaws in enemy AI and occasional frame rate drops, the title proves to be a narratively gripping and visually stunning adventure, successfully renewing the IP without betraying its essence.see full review ▶ amazon.com
7votesvote
5Marvel's WolverineAzione - Insomniac Games - 15/09/2026 - 18+Brutale avventura in terza persona basata su una storia originale di Wolverine: Logan, credendo di aver lasciato alle spalle la sua vita, è costretto a riunirsi al Team X per salvare i mutanti rapiti dal fanatico Bolivar Trask, affrontando nemici iconici in un viaggio lineare e sanguinoso attraverso località globali.Developed by Insomniac Games and released in September 2026 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, *Marvel's Wolverine* marks a mature and brutal departure from the studio's previous superhero titles. Abandoning the open-world formula, the game offers a linear, cinematic adventure centered on an original narrative that explores the character of Logan, voiced by Liam McIntyre, as he battles figures like Bolivar Trask across locations ranging from Canada to Madripoor. The technical aspects are praised for their optimization, featuring graphics modes that deliver 60 fps with active ray tracing even on the base PS5, while gameplay focuses on visceral hand-to-hand combat leveraging a multi-tiered Fury system. Although the combat system is deemed satisfying yet occasionally repetitive and the linear structure reduces longevity with a campaign of roughly 12-15 hours, the title is still regarded as a successful video game interpretation of the mutant, though some reviewers criticize its lack of innovation in game design and minor technical issues.see full review ▶ amazon.it
7votesvote
8Pokémon PokopiaLife Simulation - Game Freak - Nintendo - 05/03/2026 - All ages - Switch 2A Pokémon spin-off in the life-sim mold, close in spirit to Animal Crossing. Playing as a Ditto with no memory of its trainer, players restore abandoned habitats to lure scattered creatures back, through resource gathering, building and small daily activities.Pokémon Pokopia applies Nintendo's flagship franchise to the relaxing life-sim formula popularized by games like Animal Crossing, breaking sharply from the battle-and-capture structure that has defined the mainline series since its earliest days. Players take on the role of a Ditto with no memory of its trainer, transformed into a customizable humanoid form, who discovers a world where humanity has abandoned the Pokémon, leaving them without territories to live in. The main task is to restore rundown habitats, repair structures and gradually improve the surrounding environment, drawing ever more species into a village that grows alongside the player. The protagonist's signature ability, Ditto's trademark mimicry, lets them replicate the powers of other Pokémon encountered along the way, from Bulbasaur's plant cultivation to Scyther-style wood cutting and even Dragonite's flight, folding those abilities into resource-gathering and building mechanics rather than actual combat. The result is a successful hybrid of city builder, social sim and creature-raising game, one that delivers the satisfaction of watching a once-desolate area gradually repopulate, with crafting and building systems that stay accessible and never feel overwhelming. Some early stretches are fairly repetitive, though, with the need to water land and gather materials creating dead time before the mechanics fully open up. Overall, it remains one of the series' most successful spin-offs in years, reinterpreting the brand in a register completely different from the classic role-playing games. Its release has drawn renewed attention from audiences and press toward an alternative way of telling the Pokémon story, far removed from the competitive dynamics that usually dominate conversation around the franchise.see full review ▶ amazon.it
6votesvote
8Star Wars Zero CompanyNew Star Wars action title releasing August 27, 2026 for PC, with a critical score of 90/100 on OpenCritic.Developed by Bit Reactor, a studio founded by Firaxis veterans, and published by Electronic Arts, Star Wars Zero Company is a solid turn-based strategy game set in the final days of the Clone Wars. The game follows the story of Zero Company, a mercenary unit led by the customizable Hawks, blending isometric tactical gameplay reminiscent of XCOM with a strong emphasis on narrative and character management at their base, the Den. The structure features missions with varied objectives, a progression system for operatives, and a plot that, while moving within predetermined historical events, is enriched by personal stories and cameos, resulting in a cohesive and engaging single-player experience for fans of the genre and the saga.see full review ▶ amazon.it
6votesvote
8Elden Ring Tarnished EditionCelebratory re-release of the original FromSoftware game, launched on August 27, 2026.Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition brings FromSoftware's masterpiece to the Nintendo Switch 2, bundling the entire base adventure and the vast Shadow of the Erdtree expansion into a single package, enriched with exclusive content like the new Heavy Knight and Idus Knight classes and aesthetic customization for the steed Torrent. This port represents a small technical miracle, allowing players to explore the immense Lands Between on the go, albeit with inevitable compromises such as a locked 30fps frame rate and reduced graphical detail, with particularly noticeable pop-in in denser areas. The optimization work compared to early demos is remarkable, ensuring a substantially smooth and responsive gameplay experience, especially in handheld mode where the title finds its most convincing form. Despite the €79.99 price tag being potentially debatable, this is a complete and essential offering for those who only own a Switch 2 and have yet to experience one of the most acclaimed games of recent years.see full review ▶ amazon.it
6votesvote
8ReStory: Chill Electronics RepairsReleased August 26, 2026 on Steam. Electronics repair simulator with a 2000s aesthetic. User rating: 'Overwhelmingly Positive'.ReStory, the repair simulator developed by Mandragora and published by tinyBuild, has established itself as one of the most successful indie titles of 2026. Released on August 6th on Steam, the game places the player in early 2000s Tokyo, running an electronics shop with the goal of repairing vintage devices that evoke the Y2K era. The game hit the mark, recouping its budget in just 12 hours and selling 100,000 copies on its first day, supported by a cozy atmosphere and a narrative component that adds depth to the restoration mechanics. With a peak of over 17,000 concurrent players and an impressive 97% positive reviews, ReStory has demonstrated how a well-crafted formula—combining nostalgia, relaxing gameplay, and character-driven stories—can captivate audiences in an increasingly crowded genre.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
6votesvote
8The Blood of DawnwalkerDark fantasy open-world action-RPG from ex-Witcher developers, releasing on 03/09/2026.The Blood of Dawnwalker, an action RPG launching on September 3, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, is the debut title from Polish studio Rebel Wolves, founded by CD Projekt RED veterans who worked on The Witcher 3. The game, a medieval dark fantasy, places players in the role of Coen, a young man leading a double life: human by day and vampire (or Vrakhiri, in the game's lore) by night, with distinct abilities and gameplay for each phase. The structure revolves around a strict time system, where the entire adventure unfolds over 30 days, and every choice about how to spend time, divided into slots, has permanent consequences on the narrative and the fate of the characters. Technically, while leveraging Unreal Engine 5 for stunning landscapes, the title shows some limitations in animations and models, while the combat, inspired by a directional system, proves challenging and differentiated between the protagonist's two natures. Despite inevitable and acknowledged similarities to The Witcher 3 in narrative setup and atmosphere, Dawnwalker seeks its own identity through this time mechanic and the protagonist's duality, positioning itself as an ambitious RPG with a distinct personality, albeit not without some rough edges.see full review ▶ amazon.com
6votesvote
