It’s incredible to think that March isn’t yet over and already, we’ve been treated to several GOTY contenders.
The remainder of the year should, barring any delays, treat us to even more titles like Grand Theft Auto VI, Marvel’s Wolverine, 007 First Light, Saros, and Pragmata among others.
For now though, here’s the 15 best-rated games of the year according to aggregate website MetaCritic, correct as of March 2026.
15. Demon Tides, Score - 84
Coming in at 15th is Demon Tides, an open-world 3D platformer available on PC with a Nintendo Switch version in the works.
Developed and published by indie team Fabraz, Demon Tides sees players “race across open oceans and uncover a kingdom’s dark secrets”.
Advert
Players will step into the shoes of protagonist Beebz, jumping, running, spinning, and gliding across the game’s various biomes.
The move set looks incredibly fluid and smooth which has drawn a hefty amount of praise.
“Demon Tides is an amazing, incredibly expressive 3D platformer that might just be one of the best in its genre. It can be janky and imperfect, but it's so fun to move around in that a feeling of joy will shine through at all times,” remarked GamingTrend, awarding the game a perfect score of 10.
14. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Score - 84
Set within the established BlazBlue franchise, BlazBlue Entropy Effect X currently occupies spot 14 on this list.
This action-roguelike comes from developer 91Act with critics praising its fast-paced gameplay, citing it as one of the best examples in the roguelike genre.
Players can select from 12 different characters, each with their own unique fighting style with the game featuring hundreds of combat moves.
Played from a 2D sidescrolling perspective, BlazBlue Entropy Effect X sees you traverse a gorgeous cyberpunk world.
“In a future where the world has been plunged into chaos, people enter a cyberspace called ACE, seeking their last chance to resolve the crisis,” a synopsis reads.
“If you were the only person in this world who discovered the actual truth, what would you do? Your decision will decide humanity's future.”
13. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon, Score - 84
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon is an outlier on this list given that it actually first landed back in 2024.
That was exclusively in Japan though with a Chinese version launching in 2025. As of January 2026, the game is now available worldwide.
Developed by Nihon Falcom and PH3 GmbH, this RPG belongs to the popular Trails series, serving as a sequel to 2022’s Trails Through Daybreak II.
Noisy Pixel awarded the game a score of 95, writing, “With over 100 hours of deeply interconnected storytelling across multiple perspectives, Horizon excels at delivering emotional payoffs and mechanical polish that longtime fans will appreciate.”
With three protagonists to play as, the game tasks players with uncovering the secrets of Zemuria, participating in real-time and turn-based battles.
12. PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse, Score - 85
Developed and published by Square Enix, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is a supernatural mystery adventure that may not be on your radar.
“The remote island of Kameshima sits nestled in Ise bay. Yuza Minakuchi is a young pearl diver who lives on the island and spends his days underwater gathering, together with his best friend Azami Kumoi,” the synopsis begins.
“After he has a bewildering supernatural experience encountering another version of himself on the ocean floor, a series of curses start to befall the island.
“A girl of unknown origins, a treasure hunter from a foreign land and a mysterious housewife investigating a drowning. Paths cross and destinies collide as they come closer to the secret of the Mermaids of Ise, a legend that has been obscured by the fog of history for so long.”
I bet that’s piqued your interest. This brand new story doesn’t require you to have played any other games in the franchise.
You’ll step into the shoes of several different characters, travelling through gorgeous settings as you scour for clues. There’s also a very fun diving minigame.
11. Esoteric Ebb, Score - 85
If you’re a fan of Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll most definitely get a kick out of Esoteric Ebb from developer Christoffer Bodegård and publisher Raw Fury.
It’s a single-player CRPG “inspired by the freedom of tabletop adventures”.
“Esoteric Ebb is an isometric, Disco-like, TTRPG-turned-CRPG set in a bizarre post-Arcanepunk fantasy setting,” states the synopsis.
“You are The Cleric, an expert in esoteric events, and a glorified government goon. Inspired by classic CRPG games, Esoteric Ebb features deep and branching dialogs with a staggering amount of choices.”
I have a friend who won’t stop yapping about this one, and it’s clear to see why from the reviews.
