Preordering video games can be a double-edged sword. While being able to secure a copy of a highly anticipated title in advance sounds good on paper, dropping money without being sure that the final product is going to live up to the hype or suit your preferences can be a huge gamble and lead to buyer's remorse.
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2026 will be filled to the brim with many new games that are most likely going to be great (like Marvel's Wolverine or Resident Evil: Requiem), and most people will have dozens of titles they will want to play. However, there are a few upcoming titles that people should not preorder or at least wait a bit longer to do so, not necessarily because they look like they will be bad, but rather because they’re seemingly so experimental or unpredictable that their quality or content is difficult to pin down.
We are talking about physical copies for consoles, as there is very little reason to preorder if you are going to pick up a digital copy on Steam or one of the stores.
Pragmata
Capcom Is Taking A Risk With A Distinct New IP
Pragmata
- Released
- April 24, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
Whenever a company as huge as Capcom decides to bet on a brand-new IP, it’s important to pay attention, and Pragmata definitely warrants it. This will be a unique third-person shooter in which the main character is accompanied by a small android girl who can hack and override the hostile machines they’re fighting in real time.
This premise is quite creative and brimming with potential, but the idea of interrupting the fast-paced combat to do some puzzles can be a tad overwhelming, and it can make it seem like the game is doing a bit too many things at the same time. Fortunately, there’s currently a Pragmata demo available on Steam, and it has been receiving positive reviews, so those who are interested can check it out ahead of the game’s April 2026 release date.
The Pragmata Sketchbook - Demo is specifically designed to introduce the combat; therefore, if you have a PC that can run it, give it a go before deciding whether this game might be for you or not.
Pokemon Pokopia
“Pokemon Meets Animal Crossing” Is A Bizarre Formula
Pokémon Pokopia
- Released
- March 5, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Simulation
While the Pokemon franchise has had many highs and many lows in the past few years, the announcement of a new spin-off for home consoles is always a defining moment for its fanbase, and Pokemon Pokopia is one of the most fascinating ones yet. This game will allow players to take control of a Ditto who transforms into a human and seeks help from other Pokemon to build and maintain a village where they can live together, without any trainers around.
Pokemon Pokopia is a life simulation game that looks like a crossover between Pokemon and Animal Crossing, which undoubtedly sounds very fun. That said, there is still a lot unknown about this project, and it is hard to predict whether the gameplay will deliver that simple but addictive loop synonymous with Animal Crossing. Pokemon spin-offs have, historically, been all over the place in terms of quality, so Pokopia could go either way.
Romeo Is A Dead Man
Suda51 Is The King Of Making Brilliant Games That Are Not For Everyone
Romeo is a Dead Man
- Released
- February 11, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Science Fiction
Romeo is Dead Man is the next hack-and-slash game by visionary developer Suda51, the creator of other bizarre action titles that can be considered cult classics, like No More Heroes, Lollipop Chainsaw, Killer7, and Killer is Dead. Truth be told, all of this new game’s trailers make it seem like it’ll be brimming with style and will feature multiple action-packed encounters against wacky bosses, so that's always relieving to know.
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However, it's worth pointing out that most of Suda51’s games are very divisive and don’t appeal to absolutely everyone. Titles like Killer is Dead and Lollipop Chainsaw have been criticized for having surface-level combat that lacked depth or any real challenge, and Romeo is a Dead Man may fall into that practice as well. Moreover, last year, Suda51 collaborated with Swery for Hotel Barcelona, which was really polarizing and arguably a slight disappointment. It’s safe to say that he’s a very unpredictable developer, and even his most loyal fans should wait for a few reviews before giving Romeo is a Dead Man a shot.
007 First Light
The First AAA James Bond Game In 14 Years
007 First Light
- Released
- May 27, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
James Bond fans have been waiting for something that could surpass GoldenEye 007 as the best video game adaptation in the franchise for literal decades, and IO Interactive’s upcoming title, 007 First Light, has the elements necessary to achieve that. Not only does it look really impressive graphics-wise, but it’s also being developed by a studio that has plenty of experience working on stealth games, seeing as they also made the most recent entries in the Hitman franchise.
