Alexia Unplugged

2026 is set to be an amazing year for gaming (something something, escapism). These eight games are my most anticipated 2026 releases! Some even have demos available to play now. Let me know if I missed anything in the comments!

Solarpunk

Solarpunk is a cute co-op survival crafting game created by Cyberwave, a two-person indie game studio and published by rokaplay. In Solarpunk, you’re dropped on a floating island and you must build your sustainable home and explore the rest of the islands around you! Explore the open world, nourish yourself and your new home, and build your very own solarpunk life (with your friends, if you want!).

Solarpunk doesn’t have an official release date yet, but is projected to release sometime in 2026 (I’m holding out for Q4!). You can play the demo on Steam!

Danchi Days

Danchi Days is a Y2K-esque, emotional roller coaster published by Analgesic Productions and developed by sandy powder, Melos Han-Tani, mogumu, and gingham games.

Our protagonist, Hoshino, is home for the summer, but things aren’t the same as when she was a kid, playing with her grandma. Hoshino is faced with the reality of aging; grandma has dementia. But Hoshino is a sweet, excitable girl who tackles problems with a childlike optimism, and she is determined to get her grandma back to her old self.

I’m going to be honest, the first ten minutes of the demo had my crying. I can’t wait to play the five chapters about Hoshino’s time at home. I really enjoyed the simple minigames and seeing the relationships that Hoshino rediscovers and builds.

There’s no official release date, but Danchi Days is set to release in 2026. You can already play the demo on Steam! Don’t forget your tissues!

The Eternal Life of Goldman

In The Eternal Life of Goldman, you follow the adventures of Goldman, who has one goal: kill the Deity. This game also has a demo available on Steam, which I relished playing. Weappy Studio has done an amazing job producing a game that is truly a work of art. Every scene is beautifully hand drawn and the sound design is immersive and exciting. I love that the story has multiple layers, and the narrative is grounded in reality despite its fantastical setting. Even just the beginning tugged at my heartstrings.

The Eternal Life of Goldman is available as a demo for the Steam Next Fest, and is projected to release by the end of 2026.

The Witch’s Bakery

I’m a sucker for a cozy slice of life game, and The Witch’s Bakery seems to be just that a la Kiki’s Delivery Service. You get to play as Lunne, who owns a bakery in Paris. As a witch, she has the power to see and heal people’s emotions. The team of indie developers at Sunny Lab did a wonderful job with the cute cartoon art style and the fun minigames! You can travel around Paris, meet dozens of different kinds of people and help your new friends.

I barely missed this demo, but luckily I won’t have to wait long to play The Witch’s Bakery. It’s slated for a Q2 release this year!

Lay of the Land

Southern Cross Interactive took the best parts of two of my favorite games: Minecraft and Valheim, and combined them into one. In Lay of the Land, you can explore a vast world filled with many different biomes each with their own set of enemies and bosses. You can build your base, farm, and craft with the detailed crafting system reminiscent of Vintage Story. I for one am excited for another game that’s similar to my classic go-to’s. The only thing that would make it better is multiplayer functionality!

Are you excited for this game? It’s set to release on April 8, 2026!

Last Flag

Lately, I’ve been more into first person shooter games. Last Flag by Night Street Games has really caught my attention. It’s a third-person capture the flag style MOBA with nine personality-rich characters to start with. The game has a fun background narrative of each match being a televised competition! Similarly to another FPS favorite of mine, Last Flag features quick respawns for a less “sweaty” approach.

I’m excited to try Last Flag out! What about you? It’s set to release on April 14, 2026.

Witchspire

Witchspire, by Envar Games, has something for everyone: the seasoned survivalist, the collector, and the adventurer. As a witch, you can form your own coven, build, farm (magically), and craft. Nurture bonds with familiars and collect them all while you discover the world of Witchspire by broom. This game, notably, is co-op, so you can play with your friends!

Witchspire is pretty high on my wishlist this year; I’m always looking for exciting new co-op games. Witchspire is set to release in Early Access sometime in 2026!

Nivalis

On the opposite side of the aesthetic spectrum, we have the life and management sim, Nivalis: a cyberpunk world where you work way up from running a small shop to being the undisputed nightlife tycoon. The creators of Nivalis describe it as a slice of life, where you can explore the lovingly handcrafted city, complete with a fully functional weather system. Yes, you can stare dramatically out the window while thunder booms in the background for maximum angst.

Nivalis is set to release in 2026 on PC (Steam and Epic Games).

Witchbrook

Witchbrook is another cozy co-op game published by indie darling Chucklefish (Stardew Valley‘s original publisher!) and developed by Robotality. Learn magic as a witch at Witchbrook College. As a Witchbrook student, you can learn the arcane arts, explore the adjacent city, Mossport, make friends (or even lovers), craft, forage, and even learn the art of tea making! Plus, you can bring up to four friends along on your academic and extracurricular activities.

Witchbrook was set to release in winter of 2025, but is now expected to release sometime in 2026. We love a studio that avoids crunch! It will be available of PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox.

Whisk

Whisk is (surprise) another indie release by up and coming studio, Double Dusk Inc. In Whisk, you play as Foam and Luna — two interdimensional space rangers who are tasked with rescuing dreamcats to prevent a catastrophe. This is a beautiful puzzle game with a watercolor world and voice acting! Whisk is designed to be the perfect online or couch co-op game to play with your bestie or partner.

Whisk is set to release sometime in 2026 and you can already experience it yourself in the demo, which is available on Steam now!

Elflock

In Elflock, you take on the role of a princess who returns home to help her kingdom through tumultuous times. You must navigate court politics and dealings with the fae, and make choices that will change your kingdom forever. Elflock is created by the Hungarian game developers at NovaSphera Studio. The game is strongly based on Hungarian folklore and fairytales and comes fully voice acted (it seems like it’s voiced mostly in Hungarian with subtitles, of course). It is a visually stunning story where choices matter and there’s always a new secret to uncover.

Elflock is set to release its playable demo in 2026 on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist on Steam!

Slay the Spire 2

Slay the Spire quickly became a cult classic. As a turn-based deck building roguelike, it was unique, and each new character unlocked made it more intriguing. Slay the Spire 2 lets you conquer the Spire again, this time with new (secret) gameplay features. Do you dare challenge the Spire again?

Early access released in 2025, and Slay the Spire 2 is set to release in March 2026! Can’t wait? Give it a wishlist on Steam.

Forza Horizon 6

If you’re a fan of Formula 1, NASCAR, or just going fast, Forza Horizon 6 is for you. The Forza Horizon series is the biggest open world racing game series. For the sixth installation, you get to explore the Tokyo through its racing culture. You can explore, race, decorate your car and garages (yes you can have multiple garages), and even invite your friends to race with you.

This is definitely not an independent game, being published by Xbox Game Studios and developed by Playground Games, but so far this series has held up to the standard of cozy games. Forza Horizon 6 will be out on May 19, 2026. Will you get this game on release, or wait for the sale?

Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 lets you bring your friends to explore the deep sea of an alien world. Unknown Worlds, who also created and published the first Subnautica, are now supported by KRAFTON, who are responsible for publishing fan favorites like Dinkum and PUBG Battlegrounds.

In Subnautica 2, you must learn to survive on an alien planet. Build your base, gather useful materials, and acquaint yourself with the local wildlife. Some are more friendly than others. Venture into the depths if you dare, and retrieve valuable items.

Subnautica 2 will release in Early Access in 2026.

Are there any other 2026 releases that you’re excited for? Let me know in the comments if I missed anything!