# 2026 is Gonna Pop Off, Right? While prepping for my annual Year In Review post, I came across *[[2025 is Gonna Pop Off, Right|2025 is Gonna Pop Off, Right?]]* and thought it'd be fun to do it again for 2026. I loosely kept up with updating the article throughout the year, like with *[[Earthblade is Cancelled|Earthblade]]*'s cancellation or *[[Grand Theft Auto VI Releases Next May|GTA VI]]*'s first delay. For a more selfish reason though, it helped me keep the pulse on games I was and am interested in throughout the year. Looking back at 2025's list, I only bought two of the games—*Metroid Prime 4: Beyond* and *Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater*—the latter of which I *just* snagged for $15 at a GameStop. This surprised me, but is encouraging because I made it a major goal in 2025 to spend less on this hobby given the stacks and stacks of unplayed games in [[My Game Library|my collection]]. I think I'll be sharing more on this in the Year in Review piece in a few weeks. With that in mind, I look at the year ahead with slight hesitation. While my bank account may not flow as freely toward gaming, that doesn't mean my interests are invalid. A tighter budget does not mean that the year will not, in fact, pop off. ### Games Max Is Hype For With 2026 Dates #### *[Resident Evil Requiem](https://youtu.be/T54OWinnymM?si=mo-YpHC6xc7dS8Ii)* If there is a single game on this list that I will buy, it is *Resident Evil Requiem*. Why? We gotta do an episode for [[S5 - Resident Evil|Chapter Select]]! I am curious how our [[S5E13 - Resident Evil 9 Hopes & Dreams]] episode has aged... Even if we weren't going to podcast about it, I'd still prioritize this one. I have become quiet the fan and am eager to return to Raccoon City in a couple of months. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: February 27, 2026 #### *[007 First Light](https://youtu.be/JzkajshTCsA?si=-6vUHWH_qMeRQOiW)* It has been a long time since anything new came to light for ol' James Bond. I am hopeful for this one. Wow. This post aged [very well](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G83onEJbYAAqppV?format=png&name=large). I guess IO Interactive *was* scared of *Mega Man Star Force*. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: ~~March 26~~ May 27, 2026 #### *[Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection](https://youtu.be/P0Ko-1ZOqaI?si=_GPjZJ64qtAe_9F3)* *007 First Light* is cooked. All kidding aside, I have quite the soft spot for this run of *Mega Man* games. Glad these continue the trend of Capcom porting GBA and DS classics. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: March 27, 2026 #### *Marathon* I haven't watched the [new video](https://youtu.be/fjzmhROTv28?si=DmHyGnmtBapFGYHO) on *Marathon* yet, but I am still excited for a "new" Bungie shooter. It has been too long. $40 is a sweet spot price for my budget too—if only I can squad up like I did back in college for *Destiny*... > [!kiefer]- Release Date: March 2026 #### *[Invincible VS](https://youtu.be/rzPTZAj014U?si=W2P_d_srX1Opnyfr)* I'd get this for the original story, which would be the first time I bought a fighting game for its story at all. And it comes out on a [Pot Pie Thursday](https://x.com/PotPieThursdays)... > [!kiefer]- Release Date: April 30, 2026 #### *[Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight](https://youtu.be/j5ha2VwHJCw?si=FVBf1uDltAuldLGh)* TT Games is doing what Rocksteady won't. This could be the first Lego game I buy and play since the original *[[Lego Star Wars - The Video Game]]* way back in 2005. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: May 29, 2026 #### *[Grand Theft Auto VI](https://youtu.be/VQRLujxTm3c?si=-BZqgtOLXtnkyYRY)* Whenever this one launches, it'll be *the* definition of "pop off." > [!kiefer]- Release Date: November 19, 2026 #### *[Control Resonant](https://youtu.be/WhQm-ExRz60?si=XQdMKOVo-YPv21Q1)* As a new Remedy convert thanks to *[[Alan Wake Remastered Notes|Alan Wake Remastered]]*, color me *very* excited for this game. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 #### *[Marvel's Wolverine](https://youtu.be/s3pDMUWlA6I?si=gcyjgSqJLo_zADKU)* Insomniac's first game since [[Burying the Insomniac Leak|the leak]]. Curious to see how it compares to all that leaked footage and plot material. This one ought to be studied for ages, just in the context of the leak. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: Fall/Winter 2026 #### *[Pokémon Champions](https://youtu.be/N4v--PNtHWA?si=3MKHyqD2Im_kOYNW)* I still need to do a great migration of all my DS and 3DS Pokémon into Pokémon Home for [[Last Year's Pokémon Battle Series is Out in Full|one more battle with Logan]]. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 ### Games Max Assumes Will Be Hype for Others With 2026 Dates #### [*Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition* and the 3.0 Update](https://youtu.be/7nODHyw3lgs?si=75yW94N5UsNDNhnl) My wife is [[My Wife Reviews Animal Crossing- New Horizons – The Best Game Ever|excited]]. Not enough for a Switch 2 just yet, but she will be dusting off [[Animal Crossing - New Horizons Themed Switch Finally Announced|her console]]. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: January 15, 2026 #### *[Mario Tennis Fever](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myC8ZlDiulo)* I always hope the Mario tennis and golf games are bangers. Fingers crossed. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: February 12, 2026 #### *[The Duskbloods](https://youtu.be/niKHDEKQ7xA?si=9SN9BuD7wisa1-vF)* Remember how Nintendo has a launch exclusive courteous of FromSoftware? > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 #### *[Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls](https://youtu.be/6fbfrV5qqnU?si=nky7raLJv6sMYMu8)* I know lots of fighting game fans that are amped about this one. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 #### *[Onimusha: Way of the Sword](https://youtu.be/IDjdrNEz8tQ?si=s8O2BUudNf5vTOmO)* Never played an *Onimusha* game, but [I Finished A Video Game's retrospective is excellent](https://youtu.be/6zI6lW3BjZ4?si=E17ZStRvAMIpmjgZ). > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 #### *[Fable](https://youtu.be/2FiBmVBaY0g?si=T5mf8fXXwYxilLjm)* I'll believe this one when I see it. > [!kiefer] Release Date: 2026 #### *[Halo: Campaign Evolved](https://youtu.be/nwv2G3HEVUI?si=9OoqBbLGhoyJTPzB)* I had some high schoolers ask me if I saw the trailer and it was then that I turned into dust. Whenever I play this, it will be on PlayStation 5. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 #### *[Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra](https://youtu.be/suhNtnlMvTU?si=A6DnMWI9qsRppEJ6)* Another believe-it-when-I-see-it one. This game and Amy's development efforts over the last 16 years have been put through the ringer. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: 2026 ### Games That Don't Have a Date, But Come On, They Should be Out in 2026 #### *[Judas](https://youtu.be/T5_r-un--bA?si=ofs-3P9OWW0vW0XG)* Please Ken. Please. > [!kiefer]- Release Date: --- Godspeed gamers. We're all going to need it in 2026.