8Tomodachi LifeSimulazione di vita / Lifestyle - Nintendo EPD - 16/04/2026I giocatori popolano un'isola con i propri Mii personalizzabili e ne osservano le interazioni surreali e comiche, gestendo relazioni e sbloccando contenuti in un esperimento di narrativa emergente senza obiettivi fissi.After over a decade of waiting, Nintendo revives its quirky life simulation with "Tomodachi Life: A Dream Life," released in April 2026 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Developed by Nintendo, the game revisits the madcap concept of the original 2013 installment, allowing players to populate an island with their Mii characters and watch as they live, interact, and generate surreal and humorous stories. Compared to its predecessor, this new version introduces greater control over relationships, a deeply revamped Mii editor, and the long-awaited support for same-sex relationships and non-binary identities, finally putting to rest the controversy of 2014. The real innovation is the Design Studio, which offers nearly limitless creative freedom to customize objects, clothing, and even building appearances. However, the game comes with some compromises, such as a maximum cap of 70 Miis (down from 100 on the 3DS), an intentionally slow progression pace, and the absence of true multiplayer. Despite some repetitiveness in interactions and limitations in sharing user-created content, "Tomodachi Life: A Dream Life" reaffirms itself as a unique and endearing digital hallucination—a meme and absurd story generator that shines brightest in its ability to bring smiles to those who invest time and creativity.see full review ▶ amazon.com
6votesvote
8Onimusha: Way of the SwordCapcom samurai series revival, released September 3, 2026. Received IGN's first-ever 10/10 but criticized for padded campaign. Source: TechTimes.The return of the Onimusha series after two decades, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, confirms itself as one of Capcom's most important releases of 2026, winning over critics with an average score around 85 on Metacritic, yet also revealing some cracks in its armor. Developed with the RE Engine and directed by Satoru Nihei, the game presents a standalone story starring the young Miyamoto Musashi—whose iconic appearance is inspired by actor Toshirō Mifune—in an Edo-period Kyoto overrun by Genma demons. Its unanimously praised strength is the technical and satisfying combat system, based on parries, dodges, and the legendary Issen counterattack, which reaches spectacular heights especially in boss fights. However, the title faces criticism for sometimes repetitive side-quest structure, level design that doesn't always measure up, and certain design choices, such as a crafting system considered too unfocused, leading some reviewers to more measured judgments despite the excellence of the core gameplay.see full review ▶ amazon.it
6votesvote
15Slay the Spire 2Deck-Building Roguelike - Mega Crit - Mega Crit - 05/03/2026 - 7+ - PCThe sequel to the celebrated roguelike deck-builder, currently in early access. New characters, a companion system and more layered upgrades expand the turn-based, card-driven formula that made the original a genre landmark.Slay the Spire 2 picks up the formula that made the original one of the most influential roguelike deck-builders ever made, a game that single-handedly defined an entire subgenre still imitated by dozens of independent productions today. The sequel, currently available in early access, keeps the core skeleton intact: timed runs, decks built encounter by encounter, and the constant tension between risk and reward that defines every climb up the spire, while layering in several new dimensions of depth. The roster of playable characters grows to five, one more than the original, each with distinctive mechanics that push toward different deck archetypes, while colorless cards, historically the least interesting part of the first game, have been substantially reworked and are now almost always useful or at least capable of opening up alternative strategies. Among the most significant new additions is a companion system that supports the main character with passive or activatable abilities, alongside powers tied to specific resources and an enchantment system that lets players further customize the cards in their possession, meaningfully expanding the range of possible combinations between runs. A particularly well-received addition is multiplayer, which lets players tackle runs together, adding a social dimension absent from the first game. Being in early access, not everything is fully polished yet: the balance of some cards and characters still needs work, sound design lags behind the rest of the production, and several announced features, including additional modes and the campaign's full ending, will only arrive in later stages of development. Despite these expected limitations at this stage, the game generated immediate enthusiasm among the longtime fanbase, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about and best-selling titles on Steam in the weeks following its debut.see full review ▶ amazon.it
5votesvote
15How to FishChaotic indie fishing game from Dazed Games, released on Steam on August 20, 2026. Surpassed 1 million players.How to Fish is the indie surprise of 2026, a fishing game that completely flips the genre on its head with absurd physics and chaotic multiplayer spirit. Developed by the tiny Swedish studio Dazed Games, the title catapults players onto an island after a shipwreck, with the apparent goal of fishing to return home—but reality is quite different. Fishing quickly becomes a pretext for beating up fish, launching them into the air, or taking them down with firearms, in an experience that blends simulation, action, and physical absurdity, especially in online co-op. This crazy approach, combined with a low price, has generated viral success on Steam, where the game peaked at over 268,000 concurrent players shortly after launch.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
5votesvote
15Blood of DawnwalkerReleased 01/09/2026 for PC and consoles. Debut RPG from Rebel Wolves, praised for its 'time budget' mechanic (Metacritic 83).The Blood of Dawnwalker, the new dark fantasy action RPG from the newly-founded Rebel Wolves led by CD Projekt RED veteran Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, presents itself as an ambitious title that inevitably carries the weighty legacy of The Witcher 3. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the game tells the story of Coen, a young man transformed into a vampire (Dawnwalker), who has thirty days to save his family, alternating between a human nature by day and a vampiric one by night. The central mechanic of time as a limited resource, forcing significant choices during the exploration of the Vale Sangora valley, represents the project's most original and daring idea. Technically, despite the use of Unreal Engine 5 guaranteeing evocative landscapes, the title does not shine for cutting-edge animations or models, while the combat system, though solid, does not revolutionize the genre. Ultimately, it is an RPG with a strong personality and interesting narrative cues, which must constantly contend with the comparison imposed by its own pedigree.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
5votesvote
18Subnautica 2Survival - Unknown Worlds Entertainment - Unknown Worlds Entertainment - 14/05/2026 - 10+ - PC / Xbox Series X|SThe sequel to the genre-defining underwater survival game, now in early access. Exploration, crafting and resource management through the depths of an alien ocean planet, with the new addition of online co-op for up to four players.Subnautica 2 picks up the formula that made the original a surprise hit in the survival genre, the ability to turn fear of the underwater unknown into one of the most effective gameplay hooks around, without ever relying on direct combat. Players once again explore the ocean depths of an alien planet, managing survival stats such as oxygen, hunger and thirst while gathering resources to build underwater bases, vehicles and increasingly advanced tools. The sequel expands biomes, creatures and crafting trees compared to previous entries, while keeping central that sense of vulnerability and wonder that made the original memorable, a delicate balance between curiosity about the unknown and constant tension generated by enormous predators that can appear at any moment. The most significant new addition compared to the past is online co-op for up to four players, designed for exploring, building bases and facing the dangers of the deep together with others, a change that meaningfully shifts the pacing away from the claustrophobic solitude of the first game. Being in early access, the content currently available covers only part of the planet and offers roughly six to twelve hours of gameplay for the narrative component alone, a figure that stretches considerably further when using multiplayer. Early critical impressions are largely positive, with particular praise for the art direction, for sound design that builds tension through audio alone, and for a sense of immediate familiarity for anyone who already loved the first game or Below Zero, though some observers note that, at this stage, the game has not yet strayed far enough from the original formula. Its early access debut has nonetheless reignited interest around the series, putting it back at the center of discussion among survival fans awaiting future content.see full review ▶ amazon.it
