2026 promises to be an exciting year for gaming and entertainment. We can look forward to highly anticipated game releases like Grand Theft Auto VI and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, as well as a new movie adaptation with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to cinemas.
This is positive for the gaming world, but to truly understand where games are headed, it’s helpful to remember their history. In 2026, popular titles like Firewatch and Overwatch will mark their ten-year anniversaries, having first launched in 2016.
Overwatch Will Be Missed
Overwatch was a popular online team-based shooter played from 2016 to 2022. Set in the future, the game focused on the Overwatch team fighting against dangerous robots known as omnics.
The original Overwatch is no longer available, and the new version hasn’t attracted the same loyal player base. The first Overwatch had a unique community built around its diverse characters, including heroes specializing in support (like Mercy), dealing damage (like Tracer), and protecting the team as tanks (like Junker Queen).
Stellaris Is Civilization in Space
Stellaris is a strategy game like many others, but it stands out with its detailed gameplay and quicker pace. Set in the future among the stars, you’ll aim to take over entire star systems while also handling things like your economy and relationships with other civilizations.
Stellaris is a game that’s easy to lose yourself in for hours on end. It’s fascinating to carefully manage your planets to build a strong empire, or even to let them fall into disrepair. The game offers a vast universe for players to discover and experience.
No Man’s Sky Is Better Than Ever
No Man’s Sky is an adventure game where you travel to faraway planets and build bases. Be careful though – dangerous creatures live on these planets, so you’ll need to be alert!
When it first came out in 2016, the game quickly gained attention, and it’s still a popular topic of conversation ten years later. Like Minecraft, it lets you explore a vast, open world, but it also focuses more on trading and building an economy alongside simply surviving – making it a game definitely worth checking out.
Firewatch Is Still Hot After All These Years
Firewatch is an adventure game taking place in the summer of 1989 within Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest. Players take on the role of Henry, a fire lookout whose job is to watch for wildfires. He also becomes involved in investigating mysterious events happening in the surrounding wilderness.
Released in the last decade, Firewatch is a surprisingly heartwarming game. Its story unfolds through miscommunications and the feeling of being alone, but it’s still a deeply engaging experience. Players can explore a vast forest, discovering notes and photos along the way.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Deserves a Sequel
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a role-playing game set in a futuristic, cyberpunk Prague of 2029. The game follows Adam Jensen, who works as a secret agent for both a government anti-terrorist group called TF29 and a hacktivist organization known as the Juggernaut Collective.
Man, it’s been way too long since the last Deus Ex game – Mankind Divided! I honestly don’t get why we haven’t seen a new one yet. That game took everything that made the older Deus Ex titles awesome and just polished it to perfection, especially how you could actually interact with the characters and really feel like you were in that world.
Ratchet & Clank Is Better Than the Movie
Ratchet & Clank is a reimagining of the beloved 2002 PlayStation 2 game of the same name. It follows the adventures of Ratchet, a skilled mechanic from the Lombax species, and Clank, his robotic companion, as they work together to stop Captain Qwark from taking over the galaxy.
The Ratchet & Clank game came out alongside the 2016 animated movie with the same name, but most people agree the game is much more enjoyable. It successfully blends the classic Ratchet & Clank experience with updated controls and features, making it a great entry point for new players while still appealing to longtime fans.
Stardew Valley Is Still Cozy
Stardew Valley is a charming farming game with surprising depth. You start by inheriting your grandfather’s old farm and it’s your job to bring it back to life.
You soon realize you can’t run the farm by yourself in Stardew Valley and will need help from the friendly people in town. It’s these relationships – and the possibility of even marrying someone – that make the game so charming and keep players coming back, even after ten years. Plus, the relaxing farming gameplay is a big part of its appeal.
Hearts of Iron IV Has the Best Mods
Hearts of Iron IV is a strategy game focused on World War II, beginning between 1936 and 1939. In the game, you lead a nation involved in the war and are responsible for managing its military.
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Hearts of Iron IV is a complex strategy game that many players enjoy spending a lot of time learning. It becomes even more engaging with mods – especially ones like Kaiserreich, which reimagines the game’s setting to a world where Germany and its allies won World War I. These mods significantly enhance the overall gameplay experience.
Planet Coaster Allows Players to Build Their Dream Theme Park
Planet Coaster is a game where you build and manage your own theme park. You can create amazing coasters, classic rides like Ferris wheels, and all sorts of other attractions to make your park a dream destination.
Planet Coaster is similar to the classic Roller Coaster Tycoon, but offers even more creative freedom. Players can build and design their theme parks however they like, and even create completely unique rides. This lets them bring their most imaginative park ideas to life.
Persona 5 Celebrates Ten Years With a Bang
Persona 5 is a highly acclaimed role-playing game, often considered one of the best Japanese RPGs of the last decade. The story follows Joker, also known as Ren Amamiya, as he gathers a team of vigilantes to fight corruption within a mysterious alternate world created by human cognition.
Even ten years after its release, Persona 5 remains popular, largely due to its memorable characters and compelling story. Atlus has kept the game alive with ongoing support, including a recent remaster that added new characters and multiple new endings.
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2025-12-28 04:43