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September and October are stacked in 2026 as everyone and their spin-off titles look to move out of the way of GTA VI releasing in November. Because of that, they’re all trampling over each other to secure a release date before Rockstar inevitably consumes the entire gaming conversation for the rest of the year.
That means there are too many video games being released over these two months. Some of them are guaranteed Game of the Year contenders, some are long-awaited sequels, and others are everything in between.
This ranking is based on a mixture of things. What games are most likely to be Game of the Year contenders? Which releases feel like they’ll define the rest of 2026? And which games am I personally most excited to play?
As a result, you’ll notice a lot of Nintendo Switch 2 ports and remasters towards the bottom of the list. That’s not because they’re bad games — many of them are going to be good, I’m sure — but it’s hard to rank a re-release of a game we’ve already played above some of the more interesting releases.
Check out my full ranking below, complete with a brief explanation for every placement, and let me know in the comments what your own top ten would look like.
53. Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered (October 1)
Somebody had to be last in this list. You could shuffle a bunch of these around; one of the other remasters or ports at the lower end of this list should be here. But out of all of these, this one is the least exciting to me.
52. Destroy All Humans! 2: Reprobed (Nintendo Switch 2) (September 15)
Get your alien take-over and cow-probing action underway in this version of the game, now arriving on Nintendo Switch 2.
51. Steins;Gate Re:Boot (October 29)
This one released in August on Xbox and PC, so it’s not as exciting in its late October release, but it is still one for PlayStation and Nintendo players who are excited to play this new version of one of the best visual novels.
50. Hell is Us (Switch 2) (September 24)
Another port for the Nintendo Switch 2, adding to its more mature and action-heavy games, but still a port.
49. Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (October 9)
A substantial expansion would normally rank much higher. The issue is that September and October 2026 are ridiculous.
48. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition (Switch 2) (September 24)
A fantastic RPG by all accounts. Unfortunately, it’s also an RPG that has already been released.
47. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Switch 2) (September 18)
It’s Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight coming to Nintendo Switch 2, which is great for Switch 2 owners, but the game is several months behind other platforms.
46. Kingdom Hearts 1-3 (Switch 2) (October 8)
Great games. Very important games. Also, games that most people have already had multiple opportunities to play, so this is just one for Nintendo Switch 2 owners who really want to dive in.
45. Tales of Eternia Remastered (October 16)
A welcome return for RPG fans, but it’s difficult to rank remasters too highly in a year packed with brand-new releases.
44. Hello Kitty Party Land (October 29)
A Hello Kitty party game is going to have an audience, of course, but it’s only going to be picked up by that small audience in October and no one else.
43. Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (September 17)
For the fans of the first chapter, I’m sure there are some; this will be a big game for this time of the year, but for most of us, this one is going to fall hard among things missed.
42. Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis (September 24)
A new entry in the tower-defence game looks like it’ll be another hit for fans of the genre and series.
41. Nivalis Nights (September 29)
In this game, you’re running a bar in a cyberpunk world, and this almost slice-of-life game looks intriguing, but not standout enough to rank higher. Could be one for people looking for more casual vibes.
40. Gobble (September 23)
You have a scythe that eats up enemies; there’s some cool-looking creature design, and overall Gobble looks and sounds great. But there’s no English language confirmation at this point, unfortunately.
39. Akiba Lost (September 17)
This could be a hidden gem for the year, or it could end up… lost among the stacked months of games around it. FMV fans should have their eyes on it either way.
38. The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas (September 18)
I’ve just stuck this below Garfield, and it sits in a similar intriguing position of a fun-looking platformer. This sequel also shifts from the side-scrolling of the first game to 3D.
37. Garfield: Escape From Monday (September 24)
This genuinely looks like it could be a bit of fun as a family-friendly platformer starring everyone’s favourite lasagna-loving cat.
36. Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea (September 24)
It’s a Harvest Moon game in the sense that there’s farming, romanticable companions, and you’re building bonds, but there’s a big change with this one: it’s not static; there’s an open world, and you’ll be exploring it.
35. Valor Mortis (October 14)
A first-person action-soulslike from the creators of Ghostrunner has a lot of jingle in its keywords, and the game genuinely looks very intriguing. Still, these two stacked months have me putting it lower on this list because this game will feel so stacked and unknown as a new IP in a rather saturated genre now.
34. Planet Zoo 2 (October 13)
The people who love Planet Zoo really love Planet Zoo. I fully expect them to disappear into this for hundreds of hours.
33. Screenbound (September 10)
The concept is fantastic here, where you platform in a 3D world while a 2D world runs on a Game Boy-like device in the characters’ hands.
32. Toy Story Retro Round Up / Toy Story 3 Remaster (October 13)
Toy Story 3 remains one of the best licensed games ever made. That’s doing most of the heavy lifting here, packaged with a couple of different games.
31. Another Eden Begins (September 17)
This is a time-travelling RPG that will give everyone Chrono Trigger vibes and comparisons, but the game looks distinct and intriguing on its own thanks to its art and world.
30. Gothic II Complete Classic (September 29)
This one’s for RPG super-fans, I think, and people who enjoy remembering and reminding everyone how “games used to be better.”
29. Trine 6 (September 17)
The Trine series has quietly been one of the most reliable franchises over the past couple of generations. You know exactly what you’re getting, and that’s a good thing.
28. RuneScape: Dragonwilds (September 15)
RuneScape won’t die, and it’s hard not to appreciate its fan base’s commitment to the series. This one looks like something I could get into, however, and would be more appealing for non-fans as a gateway.
27. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War IV (September 17)
Warhammer fans have been eating well for years now. The return of Dawn of War is another reason for them to remain continually happy with the great run of Warhammer-based games that have been released recently.