4votesvote
18ValheimFull 1.0 release of the survival game, featuring the Deep North region and full crossplay. Released on September 9, 2026.Valheim, the Viking survival game from Swedish studio Iron Gate, has finally reached version 1.0 in September 2026 after a long early access period, crowning an exceptional growth journey for a project born as a passion endeavor. The title, which combines exploration, construction, and survival in a vast procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology, is now complete with the addition of the long-awaited final biome, the Deep North, offering new challenges, creatures, and content. Despite some stiffness in combat and interface, the game wins players over with its unique atmosphere, evocative sound design, and a design philosophy that rewards independent discovery, resulting in a memorable cooperative experience with a strong identity. The launch of the definitive version also coincides with its debut on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, with support for full crossplay across all platforms.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
4votesvote
20Mina the HollowerAction-Platformer - Yacht Club Games - Yacht Club Games - 29/05/2026 - 10+ - PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S / Switch / Switch 2An indie action-platformer from Yacht Club Games, the makers of Shovel Knight, inspired by the classic Game Boy Color Zelda titles. Gothic atmosphere, top-down exploration and puzzles revolve around Mina, who can burrow underground to move and dodge attacks.Mina the Hollower is openly built as a tribute to the classic Zelda games released on Game Boy Color, borrowing their looping structure, pacing of discovery and top-down layout, while filtering all of it through a gothic dark-fantasy aesthetic far removed from the sunnier tone those titles were known for. The project comes from Yacht Club Games, the studio that had already shown a remarkable ability to reinterpret retro design languages with a modern sensibility in Shovel Knight, and here it repeats the trick with an even higher level of polish. Gameplay revolves around protagonist Mina, the last of a lineage of Hollowers able to burrow underground to move quickly, clear obstacles, dodge enemy attacks and surprise opponents from unexpected directions. This move, a multi-stage dodge that demands precise timing to master, becomes the pivot around which both exploration and combat turn, offering surprising room for creativity to players who learn to use it fully. The level design stands out for its density of secrets, shortcuts and interconnections between areas, in classic metroidvania fashion, with a world that opens up gradually as the protagonist acquires new tools and abilities. The narrative component, while not the centerpiece of the experience, manages to build memorable characters and a coherent atmosphere that gives emotional weight to progression. The art direction, with detail-rich pixel art and skillful use of color to define different areas, helps make the game world recognizable within the first few minutes. The result is a title that proves Shovel Knight's success was no fluke for the studio, but the sign of a solid working method. Since launch, Mina the Hollower has been received as one of the year's most successful surprises in the indie space, a verdict that has fueled word of mouth well beyond the genre's longtime fanbase.see full review ▶ amazon.it
3votesvote
21MewgenicsStrategy Sim - Edmund McMillen - Edmund McMillen - 10/02/2026 - 18+ - PCA cat-themed tactics sim from the creators of The Binding of Isaac. Players breed, cross-breed and send their feline creatures into grid-based tactical battles, through genetic mutations, random events and hundreds of items to unlock.Mewgenics marks the return of Edmund McMillen, the creator of The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy, with a project developed alongside Tyler Glaiel over more than a decade that shifts radically away from the genre most associated with the author's best-known work. Instead of frantic roguelike action, Mewgenics offers a cat-themed strategy sim in which players breed, cross-breed and send their feline creatures on missions, managing a genuine genetic selection program that affects stats, appearance and special abilities of the offspring. Battles take place on a tactical grid where positioning, unit synergies and resource management matter as much as raw power, in a system that blends tactical RPG elements with the run-based structure typical of roguelikes, alternating fights with random events that can reward players with gear and advantages or punish them with unwanted mutations for one of their cats. The sheer volume of content is remarkable, with over two hundred hours of core material, more than one hundred bosses, roughly two hundred enemy types, over twelve hundred distinct abilities and around a thousand equippable items, an amount that guarantees near-limitless replayability for anyone who loves optimizing every last detail of their squads. Beneath the goofy, brightly colored and deliberately childish aesthetic lies a sharp, at times macabre sense of humor, a recognizable McMillen trademark, which here coexists with progression systems surprisingly layered for a game that looks so lighthearted on the surface. The result is a title capable of surprising both the author's longtime fans, used to a similar aesthetic applied to different genres, and an entirely new audience drawn in mainly by the cat theme. After a wait of more than thirteen years since its first announcement, Mewgenics' release generated a wave of media attention that made it one of the season's most talked-about independent titles.see full review ▶ amazon.it
2votesvote
22Big Walk2-player cooperative game, reviewed on September 7, 2026. Has a 95% user score on Steam. (Source: GameBrief)Big Walk, the new cooperative title from Australian studio House House, creators of the acclaimed Untitled Goose Game, established itself in 2026 as one of the most original and celebrated experiences. The game invites groups of 2 to 12 players to explore a vast island and solve a series of ingenious puzzles, whose design dynamically adapts to the number of participants. The heart of the experience lies in communication, made essential by the integrated proximity chat, which fades voices with distance, and a gesture system that pushes players to collaborate in creative ways. This approach, combined with a clean, expressive art style and top-tier design reminiscent of titles like The Witness, earned the game exceptional critical reception, with very high scores on Metacritic and OpenCritic and a million copies sold within days. Big Walk thus confirms itself not as a simple party game, but as a polished and intelligent cooperative adventure, capable of generating unforgettable memories among the friends who undertake it.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
1votesvote
23Rogue EclipseArcade space combat roguelite from Husban Siddiqi/HUSKRAFTS, scheduled for release on August 28, 2026.Rogue Eclipse, the arcade space shooter developed by HUSKRAFTS and published by Outersloth, attempts to refresh the genre by blending high-speed three-dimensional combat with a roguelike structure. The game places players in the role of a pilot in a war for humanity's future, where every defeat contributes to progression, allowing them to upgrade their ship and tackle subsequent runs with greater skill. While fast-paced dogfights and clashes against colossal enemy ships form the core of the experience, the narrative component, though present with a setting inspired by Arabesque Futurism, mainly serves as a link between one battle and the next. The title demands focus and a willingness to accept failure, but when speed, progression, and epic battles come together, it delivers the satisfaction of perfectly controlled chaos.see full review ▶ amazon.it
