Every Major Game Releasing in January 2026
- Sagar Mankar
- 24 hours ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
January 2026 kicks off a brand-new gaming year, and while it follows the high-octane chaos of 2025, it still brings a surprisingly diverse slate of releases worth paying attention to.
Last year gave us major experiences like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Battlefield 6, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Hades II, Mario Kart World, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, setting the bar incredibly high. Now, with the calendar turning over, January’s job isn’t to outdo all that; it’s to set the tone.
The first month of 2026 mixes experimental indies, long-awaited Early Access launches, anime adaptations, RPG expansions, and some genuinely intriguing new IPs. It’s the kind of month where you may not know which game will dominate the conversation yet, but you can feel that a few surprises are lurking.
Below, we’ve rounded up every game launching in January 2026, followed by a closer look at the biggest highlights you’ll want to keep an eye on as the year begins.
All Games Coming in January 2026
January 5th
DuneCrawl - Top-down co-op action adventure for up to 4 players exploring on a giant crab robot (PC)
January 6th
StarRupture - First-person co-op space exploration with survival and crafting (PC)
January 7
Ancient Farm - First-person farming simulator set in Ancient Greece (PC)
Past Fate (Early Access) - Open-world MMORPG (PC)
Fairy Tail: Dungeons - Deck-building roguelike (Switch)
January 9
Pathologic 3 - Psychological horror game with new gameplay mechanics and a focus on the character Daniil Dankovsky (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
January 10th
Code Violet - A cyberpunk action-stealth title (PC, PS5)
January 13th
Tamirana: The Lucky Princess and The Tragic Knights - Visual novel (Switch)
Hytale Early Access - Sandbox RPG (PC)
January 14th
Street Dog BMX - BMX biking game (PC)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon - Follow-up to Trails in Daybreak 2 (PS4, PS5, both Switches, PC)
January 15th
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Free update adding hotel management, story content, and quality of life improvements (Switch/Switch 2)
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Enhanced Edition - Switch 2 version with better graphics and webcam support, $4.99 upgrade for Switch 2
January 16th
Broken Lore: Unfollow - First-person psychological horror about cyberbullying (PS5, Xbox Series, PC)
January 20th
Mio: Memories in Orbit - Hand-drawn Metroidvania (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, and PC)
January 21st
Lort - 1-8 player co-op action roguelike (PC)
January 22nd
Arknights: Endfield - Free-to-play action RPG (mobile, PC, PS5)
Dynasty Warriors Origins: Visions of Four Heroes expansion - Major update (all existing platforms plus Switch 2)
Dynasty Warriors Origins - Full game release (Switch 2)
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade - coming to Xbox Series, Switch 2
Nova Roma - Low-poly Roman city builder (PC)
Orcs Must Die by the Blade - VR tower defense (Meta Quest)
Hermit and Pig - Turn-based RPG (PC)
Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven DLC - Major expansion with new characters, dungeons, and town rebuilding (all platforms)
SEGA Football Club Champions 2026 - Free-to-play Football Manager-powered simulation (PC, PS4, PS5, iOS, Android)
January 23rd
Escape from Ever After - Turn-based RPG inspired by Paper Mario (all platforms)
Banquet for Fools - 4-player RPG brawler leaving early access (PC)
January 26th
Highguard - PvP multiplayer shooter in a fantasy setting from ex-Respawn devs (PC, PS5, Xbox Series)
January 27th
Rightfully, Beary Arms - Bear-themed bullet hell roguelite leaving early access (PC, Xbox Series)
January 28th
Steel Century Groove - Rhythm-based RPG with competitive mech dance-offs (PC)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origins - Open-world action RPG based on anime series (PC, mobile, PS5)
The Midnight Walkers - Hardcore FPS game (PC)
January 29th
I Hate This Place - Comic book-inspired isometric crafting survival horror (Xbox Series, PS5, PC)
Cairn - Colorful mountain climbing game (PC, PS5)
Dispatch - an episodic adventure game coming to Switch and Switch 2
January 30th
Code Vein 2 - Post-apocalyptic anime Soulslike (PS5, Xbox Series, PC)
Vampires: Bloodlord Rising - Open world vampire sim entering early access (PC)
Front Mission 3: Remake - Tactical RPG (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
January TBD
2XKO - Free-to-play fighting game with characters from League of Legends and VALORANT (Xbox Series, PS5)
Strategos - Indie strategy game (PC)
January 2026 Highlights - What You Should Really Watch Out For
Hytale (Early Access – Jan 13)
After years of silence, delays, and behind-the-scenes changes, Hytale finally enters true Early Access, and that alone makes it one of January’s biggest moments.
