Officially ranked 10 best games of 2026 so far

April 1st may be the funniest day of the year with April Fools' Day, but once it gets there it also means three months of the year have officially passed. As we near the end of March's video game releases and about a third of the way through the year, we thought it would be interesting to look back at some of the best games released so far this year.

Ultimately, we look at the best games of the year as a whole as a representative of the entire year, but games will be a mix of incomings and outgoings. home grand theft auto 6 Games that meet our expectations will replace games that are currently on the list or won't be on the list for several months. It's better, at least in my opinion, to view the best games of a year as a microcosm or part of that year. My thought process is simple. This could be a great year with non-stop bangers at 90/95+ on Metacritic and OpenCritic, and rightly so, as they dominate the top conversation of the year. These games can replace the following games: Pocopia and Resident Evil RequiemBut even if it's the best for a limited time, it's still worth talking about.

relevant

Best Games on Xbox Game Pass (March 2026)

Xbox Game Pass is undoubtedly worth the subscription price, but which of the available games make the best use of your hard drive space?

Needless to say, it's always interesting to see trends on a smaller scale than on a larger scale through aggregate sites like OpenCritic. By our count, two of the best games of the year are actually: Pokemon Pokopia and Resident Evil RequiemAnd it's encouraging to see how that community engages with that game. But what's even more notable is the number of PC-exclusive games included on this list. Six out of the ten best games of the year are exclusive to PC. cairn It's also only on PC and PS5. It's also interesting to note that only two games have scored 90 points overall, and there are no reviews higher than that yet.

1. Lost & Found Co., Ltd. – 90 (PC)

2. Pokemon Pokopia – 90 (Nintendo Switch 2)

3. Resident Evil Requiem – 89 (PC, PS5, Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S)

4. The ebb and flow – 89 (PC)

5. Mugenics – 89 (PC)

6. The Hermit and the Pig – 89 (PC)

7. Unite as one – 86 (PC)

8. Cairn – 86 (PC, PS5)

9. Super Bomberman Collection – 86 (PC)

10. Adoration of the Lamb: Woolhaven – 86 (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S)

According to OpenCritic, lost and found company and Pokemon Pokopia The top critic average is 90, making it the best game of the year so far. Resident Evil Requiem, Esoteric Ebb, Mugenicsand the hermit and the pig Follow these two games. All top critics averaged 89 points. The last four all share a top critic average of 86. Pieced Together, Cairn, Super Bomberman Collectionand Adoration of the Lamb: Woolhaven. Speaking of trends, another interesting aspect is that there is no significant difference in scores in these two games. 90, 89, 86 and not higher or middle of the top 10 games.

Who is that character?

Check out the silhouette before time runs out.

Easy (7.5 seconds)Medium (5.0 seconds)Hard (2.5 seconds)Permadeath (2.5 seconds)

start

restart
in the back

result

0

Highest score: 0

—

Who is that character?

Check out the silhouette before time runs out.

Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Eternal Death (2.5 seconds)start

lost and found company

side by side Pokemon Pokopia, Lost and Found Co. It is the highest rated game of the year on OpenCritic. lost and found company A cozy hidden object adventure game set in a whimsical, hand-crafted world full of charm and personality. Players take on the role of Ducky, a duck-turned-human intern working for a magical startup that reconnects lost objects with their owners, traveling through vibrant locations filled with secrets. Along the way, you'll solve puzzles, meet quirky characters, and help restore the little dragon's fading powers.

esoteric ebb

esoteric ebb is a narrative-driven isometric RPG with a focus on dense writing, surreal humor, and character-driven storytelling. Set in a small, richly detailed world, the game emphasizes dialogue, choices, and atmosphere over traditional combat-focused systems, taking clear inspiration from games like Disco Elysium. The comic book-like visuals and diverse cast help bring the strange, introspective setting to life.

mugenics

mugenics is a bizarre mix of tactical RPG, roguelike, and life sim that focuses on breeding and fighting genetically unique cats. Players assemble a team of mutant cats with a variety of classes and abilities, engage them in grid-based battles, and manage their growing bloodline on their homeworld. It blends dark humor, deep systems, and long-term progression to create a chaotic yet replayable strategy experience.

the hermit and the pig

the hermit and the pig is a cozy storybook-style adventure game that follows an unlikely duo as they navigate a gentle, puzzle-filled world. Combining light exploration and narrative-driven moments, the game emphasizes friendship, discovery, and a relaxed pace over challenge. The gentle art direction and whimsical tone create an experience that feels more like an interactive fable than a traditional game.

stuck together

stuck together It's a cozy scrapbooking game that focuses on gentle puzzles, meditative sorting gameplay, and decoration features. Piece by piece, players uncover stories of youth, growth, and friendship.

cairn

cairn It's a survival climbing game that simulates the physical and mental challenges of climbing a dangerous mountain. Players must carefully manage their stamina, path choices, and equipment while making critical decisions that could mean life or death. The grounded, immersive approach turns climbing into a tense, methodical experience rather than a fast-paced action game.

Super Bomberman Collection

Super Bomberman Collection It combines multiple entries from the classic multiplayer franchise into one package. Focusing on chaotic grid-based bomb-dropping combat, the game maintains the series' simple but endlessly competitive approach. Whether solo or with friends, it offers fast-paced matches based on strategy, timing, and pure party game chaos.

Adoration of the Lamb: Woolhaven

Woolhaven It's essentially a completely new game on top of the classic game. adoration of the lamb An adventure with over 20 hours of content. Introducing a new post-game storyline centered around restoring your broken homeland and fighting corruption. It builds on the original's mix of roguelike dungeon running and cult management, adding new mechanics, narrative threads, and challenges. The expansion deepens the game's themes of faith, control, and survival, while giving players more ways to grow and test their flock.

Final thoughts on the best games of the year so far

This selection of games is interesting and gives some insight into today's industry.

• Indie and mid-budget games have dominated reviews so far this year.

• The genre is very broad and shows that atmosphere and identity can be more important than popular genres such as open world games.

• The PC remains a critically acclaimed mainstay to this day.

• Review scores are tight, so there's no runaway game of the year yet.

• Having a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive at the top of this chart bodes well for the console's performance.

But perhaps the most interesting insight is that many of these games offer meditative, reflective, and/or particularly tactile experiences. Many include healing elements (Leon's T-Virus Syndrome, Woolhaven's Homeworld, etc.), meditation (cairnI'm hiking, stuck togetherof puzzles) and social concerns (the hermit and the pigEmphasis on anxiety, need for social interaction Super Bomberman Collection). And I wonder if the best games of the year so far, designed, released and reviewed, do not themselves reflect contemporary issues of affordability, technical challenges, mental health issues, digital saturation and social uncertainty. Probably not, but it will be interesting to see how this list of best games changes by the end of 2026.