Say hello to the next 5 big single player games

Nothing beats a great game for one player. Multiplayer and live service games are great and all, but they never replaced and never will replace the traditional single player experience. Whether one owns a high-end gaming PC or prefers to play on the Switch 2, there's always at least a few of these types of projects to look forward to, and they come in many shapes and sizes. Single player games from 2026 it covers almost every genre imaginable as it tells epic stories, experiments with original mechanics, or just provides a fun way to spend 10 hours.

This year has already brought some really fantastic titles such as Resident Evil: Requiem, Pragmaticsand even some Capcom stuff, but the best is probably yet to come. So join me as we look into the immediate future to find the single player games that will dominate people's lives in the next two months.

• Only games without any multiplayer will be included. So, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight he was skipped because he has co-op.

• I mostly stick to the next two months because I want to avoid mentioning games that are still 6 months away.

Yoshi and the mysterious book

Nintendo's first major single-player exclusive of 2026

Nintendo Switch 2 has a pretty decent 2026 so far, but big exclusives have been pretty hard to come by. Fortunately, that is about to change Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which sees everyone's favorite green dinosaur return for his first solo adventure since 2019. Besides Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's IslandThe Yoshi games have generally been enjoyable affairs that function as basic platformers while still offering the Nintendo charm that everyone expects.

From all we've seen and know Yoshi and the mysterious book will be no different in that regard, and you probably shouldn't pick this one up if you're after a really big challenge. According to available previews Yoshi and the mysterious book it relies a bit more on exploration and puzzles than previous versions Yoshi's Crafted Worldwhich should make for an interesting shift. One of the confirmed new mechanics is that Yoshi can temporarily take on another creature's abilities by placing them on his back, a concept that resembles Super Mario OdysseyCappy.

Honestly, I can't wait to break out my Switch 2 to try this game out. The console has been gathering dust for the past few months.

007 First Light

The first James Bond game since 2012

James Bond's storied history stretches far beyond Ian Fleming's novels or films, and he also has quite the extensive video game resume. Or at least that was the case in the 1990s and 2000s, but 007 has mostly stayed away since then. The last new game was 007 Legendsa celebration of a franchise that is also one of the worst games in the franchise. Developed by IO Interactive, 007 First Light is exciting for several reasons, apart from the fact that it marks Bond's return to acting.

First of all, IO Interactive is a fantastic developer who has dedicated the last decade to building the best Hitman game. Second, the game will tell an original story set early in Bond's career. This decision means that IO Interactive is free to weave its own story rather than sticking strictly to the source material. finally 007 First Light is a linear action-adventure that doesn't try to shoehorn itself into an open world, even though it should feature relatively open levels similar to Hitman games.

Gothic 1 remake

The return of the all-time great RPG

We live in an era of remasters and remakes, and two of the biggest releases of the next few months fall into those categories. Rough edges aside, Piranha Bytes' Gothic is one of the most popular RPGs of the early 2000s, offering a degree of immersion that still puts most games to shame. The original developer is sadly no more, but the Piranha Bytes legacy lives on through the upcoming remake.

Gothic he was credited with creating a living, breathing world in a time that seemed impossible. NPCs had independent routines that made them feel like real people rather than just robots. The aim of the remake is to modernize the vision of Piranha Bytes without sacrificing anything that made the original game such a beloved hit. Once again, you find yourself in the role of a nobody, thrown into a penal colony defined by a brutal hierarchy. The first game was known for its difficult integration process and the 2026 version needs to maintain that. visually, Gothic 1 remake it uses Unreal Engine 5 so it will look great and hopefully run OK.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag re-synced

The long-awaited return to the Caribbean

Here it is, the most anticipated game of the next two months. People were clamoring for a sequel Black flag for about ten years just to get Skull and bones instead. As a consolation prize, Ubisoft decided to stop fooling around and actually release a remake of arguably the best pirate game of all time. Assassin's Creed Black Flag re-synced is an absolutely massive deal because there are simply no other titles that fill the same void.

Besides the obvious facelift, the remake will change quite a few other things, so it won't just be a graphical upgrade. Combat has been reworked and improved, and the same can be said for sneaking (you can now crouch at any time!). The infamous sludging missions are seemingly still a part of the campaign, but spotting them doesn't immediately trigger the end of the game. Edward Kenway's story will probably be the same, but Recycled it will contain some new content so it won't just be the same path as before.

Assuming it starts in good condition, Assassin's Creed Black Flag re-synced should be an easy home run.

Echoes of Aincrad

Live your own SAO story

There are a lot of them Sword Art Online games, but I wouldn't really describe any of them as “good”. Hopefully, that will change on July 10, 2026 Echoes of Aincrad is shaping up to be by far the most exciting game in the franchise. Rather than centering around Kirito, this JRPG allows players to create their own hero who goes on a unique adventure rather than just adding to the cast of the source material. While I'm not sure how much of a story there will be, the game seems to focus on a battle for survival, as players are just one of thousands trapped in the game.

Surprisingly, Echoes of Aincrad it will not feature co-op, although it does include a companion system that allows players to explore the world with a partner. The latter are essentially an extension of the protagonist's arsenal, and building synergy between the two characters is important. The progression system will allow players to define their play style as they will be free to choose skills and choose which stats to prioritize. Also, Echoes of Aincrad will have permadeath mode. Yeah, this is hardcore SAO.