GameReactor UK awarded a score of nine, writing, “Esoteric Ebb is simply a lovely RPG that puts player agency front and centre. Its world is fantastically immersive, deep, and invites you to stay a while with charming visuals, characters, and lore so detailed I'd gladly take another game or two set in this world.”
It has that Balatro appeal of sucking you in and never letting you go.
10. Cairn, Score - 85
Cairn is a delightful game, but one for the patient amongst you.
Developed and published by The Game Bakers, players follow the journey of Aava who is attempting to climb Mount Kami.
You’ll need to guide Aava’s movements as well as manage her hunger and tiredness levels. For example, forcing Aava to overstretch during a climb with low energy levels could result in disaster.
Cairn doesn’t feature any UI indicators so you’ll have to watch for wobbles and sweat in order to judge how Aava is feeling.
Along the way, you’ll discover the secrets of Mount Kami, plus there are various resources to manage including pitons, chalk, and finger tape.
It’s a brilliant experience but one that can’t be rushed.
9. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Score - 86
Landing just a few weeks ago, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is, of course, from developer and publisher Capcom.
This is the third entry in the popular Monster Hunter Stories RPG spin-off series and no, you don’t need to have played the prior two entries. It can function perfectly as a standalone story.
Featuring gorgeous Breath of the Wild-esque visuals, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is a visual feast that also boasts plenty of substance.
Players will become a “rider”, bonding with their favourite monsters as they set out exploring a vast semi open-world.
IGN awarded the game a score of nine, stating, “Twisted Reflection shines as another excellent spin off of one of my favorite series, but it also just stands as a fantastic monster-collecting RPG all on its own.”
8. Nioh 3, Score - 86
Nioh 3 is currently the eight highest-rated game of the year so far, after dazzling players of the action RPG genre.
Developed by Koei Tecmo, this latest instalement can be played without playing those former two instalments although they both are brilliant so I don’t exactly recommend skipping them.
The game’s high-octane combat is inspired by both the ninja and samurai fighting styles. You’ll take down ferocious yokai in an experience that’s best suited for those who like a challenge.
Nioh 3 is designed to be a tad more accessible to newcomers given that you can power up in the open-world before taking on tricky encounters rather than being forced into a certain fight.
That doesn’t make Nioh 3 easy though.
7. Perfect Tides: Station to Station, Score - 86
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a charming point and click game from indie studio Three Bees that follows 18-year-old Mara.
Mara, as so many of us do, makes a big move to the city. As the character, you’ll collect items, “nuture ideas and experience complex relationships while attempting to find your place in the world”.
It’s a really poignant experience that can be completed in less than 10 hours.
Edge Magazine awarded the game a score of eight in their review, writing, “This is a story about finding your voice, but it also grapples with an uncertain time, when some outcomes are beyond our control or experience.”
6. Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven, Score - 86
Here’s another anomaly on this list given that Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven is an expansion more so than a standalone release.
As you’re likely aware, Cult of the Lamb launched back in 2022. Woolhaven requires you to have completed most of the base game in order to enter.
“Winter descends, and a long-silenced deity stirs beneath the snow,” devs tease.
“Yngya, the forgotten God of the lambs, summons you to restore the flock and reclaim what time has erased.
“But as you breathe life into what long passed, a creeping Rot awakens, spreading corruption through the sacred mountain the lambs once called home.”
The expansion introduces freezing temperatures, a new realm, new animal breeds, 52 new follower forms, 68 new cult decorations, 17 new buildings, new fleeces, new outfits, as well as new relics, curses, weapons, and more.
In total, Woolhaven adds around 10 to 15 hours of content.
5. Hermit and Pig, Score - 87
We’re reaching the major league now as we enter the top five games of the year so far.
Coming in at number five is a game you probably haven’t heard of, Hermit and Pig. I’ll make a confession: I hadn’t either.
It’s a “story rich RPG” from Heavy Lunch Studio where players battle a sinister corporation.
It's a pixel-art game that makes use of turn-based combat with a unique time twist.
“Battles play out against the clock. Read your enemy’s behavior, choose attacks carefully, and execute button combos before time runs out. Combos grow longer as the story progresses,” the description teases.
