Justin Joy

Few games have captured the modern day open world like Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto. It has repeatedly defined what players expect from an open-world game, from sprawling cities and criminal stories to vehicles, side activities, radio stations, and the freedom to cause ridiculous amounts of trouble. There have been plenty of games influenced by GTA, but very few developed an identity strong enough to stand beside it.

There is little doubt that Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best CRPGs of all time and has been instrumental in reviving interest in the genre. It shows how far the genre has come since its earliest debut and what modern hardware is capable of, especially with mods. But it doesn’t take away from the genre’s history, which is full of some absolutely incredible titles.

2025 was a year with some of the most impressive games, and 2026 is poised to follow it up with even more incredible games. There are RPGs, shooters, cozy games, platformers, and of course, action games. There are a surprising number of action games this year, and not all of them are soulslikes. However, despite the competition this year, the best action game of 2026 is clear already, and it is almost here.