Rolling Stone Picks 20 Best Video Games of 2026 Amid Layoffs and Studio Closures
Updated
Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 19
Rolling Stone Picks 20 Best Video Games of 2026 Amid Layoffs and Studio Closures
2 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jun 19
Summary
Rolling Stone’s midyear list spotlights 20 standout games from 2026, with indie-heavy picks such as Cairn, Love Eternal and Forbidden Solitaire sharing space with bigger releases like 007 First Light and Resident Evil Requiem.
The ranking lands as the games business faces broad strain — layoffs, studio closures, canceled projects and live-service shutdowns — with Xbox reportedly set to dissolve multiple teams and hardware costs pressured by the AI fight.
That backdrop also includes a crowded release calendar shaped by efforts to avoid Grand Theft Auto VI, plus disappointments from higher-profile titles such as Crimson Desert and Invincible VS.
Rolling Stone argues many of 2026’s strongest success stories are coming from smaller teams, even as established publishers like Capcom still break through with major franchises and new ideas.