Game Scoop! 838: Our Most Anticipated Games of 2026

Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Damon Hatfield
Guests: Sam Claiborne, Justin Davis
Theme: The IGN Game Scoop crew reflects on their most anticipated games of 2026, revisits retro gaming experiences, and shares expert, lively debate with classic Game Scoop humor and camaraderie.

Episode Overview

This year-end episode is a celebration of gaming past and future. Damon, Sam, and Justin share the games they've been playing over the holidays, then dig into a comprehensive, game-by-game rundown of the biggest, weirdest, and most nostalgic titles set for release in 2026. The episode is peppered with retro insights, tech gripes, and excitement for both indie curiosities and AAA blockbusters. The trio also test their knowledge in 20 Questions and share their off-topic “extracurricular” holiday activities.

What We’ve Been Playing [00:43–10:29]

Damon’s Holiday Gaming

• Mario Galaxy 2 (Switch):
  • Damon revisits for the first time and finds it clever but less impressive than expected.
  • Quote [01:19]: "It's got the janky N64 camera. And then the Yoshi could. Can I not just press a button to use my tongue? It's so stupid."
• Portal/Portal 2: Raves about the brilliance, considering replaying with kids.
• Divinity Original Sin 2 Update: Impressed with the update but notes it's not on the level of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Sam’s Retro Dive

• Famicom Haul: Plays obscure Japanese games, relishes fighting “Darth Vader as a scorpion.”
• Metroid (Switch 2):
  • Deep dive into the gameplay loop, 100%-ing without guides.
  • Mixed feelings: Praises graphics and core feel, critiques lack of depth and tired mechanics, wishes for more innovation.
  • Quote [06:53]: "I think it's really good and I'm impressed with how the Switch 2 handles it."

Justin’s Journey

• Metroid: Enjoys but considers it a 7/10 so far, praising the music and noting the "video game-ass video game" feeling.
  • Quote [08:27]: "It does something to my brain like the Zelda jingle... I still get a kick out of it every single time."

2026’s Most Anticipated Games: Full Rundown

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 DLC) [14:13]

• Parents complain about save system, while Sam gets excited about new “before Mario” items and NES mini-games.
  • Quote [15:04]: "The pull for Animal Crossing for me is...getting my house to where I want it and then showing it to a bunch of people. Those things are not really possible anymore."

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined [17:00]

• Skepticism about diorama/pupet art style and longevity for 80-hour JRPG reboots.
  • Quote [18:00]: "They look like Mr. Potato Head. It's just weird." — Sam

Mario Tennis Fever [19:48]

• Past games feel too barebones; fun potential if Kingo (Damon’s kid) plays. Sam laments perfect Virtual Boy tennis game.
  • Quote [21:13]: "The perfect tennis game was already made for Virtual Boy, and they never need to make another tennis game after." — Sam

ReAnimal (Little Nightmares devs) [21:29]

• Cooperative horror/puzzle adventure from original Little Nightmares team. Justin is “super excited.”

Resident Evil: Requiem [22:31]

• High hype, with upcoming dedicated presentation, remarks on Capcom's new preference for spring launches.

Replaced [23:31]

• Gorgeous cinematic platformer with “incredible pixel art,” finally launching after big delays.
  • Quote [23:55]: "Speaking of limbo...absolutely incredible pixel art. Of course, the developers are in Ukraine, so understandably it's been taking some extra time."
• Ryan McCaffrey has played and is impressed [24:07].

R-Type Tactics 1 & 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Crimson Desert, Mouse PI for Hire, Aspire 2 (Slay the Spire 2) [24:17–29:51]

• The trio marvels at the niche appeal of three(!) R-Type re-releases.
• Mouse PI: “First-person Cuphead but with rats and 1930s Disney animation,” praised for visuals but uncertain for gameplay legs.
• Aspire 2: Highly anticipated, seen as a “perfect game” iteration with a bit more animation and story.

Pragmata (Capcom) [34:16]

• Long-delayed sci-fi action game, discussed (and joked about) as a “secret Mega Man game.”
  • Quote [34:49]: "We should clarify. That's just Nick Limone's wild fan theory." — Damon

Seiros (Housemarque, April 30) [34:56]

• Returnal devs addressing previous criticisms, building in more permanent upgrades, higher accessibility.

007: First Light (IO Interactive) [36:30]

• High expectations for Hitman studio handling Bond, excitement for set pieces, cautious about shifting from puzzle-infiltration to action.
  • Quote [38:07]: "James Bond just exists already and has already developed. What do you need to do? Pick a cool car and cast of characters and then set up your set pieces." — Sam

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight [39:03]

• Excitement for another AAA LEGO game post-Skywalker Saga, which is beloved by Damon and kids.

