2026 has been a busy year for quality video games and one reader has played an impressive number already, with his goal of completing at least one every month.
Sometimes my appetite for gaming comes in peaks and troughs. On occasions, despite having a huge backload, nothing will catch my attention.
However, since the beginning of 2026 I’ve been on somewhat of a mission and have been aiming to play a game a month. So far, I’ve smashed that target.
Here’s my round-up for the first half of the year.
January
The first game I completed was Dispatch. If you like narrative-based games such as The Walking Dead series or Life Is Strange then I can’t recommend this enough. Great writing, voice acting and at times very funny. For me the best game of 2025.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
February
This was a busy month. I took out a month’s subscription to PS Plus because there were a few games I wanted to play. I finished Sword Of The Sea – a slightly unique game where you glide across the ocean on a sword. It’s kind of Journey meets Tony Hawk’s. Beautiful art style and at around four hours doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a surreal game, almost like an interactive comic in the style of a Viz or Beano magazine. At times it’s very funny but in a way that appeals more to a British audience. Although I enjoyed it, I was ready for it to be over by the end and can’t say I’d ever play it again.
The final game I finished was Exit 8. It’s a difficult-to-explain premise. Essentially you walk through an underground train passageway trying to find the exit. On each pass through the passageway you need to look for both subtle and not so subtle differences. It’s a walking sim/spot the difference puzzle which is slightly creepy and unnerving at times. It’s a weird game to explain but can be completed in an hour or so. I don’t know how much it costs full price but if intrigued it might be worth it for cheap.
March
When my PS Plus subscription lapsed I bought Ghost of Yōtei for only £35 from Facebook Marketplace. I then sold it for £30. Absolute bargain. I’d played Ghost of Tsushima for a brief time previously but never completed it. Although it doesn’t alter anything drastically, I found it be a big improvement over the first game, especially expanding from one to four weapons.
I also found Atsu to be a bit more compelling character than Jin. Also, the game was absolutely stunning, arguably the best from a graphical perspective so far on PlayStation 5. Although the game doesn’t really bring any new ideas to the table, I still found the combat and gameplay loop rewarding and it’s one of the few games I’ve ever got a platinum trophy for. At some point I intend to give its predecessor another go.
April
WARNING RESIDENT EVIL REQUIEM SPOILERS
This was Resident Evil month. First, I played Requiem on Switch 2. For me it’s up there with some of the best Resident Evil games and feels a bit like a best of compilation. Some of Leon’s sections were unadulterated joy and at times stupidly OTT in the best way, especially the motorcycle section and using the chainsaw. Also, being chased by Mr X in the ruins of the police station was pure nostalgia. The Grace sections on the other hand are possibly the times I’ve felt most scared in a Resident Evil game. Her sections feel like a cross between Resident Evil 7 and Village.
After I finished I bought Resident Evil 4 remake for the Legion Go. It’s a lot of fun and the first section in the village is especially well done. However, I’ve never played the original so didn’t have the same affection for it as some players might. Towards the end I struggled on the Ramon Salazar boss fight and dropped the difficulty and coasted through the rest of the game. It’s a good game but for me felt a bit repetitive towards the end.
May
A quieter month in which I only played one game, which was Pragmata. I should praise Capcom for having faith in an original IP with a unique premise. However, I think I’m slightly less enthused than the general consensus. I had good time for the most part but did lose interest a bit towards the end. I think perhaps playing what is essentially a third person shooter straight after another might’ve partly been the issue.
June
June was possibly the busiest month so far. I had somehow amassed a fair amount of Microsoft points so bought 007 First Light to play on the Legion Go. Probably game of the year so far for me. Great set pieces, varied locations to explore, satisfying gameplay and combat, and a storyline that is far more engaging than it has any reason to be. Patrick Gibson is very good as the voice actor for Bond, but I think Lennie James steals the show as Bond’s mentor. I genuinely cared about his character.
The next game was Mixtape. I have conflicting thoughts. For the most part I found it enjoyable. The minigames were quite fun, the story held my interest, and although the characters could be a little self-centred they were also fairly likeable. My main issue is the runtime. I don’t mind a short game, and in some ways it’s also a strength, but I also think it means that some things feel unresolved. I’d like to have seen more of one of the characters, Slater. On the surface he seems to be a one-dimensional stoner but he has a few moments showing he has hidden depth and seems to be the glue that holds the friendship group together.
Finally, I played Darq. It’s a 2D puzzle game in the style of Inside, Limbo or Little Nightmares. The puzzles were quite clever and although some were tricky I never got too stuck. The main time I became frustrated was by a puzzle towards the end of the game where the camera kept rotating and you have to complete a maze type puzzle in a certain time. The game is slightly creepy and has a couple of jump scares, but I wouldn’t call it particularly scary. For me, Inside is the gold standard of these types of games and whilst it doesn’t hit those heights it’s still a good game and I’d recommend it if you enjoy those types of games.
Retired/need to finish
Pokémon Pokopia – I got swept up in the hype for this one. It’s well-crafted and made with a lot of love, it’s just not for me. I just don’t have the time to play every day and I struggle to know what to do next. I was the same with Animal Crossing. I need to accept these types of games aren’t my thing. I ended up trading in towards Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which I’m currently playing.
Forza Horizon 6 – I played a bit on Game Pass, on the Legion Go. I played for a while and performance was decent but then I went to play one night and had a few issues, then I started playing other games and haven’t gone back. I may consider getting it for PlayStation 5 later in the year, as it might be a better experience. My thoughts are it’s a very good game but if I’m honest, I felt like actually Mexico in the previous game was a better location. I also preferred the UK in game 4.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle – I’d played this before on Game Pass but had issues with performance, so got the Switch 2 version. It plays great and it’s a very good game. I like how they took a different direction with an emphasis on exploration, stealth, and puzzles rather than what could’ve been a Tomb Raider/Uncharted clone. I got distracted by First Light, but I intend to come back to it sometime soon.
So there you have it, my first half of 2026. 11 games so far, I doubt I’ll hit that number again in the second half but if I can get to 20 for the year, I’ll be pretty happy.
By reader matc7884
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.
Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.