26. Silver Pines (October 8)
A survival horror metroidvania is a combination of words you wouldn’t expect, but that’s what makes Silver Pines so intriguing. Pair that with the dark and preety art style and direction, and I’m keen to learn more.
25. End of Abyss (October 1)
This feels like the sort of game that ends up appearing on a lot of “best games you missed” lists at the end of the year. It’s got some great-looking isometric horror survival vibes, but I need to know more.
24. Valheim 1.0 (September 9)
Valheim had strong support and backing when it launched. I haven’t kept up with how the game’s been going since the Early Access launch, but I’m sure the 1.0 release, paired with crossplay and console support, will be of interest to survivor fans.
23. Dune Awakening – Console Release (September 22)
PC players have already done the hard work of figuring out whether this is worth playing. Console players finally get their turn now, with some big updates joining the game on release day, making it better for solo players.
22. Halloween (September 8)
A multiplayer Halloween game in the vein of Friday the 13th sounds like a good time, and it will also have some single-player content, which sounds interesting. The main question is whether it can live up to the licence and quality of the franchise it’s based on.
21. No Rest for the Wicked (October TBC)
I’ve played some of No Rest for the Wicked while it was in Early Access, and the game is now coming out of Early Access. The studio behind it, Moon Studio, has more than enough cred to make you interested in this one.
20. One Piece Grand Gourmet (October 23)
This is a One Piece cooking game of some sort, and it looks interesting enough, but it’s more likely to grab the anime and manga fans.
19. Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival (October 8)
Can a Hellraiser game really work? It’s a question I’ve asked myself a bit as each new trailer and piece of information has continued to intrigue me with this game. We’ve got the original actor behind Pinhead back, there’s a whole bunch of wild horror stuff happening, and there are puzzles and monsters. It could turn out to be great.
18. Orbitals (September 3)
This is one of those games that quietly looks more interesting every time it appears. Could end up being this year’s indie darling.
17. Minecraft Dungeons 2 (September 29)
The first game was enjoyable, but left me wanting a lot more. There’s still plenty of opportunity in it, and this looks like a bigger, hopefully better sequel, which feels like a safe bet.
16. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush (September 10)
Every few years, an arcade racer has appeared out of nowhere that grabs my attention and becomes way better than expected. It looks like Hot Wheels Infinite Rush is primed to settle into that spot.
15. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse (October 13)
Castlevania is back in a big way across games, television and popular culture. This new entry can capitalise on the momentum generated by the Netflix series, bringing in both old and new fans.
14. Final Fantasy Resonance (October 22)
Although this one is a rework of a mobile game, it’s looking very interesting. It’s taking the story elements and redoing them in the art style of games like Octopath Traveller, but in a new way.
13. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (September 29 Early Access / October 2 Launch)
It’s been a long wait for a new Ace Combat. If you’ve been itching to fly a fighter jet while dramatic music blasts in the background, your time has come; political intrigue and drama are all to ensue.
12. Star Wars: Galactic Racer (October 6)
Every Star Wars fan loves the original pod racing game, and now it looks like we’re finally getting something on the same level. Galactic Racer offers fast racing and also adds some story.
11. Silent Hill: Townfall (September 24)
Konami has been having a lot of success with Silent Hill games right now, and with Townfall, they’re working with a new developer and co-publishing, which are the right moves to keep the series fresh and keep entries coming.
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 7 (October 23)
A Call of Duty game is always a massive release; it’ll sell millions and have gamers spending countless hours on multiplayer, but based on what we’ve seen so far, this one aims to deliver an intense campaign and a strong focus on its extraction mode.
9. Rayman Legends Retold (October 1)
Even if you’ve played Rayman Legends before, this feels like the perfect excuse to revisit one of the best platformers ever made in what looks like an excellent revival with new additions.
8. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort (October 22)
Having Nintendo Switch Sports Resort this high might be a bit much for some, but it’s also a game with a lot of potential for families and friends to spend time together over the holiday period following its release in late October.
7. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (September 17)
Fire Emblem fans are about to disappear for months as they work their way through the latest entry in the strategy-RPG series.
6. Onimusha: Way of the Sword (September 4)
Capcom bringing back Onimusha feels like something that should have happened years ago. Fans have been asking for a new entry in this series for some time now, and it’s finally here. Will it live up to the potential? It looks like it sure could.
5. Phantom Blade Zero (October 29)
It’s been a few years since Phantom Blade Zero showed up at State of Play, and the game has been teased as one that consistently features a stunning world, weird characters, and intense combat. It could be another surprising entry to be a Game of the Year contender yet.
4. Gears of War: E-Day (October 6)
Xbox desperately needs a massive first-party hit, and E-Day feels like it has all the ingredients. It’s one of their biggest IP, it’s a big action-shooter, and it’s got a face that screams Xbox.
3. Control Resonant (September 24)
I love all of Remedy’s games and most recently, everything that’s building into their now larger universe from Control through to Alan Wake II. If Control Resonant is some more of that weird-good-stuff, I’m sure it’ll be one of the year’s best.
2. The Blood of Dawnwalker (September 3)
The closer we get to launch, the more this feels like a sneaky Game of the Year candidate. Former Witcher developers making a dark fantasy RPG centred around vampires was always going to get my attention, but everything shown so far suggests this could be something special.
1. Marvel’s Wolverine (September 15)
It’s Wolverine. Developed by Insomniac. Do I really need to explain this one? Between the studio’s track record and the fact that we’ve been waiting for years to see what this game is, it feels like the safest bet on this entire list.
That’s the list… at least I think it is. Have I missed any games that are releasing in September and October? Will you be making time to play any of these before or around GTA VI? Let me know that, or your ranking for the ten you’d most like to play out of these two months of games in the comment section below.
