NPR's staff have published a mid-year round-up of the best video games of 2026, spotlighting the titles that have most impressed critics and players so far. The list matters as an industry snapshot, highlighting both blockbuster successes and the tougher climate facing smaller studios, some of which have shut down despite releasing well-reviewed games.

Big-budget hits dominating the year include *Resident Evil Requiem* and *Crimson Desert*, alongside early-access sequels *Slay the Spire 2* and *Subnautica 2*. Other picks include *Pokémon Pokopia*, *007 First Light*, and indie gems *Mewgenics* and *Mina the Hollower*, while *Marathon* also features. NPR notes that developers behind *MIO: Memories in Orbit* and *Luna Abyss* closed down after weak sales despite the games' quality, and looks ahead to *Grand Theft Auto VI*, due on 19 November 2026.