Upcoming Games May 2026: What to Watch
After April's onslaught of releases, May 2026 looks more curated — but no less interesting. Forza Horizon 6 lands mid-month, the new Hitman team's 007 First Light arrives, and Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.0 reshapes the ARPG landscape.
Here's what to watch for, what to pre-order, and what to wait on.
Forza Horizon 6
BUYThe biggest racing release of 2026. Achievement list hints at pivotal new progression systems. Hands-on early impressions describe it as 'exactly what you'd expect' — which for Forza Horizon is high praise.
Pre-order if you've loved any previous Horizon. Otherwise wait one week for reviews.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAY007 First Light
WAITBond game from IO Interactive — the studio behind Hitman. Origin story for James Bond, third-person action with stealth elements. Massive expectation.
Pre-release coverage is positive but limited. Wait for reviews — even excellent studios occasionally miss with new IPs.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYDark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020
BUYSixth entry in Supermassive's Dark Pictures Anthology. Stars Lashana Lynch. Crew of the Cassiopeia crash-lands on a hostile planet — clear Alien and The Thing influences.
If you liked Until Dawn or any prior Dark Pictures, this is essential. Cinematic horror with new stealth mechanics.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYPath of Exile 2 — Patch 0.5.0
BUYPatch 0.5.0 is described by GGG's Game Director as 'a pretty huge update' — major endgame overhaul, fresh league economy, new Ascendancy classes, potentially new campaign content. Full reveal at end of April.
If you've never tried PoE 2, the league reset is the perfect entry point. Free to play.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYYoshi and the Mysterious Book
BUYFirst major Switch 2 Yoshi platformer. Nintendo's first-party platformers are nearly always essential, and the Switch 2 hardware should let Yoshi's signature visual style shine.
Pre-order if you have a Switch 2 and any kids. Even adult platformer fans will find it polished.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYLEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
WAITTT Games returns to LEGO Batman with an open-world Gotham, detective gameplay, and the studio's familiar combat-and-puzzle loop.
Wait for reviews — recent LEGO games have been hit or miss. Family appeal is reliable but quality varies.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYHytale
DEPENDSLong-awaited block-building MMO from Hypixel Studios (acquired by Riot). Has been in development for 7+ years with multiple delays. Combines Minecraft-style building with RPG progression.
If you're a Minecraft fan, watch closely. If you're not, wait for clear post-launch impressions.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYHeroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
DEPENDSReleased into Early Access April 30, but May will determine its trajectory. Strategy fans have been waiting for a real Heroes of Might and Magic return for years.
Wait for the first wave of Early Access impressions before buying. Strategy games like this can take months to find their footing.
CHECK ON AMAZON CHECK PRICE ON EBAYFinal Thoughts
If we had to pick one May release to pre-order: Forza Horizon 6. Lowest risk, highest probability of being excellent.
If we had to pick one to watch for surprise upside: 007 First Light. IO Interactive's track record makes this a quiet sleeper.
If we had to pick one free pickup: Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.0. New league = perfect entry point at zero cost.