11 Biggest GOTY Contenders Still to Release in 2026

There’s only a handful of months left in 2026, and yet, some of the gaming industry’s biggest games of the year are still to come. From AAA bangers to potential GOTY candidates, I’ve whipped up a tasty list of games you don’t want to miss heading into the holiday season.

It’s been another memorable year for gaming. The first half of 2026 delivered Resident Evil Requiem, Pokémon Pokopia, Forza Horizon 6, Mina the Hollower, Mewgenics, 007 First Light, and PlayStation’s blockbuster Saros.

As you know, there’s hardly time to stand still and breathe. More games are coming, more GOTY categories are in danger, and bank accounts worldwide need to be stocked up.

What Will be GOTY in 2026?

three boats driving in gta 6 — Credit to Rockstar Games

In my opinion, I can’t see anything getting past Grand Theft Auto 6 for the 2026 Game of the Year crown.

Note: These are MY thoughts, and don’t reflect Insider Gaming as a whole.

On the other hand, does anything else really stand a chance of beating GTA 6? If you need some more convincing, then check out these all-time GTA Metacritic scores:

Grand Theft Auto 5: 97/100
Grand Theft Auto 4: 98/100
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: 95/100
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: 95/100
Grand Theft Auto 3: 97/100

Given Rockstar‘s penchant for perfection, it’s hard to see GTA 6 being anything but ready come release day. It will have so much to do, so many secrets, presumably another gripping story, and it’s just going to be the best game of 2026…right?

(I can hear you screenshotting this for posterity.)

Biggest Games Still to Release in 2026

The Blood of Dawnwalker

Do not sleep on Blood of Dawnwalker. You might be more awake when I tell you that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz is taking charge of the adventure. He worked at CD Projekt RED for over 17 years before relocating and founding Rebel Wolves to bring us all Blood of Dawnwalker.

It adheres to a classic, free-roam RPG structure, where you can put the main quest to one side to go off and explore Vale Sangora by day and night, with your vampiric abilities being affected by the time of day. The visceral action is complemented by the story, and Coen’s journey will take 30 in-game days as you seek to help and harm.

Current release date: September 3.

Marvel’s Wolverine

I can openly admit I’m not the biggest Wolverine fan, and I’ve seen some of the X-Men films. Has that stopped me from sharpening my claws in preparation for Marvel’s Wolverine? Absolutely not.

Firstly, I’ve followed Insomniac Games steadfastly since I was gifted Spyro the Dragon for Christmas as a kid in 1998. The developer has literally not put a foot wrong, from Spyro to Ratchet & Clank to Resistance and Spider-Man. People always discuss Naughty Dog with such reverence, but Insomniac is right up there, and Wolverine could be the studio’s magnum opus.

Current release date: September 15.

Phantom Blade Zero

I had the pleasure of an exclusive hands-on demo with Phantom Blade Zero at Gamescom 2026, and it spoiled me with its intricate combat and stylish presentation. You mix and match weapons and abilities, and you need to learn and adapt to the environment, as Phantom Blade Zero aptly offers no room for error.

It’s not a Soulslike, but a very intense action game. As someone who loves Souls games, it’s refreshing to see many studios embrace classic arcadey and hack ‘n’ slash elements like gangs of enemies, combos, and boss checkpoints—and PBZ achieves this in spades.

A lot of time and money seem to have gone into Phantom Blade Zero’s development and marketing, and if Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice can win Game of the Year in 2019, then there’s no reason why Phantom Blade Zero can’t follow suit.

Current release date: October 29

Control Resonant

It’s time to get weird again with Control Resonant.

The first Control is a staggeringly underrated gem that I loved from start to finish and recommended to friends—who eventually shared my affinity for Jesse’s mind-bending rigors of the Federal Bureau of Control.

In Control Resonant, Jesse is out, and her brother, Dylan, is in. The strangeness and supernatural happenings have now spread outside, and we can touch grass in Downtown Manhattan, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Remedy messes with my head once more.

Current release date: September 15.

Silent Hill: Townfall

I don’t know about you, but after some years in the doldrums, it’s so good to see the Silent Hill franchise back and flourishing—and terrifying.

