2026 Has Been a Surprisingly Excellent Year for Shooters

Shooter games have had a stronger 2026 than early setbacks suggested, with releases from major publishers and independent studios bringing fresh energy to the genre. The article argues that a difficult launch for Highguard and doubts about Marathon had prompted premature claims that shooters, especially live-service games, were losing appeal.

Among the year’s releases, Gears of War: E-Day and Saros have earned strong responses, while Marathon has drawn a loyal following despite struggling to build a large player base and undergoing changes. Splatoon Raiders is the third-highest-rated game of 2026 on Metacritic by user reviews, and indie titles including Wardogs, Mouse: P.I. for Hire and Sprawl Zero have also found audiences. Live-service games Overwatch and Arc Raiders have gained momentum through updates, though the article notes that layoffs have weakened some other projects.