R-Type Dimensions 3, plus commentary on the surprising number of R-Type remakes [40:20]

Phantom Blade Zero (Sep 9), GTA 6 (Nov 19) [41:53–43:44]

• Phantom Blade Zero: Martial arts character action, lots of buzz.
• GTA 6: Debates about the release date, nostalgia for Vice City, reflection on how gaming (and GTA) has evolved since 5.
  • Quote [43:44]: "Everything that felt so new and amazing and revolutionary...games have been doing this for the last 12 years." — Justin

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, Deus Ex Remastered, Fable (Xbox), Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Marvel Fighting Souls, Wolverine (Insomniac) [45:44–53:56]

• Bloodstained: Significant visual upgrade, two-character mechanic.
• Deus Ex Remastered: Questions over how accessible the classic will be to new audiences.
• Fable: High expectations, discussion about the loss of Molyneux but promise of Playground Games at the helm.
• Halo: Unreal Engine rumors, speculation how this change will influence future franchise entries.
• Marvel Fighting Souls: Excitement for Japanese Marvel fighting game from Guilty Gear devs.
• Wolverine: Massive anticipation, trust in Insomniac’s track record despite minor concerns over character design.
  • Quote [52:09]: "Dude, that's my single most anticipated game." — Sam

Other Standout Titles (Release Dates TBA/Likely 2026+) [59:04–63:45]

• Scott Pilgrim EX: Spiritual successor to Scott Pilgrim vs The World beat-em-up.
• Star Wars 0 Company: “Star Wars XCOM” – everyone forgot this was coming but now “excited to get excited again.”
• Super Meat Boy 3D: Early impressions are very positive.
• Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis: Remake of original, excitement high.
• Vampire Crawlers Turbo Wildcard: First-person, pixel-art, card-based roguelike set in the Vampire Survivors universe.
• Yoshi and the Mysterious Book: Anticipated for family play potential; running joke about "just press a button to use your tongue" (old Mario Galaxy gripe).

Notably Absent or Questionable Releases

• Marvel: Rise of Hydra (maybe delayed to 2027)
• Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake (“no chance it's out next year”)

Standout Quotes & Moments

• On nostalgia and frustration with Mario Galaxy 2 controls [01:19]:
  "Can I not just press a button to use my tongue? It's so stupid." — Damon

• On Metroid’s design (music, nostalgia triggers) [08:27]:
  "It does something to my brain in the same way that...the Zelda jingle does...I still get a kick out of it every single time." — Justin

• On the flood of retro remakes and their impact [18:42]:
  "This is an 80 hour investment. I played a lot of them already, so it's a little bit of a waste of my time, even though, like, they're all desert island. Like, that's the desert island collection for me." — Sam

• Commentary on Capcom's remarkable consistency [35:04]:
  "Capcom rarely misses these days." — Damon

• Repeating gag on obscure/niche R-Type releases and Daemon’s personal tastes [58:41]:
  "How many human resources are we putting into creating games just for one man?" — Sam

2026’s Most Anticipated (Personal Picks) [64:38]

• Sam: Wolverine or Slay the Spire 2 (“If there's a Sammy's award, R-Type 2 on Game Boy but with different music!”)
• Justin: Slay the Spire 2 or Vampire Crawlers (“The Justin Davis If There’s a Justie award: Vampire Crawlers!”)
• Damon: Strong interest in LEGO Batman and AAA experiences, but equally excited for smaller indie revivals and retro curiosities.

Game Scoop! Trivia: 20 Questions [73:04–84:38]

A competitive, clue-driven challenge to identify a classic NES game that, in its Japanese arcade original, was licensed as “Spartan X” (based on a Jackie Chan movie) but released in the west simply as Kung Fu.

• Notable detours: Theories about Urban Champion, McKids, Nintendo black box selections.
• Memorable turnaround:
  "I will say there are certain eras of the NES where if you narrow down to that era, all everything becomes..." — Damon
  Eventually: Kung Fu (NES, Nintendo Black Box)

Extracurricular Activities & Pop Culture Chatter [65:42–72:18]

• Damon watched “Jingle All The Way” and discovers Jake Lloyd’s pre-Phantom Menace acting chops.
• “Marty Supreme” ping-pong (Safdie Bros.) film: tense but worth watching.
• “Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man” gets high praise from Sam and Justin.
• Video Game History Foundation documentary “Untold Story of the NES” receives strong recommendation.
• “Pluribus” on Apple TV: consensus high praise for “best show of the year” (compared favorably to Andor and Better Call Saul for pacing).
• Brief debates about “Stranger Things”, “Avatar: The Way of Water”, and the state of Star Wars sequels—kids’ reactions, ups & downs of new-era fandom, and what constitutes "fun" these days.

[Memorable Quotes & Time Stamps]

• Mario Galaxy 2’s Yoshi controls:
  "Can I not just press a button to use my tongue? It's so stupid." — Damon [01:19]

• Metroid’s music and nostalgia:
  "It does something to my brain...no, I still get a kick out of it every single time." — Justin [08:27]

• On R type Tactics niche:
  "What if every single person interested in R type Tactics bought it — what's the cap on like the commercial appeal of a game like this?" — Justin [24:57]

• On AAA tie-ins and LEGO games:
  "Lego Skywalker Saga was like them [TT Games] — we can just actually make a big AAA co-op game and it doesn’t need to have some asterisk next to it." — Justin [40:03]

• On the sheer flood of remakes:
  "If there is a Sammy's Award, it would be R Type 2 on Game Boy, but with different music." — Sam [65:14]

Concluding Thoughts

Game Scoop! 838 serves as a delightful capsule of the modern gaming landscape—a place where big-name franchises and forgotten curiosities sit side-by-side, where nostalgia fuels both excitement and skepticism, and where seasoned voices blend critical insight, humble nostalgia, and irrepressible joy. Whether you're in it for the new Batman, GTA, cozy Pokémon spinoffs, or just to see if Damon ever gets his perfect R-Type, it's clear 2026 will be another unforgettable year for gaming.

Next episode: See you in 2026!