The Silent Hill 2 Remake meant we were back, and Silent Hill: f’s body horror and warped imagery kept me up for a few nights. With a Silent Hill 1 Remake in full production at Bloober Team, why stop there when you can explore Silent Hill: Townfall?

With a first-person perspective and limited ways to defend yourself, prepare to feel hopelessly helpless.

Current release date: September 24.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Star Wars: Galactic Racer means a lot to me, not just as a big Star Wars fan, but because I’ve wanted a true successor to the Burnout franchise forever. Some imitations have come and gone, but nothing has come close to the frenetic ferocity of Burnout, and Star Wars: Galactic Racer doesn’t just appear to be paying homage to it, but it’s reinventing all of the wheels.

A fun new story adds a level of drama and immersion to the gameplay, harking back to Burnout: Slow-motion crash cams, skin-pulling-back levels of speed, and diverse events and encounters.

Current release date: October 6.

Gears of War: E-Day

It’s time for Gears to be back back. The Coalition has done a great job since taking the reins from Epic for Gears of War 4 onwards. However, I’m sure long-time Gears fans are looking for something a bit more, and instead of whisking us off to a proper sequel in Gears 6, we’re instead winding back the clock many years with Gears of War: E-Day.

The prequel reintroduces fan-favorite characters, while modernizing the gameplay in new and refreshing ways. The beta has revealed how outrageous the new Horde Siege mode is, and despite the audience being limited, with the game being an XBOX console exclusive, this could be a true return to form.

Current release date: October 6.

Valor Mortis

Across my two previews and a couple of hours with Valor Mortis, I’ve made it clear that I haven’t been this excited for a Souls game in years. Mainly because it’s a first-person Souls game, before Guns of Eschaton excitingly followed suit, with a very unique setting and world, developed by the makers of the Ghostrunner franchise.

There’s a real element of horror and tension instilled by the first-person view. In the same way that Resident Evil is infinitely scarier as an FPS, Valor Mortis demands that you be cognizant of your environment and use audio cues to the max to ascertain threats in the vicinity.

If this is the start of an FPS Soulslike revolution, then we could somehow have Napoleon to thank.

Current release date: October 13.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Outside of the original Call of Duty and perhaps Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, few CoD games have been deemed worthy of the grand prize across any outlet or publication.

I can understand the argument as time goes on, as Call of Duty hasn’t really advanced much over the last 10 to 15 years. But we’re one classic campaign and balanced online multiplayer experience away from a hit. Plus, extraction shooters are still the rage, and if Activision can nail the newest attempt at DMZ, then who’s to say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 won’t be contending for the coveted GOTY award.

Current release date: October 13.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake

In my opinion, one of the only games that has a chance to depose the GOTY apparent, GTA 6, is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake.

Whether you think Ocarina of Time is overrated or not even the best Zelda game, it’s remained the only game in history to achieve a rating of 99/100 on Metacritic. A remake will surely fix any QOL imperfections that haven’t aged well, make the Water Temple less bothersome, and add some extra gloss and glamor to an already all-time great, and this could help the remake reclaim its crown as the ruler of games.

Current release date: Late 2026.

Grand Theft Auto 6

It’s frequently been touted as ‘the biggest video game of all time.’

Grand Theft Auto 5 might have represented a peak for Rockstar games in some ways, but make no mistake, GTA 6’s release will be one of the most Earth-stopping moments in human history. Not even the dinosaurs returning could disrupt the long-awaited launch of GTA 6, which you’d imagine will have everything and more…and then some.

I just can’t wait to see what easter eggs I’m finding a year on. Even if we don’t get a new GTA Online 2, or something similar, Grand Theft Auto 6 will have content for months and years.

Which game on this list is the sure-fire banger you’re looking forward to the most in 2026? Share your thoughts in the official Insider Gaming Discord Server.

For more Insider Gaming content, read ‘Kingdom Hearts 4 Will ‘100%’ Release in 2027‘ and be sure to sign up for our free Weekly Newsletter.

Andy is Insider Gaming’s Senior Evergreen Editor and has been in the games journalism sphere in one way or another for over 7 years. His video game taste is as…