Best new video games of 2026 (so far)

We've still got a bit to go until we can seriously start considering Polygon's 2026 game of the year, but as December quickly approaches, plenty of games from 2026 remain on our minds. These are just some of the games that have resonated with us throughout the year, and it's only the tip of the iceberg.

We'll be working through our 2026 backlogs for years to come at this rate, and the year isn't even over yet.

In Gaming, Giovanni Colantonio puts this story at the center of the day: We've still got a bit to go until we can seriously start considering Polygon's 2026 game of the year, but as December quickly approaches, plenty of games from 2026 remain on our minds. These are just some of the games that have resonated with us throughout the year, and it's only the tip of the iceberg. FlexChar is surfacing it because it is driving searches and conversation right now.