2026 has been a busy year for quality video games and one reader has played an impressive number already, with his goal of completing at least one each month.
Sometimes my appetite for games peaks. At times, despite having a heavy load, nothing would grab my attention.
However, since the beginning of 2026 I’ve been on a mission of sorts and aiming to play one game a month. So far, I’ve smashed that goal.
Here is my summary for the first half of the year.
January
The first game I finished was Sending. If you like narrative based games such as The walking dead series or Life Is Strange then I can’t recommend this enough. Great writing, voice acting and at times very funny. Best game of 2025 for me.
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February
This was a busy month. I received a subscription for one month PS Plus because there were some games I wanted to play. Done Sword of the Sea – a slightly unique game where you slide across the ocean on a sword. It’s a meeting type of travel Tony Hawk‘s. Beautiful art style and around four hours doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Thank you Lord for being here! it’s a surreal game, almost like an interactive comic in the style of a Viz or Beano magazine. It’s very funny at times, but in a way that appeals more to a British audience. Even though I enjoyed it, I was ready for it to be over by the end, and I can’t say I would play it again.
The last game I finished was Exit 8. It’s a difficult premise to explain. Basically you walk through an underground train passage trying to find the exit. In each passage through the passage you must look for subtle and not so subtle differences. It’s a walking sim/spot the difference puzzle that’s a bit creepy and disturbing at times. It’s a weird game to explain, but can be finished in an hour or so. I don’t know what the full price is, but if you’re intrigued, it might be worth it for cheap.
March
When my PS Plus subscription expired, I purchased Ghost of Yōtei for just £35 from Facebook The market. I then sold it for £30. Absolute bargain. I had played Ghost of Tsushima briefly before, but never finished it. While it doesn’t change anything drastically, I feel like it’s a big improvement over the first game, especially expanding from one to four guns.
I also found Atsu to be a slightly more compelling character than Jin. Also, the game was absolutely stunning, probably the best from a graphical point of view so far PlayStation 5. Even though the game doesn’t really bring any new ideas to the table, I still found the combat and gameplay to be rewarding, and it’s one of the few games I’ve ever gotten a platinum trophy for. At some point I intend to give its predecessor another go.
APRIL
WARNING WARNING RESIDENT EVIL REQUIEM SPOILERS
That was it Resident Evil month. First, I played Requiem IN Switch 2. For me it’s up there with some of the best Resident Evil games and feels a bit like a better compilation. Some of Leon’s sections were unadulterated joy and at times grossly OTT in the best way, especially the motorbike section and the use of the chainsaw. Also, to be followed by Mr. X in the ruins of the police station was pure nostalgia. The Grace sections on the other hand are probably the times I’ve felt the most scared in a Resident Evil game. Sections of it feel like a cross between Resident Evil 7 and the Village.
After I finished I bought Resident Evil 4 remake for Legion Go. It’s a lot of fun and the first section in the countryside is particularly well done. However, I never played the original, so I didn’t have the same love for it as some players. Towards the end, I fought Ramon Salazar’s boss fight and cleared the difficulty and moved on to the rest of the game. It’s a good game, but for me it felt a bit repetitive towards the end.
May
A quieter month in which I only played one game, which was pragmatic. I have to commend Capcom for believing in an original IP with a unique premise. However, I think I’m a little less enthused than the general consensus. I had a good time for the most part, but lost interest a bit towards the end. I think maybe playing what is essentially a third-person shooter right after another may have been partly the problem.
JUNE
June was probably the busiest month yet. I had somehow accumulated a fair amount of Microsoft points purchased this way 007 First Light to play Legion Go. Probably the game of the year so far for me. Great complexes, different places to explore, satisfying gameplay and combat, and a story that is much more engaging than it has reason to be. Patrick Gibson is very good as the voice actor for Bond, but I think Lennie James steals the show as Bond’s mentor. I really cared about his character.
The next game was MIX. I have conflicting opinions. I found it enjoyable for the most part. The mini-games were quite fun, the story held my interest, and while the characters could be a little self-centered, they were also quite likable. My main issue is the runtime. I don’t mind a short game, and in some ways it’s a strength, but I also think it means that some things feel unresolved. I would have liked to have seen more of one of the characters, Slater. On the surface it appears to be a one-dimensional rock, but there are moments that show it has hidden depth and seems to be the glue that holds the friendship group together.
Finally, I played Dinner. It’s a 2D puzzle game in the style of Inside, Limbo or Little Nightmares. The puzzles were quite clever and although some were tricky, I never got too stuck. The main time I got frustrated was with a puzzle at the end of the game where the camera kept rolling and you have to complete a maze type puzzle in a certain amount of time. The game is a little creepy and has some jumps, but I wouldn’t call it particularly scary. To me, Inside is the gold standard of these types of games, and while it doesn’t reach those heights, it’s still a good game and I’d recommend it if you like those types of games.
Retired/due to expire
Pokemon Pokopia – I was overwhelmed by the buzz about it. It’s well made and made with a lot of love, it’s just not for me. I just don’t have time to play every day and I’m trying to figure out what to do next. I was the same with Animal Crossing. I have to admit that these types of games are not my thing. I ended up trading in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which I’m currently playing.
Forza Horizon 6 – I played a bit on Game Pass, on Legion Go. I played for a while and the performance was good, but then I went to play one night and had some problems, then I started playing other games and I haven’t been back. I might consider getting it for PlayStation 5 later in the year as it might be a better experience. My thoughts are that it’s a very good game, but if I’m honest, I felt like Mexico in the previous game was a better country. I also favored Great Britain in Game 4.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle – I had played it before on Game Pass but had performance issues so I got the Switch 2 version. Plays great and is a very good game. I like how they took a different direction with an emphasis on exploration, stealth and puzzles instead of what could have been a Tomb Raider/Uncharted clone. I was confused by First Light, but I intend to return to it soon.
So there you have it, my first half of 2026. 11 games so far, I doubt I’ll hit that number again in the second half, but if I can get to 20 for the year I’ll be very happy.
By reader matc7884
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