0votesvote
23The Sinking City 2Survival horror game from Frogwares, released on August 18, 2026 for PC and consoles. Scored 81 on OpenCritic.The Sinking City 2 marks a decisive shift for the Ukrainian studio Frogwares, abandoning the investigative roots of the original to embrace survival horror. Set in 1929 in the city of Arkham, submerged by an unnatural flood, the game follows adventurer Calvin Rafferty on a desperate mission to save his partner Faye, who has fallen into a deep sleep after a failed occult ritual. The gameplay now focuses on combat against parasitized creatures and a Lovecraftian bestiary, exploration in confined areas, and resource management typical of the genre, although the stealth system and some shooting aspects present some issues. Despite the inevitable development challenges during wartime, the title stands out for its deeply evocative atmosphere, with a deserted and flooded Arkham rendered with excellent artistic direction, offering a compact and immersive horror adventure.see full review ▶ amazon.it
0votesvote
23Crimson MoonGothic action-RPG from ProbablyMonsters, released on 02/09/2026 for PS5, Xbox, and PC.Set to release on September 1, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Crimson Moon is a souls-like action RPG developed by ProbablyMonsters. Set in the gothic-Renaissance city of Gildenarch, which has been invaded by a demonic corruption, the game places players in the role of a Nephilim from the Order of the Crimson Moon. The brutal combat system, focused on stamina management, offers a solid experience both in single-player and two-player online co-op, with a shared health system that requires coordination. While not revolutionizing the genre, Crimson Moon presents itself as a well-crafted double-A title, blending an atmosphere of decay with a subtle undercurrent of hope, standing out for its complete offering and carefully calibrated gameplay pace.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
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23OrbitalsSci-fi puzzle game, top revenue earner on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop (September 2026).Orbitals, developed by the independent studio Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, stands out as one of the freshest and most artistically distinctive cooperative experiences of 2026, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Directed by Jakob Lundgren, already known for his work at Hazelight Studios, the game blends top-tier asymmetric cooperative game design with an aesthetic that is a deliberate homage to Japanese sci-fi animation from the 1980s and '90s, created in collaboration with Studio Massket. Players control the two space explorers Maki and Omura in an adventure that rhythmically alternates between platforming, environmental puzzles, and space combat, requiring constant and rewarding coordination. The production shines for its generosity, intelligently supporting Game Share for online co-op with a single copy and offering a perfect local experience for couch co-op, all wrapped in a nostalgic atmosphere that captures the essence of classic anime without ever resorting to pure citation.see full review ▶ nintendo.com
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23Tiny EdenIndoor farming simulator indie, launched with 'Very Positive' reviews on Steam on September 7, 2026.In a 2026 gaming landscape celebrating epic titles like *The Lonesome Guild*, winner of the Italian Video Game Awards, *Tiny Eden* stands out for its intimate and meditative approach. This relaxing indoor gardening simulator, developed by Polish indie studio Bajka Games and published by Digital Vortex Entertainment, invites players to transform a bare apartment in a futuristic megalopolis into a lush green sanctuary, starting from a simple pot on a windowsill. Available on PC via Steam, the game focuses on realistic soil chemistry and plant growth stages, evolving into vegetable cultivation, recipe creation in the kitchen, and customization of the living space. It offers a cozy experience born from the team's personal inspiration during pandemic isolation. In stark contrast to large-scale ecological management games like *BioEden*, presented at Gamescom 2026, *Tiny Eden* celebrates the quiet joy of small daily rituals, positioning itself as a digital refuge to find a sense of peace and home in urban frenzy.see full review ▶ amazon.it
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23WARDOGS100-player tactical military sim FPS from Bulkhead. Released circa September 10, 2026. Sales: 1.25 million copies in 24 hours.Wardogs, the tactical sandbox shooter developed by Bulkhead and published by Team17, made a record-breaking debut on Steam Early Access in September 2026, selling over a million copies in the first 24 hours and reaching peaks of over 300,000 concurrent players. The game features large-scale battles with up to 100 players divided into three teams, fighting for control of an area within a 256 km² map, combining construction mechanics and total environmental destruction. The most innovative aspect is its persistent economy, where money earned or lost in one match carries over to the next, adding a layer of financial risk to tactical decisions. With such a successful launch, Wardogs has quickly positioned itself as a serious contender in the military shooter genre, promising a two-year Early Access development period ahead of a full release and console versions planned for 2028.see full review ▶ store.steampowered.com
Pragmata
An astronaut and a mysterious android girl must survive and uncover the truth on a lunar research station, blending third-person shooting with a unique real-time hacking system in a story about their deepening bond.
After a long development, Pragmata, Capcom's new IP, finally arrives in 2026, meeting expectations with a top-tier third-person action game. Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, the game follows the story of soldier Hugh and the sentient android Diana as they confront the robotic army of the AI IDUS inside the lunar station, the Cradle. The heart of the experience lies in the revolutionary dual combat system, which masterfully blends traditional gunplay with a real-time hacking minigame managed by Diana, creating a fluid and original gameplay style. This is complemented by outstanding technical performance, thanks to the RE Engine, which delivers impeccable graphics, animations, and optimization, especially on PC and PS5 Pro. While the plot draws on classic sci-fi themes, the father-daughter relationship between the two protagonists, delicately crafted and supported by high-quality Italian voice acting, emerges as the true emotional engine of a linear, dense, and memorable adventure, positioning it among the best titles of the year.
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Resident Evil Requiem
The ninth mainline entry follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and agent Leon S. Kennedy as they investigate a series of deaths tied to a mysterious hotel and the legacy of Raccoon City, blending survival horror with action and offering gameplay in both first and third person.
Resident Evil: Requiem, the ninth main installment in Capcom's survival horror saga released in February 2026, presents itself as an ambitious work that seeks to merge the two souls of the series. The plot alternates between the events of FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, grappling with a personal investigation in a Midwestern hotel, and those of a now-veteran and scarred Leon S. Kennedy. This narrative duality is reflected in the gameplay: the sections with Grace offer a pure survival horror experience, often in first-person, with tension, scarce resources, and a crafting system, while those with Leon propose more frenetic and spectacular third-person action. Technically, the game, based on the RE Engine, is praised for its visual rendering and performance solidity, although some reviews note a script that is uneven at times and an excess of fan service that undermines narrative cohesion. Overall, Requiem is seen as a solid and entertaining title, capable of engaging both long-time fans and newcomers, even if it fails to reach the excellence of the more acclaimed recent installments.
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Crimson Desert
An action open world from Pearl Abyss, set on a war-torn fictional continent. Physical, spectacular combat, large-scale exploration and settlement management combine in a mature-toned action adventure.