007 First Light clearly has a high budget and has been in development for quite a long while, but its preview content has mostly just presented it as a traditional AAA third-person shooter. If that ends up being the case, that would not be a terrible thing by any stretch of the imagination, but it might not be exactly what all James Bond fans are craving. Fortunately, IO Interactive recently delayed its release date from March 2026 to May 2026, so hopefully it'll use those extra months of development to polish the game as much as possible.
Phantom Blade Zero
Is It A Hack-And-Slash? Is It A Soulslike? Or Is It Both?
Phantom Blade Zero
- Released
- September 9, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
Few things in the gaming industry are as enticing as a brand-new IP that looks extremely promising in the previews, and Phantom Blade Zero is a recent example. Developed by Chinese studio S-GAME, the first few trailers of this game made it look like a somewhat typical action game with a focus on melee combat and a muted art style. However, its release date trailer was a major improvement, as it showcased some high-octane action and over-the-top boss fights taking place in more vibrant environments.
While Phantom Blade Zero looks great now, its genre is not 100% clear yet; sometimes, it looks like a slow-paced “Soulslike,” while other times it looks like a fast-paced hack-and-slash title akin to Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. The final product might be a perfect blend of both genres (similarly to Stellar Blade), but both “Soulslike” fans and hack-and-slash fans should wait for reviews (or a public demo, if one is released) before making a final decision.
The Duskbloods
FromSoftware’s Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Has A Major Drawback
The Duskbloods
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action
While Nintendo still hasn’t announced the official release date for FromSoftware’s upcoming Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, it’s still set to come out sometime in 2026. This game caught a lot of attention during the April 2025 Nintendo Direct, as it seems like it’s going to be a spiritual successor to Bloodborne, complete with Lovecraftian imagery and hunters who have to fight terrifying monsters.
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Many hardcore FromSoftware fans are displeased with the idea of The Duskbloods being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, but there’s another huge reason why most gamers should be careful when preordering it: The Duskbloods is a multiplayer game, similar to Elden Ring Nightreign. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, but most FromSoftware fans prefer single-player adventures, so this one might not be what they are looking for.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
What Exactly Is A Video Game Reimagining?
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
- Released
- 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Tomb Raider franchise, and Crystal Dynamics will be celebrating it with the upcoming release of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. Announced during The Game Awards 2025, this game has been marketed as a reimagining of the original title from 1996, complete with stunning modern graphics and more accessible modern controls.
Legacy of Atlantis looks quite good and has the potential of being the long-awaited comeback that Tomb Raider truly deserves. However, it’s not exactly clear what the term “reimagining” means and how this title will be different from the existing remake, 2007’s Tomb Raider: Anniversary (which is among the more polarizing entries in the series). Needless to say, Tomb Raider fans should wait for more info about Legacy of Atlantis to come out before thinking about preordering it.
Grand Theft Auto 6
The Most Anticipated Video Game Of All Time
Grand Theft Auto 6
- Released
- November 19, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
There is a good chance that most people reading this list have either already preordered Grand Theft Auto 6 or are planning on buying it on day one. They certainly can’t be blamed, though, because the entire gaming community has been waiting for the next mainline entry in the GTA series since 2013, and, based on the few trailers and images that Rockstar has released, it seems like GTA 6 will be the most ambitious open-world sandbox game ever made.
However pessimistic it sounds, gamers should try to keep their expectations in check to an extent. The hype surrounding this sequel is so absurdly high that it could reach a point where it would become nearly impossible for Rockstar to live up to expectations. While the studio has already delayed it twice to ensure the final product will be as perfect as possible, we have seen almost no gameplay so far. Rockstar's track record suggests that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be a masterpiece, but nothing in gaming is guaranteed.
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