Game Informer's Top Scoring Reviews Of 2026
At Game Informer, writing game reviews is one of our primary functions. As such, we cover hundreds of titles each and every year, hoping to turn you on to your next favorite game. However, within that field, a select few rise to the top as the games we most highly recommend. While you're always welcome to peruse our reviews page for the latest and greatest (and sometimes worst) games on the market, we've gathered our highest-scoring reviews of 2026 right here.
Be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently, as we'll continue to update it as more titles earn review scores on the top end of our review scale.
Resident Evil Requiem
A masterclass in refinement and a tour de force of gameplay, Requiem is Resident Evil at its finest. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
Cairn
Cairn is more than a remarkably gripping mountain-climbing game. It's also a deeply affecting narrative of anguish, loss, and the steep cost of obsession. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date:
Forza Horizon 6
Even for a series built on delivering approachable racing action that appeals to both newcomers and hardcore players, Forza Horizon 6 impresses at each turn, delivering one of the greatest racing games of this generation. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
May 19, 2026 (Xbox Series X/S, PC), 2026 (PlayStation 5)
Marathon
Bungie’s excellent audio design and gunplay, paired with increasingly complicated level design borrowing from over a decade of expertise designing Destiny raids coalesce into something special. Marathon is proof Bungie is still at the top of its game. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
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Saros
Moving, shooting, improving (both in stats and skill), winning, and even losing is an unequivocal joy, and I only wish I could write this final sentence faster so I can hurry up and get back to planet Carcosa and attempt another run. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park
Super Mario Bros. Wonder was a joy to play through in 2023, and now, a few years later, it's even better. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2
Release Date:
Big Walk
Big Walk is a lot of walking with your friends. Thankfully, it's a very good walk. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Switch 2, PC, Mac
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Deadzone: Rogue
Thanks to superb gunplay, a compelling mystery, and terrific use of the roguelite formula, Deadzone: Rogue avoids getting lost in the crowded sci-fi shooter genre. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
August 11, 2025 (PC), September 3, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S), March 17, 2026 (Switch 2)
Mixtape
Mixtape's stellar writing, concise runtime, and inspired use of its licensed soundtrack make it an instant classic and a heartfelt trip down memory lane. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
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Nioh 3
Nioh 3's consistently rewarding approach to open-world design, combined with its entertaining Ninja gameplay style, cements it as the best entry in the franchise. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
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Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse
Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse is a brilliant modern adventure game, filled with mysteries, delightful characters, and gorgeous art. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2, Switch, PC, iOS, Android
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Pokémon Pokopia
Despite minor complaints, Pokémon Pokopia sticks out as one of the best examples of a third-party developer using the Pokémon license to the fullest extent possible. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2
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The Mermaid Mask
With memorable puzzles, eye-catching animations, and a spirited voice cast, I admire the way the story was told just as much as the story itself. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, PC
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World of Warcraft: Midnight
Now more than ever, Azeroth feels like a home away from home. Read review
Platforms: PC, Mac
Release Date:
007 First Light
Fantastic storytelling that captures the fun of the classic spy hero helps this new adventure shine bright. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
May 27, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), 2026 (Switch 2)
Death Howl
Death Howl is a cohesive and well-crafted fusion of deckbuilders and Soulslikes. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Release Date:
December 9, 2025 (PC), February 19, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)
High On Life 2
High on Life 2 is the kind of game that you can put on, laugh at for a while, and forget what's troubling you, even though reminders might slip in through the pointed social commentary. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
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LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Even with my dissatisfaction with stealth and some minor glitches, the latest LEGO Batman is a rain-slicked success. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
Release Date:
May 22, 2026 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), September 18, 2026 (Switch 2)
Mina the Hollower
Mina the Hollower looks like a nostalgic throwback, and it undeniably is, but its thoughtful design and larger sensibilities make it play and feel like a contemporary video game – one that has taken the right lessons from the medium’s history. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC
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MIO: Memories in Orbit
Taking cues from the likes of Hollow Knight and Ori, this punishing platforming and exploration game is well worth your time if you're up for a big challenge. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, PC
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Splatoon Raiders
Though Splatoon’s single-player content has always been underappreciated, Splatoon Raiders makes it difficult to ignore, shining a bright light on the series’ oft-slept-on side. Read review
Platforms: Switch 2
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The Incident at Galley House
Unraveling the truth behind the unsolved deaths of a group of people gathering at a mansion one stormy night is engrossing and inventive, with a tale that keeps you guessing until its final moments. Read review
Platforms: PC
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Denshattack
Denshattack is weird as hell, and it leans into its strange premise with earned confidence, constantly building and layering on its ideas throughout at high speed. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC
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Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred
Lord of Hatred is an exceptional cherry on top of Diablo IV, further cementing the entire package as among the best action RPGs of the generation. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
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Fur Squadron Phoenix
Nintendo may not know what to do with the Star Fox franchise, but Fur Squadron Phoenix makes a great case that the genre can still flourish in 2026. Read review
Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date:
February 18, 2026 (PC), February 25, 2026 (Switch)
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Even stripped of its multiplayer, this return trip to the original Halo nails the fun and chaos that made the series a landmark game. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
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Invincible VS
With a solid foundation built upon approachability and personality, Invincible VS is easy to recommend to both seasoned fighting games fans and Invincible enthusiasts. Read review
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
For more of our top reviews from recent years, head to our Top Scoring Reviews hub