Crimson Desert is the most ambitious project Pearl Abyss has ever attempted, a South Korean studio best known for the MMO Black Desert Online, arriving after an extraordinarily long development cycle that began with announcements quite different from what the game ultimately became at launch. At the heart of the experience is a close-quarters, physical combat system built on elaborate combos that blend bare-handed strikes, grapples, kicks and bladed weapons, with the ability to chain timed counters, aerial dashes and full-on wrestling moves against larger foes. Weapons can be enhanced with elemental effects such as fire and ice, adding a layer of tactical depth that encourages players to vary their approach depending on the type of enemy faced. The game world is vast and vertical, explorable thanks to a flight ability and a Spider-Man-style grappling hook that let players clear elevation changes and reach otherwise unreachable spots, making free exploration as central to the experience as combat itself. Around these mechanics revolves a mature-toned narrative set on a fictional continent scarred by factional conflict, in which players alternate between main missions, settlement management and large-scale battles involving entire armies. That said, the game has some notable shortcomings: an environmental interaction system several reviewers found overly fiddly, a protagonist perceived as less charismatic than the rich world surrounding him, and difficulty spikes that are not always finely calibrated, leaving the pacing somewhat uneven. It nonetheless remains a title that stands out for its technical ambition and for art direction that renders a dense, believable world. Helped along by the years-long anticipation that preceded its release, Crimson Desert has been among the most talked-about launches of recent months, repeatedly returning to the center of conversation among action open-world fans.
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Nioh 3
A soulslike action RPG from Team Ninja set in feudal Japan, now built around an open-field structure. Two combat styles, Samurai and Ninja, sit alongside a deep progression system and the punishing difficulty that remains the series' trademark.
Nioh 3 represents the most mature point the Team Ninja series has reached so far, managing to preserve the identity that made the franchise a benchmark for soulslike fans set in feudal Japan while also introducing the most significant structural transformation since the first game. In place of the self-contained, strongly linear missions of previous entries, the third installment adopts an open-field structure divided into freely explorable macro areas, each enriched by an exploration level that grows as players discover shrines, chests and enemy outposts to clear, gradually revealing new points of interest on the map. On the combat side, the dual-style system remains the heart of the experience and is enriched with two alternative approaches selectable at any time: the Samurai style, closer to the classic formula built around Ki Pulse and stamina management, and the Ninja style, more agile and mobility-focused, which trades away Ki Pulse for dedicated tools such as kunai, smoke bombs and elemental shuriken. This dual identity lets players approach the same encounters in radically different ways, meaningfully increasing replayability and tactical variety compared to earlier entries. Difficulty remains extremely high and punishing, fully in keeping with the series' tradition, demanding careful study of enemy patterns, judicious resource management and a steep learning curve that discourages less patient players while rewarding those who persevere with a deeply satisfying sense of progression. Some technical issues, particularly frame-rate drops in certain configurations, have been flagged by several outlets as the only real blemish on an otherwise very solid package. In the weeks following launch, Nioh 3 was repeatedly compared to the genre's finest examples, a comparison that renewed its visibility with audiences even months later.
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007 First Light
A James Bond origin story from IO Interactive, the studio behind Hitman. Freeform infiltration, iconic gadgets, car chases and action set pieces alternate across missions set in a range of international locations.
007 First Light marks James Bond's return to AAA gaming after more than a decade's absence, and it hands the job to IO Interactive, a studio that brings the experience built on the Hitman series into the project without simply repackaging that formula. The game recounts the early days of a young James Bond, before he even earns his license to kill, alternating strongly linear, cinematic missions, closer in pacing to action-adventure productions like the Uncharted series, with more open levels that give players considerable freedom of approach, in classic Hitman-style sandbox fashion. In those sections, players can improvise, move stealthily, manipulate guards or use the character's iconic gadgets in creative ways, letting a mission spiral into chaos only if they choose to. The gunplay is tight and satisfying, melee combat is solid, and driving sections break up the pace with rather spectacular car chases. Rounding out the package are internationally varied settings crafted with real attention to detail, a strong supporting cast, and a TacSim mode built for replayability, complete with an in-game currency to spend unlocking weapons and cosmetics and online leaderboards for comparing performance between players. This variety of situations ensures the experience never grows monotonous, but it also creates some pacing issues, since the constant shifting between registers does not always flow smoothly. Overall, though, the game manages to deliver a convincing reinterpretation of the Bond universe, distinct enough from Hitman's assassination sandboxes to stand firmly on its own two feet, while still rewarding the kind of experimentation the studio built its reputation on. Arriving after years of anticipation from fans of the long-running film franchise, the release has brought renewed critical and public attention to a character that had been largely off the gaming radar for a long time, prompting fresh discussion about where the young franchise could head from here.
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Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Released 27/08/2026. First action-oriented chapter in the series, critic score 80/100. Source: TechTimes.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy by Asobo Studio represents a bold and successful shift for the series, abandoning the stealth gameplay of previous chapters to embrace an action-adventure soul. This prequel, set in Venice and later on a Mediterranean island in the 1300s, follows the young Sophia on a journey linked to Minoan mythology and the Macula. The combat system is now dynamic and focused on direct melee fights, parries, and dodges, accompanied by environmental puzzles and large areas to explore. Despite some minor flaws in enemy AI and occasional frame rate drops, the title proves to be a narratively gripping and visually stunning adventure, successfully renewing the IP without betraying its essence.
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Marvel's Wolverine
Brutale avventura in terza persona basata su una storia originale di Wolverine: Logan, credendo di aver lasciato alle spalle la sua vita, è costretto a riunirsi al Team X per salvare i mutanti rapiti dal fanatico Bolivar Trask, affrontando nemici iconici in un viaggio lineare e sanguinoso attraverso località globali.
Developed by Insomniac Games and released in September 2026 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, *Marvel's Wolverine* marks a mature and brutal departure from the studio's previous superhero titles. Abandoning the open-world formula, the game offers a linear, cinematic adventure centered on an original narrative that explores the character of Logan, voiced by Liam McIntyre, as he battles figures like Bolivar Trask across locations ranging from Canada to Madripoor. The technical aspects are praised for their optimization, featuring graphics modes that deliver 60 fps with active ray tracing even on the base PS5, while gameplay focuses on visceral hand-to-hand combat leveraging a multi-tiered Fury system. Although the combat system is deemed satisfying yet occasionally repetitive and the linear structure reduces longevity with a campaign of roughly 12-15 hours, the title is still regarded as a successful video game interpretation of the mutant, though some reviewers criticize its lack of innovation in game design and minor technical issues.
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Pokémon Pokopia
A Pokémon spin-off in the life-sim mold, close in spirit to Animal Crossing. Playing as a Ditto with no memory of its trainer, players restore abandoned habitats to lure scattered creatures back, through resource gathering, building and small daily activities.
Pokémon Pokopia applies Nintendo's flagship franchise to the relaxing life-sim formula popularized by games like Animal Crossing, breaking sharply from the battle-and-capture structure that has defined the mainline series since its earliest days. Players take on the role of a Ditto with no memory of its trainer, transformed into a customizable humanoid form, who discovers a world where humanity has abandoned the Pokémon, leaving them without territories to live in. The main task is to restore rundown habitats, repair structures and gradually improve the surrounding environment, drawing ever more species into a village that grows alongside the player. The protagonist's signature ability, Ditto's trademark mimicry, lets them replicate the powers of other Pokémon encountered along the way, from Bulbasaur's plant cultivation to Scyther-style wood cutting and even Dragonite's flight, folding those abilities into resource-gathering and building mechanics rather than actual combat. The result is a successful hybrid of city builder, social sim and creature-raising game, one that delivers the satisfaction of watching a once-desolate area gradually repopulate, with crafting and building systems that stay accessible and never feel overwhelming. Some early stretches are fairly repetitive, though, with the need to water land and gather materials creating dead time before the mechanics fully open up. Overall, it remains one of the series' most successful spin-offs in years, reinterpreting the brand in a register completely different from the classic role-playing games. Its release has drawn renewed attention from audiences and press toward an alternative way of telling the Pokémon story, far removed from the competitive dynamics that usually dominate conversation around the franchise.