There are also plenty of dialogue encounters that double as combat. If you say the wrong thing, you’ll take “cringe damage” which is a pretty funny concept.
The game boasts healing items, status effects, a levelling up system and all the usual aspects you’d expect in an RPG.
You can remove combos, disable timers, and adjust the difficulty if you don’t like too much challenge making Hermit and Pig a game for all tastes.
4. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard - Gold Edition, Score - 87
An old favourite returns. I didn’t have Resident Evil 7: Biohazard sitting as the fourth highest-rated game of the year on my 2026 bingo card.
This is all thanks to the launch of the game’s Gold Edition which finally landed on Nintendo Switch 2 last month.
The Gold Edition isn’t new itself. It’s been around for many years and basically includes all DLC as well as the base game.
A slew of Resident Evil games dropped on Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of the launch of Resident Evil Requiem as Nintendo sought to build its third-party offerings.
Biohazard runs very well on the console and is well worth revisiting if you want to experience this modern classic on-the-go.
3. Mewgenics, Score - 88
Mewgenics may have stirred some controversy due to its questionable list of cameoing voices, but it landed well with critics ahead of that kerfuffle.
From the creator of The Binding of Isaac, Mewgenics is a turn-based adventure from Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel.
“Build the ultimate cat army through tactical breeding and send them into deep, challenging turn-based adventures,” the synopsis states.
“Draft abilities, collect items, and manipulate genetics across generations in this roguelike tactics game.”
Upon release, the game instantly flew up the Steam charts and continues to sit at ‘Very Positive’ on the storefront.
On MetaCritic, PC Gamer awarded the title a score of 92 in their review. It said, “A sprawling, ridiculous, and endlessly surprising roguelike that will drag you body and soul into its chaotic world.”
2. Resident Evil Requiem, Score - 89
You all saw this one coming. Resident Evil Requiem is currently the second highest-rated game of the year and regardless of what else comes along, I could easily see this being a GOTY contender.
The Grace and Leon team-up has taken the internet by storm. Yes, that’s largely thanks to just how incredibly hot aged Leon looks in that tight little black top but the game is so much more than that.
It offers a great story plus many of us loved the split between intense stealth and hardcore action.
GAMINGbible’s Richard Lee Breslin awarded the game a score of 10 in our review, writing, “Resident Evil Requiem looks fantastic and [...] encourages different approaches to certain sections of the game, whether it be stealth or action, increasing its replay value, amongst other factors.”
He continued, “It has classic puzzles and inventory management, and most importantly, at least with Grace, feels like a proper survival horror game with something extra for the high-octane Resident Evil 4 fans.”
1. Pokémon Pokopia, Score - 89
Currently claiming the top spot is Pokémon Pokopia, the cosy spin-off from both Nintendo and Koei Tecmo.
As I’m sure you know by now, the game sees players step into the shoes of a Ditto who’s taken on a human form in a world largely absent of both ‘mon and humans.
You’ll build habitats as you lure ‘mon back in across several sprawling biomes.
Even when you’ve completed the main story, Pokémon Pokopia will retain its hold over you as there’s plenty of building and terraforming that can take place with some wild creations already having surfaced online.
Here at GAMINGbible, we awarded the game a perfect score of 10 out of 10.
In our review, I said, “There’s no one reason why Pokémon Pokopia is so special; this game is a sum of its parts, without a single weak link in the chain.”
I continued, “Totally devoid of grind, this experience rewards the curious with heaps of content on offer. You’ll be hard pressed to put it down, and it's certainly a title that we’ll all be discussing when this year’s GOTY discussion rolls around.”
Much like Resident Evil Requiem, regardless of whatever else comes our way this year, I expect Pokémon Pokopia to remain in the GOTY conversation.
As for what may join it, only time will tell. Many entered 2026 with Grand Theft Auto VI as the surefire GOTY winner but it has to match the hype - something which, say, Crimson Desert has slightly failed to do.
Of course, no one saw Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s success coming in 2025. Perhaps 2026 will deliver another complete surprise.
Topics: List, PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Steam, Pokemon, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter