After the relentless pace of 2025, marked by blockbuster releases like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yōtei, alongside instant classics such as Hollow Knight: Silksong and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it feels like many players barely had time to put the DualSense down. Now, Sony early 2026 lineup already looks determined to keep that momentum going.
From expansive RPGs and competitive shooters to cozy narrative games and long-awaited horror revivals, the first few months of the year are packed. This isn’t a quiet stretch filled with filler releases. It’s a statement that PlayStation wants the year to start loud.
Alongside these releases, Sony is also keeping players busy through its subscription offerings. PlayStation Plus, for instance, kicks off January 2026 with Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and Core Keeper, adding even more variety to an already crowded calendar.
Major PlayStation Releases to Watch in Early 2026
/1. Arknights: Endfield — Jan 22 | PS5
If the original Arknights left you wanting more action, Endfield expands the formula into something bigger. The space-opera spin-off blends tactical RPG roots with real-time combat, base building, and large explorable environments. You can build factories, expand operations, and fight with a party of up to four. Also, one of your characters is a sunglasses-wearing panda named Da Pan, which somehow fits perfectly.
/2. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin — Jan 28 | PS5
This reimagining of the Seven Deadly Sins universe introduces an original story set in Britannia, complete with alternate timelines and dimensional rifts. Up to five players can explore massive dungeons together, keeping the tone colorful and adventurous while still offering depth for longtime fans of the series.
/3. Code Vein II — Jan 30 | PS5
Speaking of timelines, Code Vein II sends players on a dystopian fantasy journey where your actions 100 years in the past shape the present. Customizable builds, flashy battles, and uniquely equipped partners make it a rich adventure for returning fans. And yes, you can still drain enemies’ blood to activate special abilities—old habits die hard.
/4. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined — Feb 5 | PS5
Nothing says nostalgia like Dragon Quest’s signature theme, and this remake does the PlayStation original proud. Follow the fisherman’s son turned time-traveling hero in a beautifully reimagined diorama visual style. Combat has been updated with more abilities and pre-emptive strikes, while Akira Toriyama’s iconic designs pop in ways they never have before.
/5. Nioh 3 — Feb 6 | PS5
Team Ninja is back with another dark fantasy action-RPG, blending samurai and ninja skills against the mighty calamity known as the Crucible. As Tokugawa Takechiyo, you’ll battle your jealous brother’s yokai hordes while exploring multiple Japanese eras, the Sengoku, Heian, and Bakumatsu—meeting historical figures along the way.
/6. BlazBlue Entropy Effect X — Feb 12 | PS5
Need a little more fight in your 2026? BlazBlue Entropy Effect X packs chunky, combo-driven combat into a sleek side-scrolling roguelite adventure. With colourful pyrotechnics, potent power-ups, and a deep progression system, there’s plenty to keep your thumbs busy.
/7. Tides of Tomorrow — Feb 24 | PS5
The creators of Road 96 take us from streets to seas. Play as a Tidewalker in a procedurally generated adventure, shaping the story to find a cure for the deadly plastification of planet Elynd. And here’s the twist, your actions, combined with other players’, affect how the world reacts. One choice could ripple across the seas in unexpected ways.
/8. No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files — Feb 26 | PS4, PS5
Wake up, detective. Internet idol Iris Sagan has been abducted by aliens, and only you can solve the case. Set between the previous two titles, this spin-off blends visual novel storytelling with escape room-style puzzles. Enter the dreams of suspects to find clues and uncover a bizarre, layered mystery.
/9. Resident Evil Requiem — Feb 27 | PS5
Finally, Raccoon City calls again. Resident Evil Requiem puts you in the shoes of intelligence agent Grace Ashcroft, alongside returning icon Leon S. Kennedy. First- or third-person perspective? You decide. Either way, expect chills, thrills, and the classic zombie chaos that made the series legendary.
/10. Marathon — March | PS5
Bungie’s new PvPvE extraction shooter takes players to Tau Ceti, where rival Runners and hostile UESC security stand between you and your high-stakes heist. Solo or forge on-the-fly alliances with rival crews as you scavenge, stalk, and survive. High-risk survival FPS never felt this tense.
/11. Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse — March 5 | PS4, PS5
The “curse” here is a hat you control, yes, really. Possess enemies, use their abilities for combat and puzzles, and rebuild your village in between runs. Bring up to three friends into multiplayer for even more cursed chaos.
/12. Coffee Talk Tokyo — March 5 | PS5
Cozy vibes meet supernatural beings. Listen to mermaids, vampires, and ghosts spill their hearts over coffee in this narrative-driven visual novel spin-off. Make latte art, brew drinks, and enjoy the calm in chaotic Tokyo streets.
/13. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake — March 12 | PS5
Koei Tecmo brings back the PS2 classic with updated visuals and audio. Photograph objects and spirits with the Camera Obscura, now with new features like filter switching to extend your combat range. Classic horror, modernized.
/14. Crimson Desert — March 19 | PS5
Explore the fantasy continent of Pywel with open-world combat, crafting, cooking, and more. Take on savage tribes, monsters, and even a mechanical dragon, while making time for fishing and mining when the fighting gets heavy.
/15. Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered — March 19 | PS5
The PS2 classic gets a modern glow-up. Refined gameplay, upgraded UI, and extra content from the Xtreme Legends expansion make it an absolute must for fans of large-scale tactical action. One hero vs. a thousand enemies? Still just as satisfying.
/16. Pragmata — April 24 | PS5
Finally, the payoff to the haunting images of astronaut Hugh and android Diana. Stranded on a lunar research station, hack rogue AI and solve environmental puzzles while navigating a weighty sci-fi adventure.
/17. Saros — April 30 | PS5
From the makers of Returnal, Saros delivers fast-paced sci-fi shooting in a mysterious world. Unlike Returnal, deaths let you permanently upgrade your weapons and suit. Secrets abound, and Housemarque has more surprises in store.
/18. 007 First Light — May 27 | PS5
Ever wondered how James Bond became 007? IO Interactive delivers a prequel packed with fast cars, stealth, gadgets, and all the action you’d expect from a Bond origin story. Complete missions your way, fight, sneak, bluff, or go full chaos.
Why Early 2026 Matters for PlayStation
This isn’t a gentle warm-up to the year. Strategic RPGs, prestige horror, cozy narratives, and blockbuster action games are all landing within the first few months. It signals confidence, and a willingness to front-load the calendar rather than save everything for the holidays.
Conclusion
From building bases with Da Pan in Arknights: Endfield to surviving Raccoon City in Resident Evil Requiem, uncovering lunar secrets in Pragmata, or simply serving coffee to ghosts in Coffee Talk Tokyo, early 2026 offers something for nearly every kind of PlayStation player. And with even more titles lined up throughout the year, this opening stretch feels less like an appetizer and more like a full course.
If this pace holds, 2026 could end up being one of PlayStation’s most varied and memorable years yet.
Emmanuel Umahi