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Star Wars Zero Company
New Star Wars action title releasing August 27, 2026 for PC, with a critical score of 90/100 on OpenCritic.
Developed by Bit Reactor, a studio founded by Firaxis veterans, and published by Electronic Arts, Star Wars Zero Company is a solid turn-based strategy game set in the final days of the Clone Wars. The game follows the story of Zero Company, a mercenary unit led by the customizable Hawks, blending isometric tactical gameplay reminiscent of XCOM with a strong emphasis on narrative and character management at their base, the Den. The structure features missions with varied objectives, a progression system for operatives, and a plot that, while moving within predetermined historical events, is enriched by personal stories and cameos, resulting in a cohesive and engaging single-player experience for fans of the genre and the saga.
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Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Celebratory re-release of the original FromSoftware game, launched on August 27, 2026.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition brings FromSoftware's masterpiece to the Nintendo Switch 2, bundling the entire base adventure and the vast Shadow of the Erdtree expansion into a single package, enriched with exclusive content like the new Heavy Knight and Idus Knight classes and aesthetic customization for the steed Torrent. This port represents a small technical miracle, allowing players to explore the immense Lands Between on the go, albeit with inevitable compromises such as a locked 30fps frame rate and reduced graphical detail, with particularly noticeable pop-in in denser areas. The optimization work compared to early demos is remarkable, ensuring a substantially smooth and responsive gameplay experience, especially in handheld mode where the title finds its most convincing form. Despite the €79.99 price tag being potentially debatable, this is a complete and essential offering for those who only own a Switch 2 and have yet to experience one of the most acclaimed games of recent years.
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ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs
Released August 26, 2026 on Steam. Electronics repair simulator with a 2000s aesthetic. User rating: 'Overwhelmingly Positive'.
ReStory, the repair simulator developed by Mandragora and published by tinyBuild, has established itself as one of the most successful indie titles of 2026. Released on August 6th on Steam, the game places the player in early 2000s Tokyo, running an electronics shop with the goal of repairing vintage devices that evoke the Y2K era. The game hit the mark, recouping its budget in just 12 hours and selling 100,000 copies on its first day, supported by a cozy atmosphere and a narrative component that adds depth to the restoration mechanics. With a peak of over 17,000 concurrent players and an impressive 97% positive reviews, ReStory has demonstrated how a well-crafted formula—combining nostalgia, relaxing gameplay, and character-driven stories—can captivate audiences in an increasingly crowded genre.
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The Blood of Dawnwalker
Dark fantasy open-world action-RPG from ex-Witcher developers, releasing on 03/09/2026.
The Blood of Dawnwalker, an action RPG launching on September 3, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, is the debut title from Polish studio Rebel Wolves, founded by CD Projekt RED veterans who worked on The Witcher 3. The game, a medieval dark fantasy, places players in the role of Coen, a young man leading a double life: human by day and vampire (or Vrakhiri, in the game's lore) by night, with distinct abilities and gameplay for each phase. The structure revolves around a strict time system, where the entire adventure unfolds over 30 days, and every choice about how to spend time, divided into slots, has permanent consequences on the narrative and the fate of the characters. Technically, while leveraging Unreal Engine 5 for stunning landscapes, the title shows some limitations in animations and models, while the combat, inspired by a directional system, proves challenging and differentiated between the protagonist's two natures. Despite inevitable and acknowledged similarities to The Witcher 3 in narrative setup and atmosphere, Dawnwalker seeks its own identity through this time mechanic and the protagonist's duality, positioning itself as an ambitious RPG with a distinct personality, albeit not without some rough edges.
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Tomodachi Life
I giocatori popolano un'isola con i propri Mii personalizzabili e ne osservano le interazioni surreali e comiche, gestendo relazioni e sbloccando contenuti in un esperimento di narrativa emergente senza obiettivi fissi.
After over a decade of waiting, Nintendo revives its quirky life simulation with "Tomodachi Life: A Dream Life," released in April 2026 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Developed by Nintendo, the game revisits the madcap concept of the original 2013 installment, allowing players to populate an island with their Mii characters and watch as they live, interact, and generate surreal and humorous stories. Compared to its predecessor, this new version introduces greater control over relationships, a deeply revamped Mii editor, and the long-awaited support for same-sex relationships and non-binary identities, finally putting to rest the controversy of 2014. The real innovation is the Design Studio, which offers nearly limitless creative freedom to customize objects, clothing, and even building appearances. However, the game comes with some compromises, such as a maximum cap of 70 Miis (down from 100 on the 3DS), an intentionally slow progression pace, and the absence of true multiplayer. Despite some repetitiveness in interactions and limitations in sharing user-created content, "Tomodachi Life: A Dream Life" reaffirms itself as a unique and endearing digital hallucination—a meme and absurd story generator that shines brightest in its ability to bring smiles to those who invest time and creativity.
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Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Capcom samurai series revival, released September 3, 2026. Received IGN's first-ever 10/10 but criticized for padded campaign. Source: TechTimes.
The return of the Onimusha series after two decades, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, confirms itself as one of Capcom's most important releases of 2026, winning over critics with an average score around 85 on Metacritic, yet also revealing some cracks in its armor. Developed with the RE Engine and directed by Satoru Nihei, the game presents a standalone story starring the young Miyamoto Musashi—whose iconic appearance is inspired by actor Toshirō Mifune—in an Edo-period Kyoto overrun by Genma demons. Its unanimously praised strength is the technical and satisfying combat system, based on parries, dodges, and the legendary Issen counterattack, which reaches spectacular heights especially in boss fights. However, the title faces criticism for sometimes repetitive side-quest structure, level design that doesn't always measure up, and certain design choices, such as a crafting system considered too unfocused, leading some reviewers to more measured judgments despite the excellence of the core gameplay.
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Slay the Spire 2
The sequel to the celebrated roguelike deck-builder, currently in early access. New characters, a companion system and more layered upgrades expand the turn-based, card-driven formula that made the original a genre landmark.
