The Game of the Year race looks open, and the biggest releases are still ahead.
This guide covers the highest-rated games of 2026 on Metacritic, the late-year releases that could shake up the list, and what to know about The Game Awards on December 10.
Checked on October 17, 2026 against Metacritic’s midyear list, Pure Xbox, ComicBook.com and other outlets named below. The Metacritic ranking is a snapshot from July 1, so scores and positions may have changed since. We have not played every game here, so our descriptions rely on the reporting cited.
The Highest-Rated Games of 2026 So Far
Metacritic’s midyear list, dated July 2 with scores as of July 1, ranks the top 20 releases of the year by Metascore. Metacritic uses the platform that has the most reviews for each game. The top ten were:
| Rank | Game | Metascore | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forza Horizon 6 | 90 | Xbox Series X|S |
| 2 | Mina the Hollower | 90 | PC |
| 3 | Schrödinger’s Call | 89 | PC |
| 4 | Pokémon Pokopia | 89 | Switch 2 |
| 5 | Resident Evil Requiem | 89 | PS5 |
| 6 | Mewgenics | 88 | PC |
| 7 | 007 First Light | 87 | PS5 |
| 8 | Saros | 87 | PS5 |
| 9 | Hermit and Pig | 87 | PC |
| 10 | Mixtape | 86 | PS5 |
The same list, reported by Pure Xbox, puts Titanium Court in the top ten at 87, so the two lists order the entries slightly differently. We used Metacritic’s own page above. Metacritic’s page adds that a PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 is expected later in 2026.
The takeaway: no single game dominates, since the top five sit within one point of each other.
Why the Top Spot Is Close
Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower share a Metascore of 90. ComicBook.com wrote in August that Forza Horizon 6 quickly topped Steam’s charts and would be Forza’s first Game of the Year nomination. The same piece expected Pokémon Pokopia and Resident Evil Requiem to be nominated, but doubted Requiem could win in a crowded year because its 89 is below earlier Resident Evil nominees, which scored in the 90s. Those are the writer’s opinions, not official picks.
Late-Year Releases That Could Change the Race
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
It launched on October 15 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC. A Men’s Journal report on Yahoo says it held a Metacritic score of 86 and a 10/10 from GameSpot, and called it a Game of the Year contender. We cover the details in our Castlevania launch guide.
Marvel’s Wolverine
ComicBook.com’s August list named it a likely nominee based on Insomniac’s track record. It launched on September 15 as a PS5 exclusive, and a ComingSoon report from September 10 puts its Metacritic score at 77, the lowest for an Insomniac Marvel game other than a Spider-Man 2 PC port. Reviewers praised the story and characters and criticized the combat, according to that report. That is a long way from the 90 at the top of the chart.
Grand Theft Auto 6
ComicBook.com ranked it first among contenders, calling a nomination a shoo-in if it makes the cutoff, which the article says could push it to 2027 if it falls after the deadline. The release date is November 19, and we have the price and preload details in our GTA 6 guide. We could not find the actual eligibility cutoff for The Game Awards, so whether GTA 6 counts for 2026 is not confirmed.
Other November and October launches
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake arrives November 5 on Switch 2. See our Ocarina of Time guide.
- Final Fantasy Resonance launches October 22. See our release date and specs guide.
- Phantom Blade Zero is listed for October 29. See our PC requirements guide.
None of these has a verified Metacritic score yet, so any Game of the Year talk about them is speculation.
The Game Awards 2026
According to Insider Gaming, The Game Awards returns on Thursday, December 10, 2026 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and streams on YouTube and Twitch. That report is from February. It says nominations are usually revealed closer to the event, and we could not find an announced nomination date or a confirmed eligibility cutoff.
The takeaway: official nominees are not out yet, so every contender list is a prediction.
How to Read These Rankings
- Metascores are not winners. Awards voting weighs more than review averages.
- Early scores move. A game often gains or loses points as more reviews arrive.
- Platform matters. Metacritic ranks each game by the platform with the most reviews.
- Genre skews the list. A racing game and a horror game score differently for different reasons.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating a July snapshot as current. Check Metacritic before you buy.
- Assuming a high score fits your taste. Look at the genre first.
- Believing nominee lists from earlier in the year. Only official nominations count.
- Counting unreleased games. A game with no reviews has no score.
FAQ
What is the highest-rated game of 2026 so far?
Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower share the top Metascore of 90 in Metacritic’s July 1 snapshot.
When are The Game Awards 2026?
December 10, 2026, in Los Angeles, per Insider Gaming.
Is GTA 6 eligible for Game of the Year 2026?
Unconfirmed. It releases November 19, and we could not find the eligibility cutoff.
Has Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse been reviewed well?
It held a Metacritic score of 86 at the time of Men’s Journal’s report, with a 10/10 from GameSpot.
Final Thoughts
For now, Forza Horizon 6 and Mina the Hollower lead the review charts, and November could rewrite the conversation. We will keep this page current as new scores and official nominations appear, and you can find more in our game guides.
Sources: Metacritic, Pure Xbox, ComicBook.com, Yahoo Tech (Men’s Journal), Yahoo Tech (ComingSoon), Insider Gaming.
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