2026 Looks Like A Great Year For Nerdy Fandom

As we put a bow on 2025, we've gladly acknowledged all the good that has emerged out of the games industry and the incredibly creative folks therein. We received unexpected hits, tried-and-true juggernauts, and a follow-up to one of the most successful video game devices of all time. However, as I look ahead to 2026, I cannot help but feel wowed by the number of heavy hitting video games and all-around nerdy things that I cannot wait to experience over the next year.

Here at Game Informer, we are hyperfocused on the games side, and 2026 looks incredible in that regard. We don't even have a full picture, and already, we know about some unbelievably exciting titles. Grand Theft Auto VI is at the top of mind for pretty much everyone, but other top-notch studios have games we also cannot wait to get our hands on. Marvel's Wolverine, Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Invincible VS, Pokémon Pokopia, Saros, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Forza Horizon 6, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis all look and sound extraordinarily promising. And we don't know what else major companies have in store; we know Nintendo has gotten into a rhythm of announcing games just a few months before release, so who knows what games will pop up during the next few Nintendo Directs?

Grand Theft Auto VI

But it's not just games that nerdy folks such as myself are excited for. After a bit of a down year for game adaptations, the video game movies of 2026 are super promising: Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to follow up the most popular video game adaptation of all time, while Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat II have a high ceiling when it comes to how fun they shape up to be. And on the comic-movie side, after stepping back a bit in recent years, it sure seems like Marvel, DC, and other comic adaptations are ready to fire on all cylinders, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Supergirl, not to mention new seasons of Daredevil: Born Again, X-Men '97, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, The Boys, and Invincible, plus new shows like Lanterns, Wonder Man, and a special presentation featuring The Punisher. On top of that, Game of Thrones fans have Season 3 of House of the Dragon and the new prequel series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2026.

Star Wars is also back in theaters this coming year through The Mandalorian & Grogu, as is Dune with Dune: Part Three. Top it all off with new entries in the Moana, Scream, Insidious, Shrek, Minions, Jumanji, and Toy Story franchises, as well as a Masters of the Universe movie, and 2026 will deliver plenty of excitement for fans of these IP. Even divorced from major franchises, we have new films from Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg to look forward to, as well.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu

To put it bluntly, we have needed quite a bit of escapism in 2025, as sociopolitical strife, economic uncertainty, and a continually challenging games industry job market have remained prominent in the headlines. Educating yourself and staying in touch with events happening in the world is important, but doomscrolling has certainly emerged as a problem for many. Video games, movies, shows, comics, and books provide the escapism that allows us to turn off that part of our brain, disconnect from our real-world struggles, recharge our batteries, and get lost in an incredible adventure. 

Sadly, 2026 shows no signs of slowing down in terms of real-world challenges, but the moments when we feel we can lose ourselves and lessen the weight of the world for even a small stretch can mean everything. And though we have no idea what awaits us in the realm of real-world things outside of our control in 2026, we can rest assured that when the time comes to relax, rest, and recover from whatever has been taxing us, the entertainment we will receive in 2026 will rise to the occasion.