In a reader feature published on September 6, 2026, Rob Taylor, a self-described 'Attorney at Bird Law,' argues that 2026 is the best year for video games of the decade, despite industry challenges. He highlights a string of acclaimed releases, from Resident Evil Requiem to Pokémon Pokopia, and notes that Grand Theft Auto 6, due in November, has yet to launch.
A Year of Standout Releases
Taylor points to February's Resident Evil Requiem as a standout, calling it 'a genuine celebration of Resident Evil' that delivers on the series' third-person survival horror roots, the Leon Kennedy action era, and first-person horror movie saga. He also mentions Nioh 3, which received 'stellar reviews,' and Mewgenics, described as 'weird, wonderful, and addictive.'
March saw Pokémon Pokopia 'taking the world by storm and selling out everywhere,' with Taylor noting it's the first Pokémon spin-off he's seen discussed beyond superfans. He also highlights Slay The Spire 2 and Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake. April brought Pragmata from Capcom, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, and Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream, a game 13 years in the making.
Historical Comparisons
Taylor compares 2026 to past landmark years: 1998 (Metal Gear Solid, Half-Life, Zelda: Ocarina Of Time), 2004 (Half-Life 2, GTA: San Andreas, World Of Warcraft), 2007 (Bioshock, Mass Effect, Call Of Duty 4), and 2017 (Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Persona 5). He argues 2026 'has all the rest beaten in terms of the quality of its games.'
May delivered Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight, Forza Horizon 6, and Mina The Hollower, plus a James Bond game Taylor 'thoroughly enjoyed and completed in a few days.' June and July offered remakes of Star Fox and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, the latter a personal favorite. August brought Big Walk, described as a 'unique and emotional experience,' and Star Wars Zero Company, proving the XCOM formula 'works with any IP.'
Upcoming Highlights
Looking ahead, Taylor lists September's Marvel's Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Garfield: Escape From Monday; October's Phantom Blade 0, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Gears Of War: E-Day, and Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remaster. He jokingly calls November's Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered 'the biggest entertainment release ever,' before noting GTA 6 arrives two weeks later and 'might do well.'
He also mentions Attack On Titan 3 on December 10th and a Nintendo remake involving 'a flute or ocarina or something,' possibly prompting him to buy a Switch 2. Taylor concludes, 'So there you have it, the best year ever for games is 2026.'
The reader's feature does not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. Readers can submit their own 500 to 600-word features via gamecentral@metro.co.uk or the Submit Stuff page.
