2026 is turning out to be a genuinely exceptional year for video games. With new hardware now in its stride, developers are delivering experiences that take full advantage of current-generation capabilities. Here are the games that have captured America’s attention in the first half of the year.
Top-Rated Games of 2026 (So Far)
- Elden Ring: Shadow Eternal (FromSoftware) — 96/100 — A sprawling, hauntingly beautiful open world with combat that rewards patience and mastery
- Fable (Xbox/PC) — 92/100 — Playground Games’ reboot is witty, gorgeous, and inventive — the British RPG that Xbox needed
- Ghost of Yōtei (PlayStation) — 94/100 — Stunning open-world samurai epic set in Hokkaido; visually breathtaking
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Indie) — 98/100 — After the longest-anticipated wait in indie gaming history, a masterpiece of atmospheric platforming
- Split Fiction (EA Originals) — 91/100 — The co-op game of the year; genre-hopping gameplay designed for two players
Most-Played Multiplayer Games in America (May 2026)
- Fortnite (Epic) — still dominant after years at the top
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — strong launch numbers
- Minecraft (new Biome Update) — returned to top-10 most-played
- Valorant — steady competitive playerbase
- NBA 2K27 — peaked during NBA Playoffs season
Best Budget Pick of 2026
If you’re looking for extraordinary value, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Nintendo Switch 2 is available for $60 and represents one of the finest gaming experiences available at any price point. Additionally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($19.99/month) includes Fable and dozens of other 2026 titles at no additional cost.
What to Expect in the Second Half of 2026
- Grand Theft Auto VI — still the most anticipated game in history, expected Q4 2026
- FIFA 27 — annual release expected September
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows expansion — additional Japanese history content
- Several major indie releases announced at Summer Game Fest