Slay the Spire 2 picks up the formula that made the original one of the most influential roguelike deck-builders ever made, a game that single-handedly defined an entire subgenre still imitated by dozens of independent productions today. The sequel, currently available in early access, keeps the core skeleton intact: timed runs, decks built encounter by encounter, and the constant tension between risk and reward that defines every climb up the spire, while layering in several new dimensions of depth. The roster of playable characters grows to five, one more than the original, each with distinctive mechanics that push toward different deck archetypes, while colorless cards, historically the least interesting part of the first game, have been substantially reworked and are now almost always useful or at least capable of opening up alternative strategies. Among the most significant new additions is a companion system that supports the main character with passive or activatable abilities, alongside powers tied to specific resources and an enchantment system that lets players further customize the cards in their possession, meaningfully expanding the range of possible combinations between runs. A particularly well-received addition is multiplayer, which lets players tackle runs together, adding a social dimension absent from the first game. Being in early access, not everything is fully polished yet: the balance of some cards and characters still needs work, sound design lags behind the rest of the production, and several announced features, including additional modes and the campaign's full ending, will only arrive in later stages of development. Despite these expected limitations at this stage, the game generated immediate enthusiasm among the longtime fanbase, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about and best-selling titles on Steam in the weeks following its debut.
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How to Fish
Chaotic indie fishing game from Dazed Games, released on Steam on August 20, 2026. Surpassed 1 million players.
How to Fish is the indie surprise of 2026, a fishing game that completely flips the genre on its head with absurd physics and chaotic multiplayer spirit. Developed by the tiny Swedish studio Dazed Games, the title catapults players onto an island after a shipwreck, with the apparent goal of fishing to return home—but reality is quite different. Fishing quickly becomes a pretext for beating up fish, launching them into the air, or taking them down with firearms, in an experience that blends simulation, action, and physical absurdity, especially in online co-op. This crazy approach, combined with a low price, has generated viral success on Steam, where the game peaked at over 268,000 concurrent players shortly after launch.
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Blood of Dawnwalker
Released 01/09/2026 for PC and consoles. Debut RPG from Rebel Wolves, praised for its 'time budget' mechanic (Metacritic 83).
The Blood of Dawnwalker, the new dark fantasy action RPG from the newly-founded Rebel Wolves led by CD Projekt RED veteran Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, presents itself as an ambitious title that inevitably carries the weighty legacy of The Witcher 3. Published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the game tells the story of Coen, a young man transformed into a vampire (Dawnwalker), who has thirty days to save his family, alternating between a human nature by day and a vampiric one by night. The central mechanic of time as a limited resource, forcing significant choices during the exploration of the Vale Sangora valley, represents the project's most original and daring idea. Technically, despite the use of Unreal Engine 5 guaranteeing evocative landscapes, the title does not shine for cutting-edge animations or models, while the combat system, though solid, does not revolutionize the genre. Ultimately, it is an RPG with a strong personality and interesting narrative cues, which must constantly contend with the comparison imposed by its own pedigree.
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Subnautica 2
The sequel to the genre-defining underwater survival game, now in early access. Exploration, crafting and resource management through the depths of an alien ocean planet, with the new addition of online co-op for up to four players.
Subnautica 2 picks up the formula that made the original a surprise hit in the survival genre, the ability to turn fear of the underwater unknown into one of the most effective gameplay hooks around, without ever relying on direct combat. Players once again explore the ocean depths of an alien planet, managing survival stats such as oxygen, hunger and thirst while gathering resources to build underwater bases, vehicles and increasingly advanced tools. The sequel expands biomes, creatures and crafting trees compared to previous entries, while keeping central that sense of vulnerability and wonder that made the original memorable, a delicate balance between curiosity about the unknown and constant tension generated by enormous predators that can appear at any moment. The most significant new addition compared to the past is online co-op for up to four players, designed for exploring, building bases and facing the dangers of the deep together with others, a change that meaningfully shifts the pacing away from the claustrophobic solitude of the first game. Being in early access, the content currently available covers only part of the planet and offers roughly six to twelve hours of gameplay for the narrative component alone, a figure that stretches considerably further when using multiplayer. Early critical impressions are largely positive, with particular praise for the art direction, for sound design that builds tension through audio alone, and for a sense of immediate familiarity for anyone who already loved the first game or Below Zero, though some observers note that, at this stage, the game has not yet strayed far enough from the original formula. Its early access debut has nonetheless reignited interest around the series, putting it back at the center of discussion among survival fans awaiting future content.
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Valheim
Full 1.0 release of the survival game, featuring the Deep North region and full crossplay. Released on September 9, 2026.
Valheim, the Viking survival game from Swedish studio Iron Gate, has finally reached version 1.0 in September 2026 after a long early access period, crowning an exceptional growth journey for a project born as a passion endeavor. The title, which combines exploration, construction, and survival in a vast procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology, is now complete with the addition of the long-awaited final biome, the Deep North, offering new challenges, creatures, and content. Despite some stiffness in combat and interface, the game wins players over with its unique atmosphere, evocative sound design, and a design philosophy that rewards independent discovery, resulting in a memorable cooperative experience with a strong identity. The launch of the definitive version also coincides with its debut on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, with support for full crossplay across all platforms.
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Mina the Hollower
An indie action-platformer from Yacht Club Games, the makers of Shovel Knight, inspired by the classic Game Boy Color Zelda titles. Gothic atmosphere, top-down exploration and puzzles revolve around Mina, who can burrow underground to move and dodge attacks.
Mina the Hollower is openly built as a tribute to the classic Zelda games released on Game Boy Color, borrowing their looping structure, pacing of discovery and top-down layout, while filtering all of it through a gothic dark-fantasy aesthetic far removed from the sunnier tone those titles were known for. The project comes from Yacht Club Games, the studio that had already shown a remarkable ability to reinterpret retro design languages with a modern sensibility in Shovel Knight, and here it repeats the trick with an even higher level of polish. Gameplay revolves around protagonist Mina, the last of a lineage of Hollowers able to burrow underground to move quickly, clear obstacles, dodge enemy attacks and surprise opponents from unexpected directions. This move, a multi-stage dodge that demands precise timing to master, becomes the pivot around which both exploration and combat turn, offering surprising room for creativity to players who learn to use it fully. The level design stands out for its density of secrets, shortcuts and interconnections between areas, in classic metroidvania fashion, with a world that opens up gradually as the protagonist acquires new tools and abilities. The narrative component, while not the centerpiece of the experience, manages to build memorable characters and a coherent atmosphere that gives emotional weight to progression. The art direction, with detail-rich pixel art and skillful use of color to define different areas, helps make the game world recognizable within the first few minutes. The result is a title that proves Shovel Knight's success was no fluke for the studio, but the sign of a solid working method. Since launch, Mina the Hollower has been received as one of the year's most successful surprises in the indie space, a verdict that has fueled word of mouth well beyond the genre's longtime fanbase.
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Mewgenics
A cat-themed tactics sim from the creators of The Binding of Isaac. Players breed, cross-breed and send their feline creatures into grid-based tactical battles, through genetic mutations, random events and hundreds of items to unlock.