Originally envisioned as a voxel-based sandbox RPG blending Minecraft-style creativity with structured RPG progression, the game now arrives with "unrefined" combat, procedural worlds, and deep modding tools. You can explore dungeons, fight massive creatures, build entire cities block by block, or jump into Creative Mode to design your own minigames and servers.
In early 2025, Riot Games canceled the project, but by year’s end, one of its original co-founders repurchased it, taking on significant personal risk to revive the game. The team has been upfront: this is “true early access,” and they’ve urged fans not to pre-order unless they’re comfortable with its unfinished, buggy state.
The base edition is priced at $19.99, with two premium tiers for those who want to support development further.
Mio: Memories in Orbit (Jan 20)
Mio: Memories in Orbit is easily one of the most visually striking games releasing this month.
You play as MIO, an android navigating the ruins of a massive derelict spaceship known as the Vessel. The world is interconnected, overgrown, and packed with secrets, blending traditional Metroidvania traversal with modern combat depth. Grappling hooks, air dashes, wall grips, and modular upgrades keep exploration feeling fluid and rewarding.
What really stands out is the tone, melancholic, quiet, and reflective, backed by comic-inspired art and a moody soundtrack. If you’re someone who enjoys methodical exploration with emotional storytelling, this one deserves your attention.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Jan 22)
The first game of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy has finally arrived on Xbox Series and Switch 2.
This enhanced version includes the full Midgar story arc alongside the INTERmission episode starring Yuffie Kisaragi. Combat remains one of the remake’s strongest features, seamlessly blending real-time action with tactical command-based abilities.
For players who skipped PlayStation or waited for a portable-friendly version, January is finally your moment.
SEGA Football Club Champions 2026 (Jan 22)
SEGA Football Club Champions 2026 takes the DNA of Football Manager-style simulation and wraps it in a free-to-play structure. You manage scouting, tactics, player development, finances, and stadium growth, with both offline career modes and online PvP competitions.
With licensed leagues and over 1,500 real players, it’s an approachable but deep alternative for fans who want management without overwhelming spreadsheets.
Highguard (Jan 26)
Highguard is one of January’s most controversial launches and maybe its most intriguing.
Revealed at The Game Awards 2025, the PvP fantasy shooter faced immediate skepticism. But here’s the thing: it’s made by developers who previously worked on Apex Legends and Titanfall, and that pedigree matters.
The game mixes fast-paced gunplay with mounts, abilities, and objective-based raids. It’s free-to-play, cross-platform, and designed around team synergy rather than solo dominance.
I’ll be honest, I’m cautiously optimistic. With no paywall barrier, there’s no real downside to trying it.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origins (Jan 28)
Anime adaptations don’t always land, but The Seven Deadly Sins: Origins looks like it’s aiming higher than usual.
Set in a massive open-world version of Britannia, the game blends real-time combat, co-op raids, and storylines overseen by the original manga creator. You play as Tristan, navigating timeline fractures while recruiting allies and taking on large-scale bosses.
If Netmarble delivers on performance and content pacing, this could become one of the stronger anime RPGs on the market.
Code Vein II (Jan 30)
Closing the month strong is Code Vein II, an ambitious follow-up that leans deeper into Soulslike systems while embracing anime-style storytelling.
Time manipulation, deep build customization, companion mechanics, and sprawling post-apocalyptic environments all return; this time with more player freedom and narrative consequences. The motorcycle-based traversal adds a surprising layer of exploration, and boss designs look as brutal as ever.
If you enjoyed the original, this sequel feels like a natural evolution.
2XKO (January TBD)
Finally, there’s 2XKO, Riot Games’ free-to-play tag-team fighter set in the League of Legends universe, making its way to consoles.
Featuring champions like Jinx, Vi, Yasuo, and Ahri, the game focuses on aggressive swapping, combo chaining, and team synergy rather than traditional one-on-one fighting. With cross-progression and competitive roadmap already planned, this could be a major hit once it drops.
And yes, the fact that it’s free-to-play means there’s zero excuse not to try it.
Final Thoughts
January 2026 may not be about massive blockbuster launches, but it’s packed with variety, and sometimes that’s exactly what we need after a crowded holiday season. From Hytale’s long-awaited debut to Code Vein II’s Soulslike intensity and 2XKO’s competitive promise, the year starts on a strong, unpredictable note.
If you’ve read this far, I’ve got to ask — what January 2026 release has you most excited?