Board games remain a popular option for players in 2026, with the transition to mobile platforms giving access to timeless entertainment. Examples include Chess.com, Checkers, and Scrabble.
Developers in the mobile gaming industry are now comfortable borrowing elements from various genres, resulting in games that are harder to define by a single genre. The best mobile games cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, offering a surface loop for beginners and deeper systems for serious players. Mobile games now borrow structure from various sources, including console design, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The diversity in mobile gaming has increased, with games offering a variety of tones and tempos within genres. The best mobile games are less predictable and offer a combination of different elements, making the platform more expansive and appealing to a wider audience.
Developers in mobile gaming are now more comfortable borrowing from different genres across the industry, resulting in games that offer a variety of experiences within a single title. Mobile games are designed to cater to different levels of commitment simultaneously, with simple mechanics for beginners and deeper systems for more serious players. The Play Store landscape is becoming less predictable as games borrow concepts from console design, PC live-service loops, tabletop mechanics, and social media behavior. The best mobile games are those that can accommodate multiple habits and playstyles, providing players with a diverse and versatile gaming experience.
Roblox is implementing new publishing requirements to enhance safety for its younger audience. Developers must now meet specific criteria based on the target audience of their games. For games intended for all ages, developers must subscribe to Roblox Plus, pass ID verification and age checks, enable two-factor authentication, and maintain an account in good standing. For games aimed at players aged 16 and older, developers need to have an account in good standing, maintain an account that is at least two days old, and pass age verification checks. These requirements do not apply to developers creating games solely for personal enjoyment. The changes are part of a strategy to strengthen moderation systems and will begin rolling out in early June.
Hades 2 has been recognized as one of CNET's best games of 2025, winning Best Action Game at the 2025 Game of the Year awards and Best Game on Steam Deck at the Steam Awards. It will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting Tuesday. Xbox Game Pass offers a library of games for a monthly fee, with the premium Game Pass Ultimate subscription providing access to hundreds of games, including new releases on launch day.
DayZ, a multiplayer survival game, is now available on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, and PC Game Pass. Endless Legend 2, a fantasy strategy game, has been added to Game Pass Premium. FBC: Firebreak, a first-person shooter, is also new to Game Pass Premium. Planet Coaster 2, a park management game, is part of Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Tiny Bookshop, a management game, is available on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. Football Manager 26 has been added to Game Pass Premium.
Hades 2 is set to launch on April 14, continuing the story of Melinoe. Replaced and The Thaumaturge will also debut on April 14. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will be available on Game Pass Premium starting April 16, along with EA Sports NHL 26. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will launch on April 17. Little Rocket Lab and Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato will be new to Game Pass Premium on April 21, along with Vampire Crawlers. Kiln will launch on April 23. Game Pass Essential has added two new titles as of April 8. Five games, including GTA 5, will be removed from Game Pass on April 15.
Bumpy Grumpy features a vibrant palette with stark black outlines and flat colors reminiscent of early '80s games, incorporating elements like "SOUND!" and "SCROLLING!" with a modern twist. Shoot 1UP DX captures the essence of a '90s cult classic with colorful lasers and pixel art. ChainStaff, from Mommy's Best Games, transports players to a whimsical world with oversized laser-firing insects and crustaceans, featuring vibrant landscapes and surreal architecture reminiscent of the Commodore Amiga era. Players encounter bizarre creatures such as angry alien pigs with neon hairstyles and colossal butterfly-gun-dragons, creating a psychedelic experience filled with hyper-saturated colors and imaginative designs.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a turn-based tactics game developed by 2K Games and Firaxis Games, is available for free to Amazon Prime members with a GOG account until July 1. The game, originally released in 2012, is a reimagining of the 1994 classic UFO: Enemy Unknown and has a Metacritic score of 91. Players can expect around 30 hours to complete the main storyline, with completionists potentially investing up to 70 hours. The offer includes the “Complete Pack” version, which features the XCOM: Enemy Within expansion and all previously released add-on content.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a sequel that takes place approximately 11 months after the first game, featuring Sam Porter Bridges on a mission to connect the Chiral Network in Mexico and Australia. The game includes familiar characters and has improved traversal mechanics, with a quicker story pace and more low-level enemies. Nixxes has adapted the game for PC, introducing a new hardcore difficulty setting called “Into the Wilder,” and ensuring it runs well across various hardware configurations. The game offers extensive customization options for graphics and controls, performing well on devices like the Steam Deck and ROG handheld. It has received acclaim for its visuals and gameplay, although some players find the plot and pacing inconsistent.
Crimson Desert is set to launch this evening at 6 PM ET / 10 PM GMT, with initial reviews for the PC version already appearing. The game currently has a Metacritic rating of 78, ranking 38th in the Best Games This Year list. Reviewers have expressed mixed opinions, noting its strengths in gameplay freedom and a rich open world, while also pointing out weaknesses such as a lack of polish, an underdeveloped narrative, and excessive systems. The Xbox version will be available later today, with official reviews expected to follow after the public release.
Resident Evil Requiem has achieved a 9.5 average user score on Metacritic, matching Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and has an average critic score of 88, positioning it as a top contender for Game of the Year. It shares the top spot on the 2026 charts with Mewgenics, both holding an average score of 89 on Opencritic. Requiem is currently ranked number one on Metacritic's 'Best Games by User Score' page, indicating strong public sentiment. The game has received close to 2,500 user reviews, while Expedition 33 has over 24,000. On Steam, it has an 'overwhelmingly positive' user score of 96%, based on 18,000 English-language reviews.