Mewgenics marks the return of Edmund McMillen, the creator of The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy, with a project developed alongside Tyler Glaiel over more than a decade that shifts radically away from the genre most associated with the author's best-known work. Instead of frantic roguelike action, Mewgenics offers a cat-themed strategy sim in which players breed, cross-breed and send their feline creatures on missions, managing a genuine genetic selection program that affects stats, appearance and special abilities of the offspring. Battles take place on a tactical grid where positioning, unit synergies and resource management matter as much as raw power, in a system that blends tactical RPG elements with the run-based structure typical of roguelikes, alternating fights with random events that can reward players with gear and advantages or punish them with unwanted mutations for one of their cats. The sheer volume of content is remarkable, with over two hundred hours of core material, more than one hundred bosses, roughly two hundred enemy types, over twelve hundred distinct abilities and around a thousand equippable items, an amount that guarantees near-limitless replayability for anyone who loves optimizing every last detail of their squads. Beneath the goofy, brightly colored and deliberately childish aesthetic lies a sharp, at times macabre sense of humor, a recognizable McMillen trademark, which here coexists with progression systems surprisingly layered for a game that looks so lighthearted on the surface. The result is a title capable of surprising both the author's longtime fans, used to a similar aesthetic applied to different genres, and an entirely new audience drawn in mainly by the cat theme. After a wait of more than thirteen years since its first announcement, Mewgenics' release generated a wave of media attention that made it one of the season's most talked-about independent titles.
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Big Walk
2-player cooperative game, reviewed on September 7, 2026. Has a 95% user score on Steam. (Source: GameBrief)
Big Walk, the new cooperative title from Australian studio House House, creators of the acclaimed Untitled Goose Game, established itself in 2026 as one of the most original and celebrated experiences. The game invites groups of 2 to 12 players to explore a vast island and solve a series of ingenious puzzles, whose design dynamically adapts to the number of participants. The heart of the experience lies in communication, made essential by the integrated proximity chat, which fades voices with distance, and a gesture system that pushes players to collaborate in creative ways. This approach, combined with a clean, expressive art style and top-tier design reminiscent of titles like The Witness, earned the game exceptional critical reception, with very high scores on Metacritic and OpenCritic and a million copies sold within days. Big Walk thus confirms itself not as a simple party game, but as a polished and intelligent cooperative adventure, capable of generating unforgettable memories among the friends who undertake it.
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Rogue Eclipse
Arcade space combat roguelite from Husban Siddiqi/HUSKRAFTS, scheduled for release on August 28, 2026.
Rogue Eclipse, the arcade space shooter developed by HUSKRAFTS and published by Outersloth, attempts to refresh the genre by blending high-speed three-dimensional combat with a roguelike structure. The game places players in the role of a pilot in a war for humanity's future, where every defeat contributes to progression, allowing them to upgrade their ship and tackle subsequent runs with greater skill. While fast-paced dogfights and clashes against colossal enemy ships form the core of the experience, the narrative component, though present with a setting inspired by Arabesque Futurism, mainly serves as a link between one battle and the next. The title demands focus and a willingness to accept failure, but when speed, progression, and epic battles come together, it delivers the satisfaction of perfectly controlled chaos.
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The Sinking City 2
Survival horror game from Frogwares, released on August 18, 2026 for PC and consoles. Scored 81 on OpenCritic.
The Sinking City 2 marks a decisive shift for the Ukrainian studio Frogwares, abandoning the investigative roots of the original to embrace survival horror. Set in 1929 in the city of Arkham, submerged by an unnatural flood, the game follows adventurer Calvin Rafferty on a desperate mission to save his partner Faye, who has fallen into a deep sleep after a failed occult ritual. The gameplay now focuses on combat against parasitized creatures and a Lovecraftian bestiary, exploration in confined areas, and resource management typical of the genre, although the stealth system and some shooting aspects present some issues. Despite the inevitable development challenges during wartime, the title stands out for its deeply evocative atmosphere, with a deserted and flooded Arkham rendered with excellent artistic direction, offering a compact and immersive horror adventure.
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Crimson Moon
Gothic action-RPG from ProbablyMonsters, released on 02/09/2026 for PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Set to release on September 1, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, Crimson Moon is a souls-like action RPG developed by ProbablyMonsters. Set in the gothic-Renaissance city of Gildenarch, which has been invaded by a demonic corruption, the game places players in the role of a Nephilim from the Order of the Crimson Moon. The brutal combat system, focused on stamina management, offers a solid experience both in single-player and two-player online co-op, with a shared health system that requires coordination. While not revolutionizing the genre, Crimson Moon presents itself as a well-crafted double-A title, blending an atmosphere of decay with a subtle undercurrent of hope, standing out for its complete offering and carefully calibrated gameplay pace.
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Orbitals
Sci-fi puzzle game, top revenue earner on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop (September 2026).
Orbitals, developed by the independent studio Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive, stands out as one of the freshest and most artistically distinctive cooperative experiences of 2026, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. Directed by Jakob Lundgren, already known for his work at Hazelight Studios, the game blends top-tier asymmetric cooperative game design with an aesthetic that is a deliberate homage to Japanese sci-fi animation from the 1980s and '90s, created in collaboration with Studio Massket. Players control the two space explorers Maki and Omura in an adventure that rhythmically alternates between platforming, environmental puzzles, and space combat, requiring constant and rewarding coordination. The production shines for its generosity, intelligently supporting Game Share for online co-op with a single copy and offering a perfect local experience for couch co-op, all wrapped in a nostalgic atmosphere that captures the essence of classic anime without ever resorting to pure citation.
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Tiny Eden
Indoor farming simulator indie, launched with 'Very Positive' reviews on Steam on September 7, 2026.
In a 2026 gaming landscape celebrating epic titles like *The Lonesome Guild*, winner of the Italian Video Game Awards, *Tiny Eden* stands out for its intimate and meditative approach. This relaxing indoor gardening simulator, developed by Polish indie studio Bajka Games and published by Digital Vortex Entertainment, invites players to transform a bare apartment in a futuristic megalopolis into a lush green sanctuary, starting from a simple pot on a windowsill. Available on PC via Steam, the game focuses on realistic soil chemistry and plant growth stages, evolving into vegetable cultivation, recipe creation in the kitchen, and customization of the living space. It offers a cozy experience born from the team's personal inspiration during pandemic isolation. In stark contrast to large-scale ecological management games like *BioEden*, presented at Gamescom 2026, *Tiny Eden* celebrates the quiet joy of small daily rituals, positioning itself as a digital refuge to find a sense of peace and home in urban frenzy.
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WARDOGS
100-player tactical military sim FPS from Bulkhead. Released circa September 10, 2026. Sales: 1.25 million copies in 24 hours.
Wardogs, the tactical sandbox shooter developed by Bulkhead and published by Team17, made a record-breaking debut on Steam Early Access in September 2026, selling over a million copies in the first 24 hours and reaching peaks of over 300,000 concurrent players. The game features large-scale battles with up to 100 players divided into three teams, fighting for control of an area within a 256 km² map, combining construction mechanics and total environmental destruction. The most innovative aspect is its persistent economy, where money earned or lost in one match carries over to the next, adding a layer of financial risk to tactical decisions. With such a successful launch, Wardogs has quickly positioned itself as a serious contender in the military shooter genre, promising a two-year Early Access development period ahead of a full release and console versions planned for 2028.
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