Top Five 2026 Xbox Series X Games We Can’t Wait For

The Xbox Series X/S might not be selling quite as well as the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch, but it’s still an impressive console with plenty of exciting additions on the way over the next year.

Xbox has obviously made quite the play in recent years when it comes to acquiring development studios and expanding game pass, reducing their dependence on selling hardware to ensure they have something to offer in the future, even if their console sales don’t meet expectations.

In particular, there are some major releases scheduled for 2026 that really could elevate the console for the foreseeable future, as some of the most legendary franchises in its storied history makes a return.

Playground Games

Fable

Easily my most anticipated game of next year, the return of Fable has been confirmed for years, but it seems that 2026 might finally be the year we get our hands on it. The game series created by the oft-maligned Peter Molyneux has been on an indefinite hiatus since the divisive Fable III, but if it can return us to the glory of days of Fable II, it’s in with every chance of being the best game of next year.

If you’ve somehow never played at this point, the Fable series is one of the most iconic action RPG franchises in the history of the genre. Combining sharply written and comedic, but high stakes fantasy with life simulation mechanics and varied combat, it really does have everything you might want from a game of its ilk.

Though everything’s still very hush, hush on the part of the developer, I have every faith that Playground Games can deliver an absolute doozy.

The Coalition

Gears of War: E-Day

Another iconic returning franchise that defined the glory days of the Xbox during the 360 generation, Gears of War is back, and back in a very big way. If you don’t know anything about it, E-Day is a prequel set 14 years before the events of the very first game, as the Locust Horde arrives for the first time.

Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago return once again, and the limited footage we have seen thus far really does have all the hallmarks that made the series great back in the day, whilst at the same time updating the visuals in a majorly impressive way. The developer has wisely chosen to stick with the classics here, so keep an eye out for more blood and gore than ever before.

Playground Games

Forza Horizon 6

The premier racing simulator on the Xbox is back for another go round, and this time it’s arguably going to the most highly requested location of them all - Japan. Forza Horizon really has gone from strength to strength as a series, adding extra cars, implementing more realistic driving mechanics and improving the offering of activities available to the budding racer.

If you aren’t into racing games generally, Forza Horizon manages to tread a thin line between highly realistic, Gran Turismo-style simulation and fun and out there party mechanics that make some of the multiplayer races considerably more chaotic than anything you’ll find on PlayStation’s best offering (which is also a spectacular game).

Whether you’re planning to play solo or with friends, you’ll struggle to find a more impressive pick than Forza Horizon 6 next year.

IO Interactive

007: First Light

James Bond games have actually been some of the more consistent video game adaptations, when directly translating one of the many movies. 007: First Light might be an entirely original story set during the earliest stages of Bond’s spying career, but it looks like it has all the proverbial chops to duke it out with the very best in franchise history.

Developed by Hitman developer IO Interactive, the limited gameplay we have seen so far demonstrates those sterling roots pretty clearly. If you’re a fan of any of the more recent Hitman games then you should be more than happy with this, with the game leaning on a fun mix of stealth, combat and narrative to deliver its thrills.

Lenny Kravitz has just been confirmed as the antagonist of the piece as well, and it looks like one of the coolest Bond villains since Le Chiffre in Casino Royale.

343 Industries

Halo: Campaign Evolved

There are arguably no more iconic games in the history of Xbox than Halo, and though it has been through some tricky times in recent years, there’s absolutely no reason that we should feel trepidation about returning to its halcyon days. Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to recreate the first game’s legendary single-player story in Unreal Engine 5, and it really does feel like a return to the glory days.

The cool news for everyone is that the game will be releasing for PlayStation 5, as well as Xbox and Windows, so you don’t need to miss out if you’re a Sony fan. Also you should be aware that this isn’t a simple visual improvement, with new missions, changes to the campaign and new mechanics, weapons and narrative additions to boot.

It’s going to be a great way to relive our childhoods, and it’s nice to just have a single-player focus for once, rather than split loyalties with a half-baked multiplayer mode that nobody really needs.

That’s out list, but there are plenty more on the way that we haven’t included just yet. Fingers crossed for that Elder Scrolls VI shadow drop in the middle of the year (make it happen, please, Todd).