2025 has been a wonderful year for video games, but it’s almost over now. It’s time to completely wipe our memories of these great experiences, and start to look to the future. There are a ridiculous number of exciting titles releasing next year, whether they’re newly announced games or those that slipped off the schedule this year. There are also definitely hundreds more games that are unannounced at the time of writing that’ll delight us too, but it’s admittedly hard to add them to a most anticipated list.
I’ve been giddily posting my most wanted games every year on social media for a while now, and it seems fitting to upgrade this tradition to a new home on Loot Level Chill. Before we get into the top ten though, here’s a fun little disclaimer. I’m rarely someone who gets particularly hyped over the latest AAA releases, especially in the run up to launch. That means you won’t see stuff like Grand Theft Auto VI or Resident Evil IX filling up this particular top ten.
Hopefully they end up being games I love when I inevitably play them though, and if you’re feeling especially dedicated you can tell me how wrong this list was in twelve months’ time when they top my GOTY list. Without further ado, it’s time to get excited about ten probable bangers coming in 2026.
10. Rhythm Heaven Groove / Rhythm Paradise Groove
The Rhythm Heaven series holds a special place in my heart, for a whole host of reasons. The first of these is particularly soppy, as it’s a series me and my husband played together in those early flirty university months. Outside of this sentimentality though, it’s a series that blends the fun of rhythm games with a ridiculous amount of charm. Performing silly tasks to the beat is just so much fun, and from the little we’ve seen of Groove it looks as delightful and daft as ever. I can’t wait to master this game to the point of playing it with my eyes closed next year, and I’m sure other rhythmically minded people feel the same.
9. Pokémon Champions
Outside of games I’ve reviewed or played for inevitable Game of the Year discussions, the one series I’ve been obsessed with the most this year is Pokémon. In the early months of 2025 I started watching Pokétubers battle when I was cooking meals or drifting off in bed, and eventually started learning about competitive Pokémon battling. Pokémon Champions is the game that looks to have this more intense side of the series take centre stage, and in doing so will make this once incredibly niche world open for all. 2026 is the year I’ll be jumping into competitive Pokémon thanks to Champions, and while I doubt I’ll be the very best I’m excited for the ride.
8. Pragmata
Now I know at the start of this list I mentioned not really getting excited for AAA games, but when Capcom tries something new and weird I pay attention. Pragmata has been a long time coming, and every time we see a trailer I get more invested in its intriguing sci-fi world. Defeating AI robots with both Hugh and Diana looks like a ton of fun, with guns and hacking galore. I hope Pragmata is as good as it looks, because it could certainly be a game of the year contender here at Loot Level Chill if that’s the case.
7. Super Meat Boy 3D
I was a little bit scared when I heard that Super Meat Boy was coming back with a different developer. When I discovered that the wonderful folks behind Hell Pie were the ones taking the reins though, my concerns were immediately eased. After watching a few trailers it’s clear that the perfect Super Meat Boy locomotion is still intact, and the challenge certainly seems to be too. I’m going to absolutely devour this hardcore platformer, no matter how many saw blades to the face I take in the process.
6. Cairn
Cairn is a game that looks to have it all – unique climbing gameplay, an emotive story, and some harrowing survival elements. I really wasn’t expecting this game all about climbing a big ole mountain to make my top ten, but after thinking about it I just think Cairn is going to be a very special game. Admittedly it might be somewhat frustrating too, but it takes patience to scale a mountain (probably, I’m not really mountaineering material).
5. Demon Tides
The first and only game on this list I’ve actually played a demo for, Demon Tides is a 3d platformer for 3d platformer fans. I reviewed its prequel Demon Turf years ago, and its evolved Mario style movement really captured my attention. Demon Tides feels so much more ambitious though, with large open areas and an even more impressive moveset. Moving through this world just feels amazing, and I really hope that Demon Tides is a breakout hit for Fabraz. 2026 is going to be a great time for platforming diehards, and I can’t wait to get jumping.
4. 007 First Light
I’m quietly a big fan of James Bond, mainly thanks to a childhood of watching the classic Bonds with my dad. Video games and the suave British spy have had a bit of a rocky road, but hits like Goldeneye have previously taken the gaming world by storm. There’s nobody I’d trust more with this license (to kill) than IO, and everything shown so far has captured the essence of Bond perfectly. Hitman has always been a bit too stealthy for my brash and clumsy style, so I’m hoping that the flashy spy action of First Light will be more to my taste.
3. Mewgenics
A game over a decade in the making, it’s hard to believe that we’ll actually get to play Mewgenics next year. I’ve always been a fan of tactics games, and the addition of cats only makes Mewgenics more exciting. By blending grid based combat and in depth kitty breeding this Roguelike is going to feature a whole lot of variety and thoughtful build creation, and I think there’s a good chance that it’ll take over my life for most of next year. I’m almost scared to welcome it into my life and watch my productivity tank, but I simply have to play it.
2. Pony Island 2: Panda Circus
In 2021 Daniel Mullins Games released Inscryption, and like an idiot I didn’t play it until a year later. When I did though I was greeted to an experience unlike anything else, which blended genres and gleefully hid its true form from me. Before this masterpiece though there was Pony Island, another mysterious game which held many a secret under the surface. The few glimpses of Pony Island 2 we’ve had have made it look absolutely wild, and I know that we ain’t seen nothing yet. I don’t really want to know anything more about Panda Circus other than its release date, and when that comes around I’ll dive into its fucked up world with glee.
1. Mina the Hollower
For a good few years Mina the Hollower has been my most anticipated game, and this time it’s almost definitely going to actually release. The next big game from Yacht Club Games looks to capture the magic of old school Zelda, just like Shovel Knight did with retro action platformers. With serious pedigree and gameplay that looks fast paced and varied as hell, I’m almost certain Mina the Hollower will live up to my lofty expectations. Once it finally arrives I’ll be able to place another game at the top of a most anticipated list, but until then it’ll always be Mina.
