New Releases: January 8th-14th, 2026

The initial wave of releases kicking off 2026 sets an eclectic tone right out of the gate, with a few notable titles arriving this week. Pathologic 3 immediately makes its presence felt as a heavy, thought-provoking experience, doubling down on the series’ signature dread and moral unease for players who want something challenging to start the year.

Meanwhile, Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights, a sizable otome that should keep bachelor hunters occupied for the remainder of the month, while Prisoner of the Mayfly Kingdom (pictured) unites 14 strangers from across the world to a secluded mansion. Rounding out the highlights is Streetdog BMX, a scrappy, throwback extreme sports game that channels Tony Hawk and Dave Mirra BMX extreme sport energy, offering a lighter, arcade-style way to ring in the new year.

PlayStation 5

Bunny Rampage: History of Revenge (digital, $21.99, $19.79 PS+)
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival (digital, $15.99)

Switch

A Planet of Mine MasterMine Edition (digital, $12.49)
BattleTanks – Animal Wars (digital, $4.99)
Big Hops (digital, $19.99)
Biplanes (digital, $14.99)
Direction Quad (digital, $4.99)
Dunkirk – The Forgotten Soldier (digital, $5.99)
Go Kart Island (digital, $7.99)
Hero Seekers (digital, $17.99)
Hidden Cats in Istanbul (digital, $3.99)
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival (digital, $15.99)
Jelly & Toast (digital, $4.99)
Lalulu Island Survival (digital, $5.99)
Mist (digital, $6.99)
Owlen and the Spirits of the Past (digital, $11.99)
Pin Strike 2 (digital, $4.99)
Pool & Snooker Fever: 2 in 1 Bundle (digital, $8.99)
Sheriff Park Ranger (digital, $9.99)
SpotCat vs The Cheddar Mafia In The Americas (digital, $4.49)
Storm Chasing Sim 2025 – Tornado Hunter (digital, $9.99)
Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights (digital, $39.99)
Tile Jong (digital, $7.99)
Waterpark Simulator 25 (digital, $7.99)
Zumba – Marble Candy Rush (digital, $2.49)

Xbox One

Hero Seekers (digital, $17.99)

Xbox Series S/X

Bus Driving Simulator: EVO (digital, $19.99)
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival (digital, $15.99)
Owlen and the Spirits of the Past (digital, $9.59)
Spear (digital, $TBA)

PC

Dreadmyst (free to play)
Frostrain 2 ($TBA)
Gamblers Table ($TBA)
Hank: Drowning on Dry Land ($TBA)
Iron Decree ($TBA)
Kotama and Academy Citadel ($TBA)
Mech Builder 3D ($TBA)
Nom Nom: Cozy Forest Café ($TBA)
Pathologic 3 ($TBA)
Philna Fantasy ($TBA)
Prisoner of the Mayfly Kingdom ($TBA)
Spiritual Bond ～Breaking the curse, Intertwining fates～($TBA)
Streetdog BMX ($TBA)
The False God’s Fold ($TBA)

Matt S’ pick (editor, DigitallyDownloaded): I’ll never say no to an Idea Factory otome visual novel, so the first (book) off the rank for me this year will be Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights. I’ve only played about an hour so far, but I’m already hooked into the world, as you play as a princess of a nation that has known thousands of years of peace, yet there’s a calamity foretold hanging over everything. So far it has intrigue, lovely art and, of course, a group of eligible bachelors to learn about. I don’t think this game will break with the otome mould but based on early impressions I am expecting to like it a lot.

And then there’s Pathologic 3. I maintain that Pathologic 2 is one of the finest examples of a game as a *real* work of art that I’ve ever played. From the dark and brooding aesthetics, to the surrealistic narrative that is delivered in a highly theatrical manner, to the uncompromising approach to gameplay, Pathologic 2 wasn’t necessarily “fun”, but its fierce intelligence and sheer creativity made is to very memorable that it haunts me to this day. If Pathologic 3 can even come close to that, it’s going to be one of 2026’s finest releases.

Rob’s Pick: Often, games are a form of escapism for me, with action titles offering a short mental break or RPGs providing fulfillment as I work to assist those in need. As such, Matt’s recommendation for Pathologic 3 has me intrigued. After all, I love a film that captures oppression and mounting dread, so maybe I’ll break out of my comfort zone this week.

Or maybe not. Streetdog BMX may look like a budget-friendly Tony Hawk/Dave Mirra BMX clone at first glance, but the demo revealed a surprisingly fun and accessible trick-riding experience for when you want to turn your brain into low-power mode. With colorful parks and the joys of nailing combos, there was just enough personality and momentum to attract